The authors studied the effects of clonidine on a subgroup of women who had symptoms associated with premenstrual syndrome; the subgroup comprised 24 women aged 19 to 41 years who had "moderate" to "severe" cyclic decreases in beta-endorphin levels. All of the women received clonidine and placebo in a double-blind cross-over design that spanned four menstrual cycles. Clonidine was significantly (p less than .05) more effective than placebo in reducing symptoms.
Giannini, A. J., Sullivan, B., Sarachene, J., & Loiselle, R. H. (1988). Clonidine in the treatment of premenstrual syndrome: a subgroup study. The Journal of clinical psychiatry, 49(2), 62-63.
Giannini AJ, Sullivan B, Sarachene J, Loiselle RH. Clonidine in the treatment of premenstrual syndrome: a subgroup study. J Clin Psychiatry. 1988;49(2):62-63.
Giannini, Andrea J., et al. "Clonidine in the treatment of premenstrual syndrome: a subgroup study." The Journal of clinical psychiatry, vol. 49, no. 2, 1988, pp. 62-63.
Frey Nascimento A et al., 2025·BMJ Evid Based Med·
Open Access
To investigate the efficacy and safety of open-label placebos (OLP) in premenstrual syndrome (PMS).
Randomised controlled trial.
Switzerland, 2018-2020. 150 women (18-45 years of age) with PMS or premenstrual dysphoric disorder. Random assignment (1:1:1) to treatment as usual (TAU), OLP without treatment rationale (OLP-), or OLP with treatment rationale (OLP+). OLP consisted of two placebo pills per day for 6 weeks. Primary outcomes were PMS symptom intensity and interference between groups across three menstrual cycles (MC1-MC3); adverse events (ie, safety) were measured at weeks 3 and 6 after the start of the intervention. Secondary outcomes were psychological and somatic subscales of PMS symptom intensity, and adherence. From 2 August 2018 to 3 December 2020,
Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is one of the most common disorders faced by women of reproductive age. More than 200 symptoms of varying severity associated with PMS have been identified. Because of the broad spectrum of action of PMS and its impact on quality of life, symptom relief is the main challenge of treating PMS and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). The review aims to analyze and identify the potential impact of dietary and nutritional therapies on PMS and, respectively, for its better management. The study was conducted by accessing Internet databases such as PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Scopus and using relevant keywords such as PMS, symptoms, dietary patterns (DPs), macro and micronutrients, and supplements. The results showed that diet is an essential modulating factor in reducing and managing PMS symptoms. But research on the actual effect of foods and nutrients on PMS is sparse, sporadic, and studied with insufficient scientific rigor. No correlations were identified between the consumption of macronutrients and protein, fat, carbohydrates, and fiber, but the effectiveness of micronutrients, especially calcium, magnesium, vitamin D, B vitamins, and herbal supplements, was demonstrated. Researchers remain unanimous that the evidence is insufficient and limited to support their use as an effective treatment. Nevertheless, the results could contribute to providing quality information to help women and girls make evidence-based decisions regarding premenstrual health and the adoption of dietary and nutritional therapies.
Prevention of early menopausal bone loss may reduce the future burden of osteoporosis. In this modelling exercise, an osteoporosis prevention strategy involving 5-year infusions of zoledronic acid, beginning early in menopause, reduced long-term fracture risk and the proportion of aging women with femoral neck densitometric osteoporosis. This strategy warrants further evaluation.
Preventing early menopausal bone loss may substantially reduce the future burden of osteoporosis. We modelled the effects of infrequent zoledronic acid infusions on long-term fracture risk. Data from the Canadian Multicentre Osteoporosis Study (CaMos) were used to determine the expected natural history of femoral neck areal bone mineral density (BMD) and fracture risk (using FRAX®) from ages 50-80 for women with no antiresorptive drug exposures. We modelled the effects of three infusions of zoledronic acid (at ages 50, 55, 60) on long-term fracture risk, assuming this intervention would preserve BMD until age 65 years, followed by losses mirroring early menopausal BMD loss. At age 65, untreated women and zoledronic acid recipients had expected mean (SD) femoral neck T-scores of - 1.5(1.0) and - 0.8(1.0), 10-year major osteoporotic fracture (MOF) risks of 9.8%(5.0) and 8.0%(3.7) and hip fracture risks of 1.7%(2.4) and 0.8%(1.2), respectively. At age 80, untreated women and zoledronic acid recipients had expected femoral neck T-scores of - 1.9(0.9) and - 1.4(0.9), MOF risks of 17.9%(8.2) and 14.9%(6.4) and hip fracture risks of 6.3%(6.2) and 4.4%(4.5), respectively. The expected proportion of women with femoral neck T-score ≤ - 2.5 was 14.9% for untreated women and 3.8% for zoledronic acid recipients at age 65, increasing to 28.1% and 12.0%, respectively, at age 80. Numbers-needed-to-treat to prevent one case of densitometric osteoporosis were 9 at age 65 and 5 at age 80. Infrequent infusions of zoledronic acid, initiated early in menopause, are expected to reduce long-term fracture risk and result in a substantial reduction in the proportion of women with densitometric osteoporosis after age 65.
Tully L et al., 2020·Obstet Gynecol Sci·
Open Access
Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) affects millions of women. While over-the-counter products have helped with the physical symptoms of PMS, emotional symptoms have been less well supported. The objective of this trial was to measure the effect of an oxaloacetate/vitamin C combination on the major emotional symptoms of PMS, including depression, anxiety, perceived stress, aggression, and suicidal ideation. Forty-eight women experiencing PMS completed a baseline survey comprising the Beck's Depression Inventory, Cohen Perceived Stress Scale, Generalized Anxiety Disorder Test, and Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire. After baseline measurements, participants were randomly assigned to take either 2 capsules of 100 mg oxaloacetate/150 mg ascorbic acid, or 2 capsules of rice flour (placebo) for their entire menstrual cycle. At menstruation, the women completed the 4 surveys again. The women then switched capsules in a cross-over design and continued the study for an additional menstrual cycle. The final assessment was repeated at menstruation. Statistical analysis of the 4 surveys was performed to examine efficacy. Oxaloacetate/vitamin C supplementation during PMS significantly improved depression, perceived stress, anxiety, aggression, and suicidal ideation. The mean improvement in depression was 54.1%, 35.8% for perceived stress, 51.43% for generalized anxiety, and 17.8% for aggression. Suicidal ideation was reduced by 47.9%. All results were highly significant. A combination of oxaloacetate and vitamin C supplementation helped to alleviate depression, anxiety, perceived stress, aggression, and suicidal ideation symptoms associated with PMS. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03509714.