According to Arefa Cassoobhoy, a board-certified internal medicine doctor, premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is a health problem similar to premenstrual syndrome (PMS), but it’s more serious.
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Chances are good that you’ve had some type of PMS since you started your period. Doctors think as many as three-quarters of women who get periods have some signs of PMS, whether it’s food cravings, cramps, tender breasts, moodiness, or fatigue.
However, PMDD is quite different. It causes emotional and physical symptoms like PMS, but women with PMDD find their symptoms draining. PMDD symptoms could interfere with your daily life, including work, school, social life, and relationships.
PMDD Symptoms
The symptoms of PMDD usually show up the week before you start your period and last until a few days after it begins. Most of the time they’re severe and exhausting, and they can keep you from daily activities. They include:
- Mood swings
- Depression or feelings of hopelessness
- Intense anger and conflict with other people
- Tension, anxiety, and irritability
- No interest in your usual activities
- Trouble concentrating
- Fatigue
- Appetite changes
- Feeling out of control
- Sleep problems
- Cramps and bloating
- Breast tenderness
- Headaches
- Joint or muscle pain
- Hot flashes
Treatment
Dr Arefa says some over-the-counter pain relievers such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may ease symptoms like headache, breast tenderness, backache, and cramping. Diuretics, also called 'water pills', can help with fluid retention and bloating.
For some women, 1,200 milligrams a day of dietary and supplemental calcium may help with symptoms. Vitamin B6, magnesium and L-tryptophan also may work, but ask your doctor for advice before taking any supplements.
Some studies suggest that chasteberry (Vitex agnus-castus) is good for PMDD, but there isn’t enough research to be sure. The FDA doesn't control herbal supplements, so talk with your doctor before trying one.
Talking to a therapist may also help you find new ways to manage PMDD. Relaxation therapy, meditation, reflexology, and yoga might also provide you relief, but they haven’t been widely studied either.
