When it hits that time of the month, we women all know the feeling: pain, stress, and bloating. Our pants get a little tighter, and patience is at an all time low level. Stay out of the way, and don't make me mad, or I'll bite. Men laugh and comment, like it's some funny, unproved condition worth being the butt of a joke any time they see a woman getting even the slightest bit cranky. Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is real though, and doctors have even claimed a new name to the most severe form of it: premenstrual dysphonic disorder (PMDD). PMDD is a very severe form of PMS that includes depression, anger, and irritability The new drug, Sarafem was created to treat PMDD, and has quickly become the center of controversy. While some people rave about Sarafem as a godsend, others wonder if the condition is even real.

According to Dr, Nancy Snyderman, there are only 3 to 5 percent of women who actually suffer from anything as severe as the symptoms of PMDD. Although many women do suffer from similar symptoms, to have them to such a grand severity is very uncommon.

There is already controversy over the commercials aired on television for Sarafem. One commercial that was pulled by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) showed a thin haired, rather large woman attacking a shopping cart. Many women felt that this was not a fair interpretation as to how someone suffering from (PMDD), might act, or appear in public.

"My concern is are we making premenstrual syndrome now a psychiatric disorder?" Said Snyderman. "Is sexism sliding into medicine? "

It has yet to be decided as to what causes severe PMDD. When diagnosing a woman with PMDD, there is a long list of symptoms that doctors must discuss with their patient. A woman must also keep a journal of her moods, for doctors to be able to diagnose her with PMDD. Doctors must be able to identify the level of severity associated with mood swings.

Women that suffer from PMDD experience symptoms such as, depression, mood swings, irritability, decreased interest activities, loss of energy, and trouble concentrating. Most of these symptoms are often to an extreme degree.

Sarafem is receiving most of its attacks from people who believe that it is just the anti-depressant drug, Prozac, in new packaging. Sarafem has basically the same effect that Prozac would have. It has also been discovered that 60% of women who suffered from PMDD, before it was diagnosable, turned to Prozac to help their condition. Sarafem and Prozac both contain the same active ingredient, fluextine hydrochloride.

"We can tell you it is Prozac by another name," Snyderman said.

Not only do Sarafem and Prozac contain the same active ingredient, but they also share the same manufacture: Eli Lilly. Many believe that this is just a way for the manufacture to release an older drug under a new name. Because Eli Lilly loses their patent protection for Prozac this coming August, they will soon face many competitors manufacturing generic forms of Prozac, that will hurt their $2.6 billion dollar business. Sales of Sarafem, a similar drug, yet protected under a different patent, could help business for Eli Lilly. However, until then, the controversy continues.