Depo provera symptoms and conditions

My Mirena was inserted June of 2008. At first it wasn't bad, I would ignore the symptoms because I thought it was from the change in birth control from depo-provera. But recently I have been tired all the time. I don't want to even have sex. I feel unattractive because of the acne and weight gain. I am ALWAYS hungry. Then all of sudden I always feel a crash...I'm always too tired to do anything or even think! I yell at my husband, son, and I am not able to focus at work. I feel like I'm in a daze!!! want to sleep and never get up. I am so glad I found this forum. I plan on making an appointment with my OB and getting this thing out. I never thought of linking my symptoms to the Mirena. My doctor assured me I would be ok. Now I know the truth! I thought I was pregnant but I also got a negative. Please keep posting your comments!!!

I actually posted my side effects (profuse, foul smelling discharge) before reading many of the posts here. I found my side effects to be common on other sites. I did want to mention that I thought the IUS (Mirena) was not to be used on women who ha not had a baby yet and I read here several women who have had it inserted before ever having a pregnancy! I'd check that out because Mirena literature itself would rule out a condidae based on that. Otherwise gals, my Mirena worked wonderfully--to virtually no pain or bleeding at insertion, to all but eliminating my period. However, I can't and won't live with the excessive foul discharge...CAN"T WAIT TIL 12/29 FOR REMOVAL!!!!!!

I was on the Depo Provera birth control shot for roughly 6 years. It did stop my periods but that was the only good thing about this shot! I am now 30 years old and it has been about 2 years since I stopped receiving the injection. My teeth are decaying so rapidly that they chip and break as if they are made of layers (like a flaky biscuit). When I first started the injections my smile was pretty perfect. My diet and daily regimens have not changed so I can only attribute the dental issues to this birth control shot.
I also suffered from lowered sexual drive, depression, mood swings/anxiety and insomnia while on the treatment. After several years of my issues getting worse I linked them to the shot and no longer received the injections. Since then my other symptoms have gone away but the tooth decay still lingers.
Is there anyone else out there with these same issues? I desperately would love to find help or others like myself.

I am a 27 year old who has been on birth control for the past 11 years. I was on Ortho Tri Cyclen for the majority of that time until my sophomore year of college when the doctor suggested I switch to the "shot". Depo Provera caused me to bleed continuously for several months on end and I was then switched back to pills by my new gynecologist. He placed me on a generic form of the ortho which again worked wonders for several years. At 25, I started bleeding constantly from the generic and was switched to several Loestrin 24 which completely stopped the breakthrough bleeding... initially. After a year of it, we were back to constant bleeding. The ONLY side effect I have ever experienced from birth control is breakthrough bleeding. I moved cities and with a new town came a new doctor who thought Femcon might work. I was prescribed it in May and have been taking it for nearly 6 months. Over that time I have been so happy with it as there is no bleeding except when there should be. That is until I read today that my increased anxiety (I have a diagnosed anxiety disorder to begin with), vivid, realistic nightmares, and 15 lb weight gain could be caused by this pill. I am getting married in January and my dress barely fits at this point because of the weight gain. I go to the gym 5 days a week for cardio and weight training yet keep getting fatter... I thought I was stressed out by the wedding and that is what was causing my emotional imbalance... I really thought I was losing it. I just called my gyno and left a VM asking if this could be the reason... Don't quit taking a birth control based on other peoples reports, they are all going to react differently to different people and all meds come with an initial side effect that goes away once your body is accustomed to having that hormone or chemical in it. Initial nausea is common... I have always had it when I started a new medication, especially birth control. It goes away after a couple of weeks. Will keep you posted.

So, after my boyfriend and i used condoms and it ruptured due to the fact we used a warming lubracant that wasn't water soluble.
I got pregnant and we aborted. this was 2 weeks ago
I started the nuvaring that planned parenthood gave me.

well, i've been feeling tired, depressed and not hungry.
i barely eat any food these days
and i fear my weight is slipping, i used to be 112 lbs, and i;ve been exercising for lean muscle gain (since i had very little) and now i'm up to 118.
I'm scared i'm going to lose all that lean muscle i worked hard to put on.
i haven't been working out for 2 weeks since the abortion and all.

but anyway, ive been feeling very depressed lately.
i feel ugly and unworthy and i know that neither of those are true.
i feel like i'm a terrible person, i feel sad all them, i cry so easily (like i'm doing right now)
the other night i had a breakdown when felt horribly down on my self, i felt like i'm worthless and i felt ashamed because i feel like i always want sex from my boyfriend and i feared that i i don't love him, i feared that my sex drive is out of control, and then i felt like because he doesn't want to have sex with me everyday, i felt like i must not be worthy or that i'm ugly, stupid, a pain, and that he doesn't love me and then i thought things like 'well would you want to have sex with you? who could blame him?"

today i started feeling those feelings for no reason again, this time i started feeling like i hate my life and wondering why i'm alive

when i had thought perhaps i was suffering from early adult bipolar (im 24 btw)
i had an epiphany and realized, WAIT, it probably ISN'T bipolar, if all this just happened RECENTLY
and before the ring i was really happy. AND my boyfriend never does anything to make me feel unloved or unworthy.
he always takes his time and he's very sweet to me all the time.
he treats me to almost everything and he's so patient and loving.

I realized that my sudden mood changes MUST be because of the damn Nuvaring!

i have a follow up from planned parenthood tomorrow, so i'm going to tell them everything i've felt and i'm only going to continue this damn ring until nov 24th.
i get my prenup for my tubes to be tied.

my boyfriend and i don't want kids ever, (if the recent abortion is ANY proof to that one)

anyway, i would NOT recommend this ring to ANYONE
i know everyone is different, but still.

and i do realize that i COULD be having early adult bipolar or some other sort of depression/anxiety issues that i might just THINK are ring related.
I will continue to monitor my health and if i ever feel like this again i will seek help

I just called my OBGYN for my Mirena insertion date... January 2006. At my regular annual visit in December 2005, I weighed 167lbs... December 2006 - 173lbs... December 2007 - 175lbs... This December I will be in the 185lb range! I do not come from a 'fat' family and have never experienced such weight gain except when I had 2 courses of the Depo-Provera BC shots - then I gained almost 30lbs in 6 months. I am going to request the removal of the Mirena this December. I exercise and am not an over-eater. After reading this website, I can't wait to get rid of it! I don't have periods per se, but do experience PMS as if I did. I really haven't seen any increase in hair loss, but at 47-1/2 can't figure out all the acne. My sex drive (normally considered as exceptional) comes and goes like the tide. I have been experiencing a lot of headaches, but figured they were stress-related... maybe not. Thanks for the info & keep the lines open!

So thankful I have found this site. I am currently on Depo-Provera and my doctor has been pushing me to get the Mirena. After thorough research, and also reading these side effects, I do not think I will be having this inserted. I am 43 and he wants me off of Depo as he says it depletes calcium from your body. I think I will take my chances.

This is unbelievable... i thought everything that's been wrong with me, has been in 'my head', sex drive, weight gain, fuzzy vision, mood swings...

I honestly think this should be taken off the market. I cannot believe everyone's comments about this contraception. I have taken the pill over the years, depo provera, and thought my mood swings were bad then, but what really is the kicker, is the sex drive, hot flashes and weight gain/bloating.

At 29 years old, i have never felt the way i've felt on this, i've been trying to explain to my boyfriend 'it's just me' !, now i realize why.
as for the weight gain, i have always been conscious of my diet and exercise. for the past two weeks i have especially been trying to lose weight, but to no avail. hot flashes, it's insane. Please after reading this, look for another form of birth control. This should never have been approved. I took it out immediately after reading other's comments.

Well ladies, I don't really have much to add. Weight gain, depression, anxiety, loss of sex drive and as many of you have said the mental problems are the worst.
In high school I tried "the pill" despite my better judgment. Ironically the female doctor I had requested did not believe me when I told her my regular migraines were caused by estrogen. Predictably I became extremely aggressive and angry.Since then I had been taking a pill with no estrogen, a once a day birth control pill, the kind you have to take at the same hour every day.
I changed over to Depo-Provera because I don't trust myself to take a pill with in an hour window. And because with out some sort of birth control I'm worried I might bleed to death. During the short period between the once a day pill and the shot I bled through two tampons and a pad in under five minutes.
I pushed through all of the horrible side effects of the first year, weird bleeding weird discharge. All the ups and downs.
I am glad to say I have no more period.
But I don't know what to do, I'm losing my friends, my life, and myself.
I'm starting to feel like this whole birth control thing is just one big joke. Or worse some sort of sick punishment.
I don't understand how these medications get passed inspection.

I was on Yasmin for 2 years and it was 2 years too long! I should have stopped taking it immediately. I experienced EXTREME HAIR LOSS!!!! It started to fall out as soon as I started taking the pill, but I was also coming off Depo Provera and thought it was the Depo causing the hair loss. This happened in 2 different cycles. The first time, A LOT of hair fell out and I was humiliated. After about 6 months, some hair grew back; but my hair was still extremely thin and you could see most if not all of my scalp in strong lighting (outdoors for example). About 8 months later, it fell out again...this time worse than ever because I had about half of the hair I used to. I think I was literally lost 3/4 of my hair this time. Most if the hair loss was on the top of my scalp and every doctor I saw had something different to say. In the beginning stages of the hair loss, they said it was stress. Then when they saw it progress and they realized how much hair I had lost on the top of my scalp, I was told I had female pattern baldness...only no female in my family had ever experienced this before. Finally, I went off the pill and WOW...I HAVE HAIR AGAIN and it is probably close to what I had before I ever lost any of it. Oddly enough, Yasmin is used to prevent hair loss; as it is prescribed for women who have higher testosterone levels...yet it caused me to lose mine. I also gained A LOT of weight on that pill!
I have been off of Yas for about 6 months now and my periods are definitely less than regular. I won't get my period for 3 months and all of a sudden I am getting it every 2 weeks. I also have cysts on my ovaries and I thought I had Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome which can also cause hair loss, but the doctors are quite positive that I don't have PCOS and that it is not what led to the hair loss.
Moral of the story...unless you have to go on a pill that is designed for lowering your testosterone levels (and I recommend Diane 35 if so), do not take Yas! If I ever go on the pill again, I am sticking to something like Alese that is low-dose.

i took one shot of Depo last year, and i still say i never should have, in fact i still wish i hadn't... side effects i got were: daily bleeding for the 3 month span, weight gain, nausea, plus breathing issues, etc.
but the main problem was my moods and mental health, i was either crying or enraged all the time and had very bad anxiety. also, i just did not feel like myself, i had no idea who i was anymore. so i got off it, then 6 months later another doctor suggested i try the lowest possible dose of the pill. well i only took i think 2 doses, because it ended up giving me morning sickness... waking up puking at 6am. but i think that those 2 doses somehow combined with the not-yet elapsed dose of Depo i'd had... it can take a year to wear off... because i am still feeling the mental and mood effects. i'm beginning to think it's taken a permanent toll on my mental health or something, or that maybe i'm just crazy, or hormonally off balance. i feel like i should be on sedatives or anti-depressants, or both, because i'm still very stressed/worried/nervous/anxious all the time. the other problem is that i don't have health insurance. Planned Parenthood gave me the Depo, and a Women's Clinic hospital doctor put me on the pill... i haven't seen my actual doctor in a long time. so i really need help but feel like i don't know how and would have no way to get it.

*** i've posted this on the "Depo Provera Contraceptive" thread, as well as in response to other people's horror stories... the reason i've been posting the same account multiple times is that i am really in dire need of some answers... if anyone can tell me anything that i should or could do to alleviate this mental state, i would greatly appreciate it.
please & thanks,
JesoftheEast

My daughter had her first Gardasil shot in June. She started to have severe pain on her right side. Doctor diagnosed bladder infection. After 3 days of antibiotics ended up in emergency room due to severe pain in her right side. They did a ct scan and found a tennis ball sized cyst on her ovary. They thought her pain was from the cyst so she ended up having surgery to remove it. While they were in there they found endometriosis. So now we are working on a treatment plan. They gave her a shot of Depo Provera. She got her period while on vacation and the pain was so severe that she ended up in the hospital again. Her pain is being caused by the endo and is so severe it is debilitating. She had regular pain before with her periods, never anything like this. Another problem she is having is severe pain on both of her hip bones. My daughter was a normal, healthy teenager before this now they want to suppress her periods until she is ready to have children. I can't help but think this is due to the Gardasil.

I'm so glad I found this site! I thought I was going crazy! I got my mirena inserted about 2 months ago, and I feel horrible! I cramped severely when they were putting it in, after they put it in, and still now. I have really sharp pains every now and then that almost completely takes me to my knees. I've been moody, my l sex drive is shot, I have no energy, I'm bloated ALL the time, and I can't seem to loose any weight what so ever! I was previously on depo provera and experienced weight gain so that's one of the reasons why my doctor changed me to the mirena. I have not had any children yet. I thought maybe that was why I was experiencing such horrible cramps. I also, can feel it in me. My doctor asks as if I'm crazy too when I've told him what I'm experiencing. I am going this morning to see a new doctor. I know my body and there is something wrong! And the more I read these blogs the more I'm convened that it IS THE MIRENA!!! I'm just so glad that I'm not the only one experiencing these same side effects and that I'm not insane.

Eureka! My unexplained weight gain (10 lbs), moodiness, fatigue, acne, excessive white discharge, recurrent yeast infections, and clumpy periods are no longer such an enigma. I previously had some horrendous side effects from Depo Provera, to include severe depression, suicidal thoughts, and hair loss; I thought NuvaRing would work great for me due to the low dose of hormones. At first, the ring was fantastic....didn't have to remember to take a pill everyday and no downward spiral of depression. The first symptom I noticed was the excessive discharge and the clumpy periods. Next was the moodiness, anxiety, and bouts of crying during every week 3 (that the bf has patiently put up with!). I have been trying to ignore the fact that my jeans don't fit, I have turned into a TV watching zombie, and I have a burning sensation associated with my 2nd yeast infection in 3 months (ugh!!!!). I wish I would have found this website earlier; it would have helped me put two and two together, acknowledge the side effects, and quit the Ring much earlier (not 11 months later!). Yes, each woman's body reacts differently to hormonal birth control, but if you have undesirable side effects from the Pill or Depo, you'll most likely get them from the Ring plus a few fun extra ones:) The upside to this product: it is incredibly convenient and my small breasts filled out. So not worth it to me!!!!!

I don't know if seeing all these posts help me or scare the crap outta me even more (none the less very helpful), I have no insurance and really want to get my IUD removed. I had it inserted when my daughter was 8 weeks old that was about 11 months ago. I have had nothing but problems, severe cramping, nausea, periods that last a whole month, one month it will be icky brownish discharge with a lil blood here and there, I will stop for about 2 weeks and get it again this time lasting about 3 weeks then i will go about 6 weeks and have it again this time with severe cramping and bleeding for a whole month straight. then i may not have it again for 6 weeks etc... I have really nasty blood clots that look very fleshy. I also have had very thick yellowish stinky discharge everyday i don't have my period ( I have NEVER smelt this bad) I feel like im losing my mind Im so absent minded i forget the simplest things, my arms and legs go numb and tingly, my hair is falling out in clumps, im extremely moody and very impatient. and the tiredness is really starting to bother me, no matter how much i try to stay awake its almost impossible, i literally need to take a nap every 3 hours it seems like just to function...I feel like im falling apart. Has anyone else had a lot of these symptoms? And what should I do about getting it taken out....I don't qualify for Medicaid so I was wondering if i should just go into the hospital the next time the pain gets bad and see if they will remove it any advice will be helpful! And good luck to anyone else going through problems with this IUD.

My story:
First of all, thank you all so much for your postings. I, as well, am sitting here in tears finally realizing that I'm not the only one going through this. I am 32 with 3 kids (13, 11, 7) and with the exception of my pregnancies always used Depo-provera for my bc method. I was lucky in that I never experienced the terrible weight gain and side effects that many women using Depo often did. After my divorce 5 years ago, I finally decided to stop the birth control. I was not sexually active and it seemed like more of a hassle just to not have a period any longer. The two years I had no bc in me...I felt fantastic. Normal, balanced, happy. Then I met Matt. I decided to try bc pills again, but as historically is normal for me...had severe breakthrough bleeding. (14 day periods..even on Yaz)

So I went back to the depo this past September. I had a little weight gain, and some mild acne. Not severe, but enough to make me talk to the doctor about it at my three month check. So he tells me about Mirena! The same hormone base as depo, but since it sits intra-uterine, the hormones are not quite as systemic, and my symptoms should decrease significantly.

SHOULD! but DIDN"T!

Periods: Since I had already been on depo, I simply did not have periods. I did have some mild spotting right after insertion...and did notice a slight brownish tinge occasionally, especially after intercourse, but nothing significant. It wasn't until the end of February (2 months after insertion) that I noticed a "period." It was nothing more than spotting and only lasted 3 days. But then I had another one 2 weeks later, and again 2 weeks after that.

Weight: My starting weight, late August 2007, was 145 pounds. My last doctor visit on April 7 weighed me in at 175. From September to December on depo...I gained about 10 pounds. From December through now...I'm up another 25 pounds. Please keep in mind that I used to work out anywhere form 2-4 times per week. Around mid-February, I increased to 4-5 times per week...and for the last month have been working out 5-7 times per week. (I'm not any kind of health freak...and am irritated because I don't feel like I have a life anymore. My life consists of working, kids, and my flipping treadmill!) Over the last month, I have also decreased my caloric intake to 1200-1500 calories per day. I'm still gaining.

Acne: Plus the acne went from mild to severe. To the point that I ended up going to a dermatologist in early March and am now on my second course of treatment with no luck. The next course is Accutane...which if you don't know about...simply google it. I have no intention of putting that in my body!

Depression: So I call my doctor and of course they say it couldn't be the Mirena. Now I'm feeling really crazy and Matt's wondering what he's gotten himself into being with this girl who cries at Hallmark commercials, and is moody, and always in a bad mood, and now is getting worse because she can't fit into anything in her closet, and is dreading summer not only for the fear of getting into a bathing suit...but if I go swimming I'm absolutely dreadful of people seeing what my face and skin looks like with no make-up due to the acne.

Pain: Shortly after the first of the year, I noticed pain in my lower back...I figured it was due to shoveling the drive and whatnot...just everyday things. Then the pain in my shoulders started; the right one especially. (I'm a healthy 32 year old. I cut down a tree in my yard by myself two summers ago.) Joint pain is not an option and rather new territory for me. So I go to the doc who wants me in PT 3 times a week...anti-inflammatories, cortisone injections...the works. (I settled with anti-inflammatories.) I had never even heard of this as a possible side effect until I read it on these postings.

I looked at my medicine cabinet this weekend. I feel like I could run a pharmacy out of my home. Medications for acne, joint pain, depression, anxiety. Plus the cost of co-pays and deductibles. And it hit me. With the exception of my Claritin for seasonal allergies...every medication I am now taking is simply to combat the side effects of this T-shaped hormonal vehicle snuggled in my womb! The I saw the Special K commercial: "Who's going to win? The bathing suit? or you?"

Well guess what! I decided it's going to be ME!

I finally decided I've had it and have an appointment on May 6th to have it removed. Matt can wrap it or snip it...but I can't keep doing this to myself. I've made a decision to use no form of hormonal birth control. I'm thinking about trying the FemCap which is basically a silicone cervical cap. It needs to be used with spermicide, but no hormones!

The idea of feeling like I did last year again is the only thing keeping me going right now. To be happy, and confident, and just feel balanced and whole again...I'll post more later after it's removed. In the meantime...if anyone has heard of any class action lawsuits with Mirena, I'd be interested to know about it.

Good luck to all of us!

Hi, I know this section is for posting side effects but I was wondering if someone could please help me and provide me with some information. I am very athletic and active so any type of spotting/bleeding is NOT FOR ME. I am trying to eliminate my monthly period. I was on Depo Provera for several years and loved it. No periods everything fine except for a low sex drive. Then I ran into some problems and had to stop that. Plus my doctor said it causes osteoporosis.
Then I tried Seasonique which was awful as I had instant weight gain and breast tenderness like crazy. Was only on that for a few weeks!!!
Then I heard about Lybrel which is supposed to stop your periods after some time so I started that at the end of December last year (2007). I had spotting and some bleeding EVERY DAY and a few days ago had a lot of bleeding but I also played with the dosage per doctor's request. So I saw my doctor today and I said enough is enough what else can I try? So she gave me the Loestrin 24 Fe and I will start that Sunday. She said many people stop having periods after a few months of use. HOWEVER, after reading these posts, I am thinking NO BC is right for me now. If anyone can help me on my goal of eliminating the curse or convince me that this pill is OKAY after 3 months I would appreciate it. Please email me at escarle1@hotmail.com. Thank and I hope to hear back soon!

hi, i've had the mirena in for about 14 months. The first 8 months i had constant spotting, nausea, vertigo (dizzy spells), bloating, weight gain and pimples. The spotting has settled down. i still get a period every now and again. the last one i had was really heavy with clotting. I often get sharp pains and cramping in my uterus but no bleeding. I have also had thrush for the last 3 months that wont go away. has anyone else had thrush on the mirena? My back pain is really bad. particularly my left hip. i haven't been able to sleep on my left side for over a year now. Don't know what to do!!

just wanted to share my experience with the NuvaRing. i was on it for about a year and stopped taking it about two months ago when my boyfriend and i broke up.

pros:
easy to use, although it took about a month to get totally used to it and not feel it at all anymore. and although my boyfriend said he could feel it, it never bothered him.

bigger boobs! waaaay bigger. :-)

cons:
abdominal cramping. not severe, but not fun.

decreased sex drive. on a scale of 1 - 10, 10 being my normal sex drive, it went down to a 6.

i attributed my weight gain over the past year to lifestyle changes, but in the few months i have been off the ring those ten pounds i have been trying so hard to get rid of just dropped off effortlessly. while on the ring i was heavier than i have EVER weighed in my life but didn't make the connection to the hormones until i stopped using it.

overall, not a terrible experience, but for me the weight gain is a deal breaker. oddly enough, i am one of the only women i know who did not gain weight while using depo provera, so i was surprised that this bc had that effect. when i was on Yasmin i had SEVERE nausea, so quickly stopped taking that.

i have several friends that love the ring, which is actually why i started it, but it's not for me. time to try another pill or talk to my doctor about the long term effects of depo. :-(

In order to counter some of the very negative postings regarding side effects of NuvaRing, I'd like to share my experience.

I had at, at one time or another, tried many different birth control options, all of which gave me terrible side effects. All variations of The Pill left me depressed, with heavy cramps and acne. The Depo-Provera shot made me gain a lot of weight and suffer through continuous spotting and cramping. The patch made me consistently nauseated.

NuvaRing has been the only method of birth control that has given absolutely no negative side effects! I have used it for over 2 years and I love it. My acne has cleared, my periods are shorter and lighter. I have not felt an ounce of depression or decreased sexual appetite, and my boyfriend doesn't feel it at all.

I post this only as a reminder that BIRTH CONTROL AFFECTS EVERYONE DIFFERENTLY. I would hate for anyone to read these postings and be frightened away from trying a medication that could be as helpful to them as it has been to me.

Many of those who experienced severe depression on this message board also mentioned having been depressed and treated for depression before using NuvaRing, which to me indicates a clear connection between having an already existing mental condition and the increased occurrence of depression with the medication.

Again, I have been using NuvaRing for over 2 years and have not experienced any of the side effects listed here. The only way to know for sure how you will benefit or not from a medication is to try it for yourself.

I have been on LoEstrin24 for over a year and a half. For the first year, I had no side effects. After starting a very competitive graduate program this fall, I began having panic attacks, anxiety, hot flashes and am sweating constantly during the first week of a new pill pack. I believe that the stress have exacerbated the potential side effects of the pills and only now am I seeing the downside of this method. I was previously on Depo Provera for 7 years and then tried the patch for 1 year (HATED it). I've found that controlling my stress levels has helped but not completely ameliorated the side effects. Also, as an FYI for those who are worried about the brownish discharge - I still have it after 18 months on this pill.

Hi - I had Mirena implanted three days ago. A day after implantation, I developed a splitting headache and my BP rose to 160/110. It stayed elevated. I also got hot flushes and felt generally unwell. I am going back to my GP as soon as the w/e is over to have it removed - it's juts not worth it. I also had similar experiences with Depo Provera - anyone else?

I'm a 53 year-old male and do regular Cardio Exercise every week and have for 31 years.
A cardiologist put me on Toprol XL 25 MG on November 22nd. The Doctor prescribed it because I add heart irregularities and palpitations which resulted in me going to the hospital as I didn't know what was happening and never had heart palpitations before in my life. I went to the emergency room and they got me stabilized but brought in cardiologist. My heart returned to normal function in a few hours and was result of taking a decongestant as well as Lisinopril 5 MG. I had just started these drugs and had been on them for three days when the heart palpitation instance happened. The decongestant is ... I had done a two hour hard workout at the gym which I do regularly 3 times per week and then the heart irregularities started on day 3 of taking the two drugs. A cardiologists now has stuck me on this Toprol 25 MG after that day because it helps with irregular heart beat plus my blood pressure was a bit high around 140/90. I immediately started noticing side effects from the Toprol 25 MG but stayed on it plus the Lisinopril 5 MG and 325 MG Aspirin for about 12 days at that dose. I started side effects like tremors, tiredness, constipation, strange dreams, anxiousness, impotence, and struggled to do my workouts etc. I made some lifestyle changes like eliminating caffeine, alcohol, etc and that plus the medicine reduced my blood pressure below 120/80 a bit. I stopped the Lisinopril on December 3rd and my blood pressure is still normal and reduced the Toprol to 12.5 MG at the same time. I did research and the doctor also thinks the irregularity was due to the Decongestant and Lisinopril I had taken for 3 days as both have heart irregularity and palpitations as a side effect. I decided I want to get off the Toprol XL altogether and let my body go back to normal functioning. All my problems were brought once I started taking medicine and the only real problem I have is high blood pressure which I can control now with life style changes and natural supplements. I called the cardiologist's nurse and she said not to do anything until I see the doctor on December 18th. I had already decided to cut the dose in half to 12.5 MG on December 3rd anyway and the side effects got better, but then I had instance the other night after taking a spin class at the gym whereby my heart beat stayed up around 82 bpm for several hours and normally is 59 pbm. I also felt anxious and couldn't get settled to sleep real well. I read on the warning label that your not supposed to work out during the process of reducing the dosage so I guess I will have to stop working out until I'm off this stuff. I have been an exercise person for 31 years doing at least 5 hours of Cardio Exercise per week and then racing bicycles in the summer months doing 10-12 hours of Cardio Exercise. I really want off this drug so I reduced to 6.25 MG today and will stop working out I guess until I'm off. I feel a little shaky and feel sort of like I could faint if I did to much exertion since reducing to 6.25 MG today. I was wondering how long it take to get off this Toprol since I was only on it for 12 days at the 25 MG dosage and should I keep cutting the dosage and go down to 3.12 MG after a few more days and then eventually off after a few days at 3.12 MG? Then how long once I'm off should I wait to return to my rigorous exercise routine?

Hello Everyone,

First I would like to address those who had terrible reactions to the drug. My heart goes out to you and please don't be offended when I tell you this: Life is a risk and when it comes to science there are never guaranties. With anything you will have a side effect good or bad. You will be a Guinea pig no matter who you are or what drug you take, because everyone reacts differently. Some good and Some Bad.

Second, to those of you who are looking into this for a cure, sorry unfortunately like cancer this is a reoccurring disease. The drug is to help calm your system down and to give your body a rest. I would have to say Lupron saved my life. After all the years of pain and suffering, and hospital visits that occurred due to the severe pain. After having surgery to remove these areas and the doctor who recommended this drug to me was a life saver. I was on it for a year and was put on the NuvaRing afterwards and had mood swings and hot flashes, BUT Ladies...No PERIODS and NO MORE PAIN!! Yeah I gained a little weight, but that was water weight, you can go to your local health food store to buy herbal diuretics and exercise...excercise. I agree Lupron isn't for everyone, but either is another drug out there. You take a chance with any chemical you put in your body. It is HOPE that encourages us to try these medications. I have to say 10 years later I had a beautiful little boy and yes they say even pregnancy gives you relief, but unfortunately for me I had a C-section. Causing me more scar tissue and a reoccurred of severe endometriosis. Due to funds and no insurance I have had to be put on a sister drug called Depo-Provera. It is similar side effects, but ladies take my advice. Lupron isn't for everyone, but I think if you are a good candidate for the drug, try it. It might make a difference in your life...I pray it is positive!!

Hello,
My journey with Minera started in September 2005, two months after the birth of my second daughter.

Previous to the insertion of Minera and the birth of my daughter I was under the care of a rheumatologist for chronic knee and foot pain. I was never diagnosed with any specific disease or disorder. When I became pregnant with my daughter in May 2004 all of my pain vanished. I stopped seeing the doctor and had a normal pregnancy.

My pain symptoms started to return shortly after I gave birth and in September 2005 I decided to have Minera put in. I had no problems with the insertion and after bleeding for about 6 weeks my period stopped. I had some cramping here and there but no more period. I felt great!

My pain symptoms worsened over time and I developed more problems. none of which I related to Minera. My problems were:

Terrible joint pain and swelling in my knees
Pain that radiates from my lower back to my feet
Pain in my right ring finger
Stiffness
TMJ
Insomnia
Hair loss
Weight gain
Irritability
Mood swings
Scarring acne
Fatigue
Lack of interest in sex
Swelling in my feet

I started to believe I had something really wrong with me. I did research and found a lot of my symptoms were in sync with Fibromyalgia. I started seeing a new rheumatologist who did tons of blood work and x-rays on me. After all the results came back she said I did not test positive for anything. She diagnosed my with rheumatoid arthritis because I had all the clinical symptoms. She prescribed prednisone and placqunel (sp?) for the arthritis which seems to be helping.

I was on a parenting forum I frequent the other day and I saw a post form a woman complaining about all the side effects of Minera. I did some research and found this site and another
http://curezone.com/forums/f.asp?f=713
It's like a light bulb went off. All of these things that I have been suffering with seem to be related to the IUD.

So I would like to hear from some of you ladies that have had Minera removed already. Do you feel better? Are your side effects gone?
Also has anyone removed Minera themselves?