PMS is NOT a real disease, although many women would disagree with me.   It's actually a product of our modern diet, stress, etc.

What causes it? There are several chemical changes in the blood of a woman just before the menstrual period.   In one of these changes, the zinc level goes low, and the copper level goes high.   Since, very high copper/zinc ratios can actually cause schizophrenia, it might be said that every woman slides at least a little bit towards "crazy" or schizophrenia at this period.   Of course, for most women, this is not serious, but at best an irritation.

There is a very simple vitamin/mineral "cure" that seems to work for all women.   This is simply taking vitamin B6 and magnesium supplements regularly.   Unfortunately, this "word" got out, and some MD's heard about it, and started their patients on large doses of B6.   These women developed different other problems which were then determined by the MD's as "B6 toxicity", and thus B6 got a bad name.   "Learned experts" then wrote up B6 as possibly toxic in various articles and papers.

The truth, known to all scientists who have studied vitamin and mineral interaction, is much simpler.   If you take any one B vitamin in megadoses WITHOUT taking the whole complex, you will often develop deficiency symptoms from one or more of the other vitamins.   Thus, if you are going to take large doses of B6, you MUST be taking at least a 50 Mg B Complex at the same time.   THIS IS CRITICAL TO AVOID PROBLEMS, AND YOU'LL BE IN BETTER HEALTH AS A RESULT AS WELL.

As for magnesium, there is a built-in body response to too much.   Diarreah.   Epsom salts, an old laxative, is magnesium, and a little goes a long way.   It tastes terrible, and using magnesium tablets from a health store is usually easier.

If you go to Vitamin/Mineral Recommendations, you will find that I recommend Solgar VM-75.  I have no vested interest in Solgar, it's just the best I've found in a single daily pill.   I've used it for years.   You'll also find my newest recommendations for magnesium and calcium balance.

VM-75 has, in effect, a 75 mg B Complex, along with several other vitamins and minerals that provide an excellent daily supplement.   Of hundreds of women who have taken this along with up to 250 mg of B6 per day, none have experienced any problems of "toxicity", or even deficiency.

How much B6 should you take to avoid PMS? That's a tough question to answer, as everyone is different.   The usual recommendation is to try taking about 200 mg per day at least 10 days prior to the menstrual period, and see if you have PMS.   If not, for that period, try cutting down to 100 mg for the next period.   Keep experimenting until you find your correct dosage.  Remember that you are the best judge of your health.   You should be taking the B complex every day of the month of course, and preferably a good base vitamin/mineral supplement tablet such as VM-75.

If 200 mg doesn't clear up the PMS completely, try 250 mg, or try taking the 200 for up to the whole month.   It varies with each individual.   My wife, when I first met her over 18 years ago had very bad PMS.   She started on 200 mg and had no PMS.   A month or so later, she got quite twitchy, and remarked "You know if I didn't know better, I'd think I was having PMS.   I'm feeling bad, and I'm craving salty foods." When I told her that I had cut her down to 100 mg she got very angry at me.   So, she went back up and we found that 150 mg every day added to the 75 in the VM-75 was just right for her at that time.   A year or so later, she no longer needed the B6, as the VM-75 did it for her.   She has never had PMS again.   This experience is typical for most women.   I hope it helps you.

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