![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by LindaNYC on August 13, 2004, at 15:01:08
In another post I have been discussing the recent onset of severe depression and other symptoms, possibly caused by Ambien dependency. It occurred to me today, that I recently began using hormonal birth control, in the form of NuvaRing (9 days ago today), and that this may also be responsible in part for some of my recent depression and stomach upset. Last night, although I have been Ambien-free for 5 days now, I again experienced the nausea and mood swings that I had been having immediately prior to stopping use of Ambien. I snapped at my poor husband, as well as my boss, over a minor incident, earlier in the day.
Has anyone else noticed mood swings using NuvaRing? I have never taken hormonal BC before, and figured I wouldn't have side effects because it's a much lower dosage in the NuvaRing. Am I incorrect in this assumption? Could it be causing the mood changes?
Posted by almondjoy on August 16, 2004, at 19:08:21
In reply to NuvaRing - link to depression?, posted by LindaNYC on August 13, 2004, at 15:01:08
i think any hormonal birth control can cause or contribute to mood changes....
page 14 of NuvaRing's patient pamphlet http://www.nuvaring.com/Authfiles/Images/309_76063.pdf says "The following adverse reactions have been reported in users of combination hormonal contraceptives and are believed to be drug related...mental depression..."
i was more moody on ortho tri-cyclen lo and had to quit taking it after only a month...i didn't feel like myself at all after i'd just started to feel better and more stable.
take care
d
Posted by SAW on August 18, 2004, at 8:40:25
In reply to NuvaRing - link to depression?, posted by LindaNYC on August 13, 2004, at 15:01:08
I took Yasmin purely to skip P's prior to my wedding. (Am unable to have children). I couldn't understand after a month why I had changed so much. I became a raging, irrational, emotional, overly defensive and sensitive lunatic. This was just on a mental level. Physically, I was also experiencing all sorts of horrors. It was only when my husband was about to call our wedding off that I looked back to see what had changed in my life. Realising the changes began after starting Yasmin, I immediately researched and was horrified to see that these reactions are quite common. I stopped taking it. (And had my P's at the wedding!). Anyway, my point is that this spiralled me into further depression even when the extreme side effects of Yasmin lifted. I had thought I was fully recovered (suffered total mental breakdown a few years ago) so denied being depressed. I may have relapsed anyhow, but place a fair amount of blame on Yasmin as being part catalyst. I was so sad on my honeymoon though should have been the happiest in the world. My husband was so confused. Anyway, hoping I'm on the mend now after 10 days on Effexor XR. Am new to this site - thanks for letting me ramble.
Posted by LindaNYC on August 18, 2004, at 12:10:42
In reply to Birth Control and depression, posted by SAW on August 18, 2004, at 8:40:25
One of my female friends confirmed that she was a raging lunatic for the year and a half she was taking the pill. I am kind of dissapointed that when I asked the gyno about the side effects of the hormones he replied, "You should have no problems as it's a very low dose." I never heard about the differences between hormonal formulas until I read it here. I can't believe that so many women have suffered needlessly, continuing to take the medication after the onset of symptoms. Especially in someone who has no experience with prior depression, the person would most likely just think they were going crazy. I am grateful that at least I figured it out and stopped the medication early on. At least I have been getting treated for the depression for years and had a yardstick to measure the symptoms with!
Posted by Jew-Lo on August 22, 2004, at 19:48:48
In reply to Birth Control and depression, posted by SAW on August 18, 2004, at 8:40:25
Today I realized something was seriously wrong with me when I spent an entire day alone watching TV while outside it was beautiful and clear-- I normally run 5 miles a day and am a very fit, social 21-year-old. Yasmin is the biggest and most recent change in my life and after researching it for a couple hours online, I feel so relieved to have found the problem. I really thought I was going crazy; I couldn't figure out why I wouldn't go running when I love running, why I preferred to just sit and stuff my face, why I felt no motivation to do anything or call anyone. So since starting Yasmin I have had inexplicable bouts of crying, have been incredibly depressed and avoided friends, have had an appetite for sweet and sugary foods, have had my breast size increase a full cup size in one week, and have been dizzy, achy, tired, sluggish, melancholy, withdrawn, fatigued. I have become seriously depressed from birth control once in the past and refuse to "wait this one out" and endager my mental health.
I really feel for the woman who was so emotional during her wedding: I know how you feel. This was not your fault and now you know the problem and can get back to being you again.
Posted by SAW on August 23, 2004, at 2:15:42
In reply to Re: Birth Control (Yasmin) and depression, posted by Jew-Lo on August 22, 2004, at 19:48:48
Thank you Jew-Lo
At least I can say that my marriage so far, in spite of my depression, has been happy and that I am one of the lucky one's to have husband that is so supportive. He did not think in the beginning that Yasmin could have affected me the way it did, but realised when I read a few case histories to him.
Sadly, the damage was done though. I would have relapsed eventually I guess, but maintain the Yasmin brought the relapse sooner. The timing (wedding and all) was just really bad!
Anyway, from birth control to Efexor XR 150mg, how's that for a switch?
Regards
Sabrina
Posted by LindaNYC on August 23, 2004, at 11:35:55
In reply to Re: Birth Control (Yasmin) and depression » Jew-Lo, posted by SAW on August 23, 2004, at 2:15:42
Side effects such as these we experienced on hormonal therapy are really played down! My doctor didn't even mention them until I did, and kind of poo-pooed them. Thank GOD for the internet! I would have had no idea otherwise that this was making me nuts! The package insert barely mentions it, except to say may cause depression, and I couldn't find anything about the severe increase in appetite, especially for sugary foods.
I am so sorry to hear of the spoiled wedding and the sudden onset of hunger and apathy in Jew-Lo. (Great nic, BTW)
On a happier note, I found out I am already covered for medical leave at my job (I thought I had to wait until next year), so we have given up on BC and are trying to have a baby now! My OB/GYN said the Prozac I'm on is fine, as well as the Wellbutrin that just got added. At least the baby will have a stable mom now, thanks to medication.
Posted by Mariposa on August 23, 2004, at 14:33:14
In reply to Ugh! Sorry to hear all the bad side effects!, posted by LindaNYC on August 23, 2004, at 11:35:55
I had trouble with Yas also, was on Estrostep and told gyn doc I thought it was making me depressed, so he switched me to Yas. Took it for over a year and I got WORSE not better! When I went back I told gd I did not want to take Yas anymore so he put me on Ortho Evra patch and gave me Lexapro. Doing much better now, but not sure if it's the Lex or the patch or a combination of the 2.
Posted by Jew-Lo on August 23, 2004, at 15:48:51
In reply to Re: Yasmin, posted by Mariposa on August 23, 2004, at 14:33:14
My doctor also said nothing about depression when she prescribed Yasmin as my birth control. Since she directs Women's Services for my entire (large) university, I called her today to tell her that I'd gone off the Yasmin and that she should let other girls know about the possible danger of depression with the medication. She hadn't heard of it before--I agree that it's very important that this information be disseminated, especially since a lot of depression begins in early adulthood and this could worsen it in women and make things even more unbearable. And for people who are not depressed, like me, it can very quickly create problems. So we should make sure that we relay this back to our doctors so that they can help other women with similar problems.
Take care,
Rachel
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.