---
title: Is paroxetine better than other antidepressants for treating severe PMS?
description: Yes. Paroxetine reduced symptoms much more than placebo. It also worked better than maprotiline for most symptoms.
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/the-serotonin-reuptake-inhibitor-paroxetin-is-superior-to-the-noradrenaline-1995/
---

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- Is paroxetine better than other antidepressants for treating severe PMS?

Randomised trial, 1995

# Is paroxetine better than other antidepressants for treating severe PMS?

Yes. Paroxetine reduced symptoms much more than placebo. It also worked better than maprotiline for most symptoms.

 Moderate study design

Women with severe PMS

## What they did

Women with severe PMS took either paroxetine, maprotiline, or placebo every day for three menstrual cycles. They rated six symptoms daily: irritability, depressed mood, tension and anxiety, increased appetite and carbohydrate craving, bloating, and breast tenderness.

## What they found

Paroxetine reduced all six symptoms much more than placebo. Paroxetine also worked better than maprotiline for irritability, appetite and carbohydrate craving, bloating, breast tenderness, and overall symptom rating.

## What it means for you

Not all antidepressants work the same way for PMS. Antidepressants that work on serotonin work better for PMS than those that work on noradrenaline. This study was small and only looked at three menstrual cycles.

22

paroxetine group

3

menstrual cycles

6

symptoms tracked

## About the study

Original title The serotonin reuptake inhibitor paroxetin is superior to the noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor maprotiline in the treatment of premenstrual syndrome Authors Eriksson E, Hedberg MA, Andersch B et al. Journal Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology Year 1995 Study design Randomised trial Participants 22 What was tested Paroxetine (serotonin reuptake inhibitor) versus maprotiline (noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor) versus placebo Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/0893-133x(94)00076-c](https://doi.org/10.1016/0893-133x(94)00076-c)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Anxiety and tension](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-anxiety/)[Irritability and anger](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-irritability-anger/)[Appetite and food cravings](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-food-cravings/)[Bloating, breast tenderness and physical symptoms](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-physical-symptoms/)[SSRIs and antidepressants](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-ssri/)[Diet and nutrition](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-diet/)[Anxiety disorders and OCD](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-anxiety-disorders/)

Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits.

Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor.

## Related studies

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