Antidepressants symptoms and conditions

I'm 18 years old and live in Florida, while at the gynecologist for a routine visit my doctor strongly suggested that I start the Gardasil 3 shot cycle. After checking with my mom (who was unfortunately given biased information from my doctor without first doing research on the product) agreed since we both figured that my doctor would be knowledgeable enough on the subject (or you would think since she was the one administering the drug.) The first two shots went fine and I had no reaction at all. After the third shot (in October of 2007) I woke up the next morning with swollen hands and extreme swelling at the injection spot. I immediately returned to my gynecologist where I was told “there is no possible way you can be allergic to this medication” by my doctor, and that those reactions would go away in a few days. A few days following this I developed sores in the back of my throat and under my tongue, however my gynecologist still insisted there was no possible way it was an effect of the Gardasil (EVEN THOUGH IT WAS THE VERY NEXT DAY) & I had no previous illnesses. Within the week following I developed body-wide hives so severe that I cannot sleep and they affect my breathing. I’ve seen several doctors (allergist, dermatologist, primary physicians, and immunologists) none of which can determine why exactly I have these hives, besides that it is a “drug reaction” (it took 11 vials of blood to determine that). However when one of my dermatologists questioned Merck about it they simply said that there is no evidence and I cannot sew!!! That’s all they cared about! A law suit! WHAT EVER YOU DO, DO NOT GET THIS SHOT, TELL EVERYONE YOU KNOW! It has ruined my life. As an 18 year old girl living in Florida I love to go to the beach however because of these hives they get so severe when I’m exposed to sunlight I can no longer go. It’s also extremely embarrassing when people stare at them since they cover most of my body on a daily basis.

Yasmin basically ruined my life for the 6 months I was on it. I was 22 when I first started taking it, and for the first 4 months on it everything was great, then suddenly I started having extreme panic attacks - laying in bed shaking uncontrollably, my chest so tight that I felt like someone was sitting on me. Every other hour I felt like either crying or screaming or pulling my hair out. I started questioning everything in my life, including the great relationship I was in at the time. I was absolutely miserable to my boyfriend - either mean or crying for no reason. I had to miss work because I couldn't get out of bed because I couldn't stop crying in the morning. If I did go to work - I would have to run to the bathroom to cry. Eventually I ended up seeing a doctor and going on antidepressants. That didn't help either. Finally, I decided to take myself off of everything and just try to pull my life back together. It took about 4 months to get back to being myself. Needless to say, the boyfriend couldn't stick this one out, and quite frankly I don't blame him. Just a few days ago, I tried going on Yasmin again, thinking maybe it was just circumstantial last time - graduating college, new job etc. Literally, on day TWO of taking the pill, I felt all the symptoms come rushing back. I stopped the pill yesterday and feel pretty much normal again. PLEASE don't take this pill, and let anyone you know that's on it know how much this pill can ruin your life.

Hi ladies,

I'm a 20 year old girl and I've been on Yasmin for just over a year now and it has hands down been the WORST YEAR OF MY LIFE. I started taking it for extreme menstrual cramps that would leave me screaming on the kitchen floor, curled up in a ball begging for the pain to stop. Yasmin fixed that, trust me it was like a miracle, and my acne on my face and back cleared up, another miracle.

Now the bad stuff. The first month was okay, because sometimes it takes time for the hormones to take affect. But I became severely depressed thereafter. It just started happening, crying all the time, hopeless, binge eating, gaining a lot of weight. And on top of that the GI problems, my stomach literally ballooned out to the size of a watermelon, and everything I ate irritated me. But a few months ago I became bulimic in a drastic attempt to get control back of my life, I hadn't even thought of the pill as the culprit up until this point. Keep in mind that I'm young, fit, have a great family, in school, there's no reason for my to be falling so low.
I started seeing a therapist, then a psychiatrist. I was this close to being put on antidepressants. And then something happened, my years worth prescription of Yasmin ran out so my OBGYN told the pharmacy to refill my prescription but with the generic brand, Ocella, that they had available which would only cost me 10 dollars a month with health insurance. Within four days I felt like my old self. Happy. I couldn't believe it. I went to a physician for tests and everything seemed normal, but after explaining to her my severe stomach problems she told me that it seemed like the pill induced me to become lactose intolerant. Wonderful!
So I started the second pack of Ocella a week ago and it all started happening again. The first month was fine again, but my body had caught up by now and even though I've cut dairy out, my stomach has ballooned up again and I have heartburn and indigestion no matter what I eat. Yesterday I felt insanely depressed, I binged, became insanely nauseous and threw up. I didn't leave the couch once. Now I know that it may sound like I need to reevaluate my problems, but I promise you, THIS IS NOT ME. I've realized that Ocella is exactly what it is, the generic version, and hence chemically the same as Yasmin, so the effects will mirror Yasmin's. MY OBGYN told me to finish the pack, and then I can come off them, and I cannot begin to explain how excited I am. I'm done with pills, and I'll find another way to deal with the pain.

Please, if you're taking birth control for something like acne, reconsider, it's not worth it. We are the experimental age. We can't ask our grandmothers what the long terms affects are. But if you must be on it and are feeling badly in any way, switch! You might find something better for you.

I'm so glad I found this site. I've had my Mirena for only 5 months, but since then I've had horrible depression (very severe), hot flashes, night sweats, anxiety, headaches, complete loss of any pleasure in anything, no sex drive AT ALL. I'm making an appointment on Monday to have this removed. I've been seeing a psychiatrist for a few months and being treated with antidepressants and Ativan for anxiety and Prozac for the week before my period for severe PMDD. I never had these issues before. Oh my God. I hope the Mirena is causing it. The idea that I could be 'normal' again is giving me so much hope.

HI, I just read all of your comments regarding Mirena and I cannot believe how exact your side effects are how I feel. I am on antidepressants for my PMDD, which I had prior to insertion and I gain 10 lbs per period. I cannot lose the last 10 lbs of baby 10/29/06 even though I road bike 3 to 4 times a week for 45 minutes a day.

I thought I was just getting old!

I had terrible pain and bleeding for the first 6 months and then things were good, but I have terrible pain during sex and terrible side pain.

Thanks! I think I am getting mine removed!

Im only 16 years old and ive been on levaquin for about 3 days now. My doctor told me off the bat that the only thing wrong with the drug were some "theories" on cartilidge damage, how ever, now i see for myself, and for many other people that is not the only side effect. He told me that no one under 18 is supposed to have it but i caught a severe case of sinutitus, and a uti which ive had for 2 months and nothing was working, so he put me on levaquin, once a day for 7 days. Ive now been having the following symptoms and im extremely scared!!
1. Constant fatigue
2. Extreme Migraines
3. Nausea, vomiting
4. Rapid heart beat (and chest pain)
5. Stiffness in joints and horrible pain...
6. Constant anxiousness, to where i cant get to sleep
7. Dizziness

Is there anyone i can talk to who's had these same problems? please email me or something im scared and i don't know what to do my mother doesn't believe me and she says its just a head cold....

******

Please help me!!

I posted my situation on this site earlier this summer. I had been suffering from anxiety and depression plus loss of sex drive since being on this pill. I called my doctor and asked to switch to another pill and I feel so much better already. I had no period whatsoever while on LoE24 so I continued to use it inspite of the fact that I suspected the pill of doing these things to me. I just don't think it's normal to take a pill with 24 days of hormones that take away your period. It was obviously unhealthy for me and I'm glad I got rid of it. My mind just feels so much clearer and I feel like my old self again. After being on this pill for 14 months I'm finally free and clear of it and will never recommend it to anyone! If you're having depression or anxiety, don't let your doctor put you on antidepressants without first trying another pill.

I was just put on the nuvaring and I am not so sure I like it. I suffer from mild depression, now that I am on this I am even more so... I am angry, agitated and yell at my kids often. I don't like this. I have also started to spot and feel crampy and bloated. My periods weren't bad before but is this a sign of bad times to come? I don't like feeling like this and my doctors says stay on it and to go on a antidepressant, not what I really want to do.

I am 25 years old. A mother of 2, and i have now been on the NuvaRing for 5 years. I got on the NuvaRing the day of my postpartum check up after i had my second child.. I loved the NuvaRing at first thought it was the best thing in the entire world, hell all you had to do was put it in leave it for 21 days days leave it out for 7. Go on your period and other then that everything was great. About 2 months into using the Nuvaring i started having HORRIBLE HEADACHES that would last 3-5 days at a time without letting up. I could not stand to be around noise, light or anything that had a strong smell or it would get my head pounding to where i just could not take it anymore. So i called my doctor and told him about the horrible headaches that i have had. Explained to him that before a bad headache would come on i would have this horrible burning sensation in my head that would make you want to die.. And the doctor told me just hang in there and give the Ring time to work, so i did and then as time went on i started having other side effects along with the headaches.. Such as BAD ACNE that scars after clearing up which has made my completion not so good. Breakouts on arms, back ,chest. So i got some neutrogena soap to help with that and it has worked.. But then i got more side effects such as BREAK THREW BLEEDING right after my period was suppose to be over and after intercourse.. Then i totally HAD NO SEX DRIVE which caused lots of problems in my marriage cause my husband began to think i wasn't sexually attracted to him anymore.. And i began to think that also. Cause i had lost my sex drive didn't want to do it, the thought of it made me cringe. After being on the NuvaRing after so long you began to develop this THICK DISCHARGE that is annoying then as time goes on you get another type of discharge that is thin WATERY DISCHARGE that is aggravating cause it almost feels as if you have peed your pants a bit almost feels like a yeast infection with out the smell. Which brings me to my next awful side effect which is the Yeast INFECTIONS and the number of UTI's i have had while being on the NuvaRing never had a UTI or a yeast infection before the nuvaring. Not having a sex drive because you cant because intercourse is too PAINFUL sex it hurts like FRICTION and STABBING because of the DRYNESS the Nuva Ring causes. So i called the doctor he told me that i would have dryness at first and to just use lube so i tried that. Didn't work still had pain from the dryness so i called the doctor again and told him about the pain so he wrote me a prescription for a numbing jelly that you use right before intercourse and that was suppose to help with the pain.But that didn't work either just made everything numb till where you couldn't feel rather anything was out or in so i quit using that and hoped to god that my body would adjust to the Nuvaring. Still today after intercourse it causes STOMACH CRAMPS similar to the ones when your on your menstrual cycle,and PRESSURE similar to the pressure you have when your 8-9 months pregnant. Going to the bathroom after intercourse is a total NIGHTMARE i have had times it has burned so bad that i have pinched my stomach as i peed to take some of the PAIN AND BURNING away.Dont always work! Another side effect that i have had is DEPRESSION i have noticed that i have been unhappy and just got to where a lot of times i don't care about things that matter to me because i don't feel that i have the energy to do so.. I also have ANXIETY ATTACKS which i have never had until i got on this NuvaRing. CHEST PAINS that i thought the first time i was having a heart attack it hurt so bad. I had to take little breaths to breathe which would then lead into a PANIC ATTACK cause i felt like i was unable to breathe like i am suppose to.. So yet again called the doctor who told me that i need to be on prozac to handle this. Never got on the prozac just delt with it hoping that it was just a little side effect and that my body would adjust to the NuvaRing, but guess what NO never did.. Another side effect that i always hate is getting SICK AND THROWING UP caused by a medication, guess what i still have this after 5 years i get to cramping so bad and headaches tied onto being MISERABLE and BLOATING and DIARRHEA and DRY MOUTH so bad that you cant stand it seems no matter what you drink to get rid of dry mouth nothing can quench your thirst and this is all hours of the day. So i would take Midol which would only help for a few hours and then i was right back to square one with the B.S caused by the NuvaRing. So i call the doctor and get told "well you will have that." the side effects will be less obvious the longer your on the NuvaRing." So stupid me stays on the NuvaRing hoping this is true! Which i have found out is not. The only good thing that i have noticed is the NuvaRing is easy to use and you don't have to remember take a pill everyday! I never had any weight gain or loss while on this dang thing. Pretty well maintained the same weight as i have always been. I have tried to get off the ring several times, but always get back on it, Because while the ring is out for 7 days i am miserable mostly with a headache that last 3-5 days untop of the TERRIBLE MOOD SWINGS that i get. i truly think that my body has been on this hormone so long that i have HORMONAL WITHDRAWALS when i don't have the ring in. Cause i am fine after the ring is inserted again. People can say what they want and say that this is a issue and that they haven't had problems and that is understandable and different people adjust to hormones in different ways but the time that i have my ring out i always get my sex drive back 1-2 days before i start my period. I am not asking anyone to believe me about any of this and if the ring works for you then great, i thought that it was going to work for me also but it didn't. . I have taken the nuvaring out this last past Sunday and have no intentions on putting another ring back in.. Yet again i have had 3 days of a SEVERE HEADACHES some thing that i believe is HOT FLASHES or NIGHT SWEATS,BLOATING,DEPRESSION,CHEST PAINS,ANXIETY ATTACKS,YEAST INFECTIONS, and BAD MOOD SWINGS and i am hoping that all this will pass and my body will go back to the way it was before the NuvaRing came along... I would not suggest anyone to get this as a form of birth control i would actually tell then that the pill is better off to have in the long run.. This has caused me nothing but a miserable life that i have tried to deal with and i am just not going to do it anymore. I hope to see in the near future the NuvaRing go off the markets and not able to sale anymore.. The only reason that i was put on the nuvaring is because my doctor had a hard time finding a birth control method that my body would accept I was on Ortho- Tri- Cyclin and got pregnant and had a girl... My postpartum check up with her i was given the Orthra- Evra patch and i got pregnant with my son. Tried IUD and my body rejected it. So the doctor says" lets try this new birth control"you insert yourself leave in for 21 days leave out for 7 and have your period," the longer your on this NuvaRing the lighter your period will become and the side effects which aren't many will fade also.". "So how bout it." Well i thought this NuvaRing was a dream come true, BUT IT WAS A NIGHTMARE WAITING TO HAPPEN..

I've posted several times before, but it ahs been a while since I've updated on here. So a recap: Almost 33, have 3 kids(ages 13,11,and 7) Had insert on 12/27/07 after having used depo for many years with no major side effects...issues continually worsened over next few months. Had removal early May, 2008. Several issues cleared up within the first few weeks after removal, such as the joint pain, swelling, heartburn. Brain fog and moodiness became much better. Libido returned gradually as well. But I still have had no success in losing the weight gained over the last 6 months. Still 30 pounds heavier thatn was at insertion...increased workouts, decreased caloric intake, only lost 4 pounds in almost 3 months. Family doc even put me on meds to help with the weight loss, and they had opposite effect...I actually was hungry all the time and felt completely stoned! Acne still unrelieved to the point that I know have an appointment for a 2nd dermatologist as my first one ran out of options for me! Completely unable to clear up my face. Family doc wants to put me on antidepressants, but I don't' think that's the answer. Plus after all the problems I've had...don't trust a whole lot of meds anymore...especially ones that are known for reducing your libido! (Plus after all this and to STILL be overweight with acne...he'd be pretty depressed too!) Bloodwork all came back fine...actually a "Picture of perfect health!" The only thing he did say was that my testosterone level, although in normal range, was at the high end of normal. However, as I'm still young 30's, no one tested my hormone levels before...so I don't know what is normal for me. Will be talking to him about using an anti-androgen, like aldactone, to see if that will help. Not using any form of hormonal birth control any longer. As old-fashioned as it is...I now use a diaphragm and spermicide...and I'm actually pretty happy with it. I'm happy for all those ladies who had a flat belly again within a few weeks, and their faces cleared up almost instantly...but I must admit I'm jealous. I wish it was that easy for me. Good luck to all of you. Will post again in the future.

I began taking Loestrin 24 Fe in May 2007. Three months later when my son left for college I experienced the most terrible depression. It was really not normal to be that depressed. I have had normal anxiety that everyone experiences from time to time throughout my life but nothing like this. I was put on antidepressants and finally felt normal again. Eventually I got off the antidepressants and was fine. Then last month I began to experience unexplained anxiety and depression. I have told several people that I believe it is the Loestrin but my doctor says it shouldn't affect me this way. It is hard to want to get rid of the Loestrin because I don't have a period at all now and it used to control my life. Has anyone switched to another pill to help with periods that does not have bad side effects?

I am a 39 year old man with peripheral neuropathy and migraines. When I was diagnosed 3 years ago, the pain in my right leg was horrible and headaches daily. My Dr. put me on Topamax and I was so happy, it seemed to help but one night( about three weeks into it) I went to bed and awoke in the morning legally blind. Topamax was stopped that day but it took 4 months ( and changing the prescription in my glasses 3 times) for my vision to return to 20/20. The doctors tell me I was lucky as some people have perminate lens damage from the optical pressure change.
My doctor said I could not take any thing in that class of medications as it would probably have the same effect on me. So he decided to put me on Cymbalta for the neuropathy. He said it was being tested as a possible use for neuropathy but had not been proven. It works great for the pain and oddly my migraines have gone down to about two a month.

i was prescribed effexor xr by the mayo clinic in mn. while living there for a year. i had been on three other antidepressants before and this one has really given me a sense of peace. i have had to go off of a lot of medicines and quite smoking cold turkey so maybe i have a stronger tolerance. i haven't had one bad side effect. in fact, i have probably been healthier since it kicked in two years ago due to my mood and mind being in a better state. don't get me wrong, i still have low times but not any lower than the person who doesn't suffer depression. it also helps with anxiety but i do take another med for that called klonopin 2mg. i think it takes awhile for the person to find whats right for them. i suffered horribly through wellbutrin, thought my head was going to blow off when i didn't feel bugs crawling around. prozac put weight on me but helped, just made me a little to jittery and the other one i took was zoloft. i didn't have any side effects with that just didn't seem to keep me above a sadness level i needed so that is when they switched me to effexor. please just know there is help for all and bravo to those who can go without but i don't want to be sad and unhappy ever again to the degree of not wanting to get out of bed.

I have been on Zoloft for about 8 months. I began taking it for anxiety, depression, panic attacks, and eating issues. Since I have been on it, my eating issues have gotten a lot worse. I began binging, something I've never done before. I have racing thoughts and feel like I am just floating through life. My weight has gone from about 120 to 155. I am not happy, and am considering coming off of the medication. Has anyone else noticed they have not been able to control their eating while on Zoloft? However, my anxiety did subside.

I have been on Lexapro for a few years now but just until recently have I experienced these side effects that I thought was something serious. But after reading all these comments I feel reassured that its caused from the Lexapro.Head rushes that make me dizzy, and making me sick to my stomach(causing major anxiety) . Another term I have read it head zaps, also true. Hot flashes one time while at work and Im only 30 years old. Major hunger all the time. I rally think my coworkers think Im crazy but not knowing what is making you feel crazy will cause you to panic. My husband has always told me that antidepressants were bad but haven't really notices until now. Im going to try and wein myself off of Lexapro and replace it with exercise. Has anyone else tried to do this?

I've been taking Adderall XR 30mg per day for two years. I've gained 20 pounds and feel terrible. My doctor keeps telling me he doesn't know why I'm gaining weight. That is making me feel even worse!!! Can anyone tell me what's going on??? I also take Wellburtin & Lexapro. Before I took any of these medications, I asked the doctor if I could gain weight from them. He told me that these particular drugs do not cause weight gain. The thing that's so frustrating is, I was put on these drugs for anxiety and depression (results of an abusive marriage). How can I begin to feel better about myself if I'm gaining lots of weight? That just kills it for me. Can anyone out there offer some advice? My doctor won't even let me take an appetite suppressant. I take Adderall in the A.M. If I want, I can go right back to bed and sleep again. I also get hunger pains about 2 hours later!!! Help!!

I have been on Wellbutrin XL for several years now and it has been the most effective for me of all the antidepressants I have tried. My husband went to pick up my refill and they inadvertently substituted the Budeprion XL. Although he questioned the pharmacist, they assured him there was no difference. I finally gave in and decided to give it a try 4 days ago and each day I get more and more depressed, irritable, unmotivated, and lethargic. I had been consuming a lot more caffeine just to keep going. I keep telling my husband that I just do not feel right and the Budeprion XL does not work as well. Until I read all these experiences, I began to think I was imaging it or I was just cycling. Now, I am fairly certain that it is a result of the ineffectiveness of the Budeprion XL. This is the end of the road for Budeprion XL and me.

I'm 50, a lifelong asthmatic (since age of 4). I started taking singular in 1999, Time Magazine's cover story back then. In the spring on 2001 I had stopped taking it. I got sick and my doctor had me taking it again. I told him subseqently that I had noticed changes in my moods. He dismissed the notion. I worked on wall street. 911 came and I was put on antidepressants (zoloft 200mg/day and gabatril 8mg a day). I lost seven years of my life. Yesterday I spoke to my pharmacist. I'm now on disability (respiratory, depression and anxiety). Medicare Prescription plan would not pay for Advair. The pharmacist to my surprise pointed out that depression was written up as a potential side effect of singular. I have read that head meds may leave 70% of those taking them left them still depress and with sleep disorders etc. I have been off the head meds for 9 months now. The mental fog has cleared, (from not being sedated).). An my depression continues unabaited as it has for the past ten years.

I also found out that MAXAIR is back after being discontinued. I used it for at least ten years (in the 80 & 90's). It has nt steroids, long lasting compared to albuteral as an emergency inhalher and precluded the need for multiple asthma meds. My life changed when Maxair was not being bottled which was just about the time Singular came out. I doubt it will undo 10 years of environmental injury and damage caused by singular and steroids. I also believe the best advice for keeping me breathing freely was drinking lots of water, (distilled, I bought a machine rather than carry a gallon a day from the store.). was truely life improving. It allows your body to flush out the impurities our modern day life threatens us with. I read the posts on this site and was compelled to share my personal experience(s), for you to consider....

When i was 13 i was put on paxil for major depression. I stayed on it till i was about 17 after a downward spiral of depression that lead to a suicide attempt. After that the doctors decided that Paxil wasn't benefiting me anymore and decided to take me off of it, cold turkey. At that time i was on 40mg.
I started getting zapping headaches, muscle spasms, i was sensitive to light, my body ached, i had hot flashes, pretty much anything over stimulated me... i was irritated with just hearing anyone talk, i was completely out of touch with anything around me and i didn't feel like i was real.. I basically shut myself in my room for over a month getting over paxil. My family was afraid i was planning suicide.
After that, it's made me afraid to take any of my prescribed antidepressants, but i just cannot go through that again. At the time they put me on it, there was nothing that said that it was addictive, i was even told that there was no proof that it was addictive.
Also, I still experience the headache zaps to this day, and im 22 now, and i never had those type of headaches before paxil. I really think my mental illness is a lot worse from paxil. I have depersonalization disorder now, my short-term memory's crap, im more uncoordinated, im a lot more depressed and social phobic.. i know part of it could be from not taking any meds at all.. but i know that paxils really screwed me up, and i would have been a lot better not taking it at all. I just wish they would have warned me before putting me on it, or warning me before taking me off.

I hate this pill! I am going on the nuvaring, i have had no luck with digesting pills. I need something i don't have to ingest. I have had the most awful pains in my abdomen, from gas and constipation. My mood swings have been awful, even though i am on antidepressants! I have had way too much trouble with birth control pills, but this is the absolute worst one!

Yasmin is the WORST drug out there. I'd been taking Yasmin for 5 months when suddenly one day I had a terrible panic attack and couldn't stop shaking. I went to the ER and they told me I was just having a panic attack so I went home and layed on the couch for about 2 weeks having one panic attack after another and being extremely anxious. Eventually I went to my normal doctor who said Yasmin had nothing to do with it and put me on 37.5mg of Effexor which took away the panic attacks. Eventually I found this website and the Yasmin Survivors website and made the connection. I've been off Yasmin for almost 2 weeks and Im already making a very slow recovery. I don't recommend antidepressants but they are helping me get through it and im hoping very soon I wont need them anymore. This pill is not worth it. It almost ruined my life.

I've had my Mirena in for about a month now, and honestly, it hasn't given me any problems. Of course I had cramps in the first week, and spotting for the first 3 months or whatever...but I can truly say that I love this birth control, and I hope not to get the negative side effects like most of these women. If you are considering the Mirena for birth control, talk with your doctor. If you have problems, talk with your doctor...if you're pissed off because you feel like you wasted your money, maybe you should take a second to think about it...neither you nor your doctor can look into a crystal ball to find out how something will effect you. But please, if you are considering the Mirena, don't decide against it because what a bunch of middle-aged women (with less than healthy reproductive systems) said. I'm 20 years old, and this IUD is a blessing.

I have been on WB 300mg for about a month now. I have had headaches on and off, lack of energy and an upset stomach to the point of almost vomiting almost every day the past couple weeks. I have not noticed any improvements in my depression. I know it is very common to gain weight on most antidepressants (which would just bring on more depression) but less common with WB which is why Ive decided to try it. Can anyone tell me how long I should stay on WB without improvements before giving up and moving on to something new?

I had the Mirena inserted a little over a year ago. Over the last year, I've grown increasingly not myself...wanted to crawl into bed and do nothing. My relationships with everyone changed-husband, parents, children, neighbors, work. I became a hermit. My skin looked unhealthy, it actually hurt to the touch, my body ached like an 80 year old woman. I felt hot all the time. I felt 4 months pregnant. Could hardly climb the stairs often. I weigh currently 155 and am 5'6". At my 6 week checkup postpartum, I had lost all but 8 lbs of baby weight. Couple of months later, had mirena inserted, and voila gained 15 lbs over the next couple of months. It was a cumulative effect...over the next several months, my face was swollen, my hair, skin, chest was extremely gross oily. I couldn't think straight, my and get through the day. I couldn't remember simple things. What got me out of bed was knowing that my children had gone outside and I didn't want them to run into the street. I knew something wasn't right, but it didn't occur to me that it would be the mirena. I went to my general doctor complaining of EXTREME fatigue. I thought maybe it was my thyroid. The doctor ran 3 blood tests...TSH, mono, blood count. All came back normal. Doctor wanted to put me on anti-depressants and recommended therapy. Not that I'm opposed to the recommendation, but it just didn't sound like the solution. I went to another doctor for a second opinion. Also wanted to put me on antidepressants. I didn't want to mask whatever was going on. I wanted to get to the bottom of this. There was a reason for my feeling this way. I just was not myself but truly didn't think antidepressants were the answer. Meanwhile, I scheduled my annual gyn appointment. The IUD hurt at times, I was constantly aware of it anyhow with sharp jabbing pains, and my husband could feel it during intercourse. So I went in thinking I was pretty sure I'd ask for it to be removed. Still not attributing all these dramatic changes to the mirena. When I saw the dramatic weight gain after the IUD insertion, it sealed the deal in my mind. I wanted it out right then and there. Much to my surprise, joy and relief, I instantly felt better in my abdomen. That night, I put my jeans on and they were actually looser. My body was in constant swelling/PMS mode - due to the artificial progesterone. Within a couple of days I had lost 5 lbs and my jeans continued to get looser. It's been only 6 days now, but each day I feel more and more like myself. My weight is dropping, I have more energy. I want to garden again, a hobby I no longer enjoyed whilst having the IUD, I want to take walks again and exercise, which I had no energy to actually do. It feels better to "be in my skin" - weird to say, I know. Before the IUD was removed, my skin felt uncomfortable. My neighbors noticed the weight loss and the already noticeable change in my complexion. I'm able to engage with my children and meet their needs, whereas before I was barely getting by. It's going to take more time I know, to get rid of this awful acne, remaining weight, greasy skin, etc. but I am 100% certain all these changes to my body and mood were because of Mirena. Today, I have a headache settling in. I think it's because my body has been artificial progesterone heavy, suppressing the estrogen, natural balance. It's got to learn to kick in with my own normal hormone function. I'm expecting some ups and downs, but am thrilled that it's out and I'm on the road to recovery. One thing I question is why doctors so highly recommend the Mirena? I asked for the copper IUD and they steered my toward the Mirena, even when I was nursing. Why don't doctors warn patients of the likelihood of depression and the whole host of other problems that I had and so many other women report? I'm very glad I didn't start taking antidepressants because they come with their own side effects, and I would have had a harder time getting to the root of the problem. Only when I had the IUD removed did I google mirena side effects and realize that thousands upon thousands of women have been through the same thing.

I am 3 weeks post removal and I am still experiencing aches and pains throughout my body, still have the 10lb weight gain, some mood swings and extreme tiredness and some periodic bloating...I am fed up! I have 2 questions: Has anyone found anything about this hormone levonorgestrel and how long it takes to get out of your system? Second, if anyone knows of any suits against these people, let me know because this is really interfering with my life and with my children and my boyfriend!! This is ridiculous, I didn't know about all of this crap prior to getting the Mirena and wouldn't have gotten it if I did know, and I am still paying for it after removal! Please let me know...thanks!! : )