ask your pharmacist

What is Sarafem?

PMDD can cause symptoms such as irritability, mood swings, tension, bloating, and breast tenderness during the week or two before a woman's menstrual period. Scientists aren't sure what causes PMDD, but they think it may be related to an imbalance of a chemical called serotonin. Sarafem works to regulate the level of serotonin in the brain.

In clinical studies, up to 56 percent of women with severe PMS had moderate to marked improvement after taking Sarafem for six months. Sarafem seems to relieve both the physical and emotional symptoms of PMDD.

The usual dose of Sarafem is taken every day (not just when you are having PMDD symptoms). Your doctor may prescribe it based on your menstrual cycle as another option. You can take it either with or without food. You may have to take Sarafem for a few weeks before you notice an improvement.

Sources:
Drug Facts and Comparisons. Facts & Comparisons, 2006.
Micromedex ® Healthcare Series. Thomson Micromedex, 2006.
Pearlstein T.B., “Comparison of Fluoxetine, Bupropion, and Placebo in the Treatment of Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder.” Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology 4 (1997).
Pharmacotherapy: A Pathophysiologic Approach. Appleton & Lange, 1999.
Sarafem product information, Warner Chilcott, 2006.
Wyatt, K.M., "Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors for Premenstrual Syndrome." The Cochrane Library, Issue 2, 2000.

This answer prepared 8/13/2001.
This information updated 1/25/2007.