Severe pms - supplements?

[NauseousNancy]

I am looking for some help/advice dealing with extreme pms - most probably pmdd.

I have struggled hugely with my mental health from ovulation to menstruation since I started my periods. I have tried many different hormonal contraceptives, all have made it worse to varying levels. I eventually was prescribed fluoxetine which helped. I had a baby last year, so had stopped taking it, and while I was pregnant it was bliss. However, my periods have come back and while at first they seemed manageable they are becoming crippling again. My doctor has prescribed fluoxetine again, however I really would rather find another way of coping.

Has anyone had any success with supplements helping with symptoms? I don’t care so much about bloating/pain/heavy bleeding. It’s the mental health side I am looking to improve.

Thanks for any help!

Anyone?

NauseousNancy I struggle with this too. Although many aspects of my cycle are less than desirable, it's also the mental health side of it I really want to manage better. Anger, irritability, rage, dysphoria, mood swings from day 23 till day 1. I am currently pregnant and enjoying some PMT free time, but also determined to have find some solutions since this will definitely be my last pregnancy and I won't get a reprieve again until menopause! Give me a minute and I'll post some links for useful info I've been reading...

www.pms.org.uk/assets/files/guidelinesfinal60210.pdf

obgyn.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/1471-0528.14260

Hello

I have pmdd too and was prescribed citalopram and it's made a huge difference. Nothing else has made the slightest difference. I tried all the herbs but nothing. Citalopram just gives me a couple of days of weepiness as opposed to two weeks of memory loss/insomnia/doom/rage.

I've also started taking Maca root which I think helps as well. You could maybe ask dr to prescribe ads for 2 weeks of the month which is also suggested? I know you don't want to medicate but it's the only thing that works for me unfortunately.

You could also try 5htp supplements and l theanine as well which takes the edge of anxiety.

To be honest I have tried a lot of the alternative stuff previously. I am hoping that I can go on Eloine (OCP) post partum. It's the new name for Yaz, and has a lower dose of Estrogen and is taken 24 days out of 28 (rather than the usual 21) to prevent any cycle breakthrough. The lower dose means it is suitable up to menopause.

The only thing alternative treatment that really helped me was the vitamins -B6, and D.

There is evidence that vitamin B6 can help bnf.nice.org.uk/drug/pyridoxine-hydrochloride.html

Not a problem for me any more (surgical meno) but prior to that I found 100mg of vit b6 worked a treat but you have to take it every day.
Pirodoxine is what it's called.

Sorry, have to be quick as toddler is flinging food...

I found supplements useless.
I find low dose citalopram, taken only for 10 days per month, incredible.

Made me shaky and spaced out at first, but now just chilled and able to be a decent parent (well, as decent as I usually am!)

After having babies I got much worse. Currently pregnant but will be back on the meds when I need them, for sure.

Aspergallus - some really interesting things in those links, thank you! Glad you hear you have a bit of a reprieve at the minute - I loved not having periods! Sexual health (who fitted my copper coil) did suggest an estrogen based pill but taken all the time. However, my weight at the minute means that’s not an option. Working on bringing it down!

langkaw - sorry to hear you suffer too. I do have a prescription - for fluoexetine. They are sat in my cupboard, for some reason I just don’t want to have to be back taking them! maca root sounds interesting, I’ll have a look into that.

Stargirl17 & Ledkr - thanks both for the advice about vitamin b6. I’ll head to boots tomorrow!

KalaLaka - thank you. I think I possibly do just need to go with the ad’s. I’m not sure why it feels so strange for me, I feel almost like I am failing. I took them before absolutely fine but now I just feel a bit off taking them. Not sure what’s changed!