Fluoxetine for PMT - anyone any experience?

[Hattiecat]

My gp has prescribed me fluoxetine for pmt - you take it 2 weeks before period due, then come off it when it starts, then start again 2 weeks before due again, and continue like that. i've used fluoxetine as AD before and i don't understand that normally it takes 2 weeks to kick in - so how can it work if you only ever take it for a fortnight at a time? Bit sceptical about it really...

That sounds really bonkers - I would ask for a second opinion.

Surely it would be more sensible to treat it with something hormonal?

I have heard of this before, try to keep this bumped, I am sure someone else on mumsnet is taking fluoxetine for this. I agree it sounds a bit bonkers. I take fluoxetine for depression but still suffer pmt.

that's what i thought mp, but i've had a rough year medically and he wasn't sure that he wanted to start messing with my hormones, personally i couldn't give a stuff i just want to stop turning into a psychotic lunatic that is so angry that am out of control at times. really scary, never known anything like it.

It works immediately for PMT. I don't fully understand how it works but it was unbelievably effective for me. I felt the benefit straight way, especially with the breast pain. Don't let scepticism stop you from trying it!

And btw I didn't start/stop. Just took it continuously.

hmmmmm....that's what i don't understand eemie is the starting and stopping bit. i don't want to take it continuosly cos i've been down the road of having it for depression in the past, and i'm not depressed and i feel as if i've be giving in to that again (if that makes any sense). have had lots to deal with in past year and havne't been depressed which is a bloddy miracle really. just don't understand the stopping and starting thing. will give it a try though...

Well however it's working the mechanism is clearly different from that in depression, because as I said it worked straight away (within hours).

But I doubted I'd remember to start/stop at the right time and my cycle wasn't regular. Had no unpleasant side effects from fluoxetine, so wasn't motivated to stop.

I also have a past history of depression so thought if it was also lifting my mood/lowering anxiety that would be no loss.

yeah, my cycle is copletely all over the place so think it would have to be guess work but will try it, suppose just like to try and understand how the whole stopping and starting thing works.

bump fpr anyone in the know

i was prescribed it, too it for 2 days got scared about getting addicted thern stopped taking it. so no idea if it would work or no but i was given same advice by my gp, hattiecat

anyone?

think the theory is that if you only have PMT (and not depression), it only develops in the second half of your cycle, after ovulation and before your period is due. Therefore, you only need the medication in that time.

Think with depression, you need a more serious build up of the serotonin which is why you have to take it continuously (because with proper PMT, you feel totally normal in the 2 weeks following your period so are not in need of the serotonin boost at that point).

Have heard of a few people treated this way (and also taking it continously). Worth trying to see if it works!

thanks fox - that makes sense...

I'm not medical or anything hattie - but did see a gynae for hormonal problems.

I suppose it's worth trying taking it like that to see if it works - if it doesn't succeed, at least you've then got the option of dicussing with your GP whether you take it continuously.

exactly - he said that he's refer me on if necessary. i think i kind of presumed that he'd just put me on the pill and was surprised when he didn't and as i relate taking fluoxetine with depression and i'm definitely not depressed (been there and know!) i was a tad confused.

oh in that sense, was told that, for some people, by increasing the serotonin, the PMT goes away (or improves) - the thinking being that their levels were lower than normal but not so low that depression was caused iyswim. It doesn't apply to everyone though.

interesting - i just can't wait not to turn into a axe wielding lunatic for a couple of weeks per month and also that as i had something called guillain barre syndrome in the summer and am still recoveing from that and the symptoms of that get much worse at the same time that i'll be able to deal with some of the anger and frustration of that too...we'll see - fingers crossed eh?