Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) is an extreme form of PMS that affects approximately 5% of women.

Instead, PMDD is a condition that resembles PMS but in an extreme form, impacting about five percent of menstruating women. Symptoms of premenstrual dysphoric disorder are the same as those of PMS in that they include irritability, tension, anxiety, moodiness, and depression but in the case of PMDD, these symptoms are quite severe, disrupting the lives of the women who experience them.

If you suspect that you are suffering from PMDD and not just typical PMS, it is recommended that you speak with your health care professional such as your doctor so that you can find out for certain and discuss various treatment options.

There are many different treatments now available for PMDD, so when you discuss the condition with your doctor, you will be able to come up with a few possibilities that may help to ease your symptoms. Until recently, there were only a very few options available, but there have been several more techniques and drugs which have been carefully tested and studied in order to receive their Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval. There are currently four different drugs that have FDA approval for treating PMDD. These are paroxetine controlled-release (Paxil CR), fluoxetine (Sarafem), the oral contraceptive (YAZ) drospirenone/ethinyl estradiol, or sertraline (Zoloft).

Some women find that these treatments work exceptionally well, others find only moderate relief until they find the ideal option for them. There are, however, no cures for PMDD, though some online advertisers will try to convince you that they have found this solution. Essentially, the recommendation that is typically made by health professionals is to keep active throughout the cycle, eat a healthy diet, and if necessary, try the prescribed medications.

Zoloft is one of the most prescribed medications for the treatment of depression, stress disorders and anxiety disorders.

In 2007, Zoloft was prescribed more than any other antidepressant available on the American market, with 29,652,000 prescriptions having been written and filled. Though the actual effect of this form of antidepressant is considered to be comparable to that of the older tricyclic form of antidepressants, these are often a first choice simply because their side effects are different and less dramatic. In fact, some studies are starting to show that drugs of Zoloft’s nature are actually more effective for some kinds of depression than fluoxetine (commonly known as Prozac). Furthermore, it is known to be exceptionally effective in treating anxiety and panic disorders. That being said, cognitive behavioral therapy is still considered to be a superior treatment for obsessive compulsive disorder than Zoloft – but Zoloft in combination with cognitive behavioral therapy is much better than either one on their own.

Actual social phobia (the extreme version of social anxiety disorder) and post-traumatic disorders can see improvements through the use of Zoloft, but only modestly. Other therapies are recommended in conjunction with the drug. Zoloft has also been known to help ease the symptoms of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) when using sub-therapeutic doses or simply using it intermittently as needed for treatment.

Though a very effective drug, Zoloft does not come without the risk of side effects – some of which are quite common. These side effects are universal throughout the SSRI class of drugs. They include diarrhea, nausea, insomnia, sleepiness, and sexual side effects. Some people also report dry mouth. That being said, unlike many other SSRIs, Zoloft has not been shown to lead to weight gain and any cognition impacts it has are deemed to be mild. As with other forms of antidepressant, in some specific types of cases, there is an increased risk of suicidal thoughts with Zoloft – however, statistics relating to this topic are currently subject to controversy.