Personal stories about deciding to take an SSRI for PMS or PMDD

These stories are based on information gathered from health professionals and consumers. They may be helpful as you make important health decisions.

Sarah, age 34: When my PMS symptoms started to interfere with my job performance, I knew I had to treat them.. The first SSRI I tried just didn't seem to help. But then my doctor prescribed a different one, and it started to work after about a week. What a relief!

Jonetta, age 29: I've had PMS since I was a teenager, so I've had many years to figure out what works for me. A few of my friends use an SSRI for their PMS problems, and it seems to work for them. For me, I've found that eating right and daily exercise keep me from getting keyed up and angry. I make sure I keep up with that, especially before my period, because if I don't, I'm a different person.

Jane, age 38: I didn't have PMS until my late 30s and was really thrown for a loop when I started feeling energyless and having mood swings before my periods. It got to the point where my husband and kids didn't want to be around me for a week out of every month. Since I started taking an SSRI for the latter half of my menstrual cycle, I'm back to my usual self every month.

Diane, age 43: I thought I'd be able to try an SSRI for my PMS problems, but after talking to my doctor, I learned that it could make my epilepsy worse. So I've put more of my energy into improving my diet and getting plenty of exercise. It really does help.