Extreme PMT, medications?

[Lovemusic33]

Hi, the past 6 months I have been experiencing what can only be described as extreme PMT, I have always had it but nothing like this. I get deeply depressed and anxious, I get so angry I could consider self harming, I try and focus on the fact it only lasts a few days but it's got to the point where I'm getting anxious a week or 2 before my periods due as I know I'm going to become a evil monster. The rest of the time I am pretty laid back and can handle most things life chucks at me, when it's my time of the month the slightest thing can effect me, dp being late home can send me into a rage, my dc's not eating their dinner and even the dog not doing as he's told. I am in my mid 30's and have had a lot of trouble with heavy periods, I have finally found a pill to works for me but now I'm worried it's causing the PMT.

Is there anyth No I can take to stop me turning into a horrible sobbing mess every month?

[MrsArthurShappey]

Don't worry, you are not alone! I went to the GP, with a printout from this website and a 'diary' of my moods. My 'this isn't right' moment came when I completely lost it over a mislaid shopping list an wailed 'I feel like the walls are closing in'. DH literally backed out of the room with an expression on his face I never want to see again (fear, panic...). The next day my period started and I was pretty much perfectly OK!

Luckily my GP didn't need much convincing that it was a genuine problem and prescribed me a low dose of Citalopram, an anti-depressant. At first I only took it for 7 days before I was due on (my cycle has always been like clockwork - only good thing I can say about it!!), and it worked like a dream.

After a couple of years I started to get terrible ovulation pains and depression at this time as well, was referred to a gynae and he put me on the Citalopram every day, not just pre-menstrually. I find I still get worse just before I come on (maybe I need to up my dose at that time, I don't know), but my moods are much more evened out.

So, try the GP. Please don't be put off by the thought of ADs, they've changed my life.

[MrsArthurShappey]

Yeesh that was long!

[gandalf456]

I have this so am watching this thread with interest. Every time I go to my GP with hormone stuff, they try to push the Mirena. If I've got hormone problems going on, I don't want to pump more into me so maybe Citralopram is worth a shout?

[sazerashez]

Hi

I was prescribed citalopram for my very bad pmt. For half the month I would wake up every morning at 2.30 am and not get back to sleep, memory loss, rage, tears... I felt it was completely debilitating in the end so I went to the doctor and she put me on 20 mg citalopram. It's fantastic. I'm on it full time to start with as I have been experiencing quite low mood anyway. It's given me back my sleep, I think more clearly and I feel a lot better. My pmt is like that of a normal person. Slightly tetchy 3 days before I come on rather than insane for 2 weeks. It honestly has been a godsend.

[Lovemusic33]

Thank you, I will speak to my GP ( feel like I'm there a lot at the moment ), I was hoping not to have to take AD's but I hate feeling like this. I have a new partner and I think I'm scaring him away , I can be so emotional and nasty over the tiniest of things or I tend to bottle things up and then when PMT hits it all comes out.

[FishOn]

I've found the Mirena a great help with my PMT gandalf

I came off the Pill because my PMT was getting worse and worse... the Mirena's leveled me out no end. It's worth a try.

[Paddypaws3]

Cerazette helped me no end.

I'd spend 2 weeks absolutely raging, wanting to divorce or kill my lovely Dh then spend the next 2 weeks feeling guilty and ashamed.

I have no bleeding now which is an added bonus :).

[FairyBiker]

I suffered terribly with PMT for years and years. Anything hormonal made me much worse, at my worst I only had 3 days a month with out any symptoms. It made me suicidal.

citalopram floored me, i couldn't get out of bed. Sertraline helped but didn't completely get rid of the symptoms.

All I ever wanted was to feel normal. 2.5 years ago I had my ovaries out and am totally pmt free!

I can see you're still in your 30's so it may be too soon for you, but I wanted to post to tell you there can be a light at the end of that horrible tunnel!

[chocafrolic]

I too suffered for years and years, the symptoms getting much worse after having kids, I just thought it was how everyone felt. Anyway I reached a point where the dark thoughts, urge to self harm, mood changes etc got too much so kept mood diary and it was very obvious it started on day of ovulation and stopped after I came on when I was back to my happy self. Classic PMDD.
Doc put me on a low dose 20mg of fluxotine (Prozac) which I took for couple of weeks a month and it worked a treat. I now takes every day as I kept messing up the day when to start and happy to report I no longer want to divorce my husband for 2 weeks a month! 😀