Hi Amanda, I am 46 years old have been diagnosed with PMDD. I also have depresion and have taken Zoloft full time for many years however now I only take it during the PMS phase of my cycle and it really does work. Lately, I've been trying to go without it to see how it would go, but I definitely still need it. I've take Zoloft for almost 10 years and believe it to be a life saving drug. So many women "white knuckle it" through the mood swings of PMS and do themselves damage in the process. The medical community (aka the pharma industry), mostly made up of men, have seeminly ignored this issue and we are left to our own devices. Sorry if I sound a little bitter but this (PMS) has been around since the beginning of time and very little has been done to study or treat it. Calcium does also ease the symptoms for me also.
I want you to know you're not alone....I will isolate myself too when I feel the surges coming on. I work a full time job and have a long commute which does not help. I also find my relationships with other women are a huge help. I've been married for 20 years and adore my husband, but there's nothing like other women to understand what it's like.
Good luck and please don't feel it's a defeat to turn to SSRIs for help...they are life saving!View Thread