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Treating
PMS:
Dr Rigotti's Advice
I generally recommend that a woman suffering from PMS start by
paying attention to lifestyle factors. Women spend much of their
lives caring for others and need to be reminded how important it
is for them to take extra care of themselves, particularly at the
time of the month when they feel most vulnerable.
This means simple things like getting regular aerobic exercise;
avoiding caffeine, alcohol, salt, and concentrated sweets; eating
frequent small meals instead of a few large meals a day; and practicing
stress reduction techniques such as the relaxation response. Adding
a supplement such as vitamin B6 to their diet also helps some women.
If several months of
following these steps are not enough to control symptoms, I usually
recommend trying an SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor)–type
antidepressant medication as the next step. There is clear evidence
that these drugs help, especially with mood swings and other
psychological symptoms that are often the most troublesome. |
