Premenstrual Syndrome and Self-Medication With Opioids

• Published in: Journal of addiction medicine Vol. 7; no. 1; pp. 79 - 82
• Main Authors: Qurishi, Rouhollah, Sonneborn, Christina, de Jong-Arts, Marieke, de Jong, Cornelis
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Society of Addiction Medicine 01-01-2013
• Subjects: Adult; Affective Symptoms - diagnosis; Affective Symptoms - drug therapy; Affective Symptoms - etiology; Affective Symptoms - physiopathology; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Female; Heroin Dependence - drug therapy; Humans; Irritable Mood - drug effects; Irritable Mood - physiology; Methadone - administration & dosage; Opiate Substitution Treatment - methods; Premenstrual Syndrome - complications; Premenstrual Syndrome - diagnosis; Premenstrual Syndrome - drug therapy; Premenstrual Syndrome - physiopathology; Premenstrual Syndrome - psychology; Substance Abuse Detection; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 1932-0620; 1935-3227
• DOI: 10.1097/ADM.0b013e31827884a3

We have described a patient in opioid substitution treatment using heroin to treat her premenstrual complaints. After a short review of the diagnosis and etiology of premenstrual syndrome or premenstrual dysphoric disorder, the relation between premenstrual syndrome/premenstrual dysphoric disorder and opioid receptors is discussed. In the case of the patient described, increasing the dose of methadone in the premenstrual period produced significant clinical improvement.