She's critical of the PMDD diagnosis and is not convinced it's a real disorder. What I'm saying is taking these drugs can shut you up. Dr. Roth says physicians do not make the PMDD diagnosis freely. A woman must be monitored closely for at least two menstrual cycles to make sure the pattern of depression and irritability exists, and also that the symptoms go away shortly after her period begins. No matter what side of the debate you're on, everyone seems to agree that drugs such as Prozac bring a stigma with them.
Critics say that's one reason why the company changed the name.
But for Betsy, the stigma is not an issue. The fact that she has her life back together is. Prozac or serafem may be the only drug currently approved to treat PMDD but other anti-depressants have also been shown to be effective and will no doubt soon be undergoing FDA approval. Finally for women looking for natural treatments experts say the first line of defense is diet and exercise. Increasing the intake of carbohydrates can elevate mood.