Emotional side effects symptoms and conditions

I am 45 years old. I get the impression many of the ladies here are younger, as they speak of having younger children, so I will tell my side from a bit more "mature" (ie older!) perspective:

Had Mirena for a little over 9 months. My two MAIN side effects were a development of terrible cystic acne on my face, back, shoulders, hairline, behind my ears and straight down my spine, ending in a nice lovely rash just above my tailbone. These things were deep, solid knots under the skin, not average little pimples. Worse acne I've ever had, and at my age too!

Second, profuse sweating under my breasts and lower back, again just at my tailbone, right above my butt. After drying off from a shower, I'd run my hand back there and still feel soaked. This did not seem related to hot flashes. Just sweating, and I think that contributed to the acne, which was beginning to leave scars it was so deep.

I do feel like I gained weight, my pants were much tighter and I just felt bloated all the time.

Fortunately, no hair loss or emotional side effects. I've had anxiety for years and take Ativan (lorazepam) which keeps it pretty much under control. No loss of sex drive either. It seems there are a distinct set of side effects, and some get them in different combination than others, but we're ALL getting them one way or the other!

OBGYN said as the Mirena is only progesterone, I was missing the estrogen which were the 2 components of the pill I took for years with no trouble. He gave me a Rx for a low dose of estrogen. Now I am getting what I had in the pill in 2 separate forms, and having these awful side effects on top of it. It didn't help.

So I had Mirena removed 6 days ago. Luckily he found the strings, told me to cough, and pulled it out, no pain! I immediately went back on Alesse BC pill that same day, so no break in hormones, but I handled the BC pill fine all those years, so I"m just going back on it. Have been bleeding ever since removal, but I figure that is just my body "getting back at me" for not having periods for months. My first real one, due in about 3 weeks following the pill schedule will probably be the period from hell. Ok, I accept that. My uterus wants to get this poison toxic mess out of me, and I'm ok with that.

I'm crossing my fingers that I will miss the "crash" I've read so much about. As it seems to be mostly psychological, and I didn't have those side effects to begin with, maybe it won't be so bad, or at all. Of course that could just be wishful thinking on my part! So far, 6 days of having it out of me and I already feel 100% better! My face cleared up in a matter of days. The sweating stopped immediately. My pants are looser, although I still weigh the same. The bloated feeling is gone. I just feel thinner. Before, my profile in the mirror looked like I was 4 months pregnant! That too is going down quick. Good luck to all who have it removed. Things can only get better!

And don't let any doctor tell you you can't have it out! It's your body! You can demand whatever you want, especially if you feel like it is making you sick! Do not take no for an answer. You don't even owe them an explanation. Just a "Sorry, it's not for me..." at the most.

Good luck to all....

I was 23 (the recommended age range is anything past your teens) and took Accutane for 6 months. I was closely monitored by a good doctor and had no ill effects. I did have painfully dry lips (used Aquaphor, as many here did) and dry skin. I had to drink lots of water, but I do that anyway. My results were amazing, after 6 years on another antibiotic with a doctor who refused to prescribe Accutane. As long as you have a good doctor and loving family and friends who will watch out for any emotional side effects, don't be afraid to take Accutane if nothing else is working for you. Acne does NOT "just go away" for many people. I suffered from age 12 to 23, getting worse every year. I am 28 now and still have clear skin.

Hi, I was on Singulair for two years and I had one additional side effect that I've not seen anyone else mention: allergy-like reactions to antibiotics. Prior to taking Singulair I had a bad reaction to only one antibiotic, doxycycline. I had elevated heart rate and blood pressure and ended up with what I was told is called intracranial hypertension or high blood pressure in the head which is the worst and most severe headache I've ever experienced.

While I was on Singulair I had the same reaction to every antibiotic that I was prescribed and they were all antibiotics that I had taken in the past without any problem. I stopped taking Singulair about a month ago and was able to take an antibiotic again without any problem. Every medical professional I've talked with about it said it was news to them and they've never heard of such a side effect.

This was, of course, in addition to many of the other mental and emotional side effects that other people have posted about: severe anxiety, suicidal thoughts, depression, inability to think coherently. The worst was just before periods. I figured it was wacky hormones after having my son but my periods since stopping stopping Singlulair have been WORLDS different. The first was within a few days of stopping and I had really heavy flow with lots of clots. (I know, TMI... sorry!) The most recent period came with mild PMS instead of the mental near-incapacitation accompanied by paralyzing anxiety and depression that I had been experiencing the past two years and the period has been relatively mild and manageable.

One more side effect I want to mention is intestinal cramping. I have been having increasingly frequent intestinal cramping and pain over the past year and had no idea what was causing it. I missed work and spent long periods of time in the bathroom expecting diarrhea that rarely came. Since stopping Singulair that has stopped as well.

All I can say is that Singulair was clearly not the drug for me. My entire life has been improved in just 3 - 4 weeks since I stopped taking Singulair. That's good considering my entire life was turned upside down over two years of taking it... at least the improvement has been faster than the degradation. Now if I can just get my asthma under control again (no, Singulair did not manage the asthma well to top it all off) I'll be doing beautifully!

I'm experiencing vaginal dryness and I think it may be related to being switched from ortho-tri-cylene to tri-sprintec a few months ago. Also experiencing many of the mood swings and emotional side effects described above. Help. Feel like I'm going crazy and concerned about my relationship.

I had my Mirena placed 8wks after my daughter was born. I have a history of bad reactions to all bc pills on the market, the patch, the ring and a latex allergy (condoms). I didn't want my man to get snipped yet because I was on the fence about having another in a few years. So I opted for the Mirena because it seemed like the answer to all my problems.
I "tightened up" quickly after delivery and had to be re-dilated for placement, HUGE ouchie! I bled like a stuck pig and soaked thru pads for almost a week after insertion, I called and was assured it was normal.
I had already been diagnosed with PPD at the time of placement so I assumed all the emotional side effects were because of that. Until I joined a group for Mirena users and found that emotional problems were top of the list! My family (especially my relationship with my honey) have all suffered from my short fuse, mood swings, crying jags that can last all day for no reason, anxiety (I have had 3 anxiety attacks in the last 6mnths and never had one before in my life!). I have had constant crippling fatigue and can barely get out of bed! I have a toddler and a 6yo son to keep up with and fall asleep on the couch during commercials!
I've had bloating in my midsection, frequent nausea/vomiting, headaches from hell!, constant aches/pains, shooting pain in my reproductive area, infrequent periods/spotting, acne (face AND body), thinning/dull hair. I had an incident of extremely foul-smelling, thick dark discharge that was caused by the Mirena's stopping of my cycle but not allowing the build up that was present to be flushed until a routine pap. I have also had lots of pain during intercourse followed by bleeding afterwards and that is when I can bring myself to have sex! I'm 25 and have a very low/non-existent sex drive!
My honey is finding out thru his insurance how much a vasectomy will be and if we choose to have another child, we'll just have to have it reversed. I can't live like this, I have kids, I have family and friends that I miss, I want my life back. The only way to get it back is to get the Mirena OUT of my body.

I'm off,of Yazas this past Friday after about 1 1/2 years. I have a personal and family history of depression and had serious emotional side effects. I've been on Lexapro for about 5 years for depression and very mild AD/HD. I started Yaz in January 2008, following the birth of my daughter. Last November I stated feeling depressed and had my the dosage on my Lexapro increased which seemed to work for a period of time. I'd say about February 08. I've pulled away from my husband who I've been with since we were 17. I've been having extreme irritability especially aimed at my mother-in-law who we live with. People have had to start reminding me to do small, routine things. It's affecting my job and taking care of my daughter. My husband has vociferously pointed out a lack of sex drive on my part. I probably should've finished out my current pack however I went off all together this past Friday because it was the only thing that seemed like it would help my situation. I will going back to the birth control that I was using prior to my daughter's birth/

Hi All,

I have a personal and family history of depression. If I had known of the emotional side effects of Yaz I would never have chosen to change my birth control pill following the birth of my daughter in September 07. I had been on a traditional birth control pill prior to her birth. Yaz caused me to get so depressed that actually considered suicide which is something I had never done in any of my previous episodes.. I've been on Lexapro to control the depression along with very mild AD/HD since about 2004. I The AD/HD also began return recently, mainly impulsive. I've been pulling away from my husband and into myself. We live with my mother-in-law and the irritability was causing an emotional rollercoaster for my husband who is currently back in school. Also, I had 0 sex drive, my husband kept saying that our sex life was over at 33. As of this past Friday I am completely off of the Yaz and will be starting my previews birth control at my next period

I started using nuvaring 3 weeks ago. I have had no negative changes in my life... actually some positive one but I am an emotional wreck. I have contemplated suicide everyday for the last 2 weeks. My mom, sister, and friends have spent the night at my house bc I have been in such bad shape. I have had periodic bout of depression but nothing like this esp. Without any cause. I am removing the ring after I finish this post.

One thing I find interesting, I used the ring about 5 or 6 years ago without any problems. I was 26 or 27 at the time. I am 32 now. Really makes me wonder what age has 2 do with emotional side effects as it seems many other younger posters here don't complain of nearly the side effects those of us with a few years under our belt do. :)

I also had weight gain, big time increase in appetite, dryness\burning burn sex and foreplay. Also some headache and fatigue... but those maybe coincidence.

I have been on NuvaRing since Feb 2008 when they made me come off the depo shot which I loved but had maxed out on the amount of time you are allowed to be on it. I chose the NuvaRing because I am a very forgetful person when it comes to pills and for the first few months it was great! My husband loved it because I went up a cup size which I was also okay with seeing as how they didn't hurt.
But last night enough was enough! For probably the last 6 months or so I had started seeing emotional side effects becoming increasingly moody and irritable...my husband also noticed this but was willing to except that I became a crazy person around the time to take it out and put it in. But since January my sex drive has disappeared completely! I am 23 and haven't had sex with my husband in almost 2 months because I physically have no desire for it. Even when we try I can't get into it.

So that's it...I would rather risk forgetting a pill and getting pregnant ( we may be trying soon anyways) than not be able to have sex at all and hurt my marriage both physically and mentally ( I am a mean person on this thing).

42wmoses-
I know what you are going through. It is so frustrating to be on a birth control pill that causes annoying physical and emotional side effects. I would say to take a month off the birth control and see if anything changes. Try not to alter your eating or exercising habits too much because that will change the results that you can notice.
If you decide to stay on Loestrin 24, I'd suggest to keep a diary for a few months. Mark down symptoms on specific days etc. to later observe any possible trends that might be related to hormone levels based on the point in time of your cycle.
Also, Nuvaring is very new and new drugs should always be used with extreme caution. What I'm trying to say is, the full range of side effects (especially the long-term ones) have not been studied yet. It is impossible to know what it may cause down the line. Personally, I don't like the idea of a foreign object sitting inside of my vagina for three weeks out of each month.
I know only one person who uses Nuvaring and she has not had any issues with it. I guess it is just important not to forget that it is in there and must be removed on a specific date. Below I have inserted the COMMON risks/side effects associated with using Nuvaring (from the Nuvaring website):

The common side effects reported by NuvaRing® users are:

Vaginal infections and irritation
Vaginal secretion
Headache
Weight gain
Nausea

I am prone to urinary tract infections and vaginal infections so this is something I would never use. If you do not have a history of those types of things, maybe it would be something worth trying. Personally, I just feel as though putting something like that inside of your vagina for three weeks continuously while being sexually active can introduce a great deal of infectious bacteria into that area.

I hope that my opinion was at least somewhat helpful. If you are still unsure of what steps to take with birth control...I would suggest making an appointment to sit down with your gynecologist to discuss all of your options. They usually have a strong grasp on what is the best for each individual patient based on history, age, current health etc. etc. because of experience with many other patients on the same medications and the imense amount of research that physicians obtain on a regular basis.

Good luck!

I started YAZ just three days ago and have felt a dark, heavy cloud of emotion overtake every aspect of my day....especially my relationship! I could not be MORE sensitive about silly little things that would otherwise not bother me in the least. I'd be willing to stick this out if someone told me the emotional side effects wane over time, but I'm quite certain the relationship would suffer seriously or end altogether. Absolutely not worth the dramatic mood swings--I'm an incredibly happy person and losing that is losing everything. Not sure I'm willing to try any hormonal contraception at all again.

Yaz was a nightmare for me.
I had been on birth control for several years, and had minor symptoms, but they were tolerable and mostly physical- ie, some bloating, headaches, etc. But Yaz came with more mental/emotional side effects than I ever thought possible.
The worst has been the depression/anxiety. I always considered myself happy and laid back... this pill made me an emotional train wreck. In the middle of the day, I would usually be fine, but in the mornings and at night, I felt much different- very sad, anxious, irritable. Nothing was triggering this- everything was going fine in my life, no reason to be depressed. Most mornings I would just wake up very sad and hopeless, wanting to cry, but not sure why. Then later in the day, I would think back and wonder "why was I so upset?". It was the strangest thing. I felt tired most of the time, loss of motivation, loss of "zest for life". The things that I usually LIKED to do, I had no interest in. It was tough.
In addition to the crazy mental nonsense, I also experienced hot flashes- especially at night and in the first couple hours of waking up. No weight changes that I noticed. Headaches often. Anxiety often.
Ugh. I stopped taking Yaz about 3 weeks ago, and I feel like my hormone levels are still out of whack.

I am so relieved to have found this web site! I had my Mirena IUD placed in early October 2008. It hurt a bit when they put it in like birthing cramps. I had some cramping for about a week but it was tolerable. I had spotting for about 3 1/2 months. I had one period about a month after placement which I experienced the worse cramps than ever before. Since then no periods and no cramps. Every now and then I will get some spotting, but no big deal. I have noticed an increase in acne but it's livable. I have had headaches of which I never got before. I haven't slept soundly for the past 10 years after my husband died because I know I am the only one here to protect my children should anything happen during the night. So I wake at every sound and make sure all is ok then go back to sleep. It's been different since the Mirena IUD. It's gotten much worse. It takes me a LONG time to get to sleep and when I do, my night is filled with intense, long-lived, vivid nightmares! (up to 4 a night) After which it again takes me a while to get back to sleep. What I am incredibly concerned about, though, is the emotional side effects that I have experienced! I have slowly become a basket-case. I have at different times experienced the following side-effects : anxiety, minor paranoia, racing heartbeat, MOOD SWINGS! unexplained crying episodes, foggy thinking, and panicky feelings. They don't all come at once and when one would occur, I dismissed it as weird or due to stress or whatever. I am not sure how long I have been experiencing them because it happened so slowly. It sort of all snuck up on me. However, in the last week or two, they have really made an impact! Two weeks ago, I remember telling a friend at work that something was wrong with me. She said "Oh you are probably just stressed or something. Don't worry about it." I said "No! I really think something is really wrong with me." I was scared to push it because, I don't know, I didn't want to sound like a freak. Then came this last Friday. At work, on my lunch hour, I just sat and cried for no good reason! Friday night it was unbearable. I HAVE NO REAON TO BE DEPRESSED! Saturday really scared me! I felt like I couldn't live this life! I was a mess!!! Thank God for my friend whom I called out of sheer desperation and who talked me through it! I had previously wondered about the effects of the Merina IUD but Saturday evening I immediately began to do the research (in between my crying fits that I had no control over). I found a little bit of info but just basic stuff like it can cause "depression and other mood changes." I knew something was terribly wrong with me and I needed to find more detailed info! (I am normally a fun, happy, in-control, go get 'em kind of person. I have to be. My husband died 10 years ago and I have had to raise my three children completely alone. A person has to have it "all together" to accomplish what I have accomplished! Let there be no question about that.) Now it's Sunday and I woke up this morning no better off. The crying fits have been even more often and all day long! My children have been scared for me because they know this is NOT my normal behavior! I just told them I would be ok. They have hung in there with me all day! I knew I had to just roll with it until I could get to my doctor tomorrow because there is no controlling them. I finally came upon this website this morning! OH! THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR SHARING YOUR STORIES! I thought I was going crazy! I will be on my doctor's door step first thing in the morning to have this beastly contraption removed! They WILL fit me in their schedule because I WILL NOT leave their office with this IUD in my body! Sadly...Valentine's Day is around the corner so too bad for me and my boyfriend! I can't handle another week with this...so I have to do what I have to do! I understand that some women have good stories to tell about their Mirena IUDs but they seem to be few! If a woman was contemplating it and asked my opinion, it would be this.."Do what you think is best, but weigh the consequences first! I personally regret having it! It's been hell!" All I hope now is that it doesn't take much longer to get back to normal after the IUD is removed because I can't live like this! I hope I have helped another woman like me in writing this.

So I have only been on the NuvaRing for about 3 weeks and just took it out. I feel SO down but I didn't feel down till about a week ago. Would the depression hit that fast? I keep getting in fights with my boyfriend and I'm feeling like we aren't going to last even though before this we've never had any real issues and I was positive he was the one I would marry. Now I feel like I'm doubting us but I have no reason at all to doubt us, nothing has happened except I started using the NR. I keep denying that it's the ring but the more I look back on it I feel like it could be since only a few days after I started using it I felt very irritable. I guess it's time to switch again? I don't like feeling like this and I don't want birth control of all things to be the reason our relationship fails. I feel so down and depressed but it isn't constantly, it just comes on randomly and stays till I go to sleep pretty much. Has this happened to anyone? Do you think that the effects would happen that soon after starting the NR? Any help would be great! Thanks!

I was on Yasmin for almost a year, and then on Yaz, and I've never felt so crazy in my life. The mood swings were so bad that it was like I was bipolar and became a different person. Worst part is that I couldn't realize it until I was out of the "bout" of anger, depression, and even paranoia. I have had emotional side effects with birth control before, and these were some of the worst. I just really wish there was a non-chemical birth control that didn't involve plastic, latex, or stingy spermicides! I know many women who cannot take hormonal birth controls, and we all complain that our sex life is not as good, and even causes big problems for some. Does anyone have any suggestions?

I started taking Yaz about a year and a half ago. I'm no longer continuing this pill after this month's pack is finished. I have to say that at first, it was a really great pill. The first month was hell. I bled for a month straight, and I was so irritable, and emotional, and my bf would talk about silly shit, like beached whales and I would start bawling. I spent four months living overseas after starting the pill so I didn't notice the loss of sex drive and sensitivity at first. But when I came back I started to notice all the little things that were becoming huge issues. My sex drive is more or less gone. I actually fell asleep last night while my boyfriend was trying to get me aroused. That's awful. I always feel tired lately. I get a lot of headaches. I read that this pill increase your potassium, and my mother's told me she has a lot of potassium so when she eats bananas she gets splitting headaches, and I'm the same way, so I'm starting to realize where all these headaches are coming from. Sometimes they are so bad that Advil does nothing at all and I end up having to rub between my thumb and forefinger while trying to fell asleep to make the pain stop. I've become extremely moody. My moods change so often now. I'm irritable. I am coming off of two really tough years of my life, and things are really great for me right now, and I don't feel great. I never want to have sex. Foreplay doesn't feel as good as it used to. I don't get aroused quickly, and I have a lot of trouble climaxing. I smoke weed and was smoking mixed spliffs with my bf for some time not even thinking about it, and the reaction the tobacco had with the pill was horrible. I'm certain that if I didn't stop I would have ended up in the ER. I would experience fainting spells, momentary blindness!!, I'd go really pale after getting very hot. I nearly passed out on at least four occasions before discovering the link. After I stopped, I felt much better. But now I can feel all the emotional side effects. I've also been sleepless for a long time, and I think that has to do with the pill, too. Lately I've been getting very nauseated if I eat shortly after taking the pill. And it doesn't matter what I eat. I'm constantly burping like I have a nervous stomach, but I've been calming my mind lately so there's really no reason for it. I've got a lot going on with life and whatnot, but I'm usually able to handle a lot of pressure and stress without breaking down, and this pill has made me almost incapable to dealing with the slightest bit of stress. It's horrible. And I don't want any part in it, or in the pharmaceutical business. I'm going to try tracking my own ovulation. At least I won't have some crazy hormones messing up my system.

Oh. I also had a fibroadenoma (breast cyst) this summer that I had to have a biopsy on (which was really fun, let me tell you...), and I can't say that the pill caused it, but I've never had cysts in my breasts before... The pill did inflate them an extra cup size, and during the third week of pills they are so tender I can't even let my boyfriend touch them or hug me tightly because they hurt so badly. And I live in NYC and there are a lot of stairs to bounce down and it's painful.

I see all the same symptoms with everyone who takes this pill and has a bad experience, and I've decided that it's not for me. The man can wear a condom for a while, while I try to regain my normal self again.

I posted about four months ago with all my side effects from Loestrin. I was having terrible depression, anxiety attacks, horrible chest pain, tingling and numbness in my left arm, etc etc. All the same side effects that a lot of women are having with this pill. I switched to an older bc called desogen. I used to be on this one when I was in high school and had no side effects. I have been on the desogen for three months now. My issue is most of the emotional side effects have gone away, but I'm still having terrible chest pain and tingling and numbness in my left arm especially at night when I'm laying down. Does anyone have this problem? Any suggestions? My doctor said it would take a while for the Loestrin to get out of my system. But I'm worried it may have caused a more serious problem. Any comments would be helpful. We all need to show this site to our doctors. They aren't listening.

Like so many of you, I Googled "tissue atrophy" and have had the very same experience that you have had with Kenalog. I received a shot in late February of 08, shortly after I noticed severe bruising, which eventually turned into the atrophy I now have. I have taken pictures of it for the past several months...and now, 6 months later it is much worse...deeper and darker in color. Is anyone else having discoloration? Mine is a dark purple-red.
I AM PURSUING a lawsuit against the nurse that injected me because I was absolutely not warned of the side-effects...and now have had to suffer with this hole in my side.

It bothers me...and no one would understand unless this had happened to them I suppose. In addition, I received a second opinion and was told the atrophy was permanent...can anyone else confirm this?

I've also noticed other severe menstrual and emotional side-effects...this stuff can stay in your system for a long time.

I am 30 years old and have never had any children. I had my Mirena inserted on on 7/18 (during my cycle). I know it has only been a week but I'm feeling a little concerned and confused.

While having it inserted I was SHOCKED by how painful it was. I, like many other stories I've read, felt like I was going to faint.

Sunday I woke up in at 5:30 a.m. in so much pain! It literally hurt so bad that it woke me up. The same thing happened Tuesday. Night time has been a struggle also. I resorted to taking Tylenol PM to knock myself out.

I asked my doctor to test me for all STD's to ensure that I would not have a PID, but I'm still apprehensive. I realize I need to give it time... but gosh it sucks being a girl! I'm glad I haven't had any emotional side effects and hope that I never do!

I am 18 years old and have been taking Loestrin 24 for about 7 months now. I started taking the pill because I was sexually active and was having extremely long and painful periods. The first few months of the pill were fine, I had some minor bloating. However, I was happy with the pill for the most part. The little acne I had cleared up and my periods were almost non-existent (12 hours of a light brown spotting at most).

Now, for the past three months I have been struggling with depression and anxiety. I could not figure out what was happening to me because I had never had emotional problems like this before. Given, I am prone to depression (both my mother and father have been diagnosed). Nevertheless, I am starting to wonder if the hormones in Loestrin 24 have triggered my depression symptoms and made them worse since they were NEVER a problem until I went on this pill. Previously, I was on Ortho Tricyclen Lo and did not have any emotional side effects whatsoever.

Also, I am pretty much fed up with this pill after today. A few days ago, I suddenly began having chest pains and a numbness/tingling on my left side (arms, legs, face). Feeling nervous, I went to the doctor today. They gave me an EKG which was normal (thank goodness). However, they have ordered me an MRI for tomorrow to see if I have suffered from a stroke! My doctor said that he thinks that then numbness pain is more likely caused my depression/anxiety. Depression and anxiety that I think were caused by this pill.

I can't stand these pills and I refuse to finish this pack. Enough is enough already! Has anybody else suffered symptoms similar to these and if so, what was your outcome?

I wanted to let all the women who are currently experiencing the horrible side effects of Mirena know that all your symptoms will disappear within one week of having the device removed! I had been off of birth control for 8 years as my body could not tolerate the artificial hormones. My Gyno was excited to tell me all about Mirena, a birth control method that would work with limited "localized" progesterone. I was concerned about taking any hormones, but my Gyno, who I really liked, assured me that I had no reason to be concerned. The procedure was easy enough, with only mild cramping for a couple of days, I was initially excited. Three days later, the emotional side effects began. I had extreme anxiety and depression, my insomnia was so bad I went days without sleeping. At 29 years old, I had never experienced any of these symptoms before, and they came on so abruptly, despite the fact that I had no reason to be feeling this way, on paper my life couldn't be better. At its worst, I had no energy for living and felt as though I couldn't live another day. My boyfriend was so concerned about my total transformation and "dead eyes" that he started doing research and found thousands of posts about the horrors of Mirena. I contacted my GYNO and she told me that there was absolutely no connection and that I should look to go on Lexapro. WHAT! I went from a very even tempered, happy women with no history of emotional distress to a nightmare within 4 days and you want to prescribe me a psychiatric drug over the phone. I declined the 'script and demanded an appointment to have it removed, despite her assertion that it would be a waste of money as Mirena wasn't causing my symptoms. I had it taken out and within one week, I was back to myself 100%!!!! To all the women on this board, don't wait to take it out, whatever you paid for it isn't worth the price you pay for it emotionally and physically. I am sure my former GYNO thinks it was psychosomatic, but I know the truth. MAKE YOUR APPOINTMENT TODAY!

I'm 36 yrs old. I went on Yaz 2 full months ago not for birth control purposes, but to control heavy bleeding, my hair falling out (not hair loss, it grows back), memory problems, period-related fatigue, and extreme moodiness and irritability. So far, I haven't had any negative emotional side effects that others of you have. In fact, it seems to have helped my moodiness and irritability slightly. However, I have experienced two side effects that I cannot tolerate if it doesn't "work itself out" (my doc's words) by the end of my 3rd pack of Yaz. From the first week that I was on Yaz, my libido has been M.I.A. Not only has my sex drive disappeared, but I have found thoughts of sex repulsing me. :( I apologize if this next statement is "TMI" (too much info) but it IS a side effect of this pill that I have experienced! When hubby and I are intimate, I find it IMPOSSIBLE to climax, no matter how hard we try and how "into it" I am. This is not normal for me. This side effect is very disturbing for my husband, who is now insisting that I stop taking the Yaz. I am giving this pill one more month to redeem itself, otherwise it will never set pretty little packet in my house again.

I've been on Yaz for about 2 years and I really like it. I am taking it for PCOS (so I don't have a choice to NOT be on BC) and so far, I have not experienced any of the problems other people have had. I did notice a decrease in sex drive, but I'm fairly certain this is due to my under-active thyroid.

At any rate, my doctor said that Yaz, like other BC methods, can deplete B vitamins from your system which can contribute to loss of sex drive. He suggested I start taking a High-Potency B vitamin (they come in standard doses) as well as DHL or DCL or something, I can't remember, 2-3x a week. I have seen my sex drive return, although it still isn't what it used to be.

Good luck to all of you with the other symptoms. I am shocked at the problems it has been causing and I'm horrified for each and every one of you. If you are like me and only have a few mild problems, talk to your doctor about some vitamins!

This is by far the worst pill I have ever taken. Before Yaz I was on Nordette, Ortho Tri cyclen and Alesse. I saw the commercials and got sucked into trying this pill. All I can say is proceed with caution. I ended up taking this pill for the unhappiness 8 months of my entire life. I had problems with other pills causing weight gain (Nordette, Ortho Tri cyclen) or acne (Alesse). However, those symptoms are mild compared to what Yaz inflicted on me.

I have always been described as happy go lucky and Yaz gave me extreme moodiness, panic attacks about my future and life, and major depression. I did have the best skin of my life and lost about 5 lbs but I was an emotional MESS! I would cry at the drop of a hat and find fault in everyone and everything. This symptom didn't start right away but each month I was on Yaz got worse. My friends coined my "alter ego" "she devil." I almost felt possessed at times on this pill. I finally realized it was the pill and not life causing these problems when 3 of my girlfriends had the same problems and got off and the problems went away.

Prior to having this experience I thought people tried to blame too much on the pill but my experience showed me just how much these can mess with your body. I switched back to Alesse 5 days ago and it's like I am a different person--even my skeptical boyfriend noticed the change. As for the acne, I am going to go to a dermatologist to address that. I will be happy to have a few zits as opposed to being a crazy woman.

Proceed with caution on this pill and watch your moods carefully. Just because you've been on it for a few months doesn't mean you're safe. The majority of my emotional disorder started about 5 months in. I do have some girlfriends that like this but most have found it to bring out "she devil".

I have read what everyone has said about the side of effects of Singulair. I really thought it was safe as for I researched the side effects and the clinical pharmacology. I also really trust our pulmonologist. My daughter started taking singulair at the age of 3 due to asthma induced pneumonia. She will soon be 4. She also has had terrible nightmares, which I dismissed as night terrors. She also complains at times it hurts to walk and her legs are tired. I thought she was over reacting and just wanted me to carry her....maybe not! I have decided to take her off the medicine today. I don't want to take the chance of her having any type of emotional side effects. It is not worth it for "mild" asthma which hasn't been confirmed, just assumed due to her age.