Hi Carebear, welcome to the forums. I have been lingering online here for years when I was in a place similar to you and have not come back because things with my PMDD have gotten better. Seeing your post made me want to reach out and talk about my time with PMDD.

I knew I had pmdd years ago before I was officially diagnosed in 2008. My life was much the same as yours with my symptoms happening 10-14 days right before my period. I felt extremely insane, paranoid, insecure, depressed and experienced severe mood swings. I tried everything the natural way; VitB6 supplements, herbal teas made especially for pms, increasing my calcium intake, working out, herbal remedies etc etc. Nothing worked. I even went to an anger management class and a couples communication class with my man. He unfortunately felt the brunt of it all.

Anyway, I have now been on cipralex or escitalopram for almost 3 years. I am on continuous dosing - take it every day. I started out at 10mg per day. It made me feel like a new person and I didn't dread the upcoming days before my period every damn month. After about a year I increased my dose (as recommended by my doc) during the 14 days right before my period. So when I wasn't PMDDing i was on 10mg then increased to 15mg 14 days pre period, and then back to 10mg after my period. Because the dose increase was a small increment, I did not get any "SSRI withdrawl" that is common with changing doses. My doctor (who does research in PMDD and is a psychiatrist) told me that with PMDD women respond to even small increases in doses. Unlike people diagnosed for depression, PMDD responds quickly to SSRI therapy instead of taking a while for a dose to reach its peak effect. Today I am now on 20mg daily and then 25 mg 14 days before my period. It has worked wonders for me, my family life, and my work life. I am a strong supporter of PMDD tx'd with the right antidepression.

At first I was leary to be on antidepressants because of the stigma associated with it. I am also a registered nurse and was aware of all the potential side effects etc. I read book after book and searched online, tried everything but nothing ever worked. It is so freeing now to know I can have it under control with medications.

Anyway, hope that helps. Feel free to message me if you like.

Kim

Hi CB,
I'm taking Lovan (same as Prozac which is Fluoxetine) for PMDD. I'm just not a pill taking person so I was very reluctant to go on them because of the potential side effects, but the PMDD has worsened and is effecting my quality of life. I have a very healthy lifestyle, diet and mental outlook, and have tried the vitamins, supplements, St john's wort, etc. without any success. So I decided to take the antidepressants as I'm getting quite desperate for something to help. My doctor has started me on a half dose of 10mg for the first month to see how I go, then can up to 20mg if required. I'm on day 17 of taking the Lovan and I did get side effects of headache, stomach upset, loss of appetite, drowsiness, jittery and nervous feeling- however they weren't severe and at quite an acceptable level. All side effects disappeared about 14 days in. I am still getting the PMDD symptoms, but am feeling calmer and less distressed about it than usual. Looks as tho I will have to up the dose, but I'm feeling OK with that as a lot more confident about the side effects now. Everyone has different levels of tolerance to medications and symptoms and I think its about finding the right balance for you. I take the same dose every day as my menstrual cycle has shortened to 25 days, so ovulation occurs on day 11 for me. Minus 3 days out sick/pain with period and that only leaves a week max of kinda OK. Its not worth altering the dose in this situation. I am glad I decide to give them a go, as I thought at least this way I'll know whether they are right for me, or if not I can continue looking for something else. But I've committed to at least 3 months, so I'll post on this site whether they have helped or not. Hope the info helps :)

Thanks Kim and dustykitty for the advice and input on the anti-depressants. I am also worried about side effects because I'm in nursing school right now and didn't want them to affect my thinking (you know what that's like Kim!). I'm glad to here that it was a benefit for you two. Yeah, ever since my symptoms have gotten worse, I really felt insane. I have a degree in Psychology, so you can imagine all the diagnoses I was giving myself. I take Xanax every once in a while for the symptoms but don't want to depend on them and develop a tolerance. I should really give the anti-depressants a chance. They may change my life! 'll keep you guys updated and let you know how everything goes!

carebear i to have pmdd just found out in june but this has been going on for a while so i had got so insane i went to the dr. last week and they gave me paxil but havent took them yet so worried about the side effects and i so want to get better but just soooo scared of the paxil i just dont know what to do...ive never took pills so i feel insane at time for being like that....

So far, I have had zero luck with anti-depressants! I tried prozac, paxil, zoloft and recently tofranil and I get MUCH worse...I just cannot believe this is happening to me and I cannot get a medicine that will help instead of making me extremely anxious, suicidal and depressed. I'm doing yaz and all the vitamins that the endocrynologist suggested and NOTHING!! I'm still bad...they are talking about taking my ovaries. I found a pschiatrist that specialized in PMDD but she is out of my network, so now I've got to wait out the weekend to hopefully get my insurance company to consider her in network. This is horrible that we have to go through this nightmare! I'm very scared. I was hopeful that tofranil and yaz would help and 4 days into the tofranil and bam...majorly suicidal and depressed, crawling out of my skin, tremors, you name it. Anyway, god bless you all and I wish the best to us all through this!

Hey everyone,
So wanted to tell you guys about my experiment. I read a lot of stuff about Magnesium and how it helps with depression and anxiety. Researches have also found that Magnesium levels drop before your period in women with PMDD and PMS. I know that most of you probably tried Magnesium with no luck. Well, I found out that there are different types of Magnesium and the body absorbs it differently. I was taking Magnesium Oxide (the kind that is usually sold at the food store and drug stores) for a while with no luck at all. After some research, I learned that the oxide kind is not absorbed by the body correctly. So, I decided to buy a magnesium supplement called "natural calm." It is Magnesium Citrate, the kind that your body fully absorbs. I started taking it everyday in the morning 9 days before my period. I also drank a cup of MOON CYCLE tea everyday (which didn't really help me the previous month but decided to give it another try). It was the first time in almost a year that I felt sane. Usually I feel like I'm losing my mind, trembling inside, severely depressed, and constantly in a state of panic. I was so happy to feel sane that I cried. I know that you all probably tried Magnesium in the past, but maybe it was not the right type. I would definitely give it a try. I still had a little anxiety and moodiness, but nothing like before. It was amazing. Look it up: "Natural Calm" Magnesium. If you do decide to try it, make sure to take it at the same time everyday and maybe even try the MOON CYCLE tea by Yogi with it. The combination really helped me. I just wanted to share this with you because I know the PMDD makes us feel hopeless and I feel like this may help you. If you have any questions let me know.

Thanks Carebear...right now I'm taking a calcium/magnesium supplement and the other vitamins recommended, but I still feel awful. I'm going to give this a try...is it a powder to be mixed with water? I think I've seen it. Man I wish it wasn't thanksgiving so I could go to the vitamin store and get it now!!! :) Can't wait to try it, oh and can I take it all the time instead of before and during my cycle? My symptoms last about 15 days out of the month! Thanks again

Paulinalove,
Yes it is a powder. I would start taking it a few days before the start of your symptoms so it can build up in your system. I have been taking it for 2 weeks straight (one teaspoon in water). See how it works, and If it helps and you want to possibly take it everyday, make sure you discuss it with your doctor! I hope it works for you. The "natural calm" magnesium brand does have the magnesium with calcium too. I only take the magnesium one, but if you want calcium, go for the one that has it included. Keep me updated and let me know how it goes

Thanks carebear....bought it yesterday! I forgot to get the moon cycle tea you were talking about. Oh well, I've spent sooooooo much money looking for answers and I'm really not a ton better off....very frustrating ya know? Can't wait to see the specialist and see what she has to say! It's Dec 10th, counting the days!!

Hey my name is Samantha. I think I'm the youngest one on here but i really need to talk to someone about my PMDD. I was diagnosed with it about a year ago and I have yet to find the true support I need. I have grown up supper fast from all of this and it is causing tons of problems. i get supper emotional, angry, sensitive, and depressed 2 weeks of a month. I'm not myself at all. It's pretty much taken over my life. It feels really good to know im not the only one who feels this way. Any advice would really help. Thanks.

Hello Sammy. I wish I had some advice to give you but I don't. I can only tell you that I have the exact same problem. 2 weeks out of a month I feel awful. The doc said the only thing that they can do is give me an anti-depressant with a birth control. I'm having some other medication issues, so I cannot do those at this time. This is a very frustrating thing to deal with. My symptoms are high anxiety, insomnia, loss of appetite, moodiness. what happens to you? Have you been to a doc yet and if so what did they say to you?

Hello Sammy. I wish I had some advice to give you but I don't. I can only tell you that I have the exact same problem. 2 weeks out of a month I feel awful. The doc said the only thing that they can do is give me an anti-depressant with a birth control. I'm having some other medication issues, so I cannot do those at this time. This is a very frustrating thing to deal with. My symptoms are high anxiety, insomnia, loss of appetite, moodiness. what happens to you? Have you been to a doc yet and if so what did they say to you?

Carebear, I felt the same way... still do sometimes. I just started Prozac and what worked for me was realizing that anything was better than the way I feel right now. If Prozac will help, then LET ME AT IT! Don't be discouraged if you get side-effects, they can switch you to something else if its too bad. These meds take a long time to work, at least 2 weeks for most. I'm on day 3 of Prozac so it's a test of will. Oh!!! And remember taking these pills is NOT an admission of being CRAZY! PMDD has nothing to do with you're mental/emotional sanity (though sometimes I feel I'm going mad) it's hormonal and not a character flaw nor does it mean you're weak. I've struggled with those types of judgements but you must be true to yourself and know that the treatments prescribed by your doctor are safe.

Hey I joined today because yesterday something happened that NEVER happened to me before. I was getting ready to start my period any day I woke up very happy!!!! and then it switched I got sooo anxious like I wasnt cofortable in my house I have a 2 yr old and I called my husband to come home as soon as he could cause I felt like I was having a nervous breakdown I started crying could not stop I was bein mean to my daughter and stricter then I have ever been. It did not even dawn on me maybe it had to do with my period?? I started my period this AM and I feel good but I am very guilty feeling for the way I acted and treated my family I just wanted to be locked in a room alone. Im thinking I may have pmdd also any one ever have it just pop up that quickly?like I said I have never had that happen and I am 25 yrs old.

Sounds to me like a good hit of PMS. PMDD is when you get at least one to two WEEKS of that before your period.