---
title: Does bromocriptine help severe premenstrual tension? | Niyora
description: No, bromocriptine did not work better than placebo. Most women improved on both (80% on placebo, 50-88% on bromocriptine), suggesting the improvement may not
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/the-treatment-of-severe-premenstrual-dysphoria-with-bromocriptine-1983/
---

- [Niyora](https://niyora.com/)
- [Research](https://niyora.com/research/)
- [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/)
- Does bromocriptine help severe premenstrual tension?

Randomised trial, 1983

# Does bromocriptine help severe premenstrual tension?

No, bromocriptine did not work better than placebo. Most women improved on both (80% on placebo, 50-88% on bromocriptine), suggesting the improvement may not be from the medication itself.

 Moderate study design

30 women with severe premenstrual tension syndrome

## What they did

Double-blind placebo controlled trial comparing three doses of bromocriptine (2.5, 5.0, and 7.5 mg/day) versus placebo. Women took medication from day 10 of their cycle until menstruation started, for three consecutive cycles.

## What they found

80% of women taking placebo reported overall improvement. 50-88% of women taking bromocriptine reported similar improvement. Bromocriptine suppressed serum prolactin in all women who took it, but placebo did not.

## What it means for you

Bromocriptine does not appear to work for severe premenstrual tension beyond placebo effect. The very high placebo response (80%) suggests future studies need a crossover design to properly test the drug.

30

women studied

80%

improved on placebo

50-88%

improved on bromocriptine

## About the study

Original title The treatment of severe premenstrual dysphoria with bromocriptine Authors Meir S Steiner, Roger F. Haskett, J. N. Osmun et al. Journal Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics & Gynecology Year 1983 Study design Randomised trial Participants 88 What was tested Bromocriptine at three doses (2.5, 5.0, 7.5 mg/day) versus placebo Read the paper [doi.org/10.3109/01674828309088322](https://doi.org/10.3109/01674828309088322)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Diuretics and other drugs](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-diuretics-other-drugs/)

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

Systematic review, 2013

Does Vitex (chaste tree) help PMS and PMDD symptoms?

Randomised trial, 2008

Does drospirenone with ethinyl estradiol birth control help PMDD?

Systematic review, 2008

What treatments work best for PMS and PMDD?

Randomised trial, 2003

What treatments work for PMS and PMDD?

Review, 2002

What treatments work best for PMS and PMDD?

Randomised trial, 2010

Do birth control pills with drospirenone help PMDD?

Ask AI about this page

Copy prompt

ChatGPT

↗

Claude

↗

Perplexity

↗

Google AI Mode

↗

Grok

↗