A double-blind trial of four medications to treat severe premenstrual syndrome

• Published in: International journal of gynecology and obstetrics 1998-07, Vol.62 (1), p.63-67
• Main Authors: Diegoli, M.S.C, da Fonseca, A.M, Diegoli, C.A, Pinotti, J.A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alprazolam; Alprazolam - therapeutic use; Anti-Anxiety Agents - therapeutic use; Biological and medical sciences; Double-Blind Method; Female; Fluoxetine; Fluoxetine - therapeutic use; Genital system. Reproduction; Humans; Medical sciences; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Premenstrual syndrome; Premenstrual Syndrome - drug therapy; Propanolol; Pyridoxine; Pyridoxine - therapeutic use; Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors - therapeutic use; Treatment; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 0020-7292; 1879-3479
• DOI: 10.1016/S0020-7292(98)00035-6

Objective: To determine the efficacy of fluoxetine (10 mg), alprazolam, propanolol and pyridoxine in the treatment of severe premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Method: One-hundred and twenty women were divided into four groups of 30 patients. Patients were submitted to a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled treatment and were given 3 months of placebo and 3 months of active drug. The active drug was pyridoxine (300 mg/day) in group 1; alprazolam (0.75 mg/day) in group 2; fluoxetine (10 mg/day) in group 3; and propanolol (20 mg/day and 40 mg during the menstrual period) in group 4. Results: Fluoxetine in 10-mg doses obtained a mean reduction of 65.4% in symptoms, followed by propanolol (58.7%), alprazolam (55.6%), pyridoxine (45.3%) and placebo (39.4–46.1%). Conclusion: Fluoxetine in 10-mg doses presented the best results for treating premenstrual syndrome.