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).


METHODS
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%).


CONCLUSIONS
Fluoxetine in 10-mg doses presented the best results for treating premenstrual syndrome.
Diegoli
M S
MS
Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University of São Paulo, Brazil.
da Fonseca
A M
AM
Diegoli
C A
CA
Pinotti
J A
JA
D000525:Alprazolam / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005473:Fluoxetine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D011293:Premenstrual Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011736:Pyridoxine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000525:Alprazolam; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D005473:Fluoxetine; D011736:Pyridoxine; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors