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TamaraIA

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Joined: 03 Dec 2004
Posts: 1
Location: Iowa

Birth Control And Depression Posted: 12-03-04 12:02pm


I've read that the birth control pill can cause depression and anxiety as a side effect. I know there's no way to be sure if mine is causing it unless I go off of it for about three months just to make certain, but i'm pretty sure it is causing it. I never used to feel like crying all the time and spending all my time locked alone in my dorm room, and it's happened gradually over the past several months. I've been on yasmin28 since march. I've also had two major, and a few minor, panic attacks since this summer. I'd never heard of one before I started the pill. I considered switching to another birth control pill as an option and the doctor wrote the prescription for it. I thought maybe switching brands might help (got a prescription for seasonale). There's also the problem that i'm on the pill because my boyfriend is someone inept when it comes to putting on condoms--they "confuse" him. (he's not playing dumb--i've seen it.) but that's for a different post. Do you think it would be better to just stop taking the pill to see if it's causing it, or that switching brands could help just as much? If I do stop, does anyone know how long it would take to feel a difference, as far as depression fading, etc? Thanks so much.

thatgirlwholovesavocados

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Joined: 25 Dec 2004
Posts: 1
Location: canada

Depression And Birth Control Pills Posted: 12-25-04 22:09pm


Ive been feeling the same way... Ive been on bcp's for about 8 months now (ortho tri-cyclin) and have noticed that im just not the same girl I used to be. I get nervous more often. The tiniest little thing will make me cry. I get really really sad for no reason I can think of. My moods are all over the place, but they tend to crash, and crash hard. Im thinking of going off the pill. I have tried allesse and diane as well (over the last few years) and have had similar side effects. But im not sure if the pill is the cause, or something else. Does anyone else have these feelings?

little_pineapple

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Joined: 31 Dec 2004
Posts: 245
Location: UK

Depression + Bcp Posted: 12-31-04 20:13pm


Hi.. Ya I have had the same problem. I started taking alesse 28 in october, and towards the end of the pack I got really depressed so I went to see my doctor. She told me that my depression was most likely caused by the pills and said I would probably start feeling better while taking the placebo pills. She also prescribed me tri-cyclen 28 and said that for some people a higher dosage of hormones will not cause depression. I did feel better during that week, but at the end of the next month on the next pack I started feeling the same way. I went back to the doctor and told her I was depressed again, and she suggested I go on another brand.. This time it was triquilar 28. I am now on my 2nd week of this pack and feel so awful. I have been having weird mood swings through this pack, but this is just an all-time low. I am planning to go off the pill asap, but I have to check with my doctor who I won't see until next week. So to you two I expect that your depression was caused by the pill and I advise you to inform your doctor!! And i'm shocked you have gone so long without asking your doctor what was wrong! The whole time I have been depressed has been so agonizing and I have been crying all the time and not wanting to do anything at all. Even just seeing my doctor cheered me up a bit as she was sure the reason was my bcp, so I didn't think I was like going crazy. Hope this helps!

jiffy pop

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Joined: 04 Jan 2005
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Location: New York

the "crazees" Posted: 01-04-05 18:34pm


I was on the pill in my late teens and was overly emotional. As soon as I went off I felt calm and mellow again. 8 years later I am trying alesse, a low dosage pill that many of my friends and doctor swear by. Unfortunately, I am feeling anxious, helpless, insecure, and mental. All of these things I have not been since my teens. I have decided that it's not worth losing my sanity and am getting off the pill immediately. It's very black and white for me and an obvious choice. Good luck!

little_pineapple

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Joined: 31 Dec 2004
Posts: 245
Location: UK

:) Posted: 01-04-05 20:40pm


Yay! Today I went to my doctor and I am now off the pill!! I can't wait to be un-depressed!! I'm not sure if I should try anything else though.. Like the shot or patch?! Hmm.. I'm definitely taking a while off until I try hormones again!

steen

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Joined: 18 Nov 2004
Posts: 1797
Location: Upper Midwest

Posted: 01-04-05 20:59pm


The bcp can make you depressed, but it generally happens rather fast. Otherwise, you might be depressed regardless of the bcp.

jabgibs

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Joined: 31 Mar 2005
Posts: 1

Posted: 03-31-05 11:40am


I have the same problem-massive depression on birth control. My doctor put me on anti-depressents so I could stay on my bcp. (i have to be on hormones due to a condition)... Well, it really sucked being dependent on pills to make me function like a normal person so I stopped taking both the bcp & anti-depressents. I told my doc and was told I have to be on some sort of hormone therapy and we've tried the patch and low dose bcp and I still get depressed. Do not try the shot!!! If you get depression from the pill, the shot has the same hormones but they are with you for 3 months. You can't get it out of your system. So if you start feeling depressed while on the shot you have to suck it up until it wears off. I'm trying to do some research on what else is out there and have been told that if i'm on the pill I need anti-depressents or see an endocrinologist and they may be able to figure something out. There is also non-hormonal birth control-lik ehte ring and iud's. You should check those out. They don't do anything for controling your cycle but they prevent pregnancy.

mnovack

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Joined: 08 Apr 2005
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Location: Long Island, New York

Ortho Lo Posted: 04-08-05 13:01pm


I have been taking ortho lo for 2 years. I was single up until 5 months ago, and it was not a problem to be an emotional wreck. Now I am driving my boyfriend crazy, and my emotions are causing problems. I noticed many people seem to have emotional side effects, has anyone had better luck with other pills?

silverlakelisa

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Joined: 12 Apr 2005
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Me Too! Posted: 04-12-05 14:45pm


I have tried at least 8 kinds of birth control pills over the past ten years and they have all made me feel like I had pms all the time. I get really bad pms for the week before my period and I literally act like a different person, but on the pill it's like that all the time. I tend to get really nervous and suspicious and imagine that my boyfriend is cheating on me. I feel like a crazy person on the pill. But now I am about to try it again for the first time in three years. I'm trying the patch and i'm thinking maybe if i'm aware that I might get depressed, maybe i'll be able to control it? The reason i'm trying it again is that condoms irritate me and I think might have led to urinary tract infections (there has been a connection between urinary tract infections and spermicide). So i'm going to try the patch and fingers crossed, it will be ok. Does anyone have any methods for coping with mood swings on the pill? I'm thinking that maybe if I take a multivitamin with b6 and b12 that might help the moods. I'm also going to start working out because I heard that helps too.

puddin7

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Joined: 12 Apr 2005
Posts: 1

Posted: 04-12-05 20:08pm


I was so relieved to read these comments. I started allesse 28 three weeks ago, and have been feeling so irritated I wanted to yell at/punch people for no reason, but too physically exhausted to actually do it. I was hesitant to blame it on the pill and thought maybe I was just having a bad couple weeks. It came to a head this week, (near the end of my pill pack). I've woken up crying hysterically for no reason, and have had to pretend like I have allergies at work because the tears will not stop flowing. It dawned on me that perhaps this was related to the pill. Unfortunately, i'm afraid I may have already alienated my new boyfriend by acting so psychotic. I'm definitely quitting at the end of the pack.

birdgirl

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Joined: 22 Apr 2005
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Posted: 04-22-05 13:15pm


I also have had horrible experiences with hormonal birth control and depression. The depo provera shot made me completely insane. I was suicidal and even violent in that I would break things all the time. The pill makes me suicidal and weepy and paranoid (basically pms x 5) all the time. Nuva ring is slightly milder, but I still cry all the time. I'm now seeing a new guy and as it's getting more serious, i'm wanting to be on birth control in case we sleep together in the future. But it seems that hormones push me over the edge. I may never have a functional relationship on birth control! Has anyone found anything that didn't make them completely insane?

sec

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Joined: 16 May 2005
Posts: 4

Posted: 05-16-05 15:09pm


I, too, experienced extreme emotional tendencies when I was on ortho-tricyclin. I was on the pill for about the last 7 years and would always get very emotional around my period. I just accepted it & figured I was just a "sensitive" person... But I got recently got married & decided enough was enough. I just switched from ortho-tricyclin (which releases 3 different levels of hormones into your body throughout the month) to orthocyclin (releases 1 constant level of hormone). I have only taken orthocyclin for 1 month but am already thrilled with my stabilized mood.... No crying at the drop of a hat... No irritation... Nothing. The only possible side effect that i've noticed on orthocyclen that I didn't have on ortho-tricyclin is weight gain. It sure beats depression and/or moodiness though! :-)

Jen25

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Joined: 25 May 2005
Posts: 2
Location: Norwalk

Side Effects Posted: 05-25-05 20:44pm


Hi, girls. I am having the same problems as well. I went to see my doc today. She is switching my bc for 2-3 months. I was on tri ortho cyclen and now i'm on tri levlin which has a lower progestarone. She said the lower progestarone can help with the moods. She also said if this doesn't work there is another option. It's called iud (intrauterine copper contraceptive). This kind of contraceptive stays in the uteris up to 10 years but has no pregestarone which causes the moods and emotions. Its only about 93-94% effective compared to other contraceptives which are 98-99%. Just a suggestion that you may want to bring up to your doc. I hope this helps.

cassieali

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Joined: 06 Oct 2005
Posts: 1
Location: Indiana

Birth Control And Depression Posted: 10-06-05 13:54pm


I have had terrible depression taking birth control pills too. It is not mild either. The mood swings are uncontrollable, i've had suicidal thoughts, and I just feel like there is a black cloud hovering over me. I feel despair, even though I have so much to be happy about. I have tried other pills and nothing has changed. I have dealt with this for 9 years and I realize that life is too short to live this way. I am going to stop taking my bc pills today. It is so sad that so many of us women are being harmed by these pills. I am going to consider the iud method. It is not a chemical and it last for several years which might me a good option for me. That may not be a good choice for everyone though. But, my point is, that there are other options out there that we can explore. Birth control pills seem to be the easiest method, but they are not that great when they affect you as they have me. I have wasted 9 years of my life searching for the majic pill.

kbthac

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Joined: 29 Aug 2005
Posts: 78
Location: West Virginia

Posted: 10-10-05 19:50pm


I was just on ortho novum for 3 months, and it absolutely drove me nuts!! I was really depressed, cried all of the time, every night I was crying. Things that I knew would make other people happy I would totally be against, such as camping out, or even just taking a road trip. Usually I am a generally happy person, I always have just went with the flow, but for those long 3 months, I was crazy! After my 3 months, I went off of it, and it seemed like the first night I was off of it, I was back to normal. Some people say that it is all in your head. I would not have believed it if it had not had happened to me. I was crazy, seriously. I know of a girl that was on birth control for like six months, and she really went crazy, she blamed her boyfriend for everything, and ended up having to go to a psychiatrist and get put on antidepressants. She finally quit taking the pill, after having to be put in the hospital because she was just killing herself with being depressed. There were nights when i, myself was on the ortho novum that I would tell my boyfriend that I was going to just kill myself, I felt like nobody wanted me to be around, I was no longer myself. I have been on ortho tri cyclen lo for a month. The doctor gave me the pill for a month at a time, and I check in every month, just in case I go crazy again. It has really been a world of difference for me. I now have the pill and I am happy again!! If you feel like you are depressed because of taking the pill, I would suggest that you switch your pill, or just go off of it and try some other form of birth control. It could cause major damage in the long run, even though you may not realize it yet. Although some posts say that it fades after time, you just have to have the will power to get over it, I guess!! I hope this helped someone!!

pnode16

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Joined: 13 Oct 2005
Posts: 10
Location: Chicago

Cancer? Posted: 10-13-05 23:46pm


My girlfriend is about to start the patch and im worried because I have a friend who was recently diagnosed with cancer. She swears that the only thing she changed in her life before being diagnosed was switching from the pill to the patch. She feels very strongly that it was because of the patch. Has anyone else heard of the risk of cancer with the patch???

Holi

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Joined: 15 Oct 2005
Posts: 2
Location: france

You Wanna Know About Side Effects... Posted: 10-15-05 12:07pm


Hello, i am here to spread some very important news about birth control. There are many women (fact) who suffer terrible syptoms that seem to come from hormonal birth control(the pill,the patch,implant etc..) I discovered a womens site about 6 months ago while looking for an explanation to my terrible symptoms.I found many shocking stories from ladies who'd had and still do,the same sort of thing or worse ,horrible mood swings,depression,no sex drive,no energy or motivation, crying for no reason and many, many more. So stopped taking my pill,as have lots of other women.The result for me so far is only positive,i feel alive again,i don't live in a grey bubble of sadness.As this made such a huge difference to my and so many others I decided to create a survey.It's online and i have over a hundred and fifty responses so far.I need more though. It will be online until feb/march 2006 and then the results will be transfered into onformation and facts that will help inform women all over the world who suffer and don't know why.One woman i know has been on anti-depressant sfor 4 years and felt terrible,she then found the discussion and stopped taking her pill,3 months later she felt completely well in mind and body,so she stopped taking her antidepressants too. The thing is ladies,so far,my survey shows that only aroung 25% of doctors ,gyno's and health advisors will admit to there being a link between hormonal bc and these terrible side effects and most of them are not in the small print inside the box.The government needs to keep down the number of unwanted pregnancies and abortions,and the pharmecieutical companies want to sell their product. We are the ones who have to suffer the consequences and we are the only ones who are stating to talk about this problem.No one else will. Please help by filling out my questionnaire,i do not get paid(i am a single mum)in fact I pay once a month to keep the questionnaire up and running.It will only take a moment of your time it could and will change other womens entire life,it did mine. Need more proof,check out the discussion forum on www.Aphroditewomenshealth. Com and my survey is at http://f reeonlinesurveys.Com/rendersurvey.Asp?Id=1 05364 thank you so much holi

poisongirl

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Joined: 15 Oct 2005
Posts: 4
Location: Virginia

Fed Up Posted: 10-15-05 18:13pm


It's nice to know that i'm not the only one. I am 24 and have tried just about every bcp on the market. I am currently on yasmin and I am a complete and total wreck. My husband is very understanding and has asked to me to get off of the pill. I feel like if I do, the crippling cramps will come back, as will the heavy flow and awful acne. I have spent the past 5 hours in bed after work not because I needed a cat nap, but because I am so depressed that I don't want to move. I feel tired all of the time and I don't want to talk to anyone. That's not me. I also have zero sex drive which is really not me. I'm thankful that my husband is there for me, but I wish I could just snap out of this mess and still be able to have no cramps, a short period, no acne, and the sex drive that I once had.

jenks

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Joined: 22 Oct 2005
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Location: austin

I Recently Switched to the Ring... Posted: 10-22-05 15:14pm


...In an attempt to lessen or end the depression that I was experiencing. Unfortunately, I still feel a complete lack of energy. To some extent, I keep blaming myself as well as the birth control. I think that if I exercised more and regularly took vitamins, that I would be able to combat the depression. Suprisingly, anyone I have talked to at planned parenthood about this matter has been less than helpful. It was only a friend's recommendation to switch to the ring to see if a lower dosage would be better for me. When speaking with an employee at a pharmacy, she suggested that I take lots of vitamin b. Even when doing so, I never felt that my energy level increased. Just wonder if anyone has found a method of balancing out the hormones causing depression and low sex drive with vitamins?

screaming_in_silence

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Joined: 22 Oct 2005
Posts: 3
Location: nyc

Posted: 10-22-05 16:48pm


I have to take a birth control pill to control my blood disorder (im not allowed to lose any blood at all) and the doctors think that contributed to my depression...shrugs so yes it does encourage depression and upset stomachs and moood swings