Question for those who turn into psychos at "that" time of the month.

[DontlookatmeImshy]

Wasn't quite sure where to post this.

Do you take anything to help with PMT? and what have you found works or doesn't work.

I've just started taking evening primrose oil and B vits but i think it's a bit too early for them to have worked this month.

I'm on AD's for PND but it's come to a point today where i'm starting to wonder whether it's not so much depression anymore but rather just severe PMT because 3out of 4 weeks i am fine. I can't carry on being like this every month. It's not fair on the ds's who generally suffer the most from my behaviour. It has reached a point where i avoid going certain places because of how i can potentially react to something.

I'm still bf'ing ds2 so i don't know whether that has anything to do with it, and probably limits what i can take as well.

There is a guideline document on premenstrual syndrome on the Royal College of Obs and Gynae, which I will try to find for you. I think the evidence for Evening Primrose Oil shows that it is only effective for tender breasts. I understand where you are coming from - I am normally a fairly nice reasonable person, but I sometimes become a 'psycho' in the week before I get my period, at my worst the day before it starts. Am still guilt ridden from an outburst 10 days ago with my daughter. I decided to try St John's Wort before Christmas and when I take this the from half way through my cycle it seems to very effective. I forgot to take it last month, or didn't take it in time... I'm sure you can't take it when you are breastfeeding though so I'm afraid that's not much help. Will see if I can find this document.

The only way I knew the Agnus Castus I was taking was helping was the month I missed most days.

I usually had one day a month where I was really low and not nice to be around but the AC really helps.

I am also on ADs and the GP had hoped that I could come off them and just use AC but I need both.

I don't think you can take St John's Wort can be taken with AD's.

Sorry, yes Nabster, you are quite right - I don't think it would be a good idea to take both together. Here is the link to the Royal College www.rcog.org.uk/index.asp?PageID=2306
I don't think they mention St John's Wort, it was something I though I would try before going to the GP.

I second Agnus Cactus. I've been taking it for just over months now and it's effects have been brilliant!

Another good supplement is 5HTP. It starts to work quicker than St Johns and has been more effective for me. But neither St Johns or 5HTP should be taken with antidepressants.

just over 3* months}

Thanks ladies, and for the link Miranda. Will have a look at that.

Sounds like AC might be worth a try if it's ok to take while bf'ing.

Better get googling

I'm not switching bandwagons here , but I think I might have taken Vitex Agnus Cactus at some point also (before I had children, so a lot has happened in the meantime...) I had completely forgotten about it. Pretty sure I found it good too, although my PMS wasn't as bad as it is now. I would definitely check with GP before taking anything else with ADs and when bf.

I've found that a supplement called Magnesium OK helps somewhat - miraculously 'cured' my painful breasts, and I was definitely less ratty too. It's just remembering to take it...

What great timing, last week I was especially vile, i'd better get down to Holland and Barrett sharpish! Thanks for the information, here's to everyone feeling less hormonal!

I become a psycho too, and I am one right now!

Most things don't seem to work on me and I've got a shelf full of medicines and herbal remedies. When I'm feeling I am being really awful to the kids, bordering on emotionally abusive, effervescent B vitamins in water seems to calm me down a bit. It also helps me face the day first thing in the morning when I feel furious and depressed EVERY morning.

If I'm REALLY bad I take solulble solpadeine but I feel stupid taking it if I don't actually have a headache (I do have headache today though). It seems to not just take away the physical pain of headache but also the mental 'pain' of every noise and movement and every little irritating thing the kids do. Sometimes I've felt like I'm so 'mad' I can't even speak to the children and just want to scream at them to get away from me. Then I take Solpadeine and suddenly I can speak and I feel loving towards them, it's magic! The trouble is if I take too many it becomes less effective and it has lots of caffeine in it which makes me lie awake all night especially if I've taken some in the afternoon.

When I haven't got headache Red Bull also works and contains B vitamins and caffeine. Again it isn't so effective if you become addicted to it and it stops you sleeping. I try to only use Solpadeine or Red Bull if I feel it is so bad that I am really upsetting the children.

I seem to have these PMT symptoms off and on throughout the whole month but more severely the week before a period. Throughout the month I take Relora, Rhodiola, Feverfew, Ginkgo and Lemon Balm and it makes me less anxious and uptight. It is when I am too anxious that I get angry and irritable. It works throughout the month but isn't enough for the intense psycho few days before a period.

Not enough sleep and low blood sugar make it all much worse, and alcohol. If you have low blood sugar but feel too depressed and unmotivated to prepare a meal, SlimFast type drinks or sports milkshakes are good. I find that any remedy in liquid form seems to work better than tablets.

Evening Primrose seems to make me much much worse!

As they all seem to have such differing effects on people, I think i'll have to try a few different remedies to see which one suits me - Evening Primrose/Agnus Cactus/St Johns Wort etc! Being a woman sucks sometimes!