Reducing salt, caffeine, and stress along with increasing exercise is typically all that is recommended in those with mild symptoms. Calcium and vitamin D supplementation may be useful in some. Anti-inflammatories such as naproxen may help with physical symptoms. A healthy diet, reduced consumption of salt, caffeine and alcohol, and regular exercise may be effective for women in controlling water retention. In those with more significant symptoms birth control pills may be useful.Diuretics have been used to handle water retention. Spironolactone has been shown in some studies to be useful. Antidepressants
SSRIs like fluoxetine, sertraline can be used to treat severe PMS. Those with PMS may be able to take medication only on the days when symptoms are expected to occur. Although intermittent therapy might be more acceptable to some, this might be less effective than continuous regimens. Side effect such as nausea and weakness are however relatively common. Hormonal medications
Hormonal contraception is commonly used; common forms include the combined oral contraceptive pill and the contraceptive patch. This class of medication may cause PMS-related symptoms in some and may reduce physical symptoms in others. They do not relieve emotional symptoms.Progesterone support has been used for many years but evidence of its efficacy is inadequate.Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists can be useful in severe forms of PMS but have their own set of significant potential side effects. Alternative medicine
Tentative evidence supports vitamin B6 and chasteberry. Data are insufficient to determine an effect of St. Johns wort, soy, vitamin E, and saffron.
By the 1980s, however, viewing PMS in a social context had begun to take place. Alternative views
Some supporters of PMS as a social construct believe PMDD and PMS to be unrelated issues: according to them, PMDD is a product of brain chemistry, and PMS is a product of a hypochondriatic culture, i.e. a culture-bound syndrome. Most studies on PMS and PMDD rely solely on self-reporting. According to sociologist Carol Tavris, Western women are socially conditioned to expect PMS or to at least know of its existence, and they, therefore, report their symptoms accordingly. The anthropologist Emily Martin argues that PMS is a cultural phenomenon that continues to grow in a positive feedback loop, and thus is a social construction that contributes to learned helplessness or convenient excuse. Tavris says that PMS is blamed as an explanation for rage or sadness. The decision to call PMDD an illness has been criticized as inappropriate medicalization. In both cases, they are referring to the emotional aspects, not the normal physical symptoms that are present. See also
Menstrual leave

References
External links

U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
Direct Online Health Encyclopaedia: Premenstrual syndrome (UK) at NHS
"Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) (Premenstrual Tension)" at Merck Manual