Posted by katekite on July 9, 2002, at 9:58:46
In reply to Re: PMS- Anyone } noelle, posted by lisamb on July 9, 2002, at 4:38:40
I have experienced a similar thing. Paxil is so sedating for me that I used to use it just occasionally on nights where I couldn't sleep. It didn't seem to work at all the few days before my period but other times would put me right into a deep child-like slumber.
I have heard of increasing your ssri dose starting a week before your period, going back down to normal a day or so after it starts.
I have also heard of birth control pills helping. A new secret I heard about birth control pills is that it is apparently ok to take them for three months straight (the active ones) so that you only have a period every three months. This apparently doesn't hurt you as long as you take the inactive ones for a week every three months to allow your body to have a period. If only I'd known that when I was on the pill -- imagine not having to even think about it for 3 months at a stretch (next possible pms would be october!). But definitely consult your doc first, since I only heard of that recently there's a chance it's controversial or something.
Then as far as non-med strategies go I've heard that sleep deprivation timed carefully, can really decrease pms symptoms. I can't find the reference, but it was something like 4 days before period expected go to bed anytime, but get up no later than 4am. Then after that day sleep as much as you want. Supposedly it helped. I haven't been able to make myself try it, LOL.
Kate
poster:katekite
thread:111749
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020709/msgs/111842.html