Low-Dose Acetazolamide in the Treatment of Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder: A Case Series.
- Author:
Gabriele SANI
1
;
Georgios D KOTZALIDIS
;
Isabella PANACCIONE
;
Alessio SIMONETTI
;
Lavinia DE CHIARA
;
Antonio DEL CASALE
;
Elisa AMBROSI
;
Flavia NAPOLETANO
;
Delfina JANIRI
;
Emanuela DANESE
;
Nicoletta GIRARDI
;
Chiara RAPINESI
;
Daniele SERATA
;
Giovanni MANFREDI
;
Alexia E KOUKOPOULOS
;
Gloria ANGELETTI
;
Ferdinando NICOLETTI
;
Paolo GIRARDI
Author Information
1. NESMOS Department (Neuroscience, Mental Health, and Sensory Organs), Sapienza University, School of Medicine and Psychology, Sant'Andrea Hospital, Rome, Italy. gabriele.sani@uniroma1.it
- Publication Type:Case Report
- Keywords:
Premenstrual dysphoric disorder;
Sulfonamide diuretics;
Acetazolamide;
GABA transmission
- MeSH:
Acetazolamide*;
Anxiety Disorders;
Carbonic Anhydrases;
Comorbidity;
Female;
Follow-Up Studies;
Humans;
Mood Disorders
- From:Psychiatry Investigation
2014;11(1):95-101
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
The treatment of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is far from satisfactory, as there is a high proportion of patients who do not respond to conventional treatment. The antidiuretic sulfonamide, acetazolamide, inhibits carbonic anhydrase and potentiates GABAergic transmission; the latter is putatively involved in PMDD. We therefore tried acetazolamide in a series of women with intractable PMDD. Here, we describe a series of eight women diagnosed with DSM-IV-TR PMDD, five of whom had comorbidity with a mood disorder and one with an anxiety disorder, who were resistant to treatment and responded with symptom disappearance after being added-on 125 mg/day acetazolamide for 7-10 days prior to menses each month. Patients were free from premenstrual symptoms at the 12-month follow-up. We suggest that acetazolamide may be used to improve symptoms of PMDD in cases not responding to other treatments. GABAergic mechanisms may be involved in counteracting PMDD symptoms.
