Ortho Tri-Cyclin and depression

[Kourtney]

I'm looking for some help. I took ortho tri-cyclin for about a year and one of the side effects that occurred was depression. It took me awhile to realize that it was linked to the birth control but I recently switched to modicon and I seem to be doing much better. However, I'm interested in exploring this problem via an article I'm planning on writing to make people more aware of this topic. I knew that depression was a side effect yet when I started getting depressed, I didn't link it to the birth control until I talked to a couple of friends who had experienced the same thing. the symptoms we experienced were acute and serious. I was wondering if anyone would be willing to share any stories they might have related to depression and tri-cyclin (or other birth control)or even answer a questionaire. If included in the article, no personal information will be included.

Thanks for your help, please respond to my email if interested and we can further work out the details!

Kourtney

[Devnic]

I take Ortho Tri-Cyclen and have noticed that my depression has gotten worse, however, I am taking Prozac for my depression so it's hard to say whether it was related to the bc pills.
As a lifelong sufferer of depression, I have discovered hormones have ALOT to do with it. I have a whole bunch of "female" problems which are all related to my hormone levels being "off". Doctors don't make the correlation between the two, but for myself, I know it's got alot to do with my hormones.

Not sure this helps, just FYI. :-)

[Rebecca]

I was also taking Ortho Tri Cyclen and I have been having many medical problems that doctors can't seem to pinpoint. He asked me are you depressed. I didn't think so at the time, but during the last few weeks I have been thinking about it. I am going back on Friday to see if I have PMDD or some kind of depression. I would love to hear from others who are having the same problems.

[Gracie]

I would be more than willing to help you with an article or book. I took Ortho for 9 months and also didn't realize my symptoms could be related to the pill until I spoke with others who had the same experiences. Once I started paying attention to it, I noticed that my symptoms and depression got worse each month. It was horrible and I was miserable. I would cry for no reason at all; the list goes on. I have been off the pill for a month now and I have felt amazingly better with every passing day. So if you need to ask me anything, go right ahead. I would love to be able to help others out there experiencing the same thing.

[jmd]

I've been on Ortho tri cyclin for about 4 months, the first 2 were unstable and I was bleeding all the time. My Ob-Gyn ask me nothing about my medical hx and periods. I was put on it to control acne, not for birth control. I was on tetricyclin for acne that worked great and had never been on any birth control (didn't need to) before. I became sexually active and discovered the world of yeast infections. So they dropped me off the antibiotics and on to this. If you read the side effects, it can aggrivate yeast infections so why they put me on it is odd. I don't like it and it hasn't done squat for my acne which is now back as bad as ever. I tend to be naturally some what depressed (I have never sought treatment, nor will I) which gets worse depending on my cycle. This damn birth control pill has made me all but suicidal. The only thing that mitigates it is the fact that I KNOW it is this pill and to ignore it, but let me tell you it really is annoying. The only reason I haven't hopped off it is I'm afraid I become unstable with the bleeding again, and bleed straight for the next 2 months.......