The efficacy and the tolerability of escitalopram in the treatment of premenstrual dysphoric disorder

M. Ladea, M. Şarpe, M. R. Dumitrescu

Abstract: The primary objective of this study was to assess the efficacy and the tolerability of daily treatment throughout the menstrual cycle with escitalopram (20 mg/day) after 3 cycles of treatment in premenstrual dysphoric disorder. This naturalistic study included 18 women aged 21–44 years with regular menstrual cycles and confirmed premenstrual dysphoric disorder according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR). The primary efficacy measurement was the visual analogue scale (VAS)-Mood score, which is the mean of 4 core symptoms: irritability, tension, depressed mood, and affective lability. Fifteen (83.33%) of the eighteen patients enrolled were responders, and five (27.77%) patients respectively were remitters. Adverse events were mild to moderate. Escitalopram is well tolerated and efficacious in reducing symptoms of premenstrual dysphoric disorder. More studies are needed for this category of patients.
Keywords: premenstrual dysphoric disorder, escitalopram, visual analogue scale