Did anyone get depressed/moody when they went ON BC pills?
#261625 - 05/04/06 03:12 PM
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Vicam
Reged: 02/24/04
Posts: 1955
Loc: Ontario, Canada
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Sorry if this seems like a strange question but I'm wondering if anyone here had any problems with major mood changes when they went on BC pills?
My doctors and I have made an interesting discovery (potentially) in that they are wondering if my BC pills are largely the cause of my mental issues (would be nice - certainly an easier fix). Everyone who has known me for a long time always said that all my "problems" started after I got sick with mono when I was 17...so doctors always assumed it just wreaked havoc on my system and caused me to worry to much about my health which caused anxiety, which caused all the problems I'm having now. Thing is (this had never occured to me before) I went on BC like 4 days before I was diagnosed with mono.
So now the doctors are wondering if maybe it's the BC pills. My hormones are screwed up (I think I mentioned this in a previous post)...my estrogen, testosterone, LH and FSH are all so far below normal limits the lab didn't even measure them exactly, and my cortisol (the stress hormone) is through the roof. My gyn says that when the body is underproducing all the "sex" hormones sometimes it overproduces cortisol because you're body intuitively knows that you can live without the sex hormones but not without cortisol.
So I just wanted some thoughts or experiences. I'm seeing an endocrinologist July 4th (wish it was sooner) so hopefully they can shed some light on things...but it's looking like I may have to go off the BC pills and see what happens. And now that I think about it, I'm sure I had friends in high school who couldn't take the pill because it made them depressed/anxious or whatever.
Sorry this got so long...thanks for reading if you made it this far 
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I was moody and depressed, among other things with DepoProvera and with the patch.
I think it was worse with the DepoProvera. My mood felt "flat" a lot of the time. I never felt really happy when I was on it. I was either depressed or just "Yeah, okay. I'm here. Whatever."
I've heard that BCP, etc. really really mess with some women, so I wouldn't be surprised if that was part of the issue for you.
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Hey Kelly - I have definitely noticed a change in my mood since getting back on BC last month. Sometimes, I feel depressed and don't really have a motivation for anything.
I also feel much more clingy with my boyfriend, and get upset over some really stupid things. For example, he was playing video games the other day while I was over and even though I had a ton of homework to do, I was upset that he was playing video games instead of spending time with me. This is not something that I normally get upset about, so it was really weird for me.
I've been debating on whether to get the depo shots (I have needle phobia!), but not sure after reading they cause mood swings too. 
Hope this helps.
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- Jennifer
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The insert tht comes with your monthly packet of pills should list all the possible side effect of using birth control pills. Mood swings and depression are definitely listed or cautioned. It also says it can increase your anxiety.
Edited by Gracie (05/04/06 07:07 PM)
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Just about any kind of birth control - the pills, shot, patch, ring, all have side affects. Some people may respond better to one method than the other though but the risk is still there.
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UGH...I can be a raging bee-yotch on the pill. I've tried three different kinds and I reacted the same in all, so I quit taking them.
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~jules
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Amanda
I live in the Big Apple, but I don't eat the skin
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Hey, Kelly! I'm glad your doctors seem to be getting somewhere.
I haven't really had any mood problems from birth control pills or the patch. But, when I was on the Depo Provera shot, it was awful. I was depressed and bitchy, plus I gained a bunch of weight and broke out like crazy.
I just started on Aviane (generic for Alesse), which I will be taking continuously, and though I haven't really noticed any mood changes (I've been depressed/moody for quite awhile anyway, so I'm not sure if I'd notice), I've started having major skin breakouts. So I am a bit apprehensive that Aviane will mess me up like Depo Provera did.
sometimes it seems like you're screwed no matter what you do! 
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jen
"It's one of the most serious things that can possibly happen to one in a battle -- to get one's head cut off." -- LC
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YES!!!!
#261813 - 05/05/06 09:19 AM
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atomic rose
Reged: 06/01/04
Posts: 7013
Loc: Maine (IBS-A stable since July '05!)
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It took some tinkering, but they finally found one that I'm ok with - Alesse. No mood funkiness at all. Ortho-Evra (the patch) made me incredibly depressed and suicidal. OrthoCyclen was the worst - it made me angry, violent and psychotic. Like, I used to drug myself to sleep with Nyquil or Benadryl all day, some days, so that I wouldn't have to deal with wanting to murder people. LOL Nice, huh?
You might not have to go off BC entirely if you don't want to, but you will definitely have to go through a lot of experimenting if you want to stay on it. One pill definitely does not fit all, but it's mostly trial and error to figure out which one works for you.
Anyway, it's apparently a pretty common problem - when I went to my new doctor complaining about the depression, the FIRST thing she said was, "let's change your BC". It's definitely worth a shot.
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Definitely, yes. BTW, my husband and I have been using condoms only for 7 years and we haven't had any problems. Not sure if you want to take the risk, because as we all know one can break, but for us, the odds have made it worth not putting my body through the hell that b/c can be. If condoms don't make you feel secure enough, you can always use some spermicide as well.
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HI Vicam
I am sorry you are having all these problems. The BC pill could definetly be responsible for all that you are feeling. My mental health (not to mention physical etc) has been infinetly better since coming off it. I was on the pill for five years...its important to understand that in the beginning the pill may not wreak as much havoc as later on...the pill depletes the B vitamins from your body - these are responsible for so many important functions (energy, mood, hormones etc) that over time, the pills effect can get worse and worse. I would personally advise you to come off it immediately. You will certainly experience a rollercoaster of emotions in the first month or so you are off, but have faith that within a while you will feel so much better. Good luck.
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Feel the fear and do it anyway!
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BTW, it took four months for me to get a regular 30 days cycle, and now I know when I am ovulating (there are ways of telling) so my husband and I use condoms during my fertile period and nothing when I am not fertile...its been 18 months and no baby...a woman is only fertile for about 36 hours a month...there is no neccessity to be over worried.
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Feel the fear and do it anyway!
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Did you have irregular periods before? Without the pill my periods could come between day 20 and 47. The rhythm method sounds like it could be too risky for some.
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Thanks to all who replied...glad to know I'm not the only one who has been in this boat (but sorry to hear a lot of you suffered on the pill as well). Just thought I should clarify a few things...my mental health is so bad right now that ACTUAL birth control wouldn't be a concern if I were to go off. My fiance understands and we'd figure something out. I'm not even on it for ACTUAL birth control, I was placed on it years before for endometriosis.
So here is the big question...while I know it will likely be hard to go off, it will be even harder for my endometriosis. Hormonal treatments are some of the only treatments out there, and if my body isn't responding well to the pill, there is a good chance that it won't respond well to any of the other ones. Plus, if stopping the pill corrects my imbalances and fixes my cortisol (fingers crossed) no doc in the world will put me back on any hormone treatments.
So...I'd be faced with either trying to go with untreated endometriosis (not going to happen) or having a hysterectomy. I've given this a lot of thought. I don't want children, my fiance feels the same, and we've both decided that if we were to change our minds as we get older we would be more than happy to adopt. Plus, I'm one of the lucky ones with endo who really only has problems during her period. So, I could like keep my ovaries which means natural hormones woudl still be produced and I could avoid surgical menopause, but I would not have to suffer through the periods.
Hope you guys don't think I'm nuts but the pain is so bad with the periods I get even now (usually puts me in bed for somewhere between 3-5 days and sometimes in the hospital) that I just can't go through that at a higher intensity EVERY month.
Any thoughts/feelings? A lot of people freak out when I say that but I'm 24 years old and sick of having such a low quality if life. It's been because of the mental problems, and if that turns out to be the result of the BC pill than I'm not just going to be "bring on the pain" I'd like to have it all taken care of and live a semi-normal life.
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Dalia,
Did you take a b-complex or something to boost them back up, or did they go back up on their own?
It has been almost a year since I went off the pill. Like you, it took me a while to ovulate again (like three months), and then I had low progesterone. It has taken a while for my body to re-regulate!
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Christine
Those who can do; those who want it done better teach.
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I'd recommend the book Taking Charge of your Fertility by Toni Wechsler. It teaches you how to detect impending ovulation rather than just assuming you ovulate on a certain day.
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Christine
Those who can do; those who want it done better teach.
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Hi there
I didn't supplement my B vitamins beyond taking a multivitamin...I eat a very nutritious diet (not generally IBS friendly by Heather diet terms - only wholegrains, fruits, vegies, nuts etc)...I just felt my body come back into balance within about 6 months to a year. I can feel now that I have enough energy etc, and my moods are steady, but they certainly weren't towards the end of being on the pill.
As for tracking ovulation - some months it is on day 14, some months 15, some months 16 etc..its different every month..but in general, I stop having unprotected sex by day 10 and resume on day 20. Thats kept me unpregnant!
Good luck
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Feel the fear and do it anyway!
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Hi there
I am sorry you are in this situation, making these difficult decisions. I don't mean to put anymore pressure on you with what I am about to write, but I feel strongly about how you should really explore your options before even considering a hysterectomy...I am familiar with a number of cases of endometriosis and fibroids and other hormonally affected diseases that respond incredibly to dietary changes. I was wondering what kind of diet you eat (I am a nutritionist) and did eat in the years before you were put on the pill to control your endometriosis? You don't have to answer this if you don't have the energy or strength, I just really want you to know that there are other choices out there beyond the drastic removal of your uterus...you never ever know how you are going to feel in a few years from now.
Good luck at the Dr
Dalia XXX
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Feel the fear and do it anyway!
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Dalia
#263583 - 05/15/06 09:52 PM
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Vicam
Reged: 02/24/04
Posts: 1955
Loc: Ontario, Canada
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Thanks for your post...could I email you to talk about it more? I just don't want to get into a lot about it on here...I noticed your email address isn't in your portfolio...if you want you can email me (vicam 7 at hotmail dot com ) and I'll write you back
Edited by Vicam (05/15/06 09:53 PM)
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I'm sorry to hear you are facing such difficult decisions at such a young age. It sounds like you are thinking through everything very carefully, and that's a good thing. I've only known two ladies with severe endo, and in both cases, they were told to have what children they wanted and then had hysterectomies. Pregnancy was easy for both ladies, and they had their children and hysterectomy by the time they were 30. I know there are a lot of choices, but you have to make the one that is right for you.
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God is Faithful!
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