Could my BCP be causing this?? - Birth Control Message Board

Snix · 01-21-2007, 05:09 PM

Ive been on low-ogestrel for maybe a year and half now...i thought it was working out great, periods on time and everything.

Well, when i stopped taking my ADD medication in may, i have experience almost chronic fatigue (except when i am doing something very interesting/stimulating), some depression, as well as anxiety.

I never once thought about my BCPs....i just figured it was my ADD or something.

I definately had the fatigue on my ADD meds too...it was just masked by them.

Have any of you experienced these symptoms? If i stop, how soon can i tell if my BCPs are causing them?

THanks!

livinTX · 01-21-2007, 06:02 PM

It's possible...the only way to tell is to stop the pill for a couple of months and see.

It's interesting to read your post though. Because I took the pill fine for 6 years (with low sex drive and breakthrough bleeding being my main side effects), then in Nov. 2005, I went off antidepressants (which I'd always taken with the pill). Suddenly, I had a whole host of problems, including huge water retention, bulgy hard area over my uterus, and extreme moodiness and anxiety and depression. Even though I'd had a history of depression, this pill-induced depression was different from the other. It's hard to explain. I really thought I must have a serious mental illness because I ended up in uncontrollable tears at least once daily. I woke up every morning on the verge of tears.

I stopped the pill in June because of the unbearable water retention, and within a couple of months, my mood improved greatly. I still have the odd "off" day, but it's not every single day any more, now it's 1 or 2 days a month, which is a huge improvement. I've decided I will never go back on the pill again, it was making me that miserable.

Good luck to you!

Snix · 01-21-2007, 08:30 PM

thats really interesting....i am thinking of stopping as well. Just sucks since i do take it for birth control, lol. I already am really careful...will just have to be super duper careful now!!

Im sorry about the uncontrollable tears! I get that too, and i hate it...but its not every day!!!

Is it really gonna take months to see changes??

livinTX · 01-22-2007, 10:36 AM

I think I saw changes in my mood/attitude within the first month and by the second month, I didn't have any uncontrollable crying sessions. I think once you get your first real period off the pill, you will probably start to notice positive changes. My first period didn't come until 35 days off the pill, the second at 30 days, and since then, it's been about 27 days between periods.

Other changes, like a decrease in appetite--finally!--didn't happen for me until 6 months off the pill. Some other side effects from stopping like having slight nausea from the day AF shows until I ovulate (very bad nausea when I ovulate) are still with me. I never had nausea like this pre-pill, but oh, well. It's a small price to pay for a better mood and attitude and a sex drive again. It's more annoying than anything, and it does keep me from eating too much those days...

Snix · 01-23-2007, 10:21 AM

thanks!

I think i am gonna try a few months without it...kinda sucks not having it as a back up, but if it helps, i definately think it will be worth it!