What is PMDD?
PMDD -- premenstrual dysphoric disorder -- is not regular PMS turned up a notch. It is a condition where hormonal shifts trigger severe mood changes in the week or two before your period. Depression, rage, anxiety, hopelessness -- symptoms that are intense enough to disrupt your life. About 5-8% of women of reproductive age deal with it.
A lot of women with PMDD spend years thinking something is wrong with them before they get an answer. They are told to exercise more, sleep more, stress less. None of that fixes PMDD because PMDD is a neurochemical response to normal hormonal changes. It needs real treatment.
How We Treat PMDD
SSRIs are the most effective medication treatment for PMDD. Some patients take them every day. Others only take them during the luteal phase -- the two weeks before their period starts. We figure out which approach works for you.
Medications we commonly use include sertraline (Zoloft), fluoxetine (Prozac), and escitalopram (Lexapro). If SSRIs do not do the job, we look at other options. When hormonal approaches make sense, we work alongside your OB-GYN.
What to Expect
Your first appointment covers your symptoms, your cycle patterns, and how severe things get. If you have been keeping a mood log or calendar, bring it -- that information helps a lot. If not, we may have you track for a cycle or two before starting treatment.
Insurance and Payment
PMDD treatment is covered by most insurance plans. We accept Blue Cross NC, Aetna, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, and NC Medicaid. Cash pay is available.
When to Come In
If every month brings a stretch where you feel like a different person. If your family walks on eggshells around you at certain times. If you have tried to manage it on your own and it keeps winning. PMDD is treatable. Most women feel a real difference within the first cycle or two on medication.