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

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.