Options for treating premenstrual dysphoric disorder, from the Harvard Mental Health Letter
Antidepressants that slow the reuptake of serotonin, a brain chemical involved in mood, are effective for many women with PMDD. Options include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as citalopram (Celexa) and fluoxetine (Prozac); venlafaxine (Effexor), a serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI); and clomipramine (Anafranil), a tricyclic antidepressant that has a strong effect on serotonin. These drugs work on PMDD more quickly than on depression, so women don’t necessarily have to take them every day. Instead, the drugs can be taken for the 14-day span that begins just after ovulation and ends with menstruation.
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