What is PMS?
Premenstrual syndrome or PMS is something that affects millions of women each year. This commonly occurs a few days before or during your period. Symptoms can widely vary and include bloating, fatigue, mood changes, changes in appetite and cramping.
What supplements can help?
Calcium- At least 500 mg of calcium twice daily has been shown to decrease symptoms of PMS including fatigue, depression and appetite. Adding vitamin D can also help with the absorption of calcium. The recommended daily intake of calcium is 1200 mg for adult women and for vitamin D is 600 international unit (IU). Here at Potter’s House Apothecary, we have a few combination products that will help give you both calcium and vitamin D. It can help with bone building too!
Magnesium– Fluid retention, bloating, and breast tenderness are common side effects many women with PMS experience. Taking a magnesium supplement of at least 300 mg daily can help with this troublesome side effects as well as support sleep during that time of the month. Our preferred form of magnesium for best results in patients with consistent bowel movements is magnesium glycinate. We carry magnesium glycinate from Pure Encapsulations in 120 mg capsule which would be ideal for patients experiencing these types of PMS symptoms.
Ginkgo Biloba– Doses of at least 40 mg of ginkgo biloba three times a day have been shown to decrease many of the mood symptoms that come along with PMS including irritability and depression. While this is a great supplement for PMS support it can have many possible interactions with other supplements and prescription drugs. If you are taking any prescription medications, be sure to check with our pharmacists before grabbing a bottle!
Are there any combination products that help with all the symptoms of PMS?
Femquil by Xymogen is a great combination product that can help with many of the symptoms mentioned above. It supports overall hormone balance and includes magnesium, calcium, chasteberry and turmeric. This product is great if you are looking for a “one stop shop” capsule for PMS support.
Our friendly and knowledgeable Pharmacists are happy to help you with any additional questions regarding these supplements and more! Don’t hesitate to call us or stop into the pharmacy today!
Written By: Kylie Harris, PharmD
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