Opipramol and Chlorthalidone in the Treatment of Premenstrual Tension

Abstract

Thirty-three patients under the age of 38 suffering from premenstrual tension were admitted to a clinical trial and treated for three cycles. Five received opipramol alone and twenty-eight received a combination of opipramol and chlorthalidone. Slightly better results were obtained with the combination than with opipramol alone, although the number of opipramol patients was too small for valid comparison. There was a progressive improvement over the three cycles. By the third cycle there was a 47.92% improvement in the total score for ten symptoms on opipramol and 59.2% improvement on the combination. As far as the combination was concerned, best results were obtained for the symptoms, swelling of breasts (90%) mastalgia (88.8%), swelling of ankles (83.3%), oliguria (64.2%) and emotional lability (59.2%). The effect of age, marital state and gravidity on the syndrome was examined. No major differences were found in the symptomatology as far as these three factors were concerned. Young, single nulligravid women however, showed a consistently more favourable response to therapy. In terms of individual patient response, twenty-eight patients showed moderate or much improvement by the end of the third cycle.