Effects of metergoline on symptoms in women with premenstrual dysphoric disorder

Am J Psychiatry. 2002 Nov;159(11):1876-81. doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.159.11.1876.

Abstract

Objective: The authors investigated the role of acute serotonergic modulation in the efficacy of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) in women with premenstrual dysphoric disorder.

Method: Patients with premenstrual dysphoric disorder (whose symptoms had remitted during treatment with fluoxetine) and a group of unmedicated healthy comparison women received the serotonin receptor antagonist metergoline as part of a double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study.

Results: The patients with premenstrual dysphoric disorder experienced a return of symptoms 24 hours after treatment with metergoline but not diphenhydramine (active placebo). The comparison women experienced no changes in mood.

Conclusions: These data support the role of altered serotonergic transmission in the efficacy of SSRI treatment for premenstrual dysphoric disorder.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Comparative Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Affect / drug effects
  • Affect / physiology
  • Depression / diagnosis
  • Depression / drug therapy
  • Depression / physiopathology*
  • Depression / psychology
  • Diphenhydramine / adverse effects
  • Diphenhydramine / therapeutic use
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Female
  • Fluoxetine / adverse effects
  • Fluoxetine / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Metergoline*
  • Personality Inventory
  • Premenstrual Syndrome / diagnosis
  • Premenstrual Syndrome / drug therapy
  • Premenstrual Syndrome / physiopathology*
  • Premenstrual Syndrome / psychology
  • Receptors, Serotonin / drug effects
  • Receptors, Serotonin / physiology*
  • Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / adverse effects
  • Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Serotonin Antagonists*
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Receptors, Serotonin
  • Serotonin Antagonists
  • Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors
  • Fluoxetine
  • Metergoline
  • Diphenhydramine