the pill: Weight gain? mental illness? - Birth Control Message Board

halfreality71 · 04-02-2005, 06:31 PM

hi

i dont know if anyone will be able to help me with this, but i thought i'd ask just in case:
has there been any evidence to show that birth control is unsafe to take if you have a severe mental illness? I'm asking this because i have paranoid schizophrenia and i have heard that certain things that would not cause problems in normal people would cause big problems if you have schizophrenia . For example, most people can smoke a little pot, take over the counter allergy medicine, cough syrup,drink caffine, etc. and they will be fine, but if i use these things, it will make my psychosis a lot worse.

would the pill be dangerous to take since i am taking other medications? (antidepressants and antipsychotics)

Also, i have had episodes of Bulimia and anorexic tendancies and if i go on a birth control that makes me gain even a couple pounds, i'm almost sure this will make my eating problems flair up again.I've heard that birth control can cause weight gain. Are there any types of it that dont cause weight gain?

me and my boyfriend are very safe and always use protection: condoms and spermicide together, and we always "test" the condom after it's used(fill it with water and squeeze it). But i'm always worried about that little tiny chance that i could get pregnant. Getting pregnant would be horrible for me. I would really like to start taking the pill, but im also afraid of doing this for the reasons i've mentioned.

I know everyone is going to tell me to ask my doctor about this stuff, and i deffinatly will, but i thought i'd also ask it on this forum to see if anyone has had any experience or knowledge of what i'm talking about.

thanks

-Becka

halfreality71 · 04-02-2005, 06:45 PM

i forgot to ask: Since me and my boyfriend use spermicidal condoms (and sometimes extra spermicide) and since he pulls out immediatly after ejaculating, would this be just as effective as being on the pill? I mean, i've heard that the pill is only 98-99% effective even when used correctly?
and i've heard that spermicide by itself is about 85% effective and condems by themselves are about 97% effective--if used correctly. So spermicidal condemns must be about 99% effective, or am i wrong?

thanks

-Becka

bajan71 · 04-02-2005, 10:04 PM

I don't think that you should give the pill a try. It definately messes with your emotions. Makes you anxious, jittery and can cause mood swings. I am quite ok and it totally messes with mine so you might want to run it by your doc. if they say its not proven I'd disagree and you or a loved one should monitor your behaviour when you start. The pill can also cause weight gain and tremendous appetite awakening, so I'd weigh myself if I were you like every week after starting to keep track and if gaining is a bad trigger for you; then I'd discontinue.

Lamp · 04-03-2005, 12:58 AM

I've dealt with depression, self injury, and panic/anxiety problems for several years. In the past 6 months I have come a long way and things had been looking up. I began taking the pill a couple months back. I started with Ortho Cyclen. My depression came back and was very intense. The ONLY thing that changed was that I started taking the pill. (I even got a raise, won 150 bucks during that time, and had zero stressful things going on at that time). I took it for 10 days total. The effects were very quick. My boyfriend of 6 months - who has been a close friend for 4 years said I "reverted back into the dark girl he used to know".
The depression that hit me when I started on Ortho Cyclen was more intense than my usual depression (if that makes any sense).
I talked to the doc who prescribed the pills (at Planned Parenthood - I don't have insurance) and basically I was told the symptoms would probably go away but if I wanted I could switch to a different pill to see if the symptoms would be different. I couldn't stand feeling the way I was. My boyfriend also requested that I stop taking that pill. He wanted his girlfriend back. So I went against the doc's recommendations and quit in the middle of the pack. Once I got my period again I began with Ortho Tri Cyclen Lo. Since I started taking it I have not had the same depression symptoms.
My boyfriend and I have both been monitoring my emotional side also - to make sure the same thing isn't happening now. It is definitely not worth how I was feeling when using the first pills.

I read online on several other message boards and a lot of women are dealing with this but basically the docs don't think it's serious enough to put a real disclaimer. One site I read said basically that the pill could cause a depression relapse.

That's my experience... but I do think that this is a serious issue. We are putting hormones in our bodies and expecting one thing - but what we don't know is ALL of the possibilites that come along with the pill.

You might try going on the pill but do keep in mind that your mental illness could be affected by it. I think that your emotions should be closely monitored by you and your significant other - to see if you are changing due to the pills. The first pill I took was horrible. The second pill has been working great with no harsh side effects. It might take trying one type of pill or another before finding one that suits you.
I'd definitely talk to your doctor about it.