The efficacy of fluoxetine in improving physical symptoms associated with premenstrual dysphoric disorder

Objective To determine the effectiveness of fluoxetine in alleviating physical symptoms of premenstrual dysphoric disorder.Design Randomised, double-blind, placebo controlled, parallel study.Setting Canadian University based outpatient clinics.Participants Four hundred and five subjects, of whom 320 with prospectively determined premenstrual dysphoric disorder were randomised.Methods Randomised women were assigned to fluoxetine 20 or 60 mg/day or placebo. Common physical symptoms associated with premenstrual dysphoric disorder including breast tenderness, bloating, and headache were evaluated by visual analog scales and the self-rated and observer premenstrual tension syndrome scales.Outcome measures Luteal phase change from mean baseline scores to mean treatment scores for all scales.Results Fluoxetine treatment was statistically superior to placebo, with no significant differences between the two fluoxetine dosages in their effects on physical symptoms.Conclusion Daily fluoxetine treatment is superior to placebo in improving the most common physical symptoms associated with premenstrual dysphoric disorder.