Pre menstrual dysphoric disorder

[starmonkey]

Hi, I have been troubled for years with what i always thought was bad moods and irritability. Got worse after having the kids as i felt depressed and anxious for a long time. Ended up taking different forms of anti d's and coming off them again when feeling able to cope with life again. Have seen counsellors, been for accupuncture, changed my diet and taken up running but somehow here i am again back in that hole. I have been to my dr several times and always stress how the depression is much worse surrounding my time of the month. Although truth is only actually feel "right" for about a week of the month. During which time i am flying with happy thoughts. Then it all starts again. Last year after several bouts of terrible rage i decided to start an anti d again. This time citalopram as recommended by a friend. My dr said that i would take them for about 6 months and as long as i felt ok i would stop again. I did feel ok although the side effects were not that great and i preferred the feeling of being off them.Now after about a month of being off them again i feel awful. The negative feelings are slipping in again and the past week of pms has been dreadful. Have fallen asleep several times throughout the day which is unusual for me and the anger and irritability has been off the chart. I have felt like walking out on my family and my poor husband has been pushed to the edge. After all this pouring out of my story what i really want to know is has anyone ever taken anti d's for the week before their period starts. Am pretty sure i am suffering with severe pms as i seem to fit all the symptoms and after so long trying to control it myself i feel i need a long term solutin as it is not fair on myself or my family any longer. I am worried about the side effects of hopping on and off a drug such as citalopram as i am considering restarting them and have read that use of the drug only during the luteal phase is most effective. I am not an expert on this of course and wondered if anyone had any advice or experince in this depratment?

Would like to know more myself. Have terrible pms and have a script for Mirtazepine. I am going to try herbal remedies for six months.

I am in a very similar position to you. Currently taking a low dose of seroxat .I do not like taking it as it makes my head feel a bit weird and dry mouth but it does help with the pmt symptoms. Mine were getting quite unbearable; feeling extremely edgy,racing thoughts, feeling like i had to do everything really quickly,paranoia, irratability.... I could go on!
Am starting to decrease dose even further but feeling tense already. I know I am not depressed as feel fine for two weeks out of four. I am going to docs soon for review appointment and will ask about just taking ads on the days in my cycle I need them. Have also just ordered some HTP off the internet.

the other options are hormonal treatment I have had a mirena coil to stop my periods and then high dose oestrogen patches. for me the coil has improved things. I have not started the patches yet bit hope they will make the difference.

What is htp?

Sorry think its actually called 5 HTP is amino acid that is supposed to raise serotonin levels in the same way anti depressants do.

Prozac is used for 2 weeks in a month of PMS symptoms. 5 HTP is useless. My psychiatrist said it doesn't have enough 'chemical' to boost the serotonin. I suffer with PMS & depression & tried it & it had no effect whatsoever.
Acupuncture is supposed to help.
There is Agnus Catus as well that is supposed to balance the hormones. Taking B Vitamins & magnesium is supposed to help. Evening Primrose did nothing for me.
Also keeping sugar levels constant helps.

Hiya, yes I do after 6 years of being fobbed off by the docs saying I had depression. I kept a mood diary & found that my mood dramatically drops from day of ovulation going from complete sadness to extreme anger, to repetitive & suicidal thoughts by time period starts.
I take 20 mg fluxotine from the day of ovulation & stop the day period starts. Some months I can take it for 10 days, some up to 16.
I find that because its such a low dose I'm not walking round on happy cloud, but that it stops the racing thoughts & just levels me out. I might get couple of days of normal PMT but compared to PMDD it's very manageable. I was worried about side effects but My doc explained that fluxotine is used for many other things other than depression & due to the low dose & way it was being taken for Short bursts I shouldn't experience any ( I don't).
Adjusting diet - yes cut down on choc, wine, cakes & upping exercise help lots too.
Good luck, it took a lot for me to try the drugs but I'm so glad I have, definitely saved my marriage

I know how you feel.

I take escitalopram 10mg daily and has definitely helped with PMDD. I also get a few days where I get symptoms like irritability, impatience etc but they can be controlled, not like before when you know it's happening but you don't try to calm down IYKWIM.

Im thinking may go down to taking it cyclically but I'm worried I may forget to take it and because its such a low dose, everyday is fine with me.
I used to be concerned taking it but now I know it works and whole family doesn't have to live with a grumpy mum for two weeks every month.

I also take a mega B supplement and vitamin D in winter. Am in Oz so don't need it in summer. Also a garlic, fenugreek and vitamin c tab daily.
It all helps.