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!

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!

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!

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.

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

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.

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!

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?

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!

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.

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

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.

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.

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?

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!!!

I have read all of these posts, they excite me and I am dying for more information. My fiance is 31 and as of two years ago began experiencing crippling axiety attacks. Doctors /psychologists have done nothing except to prescribe zanax, kalonapin, etc. She sees an endrcinologist who has prescribed B12 shots directly into her muscle, as her B12 is very low, but he cannot explain the underlying reason. I have recently been looking into the possibiliy of these problems being caused by her horomones and specfically her hormones acting in tandem with her BC. She is currently on the Ortho pill. ?However, she just called in a presciption for Yaz. I have spent weeks researching anxiety as it is affected by horomones and in doing so came to conclude a lower estrogen pill may be beneficial. No one, but me, believes in the seriousness of her anxiety. HERE IS MY QUESTION: What pill were each of you using before you switched, or ceased all BC use? And, if you switched, which one did you switch to? Any additional information you can provide about your specific situation and what helped will be very much appreciated. And, I promise to gather the information and submit it as a consolidated post if I think it will be beneficial.

hello, and i'm sorry to hear about your wife.
For me it was the ring. i was on it for a year and a 4 months after having a baby. So m hormones were all out of whack before i got on the ring.
I was prescribed ativan, but never took it. i know my hormones needed to start to fix themselves. Your wife needs to get off the birth control for starters. her body need to have its period on it's own. Cycle out some of the fake horse hormones that are in birth control.
Take magnesium, calcium, and multi vitamin for starters and go to your health food store for some BACH rescue remedy. This helps calm the nerves some.
It's been eight months for me and now i'm thinking i'm over the the initial hormone issue, but now since it's been awhile and my nerves have taken a beating i feel i'm having to repair my adrenal glands. you should look up "adrenal fatigue". Too much anxiety and stress put a beating on your adrenal gland and if your not careful can take them out all together.
I've had to put my two year old in day care a few times a week to give me a rest. Your wife needs to relax as much as possible and be taken out for walks and do low key things. Most of all she will need your support. Please continue to be there for her and be reassuring. She needs your confidence that she will get over this, because i'm sure her confidence in this is fading. It's going to be a long road ahead for the two of you, but it'll make you a stronger couple.
i have two other friends i met on this site and they are both doing great!! One is even pregnant!
So, there is light at the end of the tunnel. Sometime it just takes longer for others to get there.

Hi,

I have been suffering severly from anxiety for the last month- and have admitted myself to the ER twice! I continue to have a headache and feel light headed for the last month. After changing my diet to eat almost perfectly but five times my normal food intake- multivitamin and tons of water as well as a decrease in my caffeine- I still have anxiety! I am starting to think there might be a link to my birth control. However, I have been on the same pill for 4 years- is that possible? I have gained 10 pounds over the last month in response to what I thought was hypoglycemia- but I still do not feel less anxious after I eat. Help? Basically do you think it is possible to have a reaction after 4 years of being on the same pill? I am a small person and very active and I was down to 94 lbs (5ft) in March - I did not have my period this month despite being on the pill- The next month I was starving- had my period but also had many anxiety attacks.

Let me know what you think?
Also is it bad to stop your Birth control half way through the pack??

I have generalized anxiety disorder. In my case, it is caused by either hypothyroidism or polycystic ovarian syndrome, possibly both. Unfortunately, or as far as I know, there aren't any treatments for PCOS. Usually, each symptom is treated individually. I was put on Lexapro for my anxiety, and it helped, alot. But, because it was so expensive I started taking one pill a week. I thought it was still working because I was feeling fine. Well, something triggered my anxiety, and for about a week I felt like serious crap. I told myself, regardless of price I needed to start taking my Lexapro again. Wrong thing to do, it made my symptoms worse and I started having severe chest pains, it felt like my heart was on fire. I'm sure if I could have kept on them for longer those feelings would have leveled out and it would have started to work again, but I didn't want to take anything that caused that kind of side effect. When I started back taking the Lexapro it had been a week before I stopped completely. The day after I stopped, my severe symptoms stopped. As of now, I've started taking Flaxseed oil supplement and a multivitamin. I heard flaxseed (omega-3, also found in fish oil) can help level your mood out. Maybe it's a long shot but I'm taking a chance. It's been 5 weeks, I believe. I don't see any definite change, but it may take awhile. As for birth control, I don't believe it has contributed to my anxiety, since I had anxiety problems before I ever started birth control. I think if women have normal estrogen levels and they take birth control it may have abnormal effects on their hormones. But, as for me I have low estrogen, and I think the BC levels me out. Make sure your anxiety/depression isn't caused by other medical problems. I would hate to think I had to live with anxiety all my life. It's terribly dreadful, and time consuming. I just hope that we can all find some peace.