Premenstrual Disorders

natural medications. These include the natural antidepressants such as SAM-e and Saint-John’s-wort. In this case, more is not better but may lead to problems worse than PMS symptoms. Alcohol should be avoided or used cautiously when taking antidepressants. Because antidepressants are not sedatives (that is, they do not cause drowsiness or foggy thinking), driving or performing other hazardous jobs should not be a problem while taking these medica- tions. Nevertheless, caution should be used until the correct dosage has been determined to be sure of the effects of any drug. As has been mentioned before, medication affects each person differently. Women who might become pregnant should be aware that few

A woman and her doctor should carefully assess her need for psychiatric drugs during pregnancy.

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Premenstrual Disorders •