In spite of lifestyle changes and home remedies you still experience moderate to severe premenstrual symptoms of premenstrual syndrome, you then may need to talk to your doctor about utilizing medications.  A lot of PMS drugs affect the endocrine system and they function to either block or increase specific chemical reactions that can be causing PMS symptoms. No medicine has been yet created to cure premenstrual syndrome.

NSAIDS or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are the most widely used types of drugs for treating PMS symptoms especially for pain. SSRIs or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are availed of in the treatment of mood-related symptoms.

Medication Choices

Pain relievers – These can include mefenamic acid, ibuprofen and Naproxen. They help relieve menstrual as well as premenstrual pain and at the same time minimize menstrual bleeding. NSAIDS can also help lessen inflammation caused by enhanced production of prostaglandin in the body during the premenstrual cycle. These medicines are best used prior to and maintained at regular dosage intervals for the entire premenstrual pain phase. This phase can go on into the initial days of menstrual bleeding and NSAIDS can help address any painful cramps that may be experienced during this phase. If you have regular cycles you can start taking an NSAID drug one to two days prior to the time you expect pain to begin.

SSRIs like citalopram, fluvoxamine, paroxetine or fluoxetine are used to treat physical and mood-related symptoms. An SSRI can help bring back balance to neurotransmitters which are brain chemicals. When balance is brought to these chemicals the emotional and physical symptoms of PMS start to become better. These medicines can be most effective when used exclusively during the premenstrual weeks or if they are used continuously.

Diuretic to treat weight gain and water retention – One example of a diuretic is the drug spironolactone. Spironolactone can help lessen breast tenderness and bloating when it is used during the premenstrual weeks. It works by preventing the body to use the aldosterone hormone.

Benzodiazepine for anxiety treatment – One type of Benzodiazepine is alprazolam. The use of this drug is usually restricted to a few days’ use and is often utilized if the aforementioned treatments have all been unproductive. Alprazolam depresses the central nervous system, becomes ineffective when used for extended periods of time and can be habit-forming as well. The prolonged use of this drug can result in life-threatening or withdrawal symptoms.

Hormonal treatments

Progestin/estrogen birth control pills are also commonly prescribed for symptoms of PMS. These pills, however, may not be able to relieve all PMS symptoms. They have been proven though to address breast tenderness, stomach pain, headache and bloating in some women. Some women, however, have complained of mood problems or worse symptoms after taking these pills. Birth control pills seem to be ineffective when addressing mood-related symptoms. If estrogen-only pills are taken by some women, they may provide some benefits although estrogen-only pills can heighten the risk of endometrial (uterine) cancer for these women.

Progestin (progesterone) has been utilized before for PMS symptoms but since they make the emotional and physical symptoms worse in some women it is not as prescribed anymore as it used to be.

Other hormone treatments

Danazol – This is man-made male hormone that can address breast pain by limiting the woman’s production of estrogen. This treatment is rarely used.

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRH-a) – This treatment is often used a treatment of last-resort for PMDD symptoms that are severe. GnRH-a can effectively cease the hormonal menstrual cycle of each month and causes effects in the reproductive system similar to menopause.

Psychological therapy

If you are emotional or feel depressed because of your PMS, you can get help by talking to a health expert. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is actually a collection of therapies that have been created to resolve emotional problems like depression and anxiety. A cognitive behavioral therapist is trained to assist you in learning new methods of better managing your emotional symptoms of PMS.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is derived from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) which sees the body fundamentally as one whole integrated system instead of a collation of distinct diseases and symptoms.  It considers problems like PMS as a result of the body’s disharmony and imbalance caused by the slow movement or non-movement of chi, which is considered the body’s energy.  One important organ in TCM is the liver which is viewed as the key organ in charge of the smooth flow of chi.  The liver also plays a role in the hormonal fluctuations in the endocrine system.

Exercise, relaxation and diet are things seen by TCM that make the liver healthy and helping it to free chi energy that has been blocked. It is not strange then to hear from an acupuncturist to prescribe acupuncture treatment along with lifestyle changes as part of a holistic approach.

Acupuncture for Women’s Health Conditions

Nowadays people are more and more becoming aware of acupuncture treatment as a form of natural and drug-free treatment for pain. Acupuncture not only is a perfect reliever for many types of pain, it treats the body by enabling the body to heal itself and not rely on any kind of medications. It also is effective in restoring balance to the female endocrine system and hormones. Acupuncture practitioners utilize methods that aim to balance the blood flow to the uterus, improve the balance of hormones, stimulate egg production (ideal for infertility), regulate the ovarian cycle, and provide treatment for a wide array of women’s health issues. These include:

• Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
• Infertility
• Endometriosis
• Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
• Uterine fibroids (benign tumors in the uterus caused by too much estrogen and can also be the cause of heavy bleeding)
• Heavy or irregular periods – Especially effective during the perimenopausal phase

Some of the ways acupuncture can specifically address PMS symptoms include:

• Lessening inflammation
• Stimulating nerves situated in muscles and other tissues resulting in the production and release of endorphins and natural steroids
• Improving relaxation and minimizing tension

Bhakti Acupuncture
7550 France Ave S #220
Edina, MN 55435
Phone: (952) 230-1212
bhaktiacupuncture.com