Intermittent Paxil may ease severe PMS
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - In women who suffer from a severe form of PMS known as premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), taking the antidepressant Paxil only when symptoms are at a peak significantly curbs irritability and improves social functioning, according to a study of Canadian women.
PMDD is a condition characterized by symptoms of severe depression, irritability and tension, which often occur during the "luteal phase" of the menstrual cycle - the part of a woman's menstrual cycle from ovulation to the start of the next period.
In their study, Dr. Meir Steiner with St. Joseph's Healthcare, Hamilton, Ontario and colleagues had a group of women suffering from PMDD rate their premenstrual symptoms each day for two consecutive menstrual cycles.
Women found to have the symptoms of irritability and/or depressed mood only in the luteal phase were randomly assigned to take paroxetine (10 or 20 milligrams) or placebo only during this time period for four additional menstrual cycles.
When compared with placebo, women treated with the higher dose of paroxetine experienced "significant improvements in the psychological symptoms associated with PMDD such as irritability, depressed mood, and tension," the investigators report.
Women treated with paroxetine 20 milligrams also experienced improvement in social and family life functioning.
These findings, the researchers note, are consistent with findings from previous studies suggesting that PMDD may be treated effectively by intermittent-only administration of paroxetine.
The findings, Steiner and colleagues add, support recently published expert guidelines for the treatment of PMDD, which state that an intermittent dosing schedule is an appropriate choice for women who wish to limit the amount of medication they take, can adhere to the on/off dosing regimen, have no mood symptoms at other times during the menstrual cycle, or are concerned about long-term side effects of antidepressant medication.
SOURCE: Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, June 2008.
PMDD is a condition characterized by symptoms of severe depression, irritability and tension, which often occur during the "luteal phase" of the menstrual cycle - the part of a woman's menstrual cycle from ovulation to the start of the next period.
In their study, Dr. Meir Steiner with St. Joseph's Healthcare, Hamilton, Ontario and colleagues had a group of women suffering from PMDD rate their premenstrual symptoms each day for two consecutive menstrual cycles.
Women found to have the symptoms of irritability and/or depressed mood only in the luteal phase were randomly assigned to take paroxetine (10 or 20 milligrams) or placebo only during this time period for four additional menstrual cycles.
When compared with placebo, women treated with the higher dose of paroxetine experienced "significant improvements in the psychological symptoms associated with PMDD such as irritability, depressed mood, and tension," the investigators report.
Women treated with paroxetine 20 milligrams also experienced improvement in social and family life functioning.
These findings, the researchers note, are consistent with findings from previous studies suggesting that PMDD may be treated effectively by intermittent-only administration of paroxetine.
The findings, Steiner and colleagues add, support recently published expert guidelines for the treatment of PMDD, which state that an intermittent dosing schedule is an appropriate choice for women who wish to limit the amount of medication they take, can adhere to the on/off dosing regimen, have no mood symptoms at other times during the menstrual cycle, or are concerned about long-term side effects of antidepressant medication.
SOURCE: Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, June 2008.
posted by Jannie at
1:08 PM
2 Comments:
My name is Michael Smith and i would like to show you my personal experience with Paxil.
I am 40 years old. Have been on Paxil for 5 years now. Please be careful if coming off, i started to wean myself with out doctors help couldnt afford it. I went from 20 mgs to 10 mgs for a month, then 10 mgs to 5 mgs for a month. Because the 20 mgs were way to strong took 20 for 5 years and was always on edge. After about 1 month on 10 felt a little better. I stopped for 7 days completly and man did I feel like shit man I didn’t want to leave the house , shop! I just started back on 5 mgs to get it back in my system. Who know what is the right amount you have to be the test subject on yourself!
I have experienced some of these side effects-
Headaches, tremors, emotional wreck, just the blah's when I 1st started takin wasnt bad, cause I also way taken klonopin.
I hope this information will be useful to others,
Michael Smith
I for one think that using drugs to mask the symptoms of PMDD is a short term option.
If you do not deal with the root causes of PMDD you will forever be popping pills to lower the symptoms rather then cure them.
It is best to really deal with the underlying hormonal issues in my opinion.
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