Daily or Part-Cycle Antidepressants for Severe PMS?
PeriodsArticleAsk which timing fits the symptoms being treated and how it will be reviewed.
If you have started arranging plans around the days before your period, bring that calendar into the treatment discussion. A prescription needs instructions you can follow, including whether the medicine is taken throughout the cycle or during a defined part of it.
Compare the two schedules
| Question | Throughout the cycle | Part of the cycle |
|---|---|---|
| When is medicine taken? | Every day across the menstrual cycle.1 | Daily during the prescribed premenstrual interval.1 |
| What should I confirm? | The dose, daily routine and review date. | The exact start and stop instructions, including what to do if a period is unpredictable. |
| What should I record? | Symptoms and effects across the month. | Symptoms and effects across the month, alongside the medicine dates. |
Ask what the prescription is treating
Mood symptoms that are present all month may reflect depression or anxiety and can worsen around a period. They can overlap with PMS. Tell the clinician about days outside the premenstrual interval too.2
Keep recording symptoms after treatment starts. RCOG recommends continuing the diary for at least another two to three months to help judge whether an option is working.1
Discuss effects such as nausea, insomnia, tiredness or low libido. If you are considering stopping treatment, ask for the clinician’s instructions: withdrawal symptoms can occur. Speak to the team before stopping if you are planning pregnancy or become pregnant.1
You can say: “I need the timing written down, and I want to know how we will judge whether it is helping.” Keep the answer with the medication instructions and follow-up appointment.
Period, Handled includes a Period Scorecard and a Flag-It list with a visit script. Use them to organize the cycle pattern and prescribing questions you want reviewed. See the book.
This article is for general educational purposes only and is not medical advice. It isn't a substitute for diagnosis or treatment from a qualified healthcare professional who knows your health history. Please don't ignore professional advice or delay getting care because of something you read here. If you think you may be having a medical emergency, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. Girl Playbook does not endorse any specific product, test, or provider.
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Sources
The research behind this article, in the order it’s cited. How we source our articles.
- Royal College of Obstetricians and GynaecologistsManaging premenstrual syndrome (PMS) (opens in a new tab)abcde
- American College of Obstetricians and GynecologistsPremenstrual Syndrome (PMS) (opens in a new tab)↩
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