PMS Medication

Mild PMS symptoms can usually be managed with lifestyle changes and simple home remedies. Regular exercise and a diet low in salt and sugar can help reduce pain, cramps, and bloating. Calcium supplements have a beneficial effect on the endocrine system that controls hormone production. However, if PMS symptoms are more severe, medication may be required.

Pain is among the most commonly reported of PMS symptoms. Increased pain sensitivity often occurs during the premenstrual phase; breast tenderness, headaches, back pain and abdominal cramps are frequently reported. To relieve these symptoms, pain relievers called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDS, can be taken. Many of these drugs are available over the counter and act by blocking the effect of pain-producing substances called prostaglandins in the body. Women with peptic ulcers or blood-clotting disorders should not take NSAIDs, and women who are breastfeeding should only take them under medical supervision and if absolutely necessary.

A physician may prescribe diuretic medications if symptoms like breast tenderness and bloating are severe. While hormonal contraceptive pills are sometimes prescribed to reduce the severity of PMS symptoms and are often helpful, they may also aggravate certain symptoms or cause serious side effects in some women.

Other PMS symptoms that may require medication are depression, aggression, anxiety, irritability, and mood swings. Drugs may be prescribed to enhance the action of a chemical called serotonin in the brain. Serotonin plays an important role in stabilizing one's mood and in creating a sense of calm. When drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs, enhance the action of serotonin, one's mood is elevated and symptoms such as depression and aggression are reduced. Some widely prescribed SSRIs are Prozac, Zoloft, and Paxil. For anxiety, drugs such as alprazolam (Xanaxï) may be prescribed. All mood-stabilizing and anti-anxiety drugs should be taken under close clinical supervision and for the duration recommended by one's physician.

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