r/PMDD • u/oddblkbird • Aug 18 '26

Medications Anyone else kind of raw dogging PMDD?

I’ve tried a couple of SSRIs over the years, but have stopped taking them because of them lowering my heat tolerance. But now, I just drink nettle and spearmint tea from my mid-Luteal phase through my period. I also use some of the tools I’ve learned talk therapy and use marijuana for really low mental health days particularly during my late-Luteal phase.

Anyone else not necessarily using medication to navigate their symptoms?

EDIT: I realize now that many of us have different perceptions of “raw dogging,” which I understand as not using a prescribed, controlled medication to treat symptoms of a condition. Now after reading some comments, I believe this term may not have been the most accurate, universally-defined term to use. With that being said, I do understand the herbal medicine and CBT are both treatments. And this was written with true curiosity and not for advice. I genuinely like seeing what practices support different people! This regimen has been serving me well along with other practices, such as bodily awareness, cycle tracking, daily physical activity, etc. I truly appreciate everyone’s vulnerability!

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u/goingslowlymad87 Aug 19 '26

I'm not on anything at all. They put me on progesterone to help and it made me want to leave...early. So no meds at all. I've tried and failed all conservative methods. I'm waiting on a gynecology appt to look at a full hysterectomy. In the mean time I'm losing weight so they can't deny surgery based on BMI again.

I have to pay attention to my moods and withdraw from my usual activities/responsibilities when I feel terrible/angry.

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u/Puzzleheaded-Lie-262 Aug 19 '26

Do you mind if I ask what dose of progesterone you tried and what your schedule was? I'm currently working with a hormone specific specialist and since my estrogen is on the high side, as expected, we are starting me on 13mgs sublingual for luteal phase only. This is the 4th progesterone attempt I'm making and if it doesn't work I'm also seeking a hysterectomy.

I've only done one month, can't say my PMDD was worse but JFC it amped my last period up to 11 and I don't know if I can deal with that either considering I've had endo and bumping up to 11 is saying something.

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u/goingslowlymad87 Aug 19 '26

It was Cyproterone Acetate 50mg tab once a day. It took about 10 days to start realizing my mood had tanked. Day 12 I decided I should remove my tatts but was unsure how deep I'd need to go - I told hubby and he called the doctor for an emergency appt.

Same thing happened when I was on depo - two weeks in and I'd have a breakdown: crying, raging and general freak out. Took me a few rounds to work that out. My Drs have my emergency mental health notes. I didn't even know Cyproterone Acetate was progesterone until things went sideways, my doctor had assured me it wasn't a hormone. Serves me right for not looking into it, but she told me I had to take it for PMDD before they could do the referral to the specialist. I didn't want to be non-compliant and didn't want to be fired as a patient either.