I was researching and found that an effective treatment for PMS PPMD is to take an SSRI during the luteal phase of the cycle only. The last half of the menstrual cycle.
I once tried an SSRI full time but gained a lot of weight quickly. And once I stopped the med it took a long time to lose the weight.
If a person only takes the med during half of the month, I wonder if there would be as much weight gain?
Anyone have experience doing this? Any weight gain?
This would be very helpful for me if I didn't have weight gain. It seems to really help PMS symptoms from what I've read so far.
Thanks for any info.
Welcome to the SSRI/PPMD club!
I've been on SSRIs for depression and Lexapro didn't cause me any weight gain.
Can you ask your doc for another SSRI that may not have the side effect of weight gain?
Glad it's helping you.
My doc once suggested this, but I thought (and still do) that it was a crazy idea. I have watched my husband go on and off of SSRIs many times over the years and it always takes a while for the med to build back up, and when he would stop suddenly without weaning it would cause a lot of side effects. Wellbutrin actually can keep weight down, maybe that would help?
This doesn't seem like a good idea to me, simply because of the way SSRIs work. It usually takes at least two weeks before they start working at all, and usually you don't notice a difference for four weeks or more. Also, when you are adjusting to them, you often feel a bit weird for the first few days. This is normal because it is resetting your brain chemistry. It would seem to me that if you only took them half the time that you would always be in this transition phase and would never get the benefits from them.
I took a few SSRIs (though not for this problem) and frankly, will never touch them again. They can really screw you up mentally, emotionally, psychologically, etc. They didn't do that to me, but they messed up my body chemistry (I discovered at the age of 40 that I have a genetic liver issue and shouldn't take any pharma drugs at all. So maybe my issues with the SSRIs is/was different because of that problem/issue).
For any and all women who are having issues with their menstrual cycles, I urge them to get a copy of The Wisdom of Menopause by Dr. Christiane Northrup. It is chock full of any and every piece of medical advice a woman should ever know (notice I said woman's health, not men's health or health advice that is geared toward men but includes women. Dr. Northrup had a private clinic for over 30 years and worked with countless women who had a lot of issues with their cycles (Dr. Northrup is an OB/GYN), including a great section on our monthly friend.
Reading her book, I discovered that I was low on Progesterone (had just about every marker/indicator indicating this). I bought some bioavailable Progesterone from my Naturopathic Doctor--it was the best thing I've ever done in my life! I wish I'd started using Progesterone way back when I was 15 and just starting with my period. The awful PMS and cramps and leg numbness and everything else (I mean, I would literally lay in bed the first 2 days of my period and feel as if I'd been hit by a Mack truck, I felt so bad) totally went away! I've been using the Progesterone cream now since July 2012, and it's the best decision I've ever made.
I've not been on this schedule but I've taken several different SSRIs over the years and some do not cause weight gain. Ask for one to try that isn't likely to cause weight gain.
Yes, I am on this exact schedule. I was prescribed Fluoxetine (Prozac) by my OB/GYN for PMDD (premenstrual dysphoric disorder) and I typically start it at day 14 each month and then take it until the day I get my period.. I've suffered from HORRIBLE pms (irritability and anger to the extreme) and this med makes me feel a bit calmer and I don't tend to over react to things that in the past would have set me over the edge. Due to my job, I do know that psych drugs can make you gain weight, so I carefully monitor my weight now that I am on the meds. I record my weight the day I start the meds to the day I stop each month and seem to only fluctuate by a few pounds up or down, sometimes I am the same weight. Of course everyone's body chemistry's are different, so what works for one may not work for another and side effects for one may be different for another, but I think its worth a shot. It took me a LONG time to decide to try it, I'm talking years, but am glad I finally got up the courage to do it. Good luck to you!!
