---
title: Does fluoxetine (Prozac) help severe PMS? | Niyora
description: Yes. Fluoxetine significantly improved behavioral symptoms by 75%, physical symptoms by 40%, and total symptoms by 62% compared to placebo, with no significan
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/treatment-of-premenstrual-syndrome-with-fluoxetine-a-double-blind-placebo-1992/
---

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- Does fluoxetine (Prozac) help severe PMS?

Randomised trial, 1992

# Does fluoxetine (Prozac) help severe PMS?

Yes. Fluoxetine significantly improved behavioral symptoms by 75%, physical symptoms by 40%, and total symptoms by 62% compared to placebo, with no significant side effects.

 Early or limited evidence

8 women with severe persistent PMS

## What they did

A randomized, double-blind, crossover study in 8 women with severe PMS. Women took either 20 mg of fluoxetine daily or placebo for three months each, in random order, with a total study duration of six months.

## What they found

Compared to placebo, fluoxetine led to significant reductions in behavioral symptoms (75% improvement), physical symptoms (40% improvement), and total PMS symptoms (62% improvement). Improvements in mood-related measures including depression, tension, and anger were also significant. No significant side effects were noted.

## What it means for you

Fluoxetine appears to be an effective treatment for severe PMS, especially for mood-related symptoms. The main limit is the very small sample size of just eight women.

8

women

20

mg fluoxetine daily

62%

improvement in total symptoms

## About the study

Original title Treatment of premenstrual syndrome with fluoxetine: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study Authors Wood SH, Mortola JF, Chan YF et al. Journal Obstetrics and gynecology Year 1992 Study design Randomised trial What was tested 20 mg fluoxetine daily vs placebo Read the paper [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1495689/](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1495689/)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Anxiety and tension](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-anxiety/)[SSRIs and antidepressants](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-ssri/)

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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Does fluoxetine help premenstrual dysphoria?

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Do anxiety and depression get worse before your period if you already have a mental health condition?

Cohort study, 2019

Do SSRIs help women who have both PMS and panic disorder?

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