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Bromocriptine and premenstrual tension: a clinical and hormonal study
Pharmatherapeutica
|January 1, 1982
Summary
Bromocriptine significantly reduced prolactin levels in premenstrual syndrome patients but did not outperform placebo in symptom improvement. These findings suggest prolactin may not be the sole cause of premenstrual syndrome symptoms.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive endocrinology
- Clinical pharmacology
Background:
- Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) affects numerous women, with potential links to hormonal fluctuations.
- Hyperprolactinemia has been investigated as a potential contributor to PMS symptoms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the efficacy of bromocriptine in managing premenstrual syndrome symptoms.
- To determine the effect of bromocriptine on serum prolactin levels during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle.
Main Methods:
- A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study involving 34 patients with PMS.
- Patients received bromocriptine (1.25 mg twice daily) for 3 cycles and placebo for 1 cycle during the luteal phase, with each patient serving as her own control.
Main Results:
- Bromocriptine significantly reduced serum prolactin levels compared to baseline and placebo.
- All medications, including placebo, led to considerable improvement in premenstrual symptoms.
- Bromocriptine did not demonstrate a statistically significant advantage over placebo in alleviating PMS symptoms.
Conclusions:
- The study does not support the hypothesis that elevated prolactin levels alone are the primary cause of premenstrual syndrome.
- While bromocriptine affects prolactin, its symptomatic benefit for PMS is comparable to placebo, indicating a complex etiology for the condition.