Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 308231

Shown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

Birth control and depression

Posted by CareBear04 on February 1, 2004, at 16:42:32

Have other people found that they get really depressed on the pill? I've tried OCP, but each time, I get depressed within a few days. Most birth control brands cite depression as a possible side effect, but has anyone with bipolar disorder or depression been able to avoid this problem? Are there certain brands that are less likely to cause this problem? If I want to experiment with some other birth control brands, is this something I need to tell my pdoc about? I don't really feel that comfortable talking to him about it. On the other hand, he'll probably wonder what's going on with me if I flip out on the pill as I have in the past. Any advice? Thanks! CB

 

Re: Birth control and depression

Posted by Maxime on February 1, 2004, at 19:22:44

In reply to Birth control and depression, posted by CareBear04 on February 1, 2004, at 16:42:32

Hi, I had to go off the pill because of extreme mood swings - EXTREME. I am bipolar. I'm still looking for an alternative form of bc and not engaging in sex until I do. I will probably use a diaphram.

Maxime

> Have other people found that they get really depressed on the pill? I've tried OCP, but each time, I get depressed within a few days. Most birth control brands cite depression as a possible side effect, but has anyone with bipolar disorder or depression been able to avoid this problem? Are there certain brands that are less likely to cause this problem? If I want to experiment with some other birth control brands, is this something I need to tell my pdoc about? I don't really feel that comfortable talking to him about it. On the other hand, he'll probably wonder what's going on with me if I flip out on the pill as I have in the past. Any advice? Thanks! CB

 

Re: Birth control and depression

Posted by Bill LL on February 2, 2004, at 8:48:46

In reply to Birth control and depression, posted by CareBear04 on February 1, 2004, at 16:42:32

I think that it is fine to work just with your OBGYN to try to find a different birth control pill that does not cause depression. You don't need to consult with a pdoc about that.

 

Re: Birth control and depression

Posted by metalflipflop on February 2, 2004, at 22:19:24

In reply to Re: Birth control and depression, posted by Bill LL on February 2, 2004, at 8:48:46

well, i'd say you do....
for those of us with mood disorders, from what i read and my own experience, there often ISN'T a pill that doesn't cause depression--they all utilize the same form of synthetic estrogen and there are just 6 slightly different formulations of progesterone used. if you have tried low-dose pills, i wouldn't keep trying to find one that works. i don't think it's out there. there's just too much we don't understand about the interplay of female hormones on other hormones and neurotransmitters.
i'm 21, and i'm getting a diaphragm. believe me, i wouldn't if i didn't have to, if i felt like condoms alone were enough.

-liz, veteran of (and made a depressive mess by) mircette, alesse, estrostep, lo-estrin, yasmin, and the nuva ring (a mess in other ways too).

 

Re: Birth control and depression

Posted by noa on February 3, 2004, at 11:51:09

In reply to Re: Birth control and depression, posted by metalflipflop on February 2, 2004, at 22:19:24

Talk to your OB/GYN about this. There might be a different formulation of pill that would be better for you. If your OB/GYN isn't interested or knowledgeable about the effects of the pill on mood, consult a different OB/GYN.

There are two books you might want to consult:

"Women's Moods : What Every Woman Must Know About Hormones, the Brain, and Emotional Health"
by Deborah Sichel, Jeanne Watson Driscoll

and

"Screaming to be Heard: Hormonal Connections Women Suspect, and Doctors Still Ignore"
by Elizabeth Lee Vliet MD

I am fine on the pill, but about ten years ago, one OB/GYN put me on Progestin for irregular periods (it didn't work) and it made me REALLY depressed--not just depressed by very labile--moody and crying, etc. etc.

Good luck.

 

Re: Birth control and depression, PLEASE READ

Posted by sexylexy on February 3, 2004, at 19:37:32

In reply to Re: Birth control and depression, posted by noa on February 3, 2004, at 11:51:09

CareBear04
I really hope you read this. I was taking Alesse for 3 1/2 months. I am 24 and have never been depressed a day in my life. I noticed really bad mood swings then started being so sad about everything, I thought I was homesick but I had been away from home for two years and been fine. When I got home things got much worse because they did not get better. I cried ( I was never a crier) all day long. Finally, at the advice of my dad, I discontinued everything I was taking (vitamins and the pill) within 24 hours I was a different person. Myself again, very happy. However, 10 days later I had a friend die unexpectedly, the first sign of sadness I freaked out, anxiety about becoming depressed again made me feel depressed, finally the anxiety became so bad, it was almost paralyzing. I went to my doctor and a p doc. They both said that I became depressed from the pill and the anxiety was leading me backed to that "learned" feeling of depression. They said that I needed to be on a SSRI until my body "forgot" how to be depressed. So I got on Zoloft which SUCKED, I was on that for what I now call the 3 lost weeks. I am now on week 6 1/2 of lexapro and feeling a little better, hoping to improve as the pill leaves my body (about 3 months). Good luck, I was on Micerette for a while and had no problems with it... They think it was the amount of Progesterone in the Allese.
God Bless
Lexy

 

Re: Birth control and depression

Posted by CareBear04 on February 5, 2004, at 0:01:03

In reply to Birth control and depression, posted by CareBear04 on February 1, 2004, at 16:42:32

thanks everyone for responding. sexylexy and metalflipflop, i'm so sorry you had such bad experiences w/ birth control. alesse was actually what i tried, too. it made me feel completely out of control-- i don't cry, either, but i did when i was on alesse, and i felt hopeless and suicidal as well as very irritable and edgy. noa, thanks for the book recommendations.
i'm a bit annoyed because i talked to my OB/GYN about my need for birth control, and she won't help me until I give her a permission slip signed by my pdoc saying that it's ok for me to try oral contraceptives. it makes me feel about 10 years old, not 20. i have a feeling that what the pdoc and ob/gyn are going to suggest is alternative forms of birth control like the diaphragm or cervical cap or whatever else they have now. those may address the contraceptive part of the problem, but i need the pills for other problems not addressed by those options. i have really irregular periods. occasionally, it'll come early, but most of the time, my period will come maybe six weeks after my last one or not come at all. It's a very confusing state to never know when to expect your period.
I'm not at the point where I feel comfortable talking about sex and periods and this stuff with my new male shrink. Any advice? My dr. doesn't seem any more excited about talking about this than i am. Any similar experiences?

 

Re: Birth control and depression » metalflipflop

Posted by sexylexy on February 6, 2004, at 20:02:46

In reply to Re: Birth control and depression, posted by metalflipflop on February 2, 2004, at 22:19:24

What happened on NuvaRing... Ive been thinking about it
lexy

 

Re: Birth control and depression » sexylexy

Posted by metalflipflop on February 6, 2004, at 21:02:50

In reply to Re: Birth control and depression » metalflipflop, posted by sexylexy on February 6, 2004, at 20:02:46

oh man, the nuva ring, where do i start....
well, it had the same mood symptoms as the others i have tried, though i think less so than the oral pills. at this point i EXPECT to get depressed and emotional, which doesn't exactly help the situation.
i might have stuck with the ring for a few months to get used to it, except for the, ahem, physical difficulties. okay--they say you can have sex with it in, you can even wear a tampon with it in: ABSOLUTELY NO WAY!!!!! that little b-----d kept trying to pop out. i mean, it's one size fits all, but it must not have been a good fit for me, b/c i could not get it to stay in when i was active, no matter how far i pushed it up there. and as far as sex--ha. my boyfried was like, what the hell is that? it would be acceptable to me to take it out and then put it back in, but you have to be really careful not to leave it out for more than an hour i think. otherwise your hormone levels will start to drop.
sooooooooo, i don't want to say it wouldn't work for you. for me, no. i do think it's a good idea for people like us to try to localize the hormones as much as possible though. so hey, why not give it a shot? i don't know anyone else who has tried it, so i have no idea what the consensus is.
best of luck,
liz


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