Home Symptoms Premenstrual syndrome

Premenstrual syndrome — what to take?

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) includes physical and emotional symptoms that appear 1-2 weeks before menstruation: irritability, breast tenderness, bloating, headache, mood swings.

6 recommended OTC drugs
4,387 pharmacies available

OTC — no prescription

What you can take for premenstrual syndrome

Informativ. Nu înlocuiește sfatul medicului. Consultă medicul sau farmacistul înainte de a lua orice medicament.

Typical picture

Physical symptoms: bloating, fluid retention, breast tenderness, headache, fatigue, food cravings. Psychoemotional symptoms: irritability, anxiety, sadness, difficulty concentrating, mood swings. PMDD (premenstrual dysphoric disorder) is the severe form, affecting 3-8%.

OTC treatment and supplements

Vitex agnus-castus (Chasteberry) 20-40 mg/day - the plant with the most solid evidence. Effect after 2-3 cycles.

Magnesium 200-400 mg/day - reduces bloating, headache, irritability.

Vitamin B6 50-100 mg/day - helps with psychological symptoms.

Calcium 1000-1200 mg/day - evidence for PMS improvement.

Evening primrose oil 500-1000 mg/day - for breast tenderness.

NSAIDs - ibuprofen, naproxen for associated pain and inflammation.

Lifestyle

  • Regular aerobic exercise - significantly reduces symptoms.
  • Diet: limit salt, coffee, alcohol, sugar.
  • Adequate sleep.
  • Stress reduction - meditation, yoga.
  • Symptom diary for 2-3 months to identify the pattern.

Rx treatment

SSRIs (sertraline, fluoxetine) - effective in PMDD, can be taken continuously or only in the luteal phase. Combined oral contraceptives - improve PMS in many women.

Medical disclaimer: the information in this guide is for informational purposes only and does not replace the advice of a physician or pharmacist. For diagnosis and treatment, consult a healthcare professional.

Nights, weekends, holidays

24/7 pharmacies for premenstrual syndrome

Premenstrual syndrome doesn't wait for office hours. If you need a medicine at 2 AM or on a weekend, open the map with the 24/7 filter on and find the nearest on-call pharmacy. Major cities have several round-the-clock pharmacies — the per-city pages below list them all, with address, phone and verified opening hours.

Call ahead before you leave, especially at night — on-call schedules can change and stock for some prescription items may be limited between deliveries.

Search the pharmacy

Medicine categories for premenstrual syndrome

Beyond the OTC products listed above, you can also browse whole medicine and supplement categories, with prices compared across Dr. Max, Catena, Tei, HelpNet and the rest of our network. Category pages are in Romanian — the comparator works the same way for you.

Step by step

How to find a pharmacy fast for premenstrual syndrome

Open the interactive map and grant location permission — you'll immediately see pharmacies sorted by distance, each with its opening hours and a one-tap route in Google Maps. If it's night or a weekend, switch on the 24/7 filter to keep only the on-call ones. For premenstrual syndrome most of the listed remedies are over the counter, so you can walk in without a prescription, but check stock and prices first to avoid wasted trips.

If you have a preferred active ingredient (paracetamol, ibuprofen, etc.), search it in the comparator before you leave — you'll see which chain has it cheapest near you and whether it's in stock. For chronic prescriptions, save your favourite pharmacy in the app and turn on hours notifications — it saves unnecessary trips, especially when treatment for premenstrual syndrome runs over weeks.

When to see a doctor

If any of these signs appear, consult a doctor — OTC treatment is not enough:

  • Severe symptoms affecting functioning
  • Suicidal thoughts (severe PMDD)
  • Associated major depression
  • Heavy bleeding outside the cycle
  • Severe progressive pain (suspected endometriosis)

Frequently asked

Common questions

Which supplement helps most?
Vitex agnus-castus has the best evidence. Magnesium + B6 + calcium is a validated combination. Effect after 2-3 cycles.
Do oral contraceptives help with PMS?
Yes, in many women. Those with drospirenone are specifically effective in PMS.
PMS and PMDD - difference?
PMDD (premenstrual dysphoric disorder) is the severe form with major functional impairment. It requires psychiatric/gynaecological treatment.
Why do I change so much premenstrually?
Hormonal fluctuations (oestrogen, progesterone) affect serotonin and GABA. Some women are more sensitive to these changes.

See also

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