![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Nina78 on July 6, 2006, at 14:59:03
Hello!
I was wondering if any of you have particularly good experiences with certain birt control pills. I've tried a few, but they don't seem to have a very good effect on my moods. They make me angry/agressive (Yasmin) or just depressed (Cileste). I'm ready to give'm another go, but there isn't a lot of info out on which pills have a minimum effect on moods.Also, does anyone have experience with an Implanon? It's a small hormone (progestogen-only) containing stick that's inserted under the skin in your arm.
http://www.organon.co.uk/products/contraception/implanon.aspThanks!
Nina
Posted by Nina78 on July 6, 2006, at 15:15:21
In reply to birth control, posted by Nina78 on July 6, 2006, at 14:59:03
Just found this:
http://www.wdxcyber.com/mbcontra.htm#mc04
Bipolar disorder - what pill to use?Are there any specific birth control pills that are recommended for women with bipolar disorder? I have tried Ortho-tricyclen® and Tri-Levelen®. With both of them, I have had depressions worse than before I ever started on Lithium. I could really use some help.
In general it is felt that the progestogen component of birth control pills has the most effect on aggravating depression. Estrogen has the opposite effect, it usually improves depression. The progestogen in Levlen® is stronger than the progestogen in Tricyclen® milligram per milligram. I would expect Levlen® to be slightly more depressive than Tricyclen® but there is a confounding factor. Both have varying doses of the hormones throughout the cycle. The could conceivably worsen a cyclic process like manic-depression. I would think it would be better to be on a mono phasic pill that had a low progestogen potency such as Orthocyclen®, Norinyl 1/35 ®or Desogen 1/35®. It's possible, however, that any combination could worsen the symptoms. Basically this solution involves trying different pills and giving each one about 2-3 mos before drawing a conclusion. There is almost no scientific investigation in this area, i.e. effect of OCPS on manic-depression that I know of.
Posted by honeybee on July 6, 2006, at 15:47:16
In reply to birth control, posted by Nina78 on July 6, 2006, at 14:59:03
Hi, Nina,
I don't have much to say but that Seasonale might be best avoided. A good friend of mine went on it (she doesn't have a history of mood disorders) and became seriously depressed. She'd never had an issue with birth control before. Later, she found out that it's a fairly common side effect of that particular form of birth control. Even though it was convenient (four periods a year!), I wouldn't recommend it.
hb
Posted by kimcrazylady on July 6, 2006, at 16:38:21
In reply to Re: birth control, posted by honeybee on July 6, 2006, at 15:47:16
Well, I cannot tolerate any of the pills. I've tried many, but every one makes me crazier than I already am. Crying spells, mood swings, etc. Ugh. For me they are just not worth it.
If you do find one, please post about it. I'd be interested in your success.
Kim
Posted by maggiedelena on July 6, 2006, at 17:57:08
In reply to birth control, posted by Nina78 on July 6, 2006, at 14:59:03
I'd avoid the stick -- in fact I'd avoid anything that isn't a pill. With the pill, if you don't like it, the effects disappear soon after you stop taking it. I tried depo-provera (a shot) and the effects were supposed to last three months, I think, but I didn't get my period for close to 7 months. I had the worst response (depression, weight gain) to it that I've ever had from a form of birth control, and was stuck with those hormones lingering in my body for months instead of days.
Speaking of which --I have a followup question. I'm going thorugh mood swings lately that are either rapidcyling or PMS. I've been on the same pill for 5 years and have never had PMS problems, but I know they do sometimes spontaneously develop (I'm just over 31 -- bodies, change, I don't know. Maybe it's a stupid theory). But for the sake of argument, if it's, say, the last 15 days of my cycle, and I'm sobbing in the morning and elated in the evening (or vice versa) how do I eliminate PMS from the possible list of causes? Can it be PMS if it happens 15 days into my cycle, and then I'm ok for a week, and then it happens again? Or is PMS continuous for however many days it lasts? Can it be PMS if I'm spotting? (I've been under the impression that if you're actually bleeding, PMS hormones aren't in your body anymore).
Posted by Nina78 on July 8, 2006, at 3:38:22
In reply to Re: birth control, posted by maggiedelena on July 6, 2006, at 17:57:08
Have you perhaps switched to a different pill?
I think the best you can do is keep a mood chart, and document your bleedings on there as well. Do that for +/- 3 months and then take it to your gp, gyneacologist or pdoc. From that they should be able to tell you if it is PMS or a mood disorder.
Here a link to downloadable electronic moodcharts:
http://www.psycheducation.org/FAQ/MoodCharts.htmBefore diagnosed with Cyclothymia, I thought sometimes it was PMS. Since keeping a mood diary, I've figured out it's not really related. Also, my moods go as much up as down. PMS only goes down...
Good luck!
Posted by Bonnie_CA on July 8, 2006, at 7:54:58
In reply to birth control, posted by Nina78 on July 6, 2006, at 14:59:03
You know, it's funny you bring up birth control... because I sometimes wonder if birth control pills may be the real source of my anxiety. It MAY be coincidence, but I was cool as a cucumber before being put on BCP when I was 16. After that, I started getting more nervous all the time, and I do notice I'm less anxious in that off week of the pill cycle. I've been on Levlen most of the time, with some other kinds in between (switching for skin reasons). I'm sorry, I know what I'm talking about it is only vaguely related, but I have considered that as a source of my problems. Is there any research on this kind of thing? Do they really know? Just interesting to consider. Wouldn't that be fabulous if my anxiety became controlable without meds after stopping BCP? But eh, I think not getting pregnant outweighs that benefit right now.
Sorry, I'm babbling. I'll stop now.
-Bonnie
Posted by nina78 on July 8, 2006, at 17:29:49
In reply to Re: birth control, posted by Bonnie_CA on July 8, 2006, at 7:54:58
Maybe try to quit the pill for a few months. In general you need 2 weeks to rid the chemicals, en 2 months for the effects to disappear.
If you have a partner it can be a bit of a hassle with condoms, but it might be worth trying...Nina
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.