Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0023380 (lethargy)
 5,697 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

A placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blind, parallel group study in hospital and general practice has shown that a combination of belladonna alkaloids, ergotamine tartrate, and phenobarbitone (Bellergal) was effective in treating troublesome symptoms of the premenstrual syndrome of which fatigue, tender breasts, nervousness, irritability, lethargy and listlessness were improved to a statistically significant degree. The drug was given three times daily and caused no side effects.
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PMID:Treatment of the premenstrual syndrome. 33 78

The premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a complex of symptoms that usually occurs seven to ten days before menses in large numbers of women. These symptoms typically cease during the 24 hours after the onset of menses. PMS affects many areas of the body, with each afflicted woman having her personal set of symptoms. Frequently encountered signs and symptoms include breast tenderness and swelling, weight gain, headache, abdominal cramping and bloating, food cravings, thirst, nausea, joint pain, acne, dizziness, hyperalgesia and one or more psychologic symptoms: irritability, lethargy and fatigue, depression, anxiety, hostility and aggression. Theories relating PMS to hormonal imbalance, vitamin deficiency or psychosomatic aberration have failed to explain this condition fully. Treatments using hormones, vitamins, oral contraceptives or diuretics have failed to relieve all the symptoms of PMS. The prostaglandin (PG) theory proposes that these nearly ubiquitous substances, produced in pathophysiologic amounts in brain, breast, gastrointestinal tract, kidney and reproductive tract, can trigger many of the PMS symptoms. If that is true, then a PG inhibitor could counteract excessive PG production and successfully control those PMS symptoms related to prostaglandin excess or imbalance. Therapy based upon this theory can proceed to the use of PG inhibitors in conservative steps. First, permanent deletion of xanthine-containing beverages (coffee, tea, cola and chocolate) from the diet can reduce nervousness, irritability and breast tenderness. Luteal phase salt restriction, with a mild diuretic used if necessary the last week before menses, adds to this effect. For the 20-25% of women who need more help, either a PG inhibitor or natural progesterone (to oppose the action of PGs), given when PMS begins, brings relief. In women with depressive PMS complaints, small daily doses of an antidepressant may prove helpful.
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PMID:The use of prostaglandin inhibitors for the premenstrual syndrome. 635 May 80

Menstruation is a biological phenomenon that has been subject of myths and taboos within and among various cultures. These myths distort the reality surrounding menstruation and create ambivalent feelings about the value and usefulness of this function outside of its necessity as mean of reproduction. Thus studies concerning menstruation need to take into account cultural and psychosocial factors that define the meaning, values and behavior associated with this biological phenomenon. According to several studies, 70% of women experience psychological faintness during this menstrual phase, 40% of them have these symptoms at each menstruation and between 3 to 8% of them suffer severely reacquiring medical support. This entity called premenstrual dysphoric disorder is defined by the presence of several symptoms (distress, tension, irritability, moodiness.) with a significant impairment in work or social functioning beginning during the week before and ending within a few days after the onset of menses. Several studies conducted over the past few years suggested that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotoninergic tricyclic drugs may be more effective than other types of antidepressants in treating PMS symptoms. Two protocols are proposed; a continuous treatment or intermittent use during few days during pre-menstrual and menstrual phase for several cycles. The objective of the current study was to evaluate the prevalence of a potential premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) during one menstrual cycle, in a representative sample of general population of Casablanca, according the DSM IV criteria. On the other hand, a questionnaire, available from the authors, was used to explore socio-demographic data. Among 618 women interviewed, 310 met the criteria of a potential PMDD (50.2%). The mean age of the population with PMDD was 32.2 8 years ranging from 20 to 50 years; 54.8% of them were married, 33.9% of them were single and 66.5% of them had between 1 to 4 children. Two third of them were without a professional activity. During this premenstrual phase the following symptoms were found among the whole sample: marked depressive mood, feeling of hopelessness, or self-depreciation thoughts (77.7%, n=241%); difficulty of concentration (65%, n=201); marked change in appetite, overeating or specific food craving (82.8%, n=256); marked affective lability, with sadness tearful and increased sensitivity to rejection (65.8%, n=204); hypersomnia or insomnia (59.7%, n=185); subjective sense of being overwhelmed or out of control (55.7%, n=172); lethargy, excessive fatigability (91.6%, n=283); physical symptoms including breast tenderness, swelling, headache, joint or muscular pain, and a sensation of bloating and weight gain (81.9%, n=253). The most severe symptoms were fatigue and irritability. On the other hand, 73.9% of the sample had a disturbance in their socio-professional lives as a consequence to the psychological disturbances. Half of these women consulted a physician, mostly a general practitioner. These data are in accordance with the literature, confirming that this disorder is common and has a bad impact on mental health and on quality of life of the women suffering from PMDD.
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PMID:[Assessment of premenstrual dysphoric disorder symptoms: population of women in Casablanca]. 1250 65

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) represents the more severe and disabling end of the spectrum of premenstrual syndrome and occurs in an estimated 2% to 9% of menstruating women. The most frequent PMDD symptoms among women seeking treatment consist of anger/irritability, anxiety/tension, feeling tired or lethargic, mood swings, feeling sad or depressed, and increased interpersonal conflicts. Women who develop PMDD appear to have serotonergic dysregulation that may be triggered by cyclic changes in gonadal steroids. The marked increase in the number of well-designed placebo-controlled studies in the past decade has established several selective serotonin reuptake- inhibiting antidepressants as effective first-line treatments for this disorder. Both continuous dosing and intermittent luteal dosing strategies lead to rapid improvement in symptoms and functioning. The present article provides a brief review of current information on the epidemiology, clinical presentation, neurobiology, and treatment of PMDD.
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PMID:Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder: Recognition and Treatment. 1515 44

This paper reviews the premenstrual syndrome (PMS) from a historical and psychological perspective. The physician must recognize that the premenstruum-the four days before the onset of the menses-is a `high risk' phase for women. They may demonstrate somatic and psychological complaints such as irritability, aggression, tension, anxiety, depression, lethargy, insomnia, poor coordination and concentration. Psychological disturbances can range from self-deprecation and the feeling that `everything is too much' to pronounced feelings of oppression and depression. Psychiatric patients may become even more disturbed at this time. Recent reviews on PMS have studied its etiology and its possible connection to hormone imbalance, but to date there is no complete explanation for the syndrome's psychological symptoms. The most promising treatments for the psychological symptoms of PMS are pyridoxine (although there are conflicting reports about it), antidepressants, benzodiazepines if anxiety and tension dominate, and ongoing psychotherapy for severe cases.
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PMID:Premenstrual syndrome: a psychological overview. 2128 30