Premenstrual Syndrome - Treatment

Treatment

For many women, PMS symptoms can be relieved by lifestyle changes (food modifications, exercise, possibly vitamin B-6 and calcium supplements.)

Women with more severe PMS whose symptoms have not been helped by lifestyle changes should discuss drug treatment options with their doctors. Medications for PMS include:

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to help reduce pain
• Diuretics to reduce fluid retention
• Birth control pills to help with symptoms such as breast pain, bloating, and acne. One birth control pill, Yaz, is approved specifically for treatment of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). Newer continuous-dosing birth control pills can reduce or eliminate menstrual periods.
• Serotonin-reuptake inhibitor antidepressants for PMDD and severe PMS. Fluoxetine (Sarafem, Prozac), sertraline (Zoloft), and paroxetine (Paxil) are approved for treatment of PMDD.
• Anti-anxiety drugs alprazolam (Xanax) or buspirone (BuSpar) for patients with severe PMS-related anxiety.

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Cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy may be an appropriate alternative to antidepressants for some women.

Review Date: 07/26/2010
Reviewed By: Harvey Simon, MD, Editor-in-Chief, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).