The Effects of Daily Fluoxetine in Treatment of Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder

Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) which is accompanied by Psychological and Physical Symptoms regularly occurs during the second half of the menstrual cycle and is estimated to affect up to 95% of women to some degree. Only 3-8% of these women have Premenstrual Symptoms that meet the criteria for premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), which significantly interferes with social activities or relationships with others. In this case there are medications one of which is serotonin reuptake inhibitors, including Fluoxetine. The aim of this study is To evaluate premenstrual daily dosing of fluoxetine for treatment of Premenstrual dysphoric disorder. This was a double-blind clinical trial study. After a two cycle Screening 260 women were randomly prescribed fluoxetine 10mg capsules, fluoxetine 20mg capsules and placebo capsules (dosed daily from the 14th day before next expected menses through the first fall day of bleeding) for three cycles, and they had a follow-up visit without taking drugs. After this time data was gathered with questionnaire and analyzed by descriptive statistics. Baseline demographics and severity of illness and length of menstrual cycle measures showed that the treatment groups were balanced. Premenstrual daily fluoxetine 20mg demonstrated significant improvement in symptoms compared with placebo (P = 0.005) and Premenstrual daily fluoxetine 10mg groups. Both active treatment groups significantly improved by the first treatment cycle. Both fluoxetine groups showed significant improvement. All 20 symptoms such as fatigue, sleep disorder, irritability, depression, appetite changes, and physical symptoms such as body dimorphic, breast tenderness, acnea, headache, arthralgia, low back pain, and weight increase had significant reduction or completely disappeared with Fluoxetine 20mg capsules. Discontinuation due to adverse side effects did not differ among the three groups. Premenstrual daily dosing with Fluoxetine effectively treats mood, physical and social function and symptoms associated with premenstrual dysphonic disorder. Fluoxetine 20mg appears to have comparably better efficacy than floxetine 10mg.