Assessment of N-acetylcysteine as an Alternative for the Treatment of the Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Introduction: Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is a common condition affecting females' quality of life in a significant negative manner. Verities of medical treatments have been investigated for whether the prevention or treatment of this condition with uncertain outcomes. The current st...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Fatemeh Rajabi, Monireh Haghanifar, Mohammad Javad Tarrahi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Research Center for Rational Use of Drugs (RCRUD) 2020-02-01
Series:Journal of Pharmaceutical Care
Subjects:
Online Access:https://jpc.tums.ac.ir/index.php/jpc/article/view/283
_version_ 1811267716753915904
author Fatemeh Rajabi
Monireh Haghanifar
Mohammad Javad Tarrahi
author_facet Fatemeh Rajabi
Monireh Haghanifar
Mohammad Javad Tarrahi
author_sort Fatemeh Rajabi
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is a common condition affecting females' quality of life in a significant negative manner. Verities of medical treatments have been investigated for whether the prevention or treatment of this condition with uncertain outcomes. The current stud has aimed to assess the efficacy of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) versus fluoxetine for the treatment of PMDD. Methods: The current randomized clinical trial has been conducted on 119 childbearing females, randomly divided into three groups of either treatment with 10 mg of fluoxetine twice daily or 450 mg of NAC twice daily or placebo in 2016-18. The participants used the agents for two weeks following menstruation. These treatment approaches performed for two menstrual cycles. The questionnaires of Hamilton and daily record of severity of problems (DRSP) were filled before and following the interventions for both groups, and the results were compared. Results: The baseline DRSP and Hamilton scores were not statistically different among the three groups(P-value>0.05) while by the end of the study all of the groups presented significantly improved scores(P-value<0.001). Comparison of three groups revealed remarkable inferiority of placebo to the other two groups(P-value<0.05) while no statistical difference was found between N-acetylcysteine with fluoxetine in terms of neither Hamilton(P-value=0.120) nor DRSP scores(P-value=0.749). Conclusion: The current study showed significant improvement in the PMDD symptoms following use of whether placebo or fluoxetine or NAC. Comparison of the agents revealed remarkable superiority of both fluoxetine and NAC to the placebo while NAC and fluoxetine had similar efficacy on the PMDD symptoms relief.
first_indexed 2024-04-12T21:07:49Z
format Article
id doaj.art-f4abf1be15fb4be5806d8d53792e76c0
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2322-4630
2322-4509
language English
last_indexed 2024-04-12T21:07:49Z
publishDate 2020-02-01
publisher Research Center for Rational Use of Drugs (RCRUD)
record_format Article
series Journal of Pharmaceutical Care
spelling doaj.art-f4abf1be15fb4be5806d8d53792e76c02022-12-22T03:16:40ZengResearch Center for Rational Use of Drugs (RCRUD)Journal of Pharmaceutical Care2322-46302322-45092020-02-017410.18502/jpc.v7i4.2377283Assessment of N-acetylcysteine as an Alternative for the Treatment of the Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder: A Randomized Clinical TrialFatemeh Rajabi0Monireh Haghanifar1Mohammad Javad Tarrahi2Assistant Professor of Psychiatry; Department of Psychiatry; Isfahan University of Medical Sciences; Isfahan; IranDepartment of Psychiatry, Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, IranAssociate Professor of Epidemiology, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, IranIntroduction: Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is a common condition affecting females' quality of life in a significant negative manner. Verities of medical treatments have been investigated for whether the prevention or treatment of this condition with uncertain outcomes. The current stud has aimed to assess the efficacy of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) versus fluoxetine for the treatment of PMDD. Methods: The current randomized clinical trial has been conducted on 119 childbearing females, randomly divided into three groups of either treatment with 10 mg of fluoxetine twice daily or 450 mg of NAC twice daily or placebo in 2016-18. The participants used the agents for two weeks following menstruation. These treatment approaches performed for two menstrual cycles. The questionnaires of Hamilton and daily record of severity of problems (DRSP) were filled before and following the interventions for both groups, and the results were compared. Results: The baseline DRSP and Hamilton scores were not statistically different among the three groups(P-value>0.05) while by the end of the study all of the groups presented significantly improved scores(P-value<0.001). Comparison of three groups revealed remarkable inferiority of placebo to the other two groups(P-value<0.05) while no statistical difference was found between N-acetylcysteine with fluoxetine in terms of neither Hamilton(P-value=0.120) nor DRSP scores(P-value=0.749). Conclusion: The current study showed significant improvement in the PMDD symptoms following use of whether placebo or fluoxetine or NAC. Comparison of the agents revealed remarkable superiority of both fluoxetine and NAC to the placebo while NAC and fluoxetine had similar efficacy on the PMDD symptoms relief.https://jpc.tums.ac.ir/index.php/jpc/article/view/283Premenstrual dysphoric disorderFluoxetineN-acetylcysteineDSM-IV
spellingShingle Fatemeh Rajabi
Monireh Haghanifar
Mohammad Javad Tarrahi
Assessment of N-acetylcysteine as an Alternative for the Treatment of the Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder: A Randomized Clinical Trial
Journal of Pharmaceutical Care
Premenstrual dysphoric disorder
Fluoxetine
N-acetylcysteine
DSM-IV
title Assessment of N-acetylcysteine as an Alternative for the Treatment of the Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder: A Randomized Clinical Trial
title_full Assessment of N-acetylcysteine as an Alternative for the Treatment of the Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder: A Randomized Clinical Trial
title_fullStr Assessment of N-acetylcysteine as an Alternative for the Treatment of the Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder: A Randomized Clinical Trial
title_full_unstemmed Assessment of N-acetylcysteine as an Alternative for the Treatment of the Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder: A Randomized Clinical Trial
title_short Assessment of N-acetylcysteine as an Alternative for the Treatment of the Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder: A Randomized Clinical Trial
title_sort assessment of n acetylcysteine as an alternative for the treatment of the premenstrual dysphoric disorder a randomized clinical trial
topic Premenstrual dysphoric disorder
Fluoxetine
N-acetylcysteine
DSM-IV
url https://jpc.tums.ac.ir/index.php/jpc/article/view/283
work_keys_str_mv AT fatemehrajabi assessmentofnacetylcysteineasanalternativeforthetreatmentofthepremenstrualdysphoricdisorderarandomizedclinicaltrial
AT monirehhaghanifar assessmentofnacetylcysteineasanalternativeforthetreatmentofthepremenstrualdysphoricdisorderarandomizedclinicaltrial
AT mohammadjavadtarrahi assessmentofnacetylcysteineasanalternativeforthetreatmentofthepremenstrualdysphoricdisorderarandomizedclinicaltrial