Diuretics and other drugs: what the research says

How should doctors treat PMS and PMDD?

Treatment should be tailored to each woman's symptoms and life stage. Options include therapy, herbs, antidepressants, birth control to stop ovulation, and water pills.

Does the combination of sumatriptan and naproxen sodium reduce menstrual symptoms and migraine?

Yes. The combination was better than placebo for tiredness, irritability, bloating, abdominal pain, and back pain, as well as migraine. However, women with severe period pain responded less well to migraine treatment.

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

Most studies found Vitex better than placebo for PMS. For PMDD, results were mixed: one study showed it equal to fluoxetine, while another found fluoxetine more effective. Side effects were mild.

Does drospirenone with ethinyl estradiol birth control help PMDD?

This birth control formulation is the only hormone-based option with large randomized controlled trials proving it works for PMDD and has FDA approval for this use.

What treatments work best for PMS and PMDD?

Antidepressants called SSRIs are proven effective for severe PMDD and are the first medication to try. Lifestyle changes and exercise are recommended for all women with PMS or PMDD.

What treatments work for premenstrual syndrome?

Many treatments have been studied for PMS, but researchers face a major challenge: there is no standard way to measure symptom severity, making it difficult to know which treatments truly work.

What treatments work for PMS and PMDD?

Several treatments work. Non-drug options include cognitive behavioral therapy, exercise, and supplements like calcium and magnesium. Many studies support SSRIs (taken daily or only before menstruation). Hormonal treatments that stop ovulation also help.

What treatments work best for PMS and PMDD?

Ovulation suppression and SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressants) are the two most effective treatments. SSRIs work particularly well for PMDD and can be taken only during the luteal phase of the cycle.

Which PMS treatments have good scientific evidence?

Calcium at 1200 mg daily and certain antidepressants have good evidence of working. Many popular treatments like vitamin B6, evening primrose oil, and birth control pills lack strong evidence. Some treatments like progesterone do not work.

What are PMS and PMDD, and how are they treated?

PMS is a cluster of symptoms occurring 7 to 14 days before menstruation. PMDD is the most severe form. Both should be treated first with lifestyle changes like exercise and stress management, with medication added if needed.

Does vitamin B6 supplement help treat PMS symptoms?

Yes, vitamin B6 is beneficial for treating premenstrual syndrome according to a systematic review of published studies. However, the abstract does not provide specific details about the magnitude of benefit.

What medications work best for treating PMS?

SSRIs like fluoxetine and benzodiazepines like alprazolam have clear benefits for PMS. GnRH agonists also work well but cause too many side effects for routine use, and other drugs can treat specific symptoms like headaches or fluid retention.

Does spironolactone help PMS symptoms?

Yes. Spironolactone significantly reduced mood symptoms like irritability and depression, and physical symptoms like breast tenderness and bloating, compared to placebo.

Is bromocriptine effective for premenstrual syndrome?

No substantial evidence that bromocriptine works for premenstrual syndrome overall. It may help breast pain if the dose is at least 5 mg daily.

How do leptin levels and combined medical treatments affect premenstrual symptoms in obese women?

Obese women with premenstrual tension syndrome had higher leptin levels and nervousness than healthy women. Combined treatments including diet, exercise, and medication significantly reduced both leptin levels and nervousness.

How common are PMS and painful periods among female medical students in Saudi Arabia, and what causes them?

Both are very common - 78.33% have PMS and 75.67% have painful periods. Young age, not being married, stress, fatty foods, and coffee drinking increase the risk.

Do hormonal changes in obese women cause worse PMS, and can medications help?

Yes, obese women with PMS had significantly higher stress hormone levels than healthy women, and a combination treatment of medications, diet, and exercise significantly reduced these hormones and PMS symptoms.

Does gamma-tocopherol (a form of vitamin E) reduce premenstrual syndrome symptoms?

Yes. Gamma-tocopherol significantly reduced fatigue and anger, and also reduced leg swelling. Because this was a well-designed controlled trial where each woman tried both treatments, we can be fairly confident about these effects.

Do women with hidradenitis suppurativa experience flares around their menstrual period?

Yes, about 6 in 10 women report this skin condition worsening around their period, and most of those experience flares in the week before menstruation. Some hormonal treatments helped but others made symptoms worse.

Does saffron reduce PMS symptoms as well as fluoxetine?

Yes, saffron reduced PMS symptoms similarly to fluoxetine and may even be better for breast and abdominal pain with potentially fewer side effects.

How should premenstrual disorders be managed?

There is no single best treatment. Treatment options include cognitive behavioral therapy, alternative therapy, antidepressants, ovulation suppression, and diuretics. The choice depends on symptoms, age, family plans, health, and preferences.

Is chamomile as effective as mefenamic acid for breast pain associated with PMS?

Yes. Chamomile appeared to be similarly effective as mefenamic acid (a standard pain medicine) at reducing the intensity of breast pain associated with PMS.

Is chamomile extract more effective than mefenamic acid for premenstrual syndrome?

Yes, for emotional symptoms. Chamomile reduced emotional symptoms by about 30 to 33 percent while mefenamic acid reduced them by about 11 percent.

Does combining two medications treat PMS symptoms better than each one alone?

Yes, the study found that combining mefenamic acid with sulbutiamine worked better than either medication by itself, with 66.87% symptom improvement for the combination versus 39.33% for mefenamic acid alone and 41.01% for sulbutiamine alone.

Does sumatriptan-naproxen help women with period migraines and period pain function better?

Yes, women given the combination drug reported higher satisfaction, better work productivity, and less functional disability compared to placebo at 24 hours.

Which works better for premenstrual breast pain, cabergoline or bromocriptine?

Both drugs reduced breast pain equally well, with about two-thirds of women in each group responding. Cabergoline caused far fewer side effects.

Do birth control pills with drospirenone help PMDD?

Birth control pills containing drospirenone in a 24/4 formulation appear to help both physical and mood symptoms of PMDD based on randomized trials. However, because placebo effects were strong, more research is needed to confirm how much improvement comes from the drug itself.

Does drospirenone/ethinylestradiol birth control help PMDD symptoms?

Yes. This specific birth control pill significantly improved PMDD symptoms over three cycles and improved acne over six cycles while providing 99% contraceptive protection over one year.

Does bromocriptine or pyridoxine help reduce PMS symptoms?

Both bromocriptine and pyridoxine significantly reduced PMS symptoms over 3 months. Pyridoxine showed a higher response rate with fewer side effects.

Do different types of PMS symptoms respond better to different medicines?

Yes. Different medications work best for different symptoms. SSRIs help irritability and anxiety. Birth control works broadly. Other drugs target specific symptoms. However, current treatments help fewer than 60% of women.

How common is PMS in teenagers and how should it be treated?

An estimated 60-80% of menstruating teenagers experience some premenstrual symptoms. Those with moderate to severe symptoms that disrupt their lives meet criteria for PMS or PMDD. Treatment begins with education and lifestyle changes.

What treatments work for premenstrual disorders?

Several treatments work. Three SSRIs are FDA-approved for PMDD. Exercise, diet changes, and therapy also help some women, but no single treatment works for everyone.

What treatments work best for PMS and PMDD?

There is no single best treatment. For mild PMS, lifestyle changes help. For moderate symptoms, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like fluoxetine and sertraline are most effective. Calcium and evening primrose oil may offer modest benefit.

What role do hormones play in PMS and how should we treat it?

Female hormones trigger PMS by affecting brain chemistry, especially the serotonin and GABA systems. SSRIs and medications that stop ovulation are the most effective treatments.

What treatments work best for cyclical breast pain?

Initial treatments like reassurance, proper bra fit, reducing caffeine, and primrose oil should be tried first. Medications like danazol work but often cause side effects.

Does an oral contraceptive with drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol treat PMDD?

The birth control pill showed signs of helping, especially with appetite, acne, and food cravings. However, most improvements were not statistically significant, and the study had limitations.

What non-antidepressant treatments might help PMS?

A study of 466 women found calcium was effective at reducing emotional, behavioral, and physical PMS symptoms. Cognitive therapy, light therapy, and tryptophan also showed promise in early trials.

What are the medication options for treating PMS?

PMS can be treated with hormonal medications that alter the menstrual cycle, mood drugs, diuretics for fluid retention, and pain relievers for headaches. Treatment should start with simpler measures and consider side effects.

Does bromocriptine help premenstrual syndrome?

Bromocriptine helped significantly with physical symptoms like abdominal tension, water retention, weight gain, and breast tenderness. It was less clear whether it helped with mood symptoms like depression and irritability.

Does mefenamic acid help PMS symptoms?

Yes. A randomized double blind trial of 15 women found that mefenamic acid 500 mg three times daily reduced irritability, anxiety, abdominal swelling, and headaches compared with placebo.

Do spironolactone and medroxyprogesterone acetate help premenstrual tension?

Yes, both medications significantly reduced symptoms compared to placebo. However, placebo itself also significantly improved symptoms, which is important to know.

How common is PMS and what are the best ways to treat it?

PMS is common among women of reproductive age, especially in their 30s or older. Treatment can include exercise, diet, vitamins, and medications such as progesterone or birth control pills, with support and counseling being especially important.

What treatments for PMS actually work?

Most PMS treatments are based on weak research. The most effective approach involves accurate diagnosis, stress control, a healthy diet and exercise, and possibly the medication alprazolam. Progesterone has been shown not to work.

What do we know about what causes PMS and how common it is?

A literature review found PMS affects 30 to 40% of women, especially those who work outside the home, have had multiple children, or use alcohol. Many theories about causes exist, but none are proven.

Does naproxen sodium help premenstrual symptoms?

Yes. Naproxen sodium reduced premenstrual and menstrual pain much more effectively than placebo. It also improved behavioral symptoms, likely because pain relief helped women function better.

What does research say about what causes PMS and what treatments work?

A review of PMS research found no definitive cause and no universally effective treatment. Lifestyle approaches like diet, exercise, and support help many women, while some medications like alprazolam and mefenamic acid help some, but progesterone therapy is ineffective.

What causes PMS and what are the treatment options?

The cause of PMS remains unknown, though leading theories involve prostaglandins, endorphins, or progesterone deficiency. Treatments include education, diet, exercise, and various medications. Most people with PMS can be helped.

Does spironolactone help premenstrual syndrome symptoms?

Spironolactone was significantly better than placebo for bloatedness only. No significant improvement was seen for other symptoms, weight, blood pressure or other complaints.

How should breast pain from PMS be treated?

Breast pain is part of PMS. Many treatments exist but we do not have clear evidence about which ones work.

Does mefenamic acid help premenstrual syndrome symptoms?

Mefenamic acid showed overall improvement compared to placebo. However, it did not clearly help individual symptoms, except for gastrointestinal symptoms.

Does mefenamic acid help premenstrual tension?

Yes. 86 percent of women reported significant relief of premenstrual tension with mefenamic acid, and the drug appears to work by lowering prostaglandin levels.

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.

Is bromocriptine or norethisterone more effective for premenstrual syndrome?

Bromocriptine reduced breast engorgement, irritability, and total symptoms more than placebo, while norethisterone only helped breast tenderness. Bromocriptine worked better but had more side effects.

Does lowering prolactin with bromocriptine help premenstrual syndrome?

No. Although bromocriptine lowered prolactin, it was not significantly more effective than placebo. This suggests prolactin alone doesn't cause premenstrual syndrome.

Does bromocriptine help premenstrual tension?

Bromocriptine improved breast tenderness, bloating, and depression, but placebo also helped with many other symptoms, so the true effect may be smaller than it appears.

Does mefenamic acid help premenstrual symptoms?

Yes, mefenamic acid significantly improved premenstrual tension, irritability, depression, pain and headache, but was not effective for breast symptoms.

Does dydrogesterone or pyridoxine work better for premenstrual syndrome?

Dydrogesterone worked for 70% of women with premenstrual syndrome, while pyridoxine worked for 55%. At least 3 months of treatment is needed to see if either helps.

Do women with premenstrual tension have too much water in their bodies?

Women with premenstrual tension had normal total body water, but showed an imbalance between water and potassium during the late menstrual phase. Diuretics and bromocriptine did not help.

Does bromocriptine help premenstrual syndrome?

Bromocriptine improved all PMS symptoms but was significantly better than placebo only for breast pain. This is a small study from 1977, so we can have only moderate confidence.

Does suppressing prolactin affect how the menstrual cycle works?

No clear difference was found. When prolactin was suppressed to low levels, the menstrual cycle continued with the same pattern of hormonal changes.

Does hydrochlorothiazide help control premenstrual acne?

No. A double-blind study of 21 patients found that taking this water pill for 10 days before the period did not reduce premenstrual acne flare-ups.

What is premenstrual syndrome and how can it be managed in adolescent girls?

PMS is a combination of physical, emotional, and behavioral symptoms affecting 70-90% of women of reproductive age in Indonesia. It can be managed with medications like NSAIDs and antidepressants, or non-medication approaches like exercise and lifestyle changes.

Does rimegepant prevent migraines around your period?

Rimegepant prevented perimenstrual migraines in 85% of cycles with no side effects in this small study of 5 women, but we need larger studies to be confident in these results.

What do pharmacy students know about using herbs for PMS?

Pharmacy students had moderate knowledge (58.9% correct answers) about these herbs, and about 83% believed the herbs could help PMS symptoms. However, this study only surveyed opinions. It did not test whether these herbs actually work.

Can PMDD be severe enough to lead to self-harm, and does treatment help?

Yes. This case describes a young woman whose PMDD led to a self-harm attempt, and she improved within a month of starting treatment with fluoxetine.

How common is PMS in Saudi Arabian women?

Very common: 72.9% had PMS. Mood changes and tantrums were the most frequent symptoms. Age and contraceptive use were linked to having PMS or PMDD.

Is a combination of naproxen, paracetamol, and pamabrom safe and effective for PMS?

Yes, this combination was safe and effective. Only 3% of women experienced adverse events, and 70.7% achieved at least 50% reduction in pain.

Does mefenamic acid help relieve PMS symptoms?

Mefenamic acid relieved PMS symptoms in 70.7% of women, with the most improvement in headache and breast tenderness, but the study had no control group so we cannot be certain the drug itself caused the improvement.

Is the combination of naproxen, paracetamol, and pamabrom safe and effective for PMS pain?

Yes. The combination significantly reduced pain, and only 3% of women experienced side effects like headache or stomach problems.

Does PMS affect school performance and relationships in female medical students?

Yes, significantly. 73.6% of the 2080 students studied had premenstrual symptoms, and those with symptoms did worse in school and had more problems with relationships. The study shows a clear link, but only studied medical students.

Does the inflammation linked to obesity make premenstrual symptoms worse, and can combined treatment help?

Yes to both. Obesity was linked to higher inflammation markers and worse premenstrual symptoms such as swelling, anxiety and fatigue, and a combined treatment with lifestyle changes reduced these symptoms, with the version including Royal vitamin G working better than the one with Vitazinc.

Do community pharmacists know enough to help women with PMS?

Most pharmacists surveyed had good knowledge and positive attitudes about helping with PMS. They mostly recommended anti-inflammatory medications, showing their recommendations are based on evidence.

What are the treatment options for PMS?

Multiple treatments exist for PMS including lifestyle changes and different medications. Combined oral contraceptives with folates may particularly help with mood and thinking problems.

Can Vitex help a woman with high prolactin levels and irregular periods?

Yes, in this one case. A woman with mild high prolactin who could not tolerate standard treatment improved with Vitex. But this is only one patient, so we cannot know how well it works for others.

Does acetazolamide help PMDD symptoms in women who don't respond to standard treatments?

In 8 women with PMDD who hadn't improved with standard treatments, adding acetazolamide 125 mg per day for 7-10 days before each period made their symptoms disappear. They stayed symptom-free for at least 12 months.

What menstrual and premenstrual symptoms do girls with Rett syndrome experience and how are they treated?

Girls with Rett syndrome commonly experience painful periods and PMS symptoms similar to other women, plus some autism-specific symptoms. Hormonal contraception, especially birth control pills, is commonly used to manage them.

Does a sumatriptan and naproxen combination help menstrual migraine and period pain?

Yes, the combination prevented prostaglandins from rising during attacks, unlike placebo. This was a very small pilot study with only 4 women.

What gynecologic problems do girls with Down syndrome, autism, and cerebral palsy experience?

Girls with these developmental disabilities commonly have irregular periods and mood or behavioral changes when they start menstruating. Girls with autism are especially likely to develop behavioral problems related to their periods.

What treatments work for migraine during the menstrual cycle?

Triptans (migraine medicines) work well for stopping menstrual migraines. Medicines like naproxen and estrogen can help prevent migraines that mainly occur during the period or are hard to treat with other options.

Do Meniere disease symptoms get worse before a woman's period?

Yes, some women with Meniere disease report that their symptoms get worse during the premenstrual period. Hormonal changes may trigger this.

What medications work for migraines around the menstrual period?

Multiple medications have evidence of benefit: sumatriptan, mefenamic acid, and rizatriptan for acute treatment, and estrogen patches, frovatriptan, and naratriptan for prevention. Whether preventive treatment provides significant additional benefit beyond placebo is unclear.

How can menstrual migraines and headaches be treated?

At least half of women with migraines experience menstrual-related migraines. Treatments like triptans and estradiol have been shown to be effective. This is a review article summarizing existing research, not new research.

How common are menstrual cycle symptoms and how should doctors discuss them?

85% of women experience menstrual cycle changes and up to 40% are bothered by them. Doctors should routinely ask about these symptoms to improve treatment.

Can metformin help psychosis that happens with the menstrual cycle?

Maybe. One woman with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and menstrual-linked psychosis had significant improvement when metformin restored her normal menstrual cycle.

How many female medical students have painful periods and does it affect school attendance?

Dysmenorrhea (painful periods) affected 73.83% of 107 female medical students. Of those with painful periods, 31.67% frequently missed school or classes.

What are the symptoms and treatment options for menstrual cycle-related problems?

Menstrual cycle problems affect up to 2.5 million women yearly with physical, emotional, and behavioral symptoms. They can be treated with NSAIDs, lifestyle changes, SSRIs, or birth control pills, with continuous use showing the most promise.

Could a plant from Costa Rica help with period pain and PMS?

Lab tests show that extracts from Justicia pectoralis plant have effects on proteins involved in pain and hormones, which could explain its traditional use. However, the plant has not been tested in people with PMS or dysmenorrhea.

Is drospirenone an effective ingredient in birth control pills for PMDD?

Birth control pills containing drospirenone appear safer and better tolerated than other low-dose pills for mood changes, acne, and severe PMS (PMDD), with similar overall safety profiles.

Why does migraine get worse around menstruation and how can it be treated?

Migraine in some women worsens around menstruation, probably because of declining estrogen after hormone levels drop. Treatment with triptans, NSAIDs, or other drugs can help acute attacks, and prevention strategies are available.

What causes menstrual migraine and how is it treated?

Menstrual migraine is triggered by drops in estrogen and causes longer, more severe headaches than non-menstrual migraine. Initial treatment uses specific migraine medications, with hormone therapy as an option if that doesn't work.

Does the birth control pill containing drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol help treat PMDD?

The limited research available suggests it may help, and the pill has good tolerability and other health benefits, but more studies are needed to be sure.

How should severe period pain in teenagers be treated?

Regular pain relief medication (NSAIDs) started before periods begin may help. In one teenager, severe pain improved from 8 out of 10 to 5 out of 10.

Can drospirenone birth control help severe PMS with brain swelling and seizures?

In one woman with severe PMS including brain swelling and seizures, treatment with an oral contraceptive containing drospirenone significantly reduced all symptoms and prevented the brain swelling and seizures.

What causes breast pain and how is it treated?

Breast pain affects up to 2 out of 3 women and can be associated with PMS. It is usually benign, and most women do not need treatment.

What causes PMS and how is it treated?

The exact cause is unknown, but researchers believe it involves an imbalance between hormones and brain chemicals. This summary covers the leading theories about what causes PMS and the treatments that work best.

What causes menstrual migraine and how is it treated?

Estrogen withdrawal around menstruation triggers migraines in susceptible women. Treatment includes NSAIDs, triptans, and other medications, with hormonal therapy if needed for severe cases.

Can LHRH analogue prevent premenstrual attacks of acute intermittent porphyria?

Yes. In this one woman, an LHRH analogue combined with low-dose oestrogen patch stopped her premenstrual attacks and she has not needed hospitalization for over 3 years.

What causes PMS and how should different symptoms be treated?

PMS involves hormone problems and disruptions in brain chemical systems (GABA, serotonin, endorphins). Different symptoms may respond to different treatments: mood symptoms to medication, physical symptoms to progesterone or diuretics.

Do cyclical behavioral changes happen in women with mental disabilities, and what helps?

Cyclical behavioral changes occur in 18% of women with mental disabilities. NSAIDs helped 65% of those treated, hormone injections helped 66%, and birth control pills helped 40%.

What does research say about diagnosing and treating PMS and PMDD?

This review explains that careful symptom tracking and ruling out other conditions are key to diagnosing PMS, and that some promising drug treatments exist for PMDD, though it is unclear if they work as well for milder premenstrual symptoms.

What treatments actually help with PMS?

This review says treatment depends on your symptoms, and that birth control pills, water pills (diuretics), antidepressants, talk therapy and nutritional supplements have helped some women, while high-dose vitamin B6, progesterone, alprazolam and GnRH agonist drugs are generally not recommended.

What treatments are proven to work for PMS?

Recent trials show serotonergic antidepressants and gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists effectively treat PMS. Preliminary evidence supports spironolactone and carbohydrate-rich beverages.

Can a hormone test predict which women will respond to bromocriptine for cyclical breast pain?

Yes. Women with an abnormal prolactin response to a hormone test were much more likely to improve with bromocriptine than those with normal response (73.6% versus 23.5%).

What is premenstrual syndrome and how is it diagnosed and managed?

Premenstrual syndrome is a real illness with physical, mental, and behavioral symptoms that occur cyclically and need treatment. Diagnosis uses symptom history, exams, and daily ratings to confirm patterns.

Does spironolactone help PMS symptoms?

Overall no. Spironolactone showed no significant improvement compared to placebo. However, some women with specific hormone patterns may respond.

How should PMS treatment be chosen based on symptoms?

Treatment should be matched to the specific symptoms that need control. This article reviews categories of symptoms, when they occur during the cycle, and theories about what causes PMS.

What treatments are available for late luteal phase dysphoric disorder?

Many treatments exist, including medications, vitamins, and hormones. However, non-drug approaches like diet, exercise, and psychotherapy have received less research attention.

What is PMS and how is it treated?

PMS is a group of physical and emotional symptoms that start 5 to 8 days before menstruation and disappear 34 to 48 hours after the period begins. Many treatments including hormones, vitamins, and other medications can help.

Did physical treatment reduce swelling and complaints in women with fluid-related or medicine-caused swelling?

Yes. All women who completed the treatment were free from complaints when they left.

Does exercise, rest, or vitamin B6 help PMS symptoms?

Yes. Exercise, rest, and keeping a symptom diary helped over 80% of women who tried them.

Can PMS be linked to mental health problems?

PMS may be connected to psychiatric disorders. Better understanding of how they are linked could help with treating both conditions.

Does treating PMS require multiple different approaches?

Yes. Treatment works best when combining medicine, lifestyle changes, and stress management. Most women improve significantly in well-being and quality of life, though some problems may take time to resolve.

Does spironolactone, a water pill, help with premenstrual syndrome symptoms?

Some well-designed studies found that spironolactone helped reduce bloating and belly swelling during PMS. It may also improve mood and emotional symptoms.

What do general practitioners think about PMS and women who have it?

Most doctors believed PMS has a hormonal cause. About half thought women with PMS are no different from other women, while some thought they were more hypochondriacal, introverted, and intelligent. We don't know if these doctors' beliefs were actually correct.

Does a combination of stress reduction, exercise, and diet help PMS?

Yes, a combination approach that includes stress reduction, increased exercise, and proper diet has been found effective for treating PMS. Medications can be added when needed.

How should PMS be diagnosed and treated?

PMS is diagnosed based on recurring symptoms with a symptom-free week in the first half of the cycle. Treatment should start with lifestyle changes like diet and exercise, with medication added if these do not work.

How should doctors treat PMS?

By acknowledging the problem and suggesting lifestyle changes, diet modifications, and vitamins. For severe symptoms, other medications may be needed.

Can the pain reliever mefenamic acid ease PMS symptoms?

Yes, in this small trial mefenamic acid improved many physical and mood symptoms of PMS compared with placebo, but the study was very small so this should be seen as an early, not final, answer.

What medical treatments are proven effective for PMS?

There is no clear evidence that any single medical treatment is definitively effective for PMS, though psychological approaches may also be worth considering.

What are the best methods for studying premenstrual syndrome?

Good PMS research should use well-defined patient groups, confirm reports with daily monitoring, consider different types of biological changes, exclude placebo responders before testing treatments, and use double-blind placebo-controlled crossover designs.

What is premenstrual syndrome and how is it treated?

Premenstrual syndrome is a collection of physical and emotional symptoms that affect 5 to 20 percent of menstruating women. Treatment options include lifestyle changes, counseling, medication, and birth control pills, and satisfaction with treatment is commonly achievable.

What did doctors know about PMS diagnosis and treatment in 1985?

There was no agreement on how to diagnose PMS or what to treat it with, though doctors recognized a link between PMS and mood disorders like depression.

What is the best approach to treating PMS?

Start with reassurance, dietary changes, and regular exercise. If that does not work, add vitamin B6, and optionally vitamin E or zinc. If still not effective, add a diuretic or natural progesterone. For very resistant cases, bromocriptine or danazol may be considered.

What causes premenstrual syndrome and what treatments work?

Premenstrual syndrome likely has both psychological and physical causes. Both medication and non-medication approaches, including stress management and self-care skills, may help treat it.

What is PMS and how should doctors treat it?

PMS is a cyclical condition with physical and psychological symptoms that occur 7-14 days before menstruation. About 30 percent of women experience PMS in a severe form at some point in their lives.

What causes PMS and what is the best treatment?

Multiple theories explain PMS including psychological, nutritional, and hormonal causes, but none are proven. No definitive treatment exists. Treatment must be individualized based on clinical response.

What do current studies tell us about PMS?

Despite many studies attempting to understand PMS, we are no closer to understanding its causes or finding effective treatments than when PMS was first described. Many studies have been poorly designed.

What are the treatments for premenstrual symptoms?

As of 1985, PMS causes were unknown and controlled studies had failed to confirm proposed theories. This paper reviews treatment approaches and offers clinical management suggestions.

Does lithium help with premenstrual tension?

Case reports suggested it might help, but well-designed research studies found no benefit.

Is bromocriptine an effective treatment for PMS, and does the timing of doses matter?

Bromocriptine, especially when taken cyclically (only part of the menstrual cycle), helped relieve PMS symptoms, particularly breast pain. However, side effects occurred in 43% of women and 21% stopped taking the medication.

How effective is bromocriptine at lowering prolactin levels?

Bromocriptine is extremely effective at suppressing prolactin and restoring fertility, and improves symptoms in patients with acromegaly and Parkinson's disease. However, benefits reverse when the medication is stopped.

Are hormone and electrolyte levels different in women with PMS compared to women without it?

No clear difference in most hormones or electrolytes. A small number of women with severe PMS had some hormone changes, but they were minor.

Does elevated prolactin cause premenstrual tension?

No. Prolactin levels were normal in women with severe PMS. When a drug that lowers prolactin was given, hormone levels changed but symptoms did not improve.

What is premenstrual syndrome and what treatments have been suggested?

Premenstrual syndrome is a long-term, repeating disorder with emotional, behavioral, and physical symptoms in the week before menstruation. The cause and best treatment are unknown, though vitamin B6, progesterone, and bromocriptine have been suggested.

Do the treatments doctors use for premenstrual tension actually work?

Doctors have tried many treatments for PMS including hormones, vitamins, and psychotherapy, but the results are mixed and conflicting. Without understanding the cause of PMS, there is no single universally accepted effective treatment.

What treatments help premenstrual syndrome?

Several medications are used, including birth control pills, diuretics, tranquilizers, and bromocriptine, but no single drug works reliably for everyone. All show a strong placebo effect, suggesting people improve partly from expecting to get better.

Do drugs that block prostaglandins help PMS?

This paper proposes that prostaglandin-blocking drugs might help PMS based on a theory, but it does not present results from a clinical trial.

Can bromocriptine treat PMS and infertility caused by high prolactin?

Yes, bromocriptine restores normal prolactin and brings back periods and fertility in most cases of high prolactin, and can also treat premenstrual syndrome. No birth defects have been reported from bromocriptine use.

What treatments work for premenstrual syndrome?

No single treatment works for all women. Many different drugs have been tested but show inconsistent results. About 50% of improvement appears to be placebo effect.

How do brain waves change after giving birth compared to pregnancy?

Brain wave patterns become stronger and show more activity after delivery compared to late pregnancy at week 32. Anxiety and irritability improve after delivery, and these changes do not appear in women who are not pregnant or postpartum.

Does bromocriptine help premenstrual syndrome symptoms?

It tended to lessen PMS symptoms, especially breast pain, and it lowered high prolactin levels, but this was a small, older cross-over trial so the evidence is limited.

Are hormone levels abnormal in women with premenstrual tension, and can bromocriptine help?

Women with premenstrual tension showed different prolactin patterns across the cycle. Bromocriptine lowered prolactin but did not change other hormone levels.

What treatments have been tested for premenstrual syndrome?

Progesterone injections and oral progesterone-like drugs have been tested, but in controlled trials they work no better than diuretics, sedatives, or placebo. Better quality studies are needed.

Does spironolactone reduce premenstrual syndrome symptoms?

Yes. More than 80 percent of women with PMS reported relief of psychological symptoms and weight loss when taking spironolactone.

Does high prolactin cause severe period pain?

High prolactin was found in 13 of 15 women with severe period pain, and most improved with treatment. We cannot be very sure because the sample was tiny and there was no control group.

Does lowering prolactin with bromocriptine help premenstrual tension?

Yes, bromocriptine significantly improved most symptoms and reduced premenstrual weight gain and breast enlargement.

Does naproxen-sodium reduce menstrual pain and uterine contractions?

Yes, very significantly. A single dose of 1100 mg naproxen-sodium reduced both uterine contractions and menstrual pain in all 10 women studied, with no reported side effects.

Does bromocriptine help premenstrual syndrome and infertility?

Yes, bromocriptine improved PMS symptoms and was associated with pregnancies in women treated for infertility, likely by lowering the hormone prolactin.

Does bromocryptine help with breast pain?

A study of 15 women with breast pain treated them with bromocryptine for 2 to 4 weeks. Ten recovered completely, 3 improved somewhat, and 2 saw no benefit.

How common are premenstrual symptoms and what treats them?

About 40% of women experience weight gain, abdominal pain, and irritability before their period. These symptoms often improve with a water pill and eating less salt during the week before menstruation.