Anxiety and Stress Forum - Hey Ladies: Birth Control Related to Anxiety?


Hey Ladies: Birth Control Related to Anxiety?

Medical Questions-> Health Forums -> Anxiety and Stress -> Hey Ladies: Birth Control Related to Anxiety?

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scrdat20

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Joined: 03 Feb 2006
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Hey Ladies: Birth Control Related to Anxiety? Posted: 03-07-06 19:14pm


Hello ladies: i have noticed a strange connection and I wandered if any of you may have experienced the same thing? I have been on the birth control pill for about 1 year and a half now. I have never been very happy with it as my body doesn't seem to handle the hormones very well. My doc says that some women just don't. The first pill I was on made me way more emotional and moody and I had more cramping with my period. So after a while when the cramps continued to come each month, my doc decided to switch me to a different kind. Shortly after starting to take it... I'd say about a month or so, I had my first panic attack and then my anxiety started terrible.... Just out of the blue... Had never even once had a hint of anxiety before. This pill continued to give me headaches, still made me cramp and I was obviously not dealing with it well. This month (almost 7 months later, I have had anxiety the whole time) my doc decided to put me back on the original pill. This is my third week. And low and behold, the anxiety has almost disappeared!! Three weeks ago, I was in dire straits with anxiety wondering if I would ever survive. Now, it barely crosses my mind. I know that they say that anxiety can be caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain, do you think that it is possible that the pill did that to me? I just noticed the strange connection and I was wandering if any of you out there had something similar. Thank you so much. I appreciate any input! Thanks again.

Bek

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Joined: 31 Aug 2005
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Location: SA

Posted: 03-08-06 20:42pm


I had slight anxiety before the birth of my daughter. After she was born I went on a differance pill adn my anxiety because really bad. I then had the implant and my god my anxiety was so bad I admitted myself to hospital. Each time I went to the er or when it peaked it was during my period too! I am now on another pill and my anixety is very mild I get slightly anxious every couple of months and that is bearable! I am hoping that once my body gets fully used of this pill that the anixety will totally go! Plus I do alot of self help reading and try and relax as often as possible! Us girls have a lot to contend with hey!

scrdat20

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Joined: 03 Feb 2006
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Posted: 03-16-06 11:39am


Hi: i was beginning to give up on this topic! After talking with several friends, they have had similar problems. Its amazing how much control hormones have on our body! Luckily, my anxiety is pretty much history. I hope yours continues to get better. I wish you the best and thank you very much for your reply!

Sereena

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Joined: 09 Jan 2006
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Posted: 03-22-06 19:30pm


You know, I asked my gyno this very question two months into my treatment, and she said the connection wasn't very likely, but I knew the hormones definitely weren't helping. I was under a lot of stress and had so much anxiety about certain things in my life that I was having bad mood swings a few times a day (it didn't start out this way, I was doing just fine.) it gets really bad on my period week, and i've never had bad pms before. I'm now in my 4th month of birth control and things are better, but I know i'm naturally much better at controlling myself than I have been lately. I've considered going off of it, but I figure the safety is worth more. Besides, I still don't know how much of it is actually the result of the hormones versus actual life stress, too early to tell. But anyway, I started taking a vitamin b supplement 3 weeks ago, and the physical effects of the anxiety started to go away. I'm still skeptical about it, but it's at least working as a placeabo. They also make b supplements with zinc specifically for stress and anxiety, so you should definitely try it out to see if that helps. It's also supposed to help with mood swings, but I haven't noticed a difference. Good luck!

NatalieAnn

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Joined: 10 Dec 2007
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Posted: 12-10-07 18:50pm


I have been on the BC pill for a little over a year now. Befor I started taking it I periodically would experience stress related anxiety, and about 2 times a year I would have a panic attack if my stomach was hurting at night, (I have a phobia of throwing up). looking back on this past year I have had approximately 20-30 panic attacks, and I now am experiencing them not just at home while I'm in bed. In addition to the panic attacks I have developed anxiety in the realm of social situations and performance realated situations. All of my symptoms occur in a cyclical pattern related to my menstural cycle. I have an appointment for this friday to talk to my doctor about switching my BC. Its good to hear that you ladies have had succes in reducing your anxiety, it gives me hope that with some adjustment mine too will soon be under controll.

anniek

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Posted: 12-11-07 09:10am


Yes hormones can cause chemical imbalance that's why there is post pardom depression. The hormones go nuts. Maybe just taking an anxiety medication will help if the bc is not giving you anymore side effects. And that would make sense if you are getting them around your period. You can have that with migrains as well. It has to do with your period. I work in a pharmacy and know of a lady who only takes anxiety meds the week she is supposed to have her period. So it's great you are going in to your dr and make sure you wright down everything you want to talk to him/her about. Good Luck

Georgia59

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Posted: 12-11-07 13:27pm


BC has definitely been proven to exacerbate depression in some women. If you go on the bc forum you'll see many women complaining of this. If your bc is causing depression or anxiety, you should talk to your doc about switching to a different one.

anniek

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Posted: 12-11-07 17:51pm


Ha ha I just saw I spelled write wrong!! LOL I bad at spelling but not that bad! Anyways yes talk to the Dr they will help you out and have suggestions for you!

CB2276

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Joined: 17 Dec 2007
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Posted: 12-17-07 13:30pm


I started taking the pill about 4 months ago. During the 3rd month, the day before my period, I suffered a panic attack. Then, one month later, again the day before my period, I was driving home from work and suffered an attack in the car. I almost pulled over and called 911, but I recognized that it was a panic attack so I just worked my through it until I got home. Still, though, it was so scary. It felt like I was falling off a cliff over and over again. Now, I'm having problems eating, sleeping, and leaving my house and the anxiety will not go away. Has anyone stopped taking BC and had the panic attacks go away? If so, how long did it take?

Georgia59

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Posted: 12-17-07 13:40pm


Well- there's a few things here. There could be many things going on here- don't just blame it on the pill! ~Age- if you are teen/young adult this is a likely age for panic attacks to start occurring (regardless of the pill) ~Stress- If you are just having sex for the first time, or just getting into a serious relationship, long term commitment, or having medical problems, new job, school, these are all factors that may contribute to panic attacks (regardless of the pill) ~It may be due to the hormones, though panic is unlikely. Like I said, depression has definitely been linked to the pill, anxiety to a lesser degree, and I've never heard of strictly panic attacks being linked, though I guess it is possible. I would just go talk to a doctor about it and find out what they think. If it is due to the pill, it might be something as simple as switching to a different kind of pill. But if not, you'll keep chasing around birth control and ignoring the real problem. Make sure you're taking the whole picture into account. Best of luck!

Lilly6

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Joined: 17 Dec 2007
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Birth Control And Anxiety Posted: 12-17-07 19:35pm


I've been on BC for years and back in September was given the newest generic for mine. Since October I have been suffering from anxiety and I have never ever had this before. Could there be a connection? I did call my doctor and the nurse told me maybe but didnt seem to convinced. I requested that my subscription go back to my old pill so we shall see. I hate the anxiety and it is really taking a toll on me.

Georgia59

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Posted: 12-18-07 12:38pm


Yeah, try switch back and see if it helps, and if not, get your butt in to a psychologist for anxiety!

anniek

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Posted: 12-18-07 16:16pm


It shouldn't have made a diffrence because generics are the same drugs but have different fillers. A filler should not have caused anxiety. You can try to change back and see. But you should talk to them about your anxiety.

lila8022

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Joined: 25 Feb 2008
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let's get some real answers Posted: 03-19-08 18:46pm


Hi all, I just email dr. oz from the oprah show. Will you send him an email telling your story about anxiety after birth control too? I think it's time we get some answers instead of just taking anti-depressants. If you want to send him an email go to OPRAH.com scroll down the page and on the left had side is a ask dr. oz box. Click it then go to the blue topic about anxiety and panick attacks. Click that and fill out your info. and tell him your story. thanks. Tell all you hormonally unbalanced friends to do the same.

CADIE

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Midnight with anxiety Posted: 05-18-08 23:32pm


i couldnt be more excited than to read this forum at midnight as I am shaking with fear and anxiety and of course can not sleep. I have been on the pill for 7 years and have just recently (within the past 2 years) developed horrible anxiety and panic. Before I graduated from college I never had ANY side effects from the pill or my period, I figured that the depression and anxiousness came from graduating and being stressed about life, i went to the ER after panic attacks, I went to psychologists, everything. I knew it had to have something to do with my cycle and the pill, but I just figured there was more to it. There probably is, I know graduating and working is tough, but now I am going to talk to my doctor and try out another pill... so thank you for calming my nerves and letting me know I am not alone. As I am writing this I am also thinking that ever since I graduated and have been on my owh health care I have switched to the generic (and way cheaper) brand... does anyone think this might also have an effect?

lila8022

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birth conrol does cause anxiety!! Posted: 05-19-08 10:09am


i've posted my story here months back when i started to get migraines and anxiety after being on the ring for over a year. i could never take the pills because i would get pulmonary embolisms that made me feel like i was having a heart attack after six months of being on them. Anyway, i thought i was doing great then after a few killer migraines i decided to get off the ring cause i knew that's what was causing it. Two weeks later i had anxiety and panic attacks! My doctor and gyno didn't want to admit it was because of BC, but i knew it was. After weeks of research and seeing a psychologist i new i was right. My doc and gyno both wanted to put me on anti-depressants and i wouldn't do it. my counselor agreeded with me that it was all hormonal and 6 months later i'm sooo glad i didn't take the meds. I don't have migraines, no more panick attacks and my anxiety is almost gone. i'll have some slight anxiety around my period still. during my research i found that some women absorb the fake hormones and it stores in your body causing you to have to much hormones causing you to have anxiety. So if you get off of the bc your anxiety could be gone in as little as a weeks time or as long as a years time before your back to normal again. Your body has to cycle it out. So if your having anxiety it is more than likely your bc. Don't take anti depressants if your doc recommends it. It'll only make it worse in the long run, cause then your body is depending on the pill to keep you balanced. It's been a long journey through this, but i'm stronger because of it and have meet a great friend on this forum to get through it together. Stay strong, take your vitamins, and don't forget the bach rescue remedy!!!