Premenstrual Disorders

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Eventually, researchers discovered that those who experienced

symptoms of PMS gained relief from these drugs.

When Kim first saw her physician, she was suffering more from the

results of her poor relationships than from the symptoms of PMS, or

so she thought. She had just had a huge argument with her husband

that had ended with Kim packing all his clothes and fishing gear and

taking them to his mother’s house. She was done with him.

She had also screamed at her children all day long. That night,

she hated being at home alone with them. Her husband had begged

to come home, but she insisted he was the cause of all her prob-

lems; she was not going to put up with his selfish fishing and his long

work hours.

After her visit to her doctor, Kim learned she had a monthly

chemical imbalance in her brain. Like Emily, Kim’s monthly cycle was

affecting the rest of her life. She recognized that she didn’t always

feel her husband was unreasonable; in fact, most of the time she

thought he was very considerate. He always helped with the house

and did his share of taking care of the children. Kim made the im-

portant discovery that her husband’s behavior seemed worse once a

month, whenever she was experiencing the symptoms of PMS.

Brand Name vs. Generic

Talking about psychiatric drugs can be confusing, because every

drug has at least two names: its “generic name” and the “brand

name” that the pharmaceutical company uses to market the drug.

Generic names come from the drugs’ chemical structures, while

drug companies use brand names to inspire consumers’ recogni-

tion and loyalty.

Zoloft and Prozac are brand names; their generic names are

sertraline hydrochloride and fluoxetine hydrochloride.