Prozac for PMS

LilRedRN1973 · Oct 31, 2003

Yes, I take fluoxetine 10mg per day for PMS...but I also take it for general anxiety and stress. The only thing I don't like about it is I have an annoying side effect....it makes me yawn ALL DAY LONG!! And I find I want more sleep when I take it...which for a night owl like me who likes about 5 hours of sleep, this is a problem. But it works for the PMS and general stress levels.

TennNurse · Oct 31, 2003

Originally posted by Jamiers
I read the post on Effex., I completely understand the horrible mood cycle associated with PMS. I have been suffering from PMS since I can remember. Irritability, sensitivity, you know, all that crap! I went to a Psychiatrist on campus, she recommended Prozac for relief. She told me to take it 14 days before my period. I started taking it 3 days ago, I'm not sure what to think, I feel "different", yes this soon. But, it's like I am more sensitive and alert to noise and movement, (at an awkward level of sensory). Has anyone else used Prozac to relieve PMS? I have always been hesitant to take SSRI's or any med for that matter. Have any of you had PMS and found a better way to deal with the mood swings?

You poor thing! PMS is truly a horrible curse. My sister has it even worse than I do, and she was taking Prozac for a while, but she said the same thing you did and stopped taking it. It worked well on her mood swings but she didn't really like the way she felt the rest of the month. My worst problems have been heightened sensitivity and lack of concentration; I also have a decreased ability to deal with small frustrations like looking for keys or socks without feeling like the most brainless loser ever born.

The biggest help that I have found is a combination of PMS Tea and L-Tyrosine. The tea is a diuretic primarily made of dandelion root- it helps with bloating, moods, breast tenderness, and emotional lability. The tyrosine just seems to stablize things for me, whether I take 1 qd or just around PMS time. As a warning, though, after experiencing this side effect myself I did some reading and found that tyrosine does definitely increase the sex drive :eek: It also depresses the appetite, but doesn't make you shaky and jittery like ephedrine products can. I've also noticed that I am much less irritable (and sleep a lot better) if I can cut out caffeine for a few days.

If you're not used to taking SSRIs you will start feeling different pretty soon. But if you don't like the way you feel overall, maybe trying the tea and tyrosine on a PRN basis will work just as well for you. You can get them both at health food stores.

Hope this helps! I know exactly how bad this feels, and I wish you luck in finding what works for you. :kiss

S.N. Visit, BSN, RN · Nov 1, 2003

I take Sarafem for my P.M.S I haven't occured any side affects, on it. The only problem I have, is I forget to take it, the week before i should need it.

SCNuttyMeg · Nov 1, 2003

I was taking sarafem for a year straight every single day for PMS. It seemed to work better than just doing it before my period. After a year I began to have periods 24/7. Instead of just changing my birth control he also changed me from sarafem to zoloft saying this would help. Oh boy he was wrong. The mood swings are back, irritability, aches and pains are back but not as extreme as what they are without anything. Sarafem did the trick with me and I hope to be put back on it again soon.

sanakruz, ADN · Nov 1, 2003

Yes, sarafem,fluoxetine, and prozac are all the same thing.Helpful in the short term.The best way to treat PMS really is with diet and lifestyle changes.Honest