History of depression symptoms and conditions

I had a Mirena IUD placed at my follow up appointment after my second child in November of 2004. I feel that I have had excellent results from this form of birth control. The strings disappeared after I had it in for about a year. They had to do a few sono's to see if it was still in place. It was but I had developed an ovarian cyst that didn't go away. I ended up getting it surgically removed and found out that this is a side effect of Mirena. the cyst caused me no pain and the only reason I knew it was there is because of the sono's. I will not have surgery again unless it is highly recommended by my doctor. I just had a new one placed this month. It was more painful to place than I remembered it being. The cramping lasted for almost 24 hours. I have had no periods since before my youngest son was born....he's 5 now. I have had it for so long I don't know if the problems that I have are related to Mirena. I am obese. I have been obese my entire adult life so that is nothing new. I do have a hard time losing weight but I don't believe it has anything to do with Mirena. My hair is thicker since starting Mirena. I do have some skin problems but most of them have been with me for more than 10 years (seborrheic dermatitis and rosacea). I have a history of depression...so nothing new there. I have varicose veins...a result of my obesity, heredity, and working on my feet all the time w/o support hose. I am 34 years old, married, and do not plan to have any more children. I plan to continue using Mirena until menopause. I am EXTREMELY SATISFIED with Mirena and I am sorry for those of you that are having problems with it. I hope you find a method of birth control that works for you. Sexual freedom is a nice thing for a woman to have.

Within 12 hours of my first dose, I started experiencing irritability, racing of thoughts, rapid heart beat, shortness of breath, nausea, sweating, and then ultimately, a panic attack. I have history of successfully treated depression from several years ago, yet this med brought forth all those painful old feelings of angst. I am discontinuing doxy immediately. I wish that one of the warning labels on the Rx bottle read, "Do not take if there is a history of depression." It sounds like that would have save a lot of people a lot of grief. Best wishes to all for good health.

I had Mirena put in on July 2nd. I had it removed today (August 4th). I gained 10lbs in 3 weeks, my hair is falling out like crazy, my face is breaking out, I was having kidney pain and the most recent was on Sunday when I couldn't get out of bed due to severe back pain and I couldn't lift my right leg. My husband had to pull me out of bed so I could use the bathroom. Any time I sat down, he had to pull me up. As the day went on, I could slowly start moving more. Yesterday and today my back was still very tender. I had it removed @ 3:30 this afternoon and my back pain and tenderness is completely gone (it's now 8:15 p.m.) My doctor told me that Progesterone is what causes all of those symptoms so he recommended I wait 2-3 months before trying any kind of birth control to get all of the hormones out of my body and make sure it's not a thyroid issue. Two people I know have Mirena and they have no symptoms and they love it. I on the other hand, can't say the same. I think people sensitive to progesterone need to find a different route.

I recently got Mirena (May 20th) and am wondering if my current depression is linked to that. Its been nice not having to take a pill everyday and previous birth control methods left me with no sex drive. I've had the most every day spotting, but I enjoy feeling sexual again. Is there anyone else out there who has had depression on Mirena and had anti-depressants be effectual? I have had a history of depression, but it has been four and a half years since I've needed them.

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 Chantix back on March 3rd. While I do admit that at the time I was already depressed and feeling overwhelmed by many factors in my life,I could control it all prior to the Chantix. After being on Chantix,I had serious intestinal problems,my depression worsened,paranoia was horrible,I gained a lot of weight in a very short time,ANGER was all but uncontrollable....to the point I threw things at my boyfriend and made a total mess of a wonderful relationship. I stopped taking it about 3 weeks ago. The stomach issues are just starting to go away....I have not had a period since March 2nd though.....My anger and depression are controllable now however I am in therapy. I had these symptoms before so I know they weren't brought on by the Chantix but were certainly worsened by the medication. The medication did help me cut back on the very expensive habit of smoking and the dreams I admit were pretty cool. Ive never in my life had such vivid dreams,not nightmares like I have seen on some post,but just "normal," but vivid dreams.
I would talk in length to your doctor prior to starting this medication if you have any history of depression or anxiety....I was not somebody,anybody wanted to be around while on this medication!

I was prescribed Lupron after a laparoscopy to diagnose endo between my freshman and sophore years in college. I was never told of any psychological side effects, even though the first page of my chart has a lot of info about my history of depression and anxiety. In addition to the night sweats and hot flashes, the depressive side effects were so bad that I dropped out of college (I was a stright-A student the year before.) It took me 2 1/2 years to get back to school, and I'll be paying off the $12,000 for a semester that I spent almost completely in bed. I'm a nursing student planning to work in women's health care, and will advise any of my patients to seriously research this medication before listening to their doctor. My pain never did go away while on the medication and was actually worse later and caused me to go back in for surgery.

My son used a nebulizer 2 to 4 times a day every day from the time he was one and a half years old. When he had just turned three his doctor prescribed Singulair. It was like a wonder drug for us! It took care of his asthma and we didn't have to use the nebulizer any more. He's been on it ever since -- he's 10 now -- he also takes zyrtec and has a rescue inhaler that he uses maybe once a week. About every other year he requires a course of steroids and a week of regular nebulizer use. Also, for the past year he has also required a daily inhaled steroid.
Now, about his mood issues. My son has always been sensitive and intense, moody. The first time I became alarmed was when he was 7, and he told me he wanted to burn his hands on the stove to punish himself for forgetting his homework. I consulted a psychologist who evaluated him and said he was not clinically depressed. Since then he has had periodic "dark" episodes -- especially in the winter. He has said he wants to die. He has had crying jags over things that are upsetting (loss of a pet was the worst) but it seems excessive for him to be saying he "just wants it all to end." He has told me that he is always unhappy and that he hates himself. He has also had problems with moody acting-out with friends. He will brood about hurt feelings until he loses his temper and screams at the friend. I have worked very hard with him on learning to manage his emotions. He hit a friend at school who was teasing him. He accepted his consequences willingly and willingly wrote letters of apology -- he told me he thinks he has anger problems and doesn't want to be this way. And his character is that he is a sweet, caring boy who can't stand to see anyone hurt, but also can't stand to be hurt.
A couple of years ago I asked his allergist if any of the meds he's on are linked with depression. He said no. We have a family history of depression, and I thought my son had gotten the worst combo of all the genes.
Recently, this all got to the point that I decided he needed to see a psychiatrist and quite possibly take medication for depression. Before I made the appointment he had a check-up with his allergist. Going down his list of meds the dr. said, recently Singulair has been linked with depression, have you noticed any moodiness or sadness? My first thought was that I have, but that he's always been like this. My 2nd thought was that he has been on Singulair for most of his life. I said yes and that I'd like to try him off of it.
My son resisted going off of it. He has had enough negative experiences with asthma that he didn't want to risk it, but I insisted. I didn't expect to see any change, but I thought it was important, as I was going to take him to a psychiatrist to consider depression meds, to see how he did off of it for a couple of months.
Less than a week later, he had been in a wonderful mood -- to the point of being silly and giddy all evening -- for 3 days in a row. The kind of mood that I don't see him in often, and when I do I think to myself, "he should be like this more often." One evening he even realized he had forgotten to bring home a homework assignment. I thought, "oh no, here we go, his evening is ruined." But he talked through his options with me, looked a little uncertain, and said, well, okay, I guess I'll have to tell my teacher I don't have it. I'll tell her I'll make it up at lunch if she wants me to. That was it! He didn't mention it again. I didn't say anything about his mood, because I really don't think I can know anything after just a few days -- it could be coincidental. The next day, he said to me that he thinks being off the Singulair is "working." He has now told me that a couple of more times.
I am tentative, but amazed. Even if my son does have a predisposition to be depressed, maybe the Singulair was making everything worse, and things really can improve for him. I am afraid to be to hopeful. At the same time, I feel guilty for giving this medicine to him for 7 years without a second thought.
As an aside, my son has periodically complained of leg pains, that I always told him were growing pains.
I would love any feedback that anyone can give me. So far (these two weeks), his asthma has been controlled with pulmacort, zyrtec and albuterol, so that aspect is okay.

NOW I SEE I AM NOT CRAZY. I JUST GOT OUT OF BED AT 3:30 A.M. - another sleepless night. I thought, I wonder if it is the singular - let's get up and do research. So here I am writing this is the middle of the night. I am a 56 year old female. Have been taking allegra for years, no complaints. History of smoking caused asthma-like symptoms which disappeared about a year ago due to improved lung function. I no longer need the albuterol, inhalers, etc. Two months ago I went to the dr. primarily to talk about depression and anxiety. History of depression and I've been taking welbutrin for the past six months. I decided not to change presc for depression. He suggested that I take singulair and switch to zyrtec.
WELL I CAN SEE THAT THIS IS JUST GREAT! I'm ill with everyone, depressed, have loads of anxiety, have three uncompleted projects in my house and was considering a fourth when I realize - now this is a problem! Wake up! So I find these postings and I am angry that all of this suffering has occurred, esp to children who can't explain that they feel different, etc.
So now I am going cold turkey, going to stop singular and zyrtec immediately. I am retired so I can take benadryl most times if I need to and I look forward to getting some good sleep tomorrow. (Will it leave my system that fast.) God bless you all and your children.
OH I FORGOT TO MENTION THAT MY MIGRAINES - WHICH WERE LONG GONE - HAVE COME BACK WITH A VENGEANCE. The nausea has been slight. OH - I'VE HAD TERRIBLE THOUGHTS WHEN I PICK UP A KNIFE IN THE KITCHEN WHILE PREPARING A MEAL. I INTENTIONALLY SHAKE IT AND WONDER WHY IN THE WORLD I WOULD HAVE SUCH A THOUGHT. I am so upset with dr. and pharm. companies. We need to take ownership of our own conditionsl.

I started on Aviane exactly two weeks ago. The experience was terrible. I am a PhD student trying to finish up a thesis. There is a lot of stress in my life and to compound the problem I have a history of depression. With therapy I was actually feeling pretty good and my depression have been mild, until I took Aviane. For the past two weeks, I have been feeling severe depression; I didn't want to get out of bed, work on my thesis and I always felt like a failure. At night, I feel very awake and I can't sleep though I don't drink coffee past 5 pm and I go to bed at midnight usually. It's 3 am right now and I still cannot go to bed! I have been sleeping at work, and experiencing poor memory as well as a side effect of not sleeping well.

At first I thought it has just been a bad episode of depression, which sometimes happen during my period. It usually goes away when my period stops. However, it has been two weeks since my period (when I started taking Aviane) and there is no end to this nightmare. I'm glad I chanced upon this forum. I am going to call my doctor right away and see if I can stop taking the pills tomorrow.

I've been on aviane for about 3 or 4 months and have gained at least 10 pounds. All I can do a week before my period starts is eat and sleep. I'm hungry all the time and so tired!

Also, I was just reading more about aviane and it says to tell your health care provider before you start taking aviane if you have a history of depression (which I do) as one of its side effects is mental depression. Wish I would have known that 10 lbs ago!!!

I'm terrified to start my Aviane now, after reading this. I start mine next month and am having second thoughts ! I don't want to lose my sex drive, I don't want to lose my hair, I don't want severe acne and I don't want to be miserable, depressed or tired. Help me! Any suggestions instead? Or should I get switched to a different pill?

DO NOT TAKE DOXYCYCLINE IF YOU HAVE ANY HISTORY OF DEPRESSION!!!

I do and doxy has sent me over the edge for about a month AFTER i stopped taking it.

I was given doxy by my doctor for a sinus infection for a week and stopped taking it just under a month ago. This past month has been absolute hell for me.

The day I stopped taking it I went from feeling fine into a 5 hour crying fit with suicidal thoughts in less than 30 minutes. During the fit I became convinced that this was how my life always is, that I was depressed, that I had always been depressed and that I needed anti depressant as I spend all my time crying. That was on 2nd Feb.

The next day I was shaky and felt very up and downy but went back to feeling normal pretty quickly and after I did some internet research on Doxycycline (the only change in my diet/lifestyle) assumed it was that. I read some pretty bad stuff on the internet about other people’s experiences which were very similar to the one I had had and I thought that must be it.

So I decided to drink lots of water and have been taking Milk Thistle to cleanse my liver.

Then this Saturday past I had exactly the same thing. I had another one of these 5 hour crying fits and more suicidal thoughts and I became convinced I was bipolar. This time was much worse in a lot of ways.

I felt it again felt like a panic attack and to me the change in my physiology was really noticeable. The noticeable dip in my mood – very sudden from feeling fine to feeling a little bit irritable and then withdrawn with some anxiety – and wanting to be reassured but also being a little aggressive in communication almost like trying to find a fight, then a change in breathing and heart rate and then plunge into dark thoughts and sobbing.

When I went to see the doctor on Monday my mood was still swinging up and down and I just felt crazy so I mentioend to him the doxy and he dismissed this without even asking a question about when or how much I'd taken.

I ask to be referred to a psychiatrist as I do get that I may have underlying issues and these mood swings were so bad and so strong and so by the time Wednesday came with my in and out moods I had convinced myself it was probably to do with my childhood and the difficult heart stuff and repressing how I really feel

Whilst I do have my fair share of childhood stuff and issues of the heart I think I’ve become so self aware and so careful with myself and I think I talk to my inner child so much and check that I am okay with things and I deal with things really well. so this has all come as a bit of nasty shock as I thought I was okay with everything. In fact I know I’m okay with everything as I write this.

But during these mood swings I am definitely not okay. I do not feel like myself. I become convinced that I have been lying to myself about being okay, that I have never been okay that I am mentally ill and that is why I am having mood swings and I start really analyzing everything and linking everything back to the past and trying to make links with things that are happening today and things that happened in the past. I haven’t had any change in my heart situation that this could be a reaction to, its remained the same for a number of months and I don’t have a problem with it but when I have this mood swing I blame that situation and my childhood together. I start wanting to blame people. I start thinking I have two personalities and I just start trying to find reasons and I have no idea what I feel, who I am or what I want, if I’m telling the truth of if I’ve ever told the truth. I start doubting everything and everyone. My head hurts, I get in a state of confusion and I become a little mean to people. I start trying to blame events and situations, anything I can find. It’s an absolute nightmare. Then I get confused about what I have and haven’t said and agitated that I need to say more to make myself understood. I might be stable for hours or even a day but it happens very suddenly and it’s a really physical sensation, first the dip in mood, the irritability, the breathing will change, I will feel anxious and can really feel my heart beating, like when you are really scared about something – that fight or flight feelings. I then get a really strong sense of insecurity and nervousness and will become really awkward at communication and almost aggressive and rude in my communications and then rueful.

The crazy thing is my mood is just absolutely all over the place in a way it has never ever been before, even in my days of deepest darkest moments when everything in life sucked and people were horrid to me. I don’t understand why I would, after all my years of learning how to deal with this and cope with this be even worse when my situation is so much better. It just doesn’t feel like its actually real. I don’t feel like anything I’ve said when I’ve been in these moods is actually a true reflection of how I feel when I am out of the swing.

Then I come back to feeling more like a version of myself but not quite and then I swing again very quickly and go from very hyper and laughing to almost the polar opposite in a very short space of time.

This is the first time in a week that I’ve felt like I am completely normal again. Right now I feel very calm and grounded and rational like I have been feeling for a very long time and I feel very clear in my head that I am completely fine and this is a reaction to some chemicals in my body affecting my mood rather than a psychological issue.

I am fully prepared for another full scale attack of mood swings and totally losing the plot again though.

I am lucky in that I have a good friend who called a doctor friend of his in the US and the first thing the doctor friend said when asked about Doxycline was 'don't tell me, you know someone who's had anxiety attacks and suicidal reactions'. According to this doctor this is VERY common and very well documented. There should be no lasting effects or permanent damage and now the doxy is out of my system I should not be experiencing these moods swings.

HOWEVER - he thins that because I have a history of depression due to my childhood issues the doxy has basically destabilised me and driven me to the edge again.

I did some really lengthy research because I really feel like this is a brain chemistry issue rather than a psychology issue and knowing I've dealt with everything and I just don't get why these issues would re-arise. I'm going to go get some therapy no matter what but I just wanted to know the brain chemistry.

Obviously if my GP doesnt even recognise that doxy can have this affect there is going to be no interest in helping me figure this out so I will figure it out myself.

From what I can understand Doxy decreases some amino acids in the brain which is important as simply put, amino acids get converted into neurotransmitters which play a critical role in your brain. Neurotransmitters are the chemicals which help your brain cells 'talk' to each other. Low levels of certain neurotransmitters have been associated with depression and anxiety.

I feel like I am 'back' from the Doxy but to be honest, I have no idea what it has done to my brain and I doubt there has been that much research into it...if so why on earth would they prescribe a drug that does this to people?
Particularly people who have a history of depression.

I am going to try taking amino acids to see if that helps - it can't hurt.

If anyone else is going through the same thing please get in touch and let me know!
This site totally helped me!! Thank you everyone who has posted on it. It really makes a huge difference to know that there are other people out there going through the same thing. I have felt like I am absolutely crazy! Thank you so much :-)

To those with a history of depression or mood swings: DON'T TAKE THIS MEDICINE.

I started taking Loestrin 24fe in January 2009 to alleviate heavy and irregular periods. I managed to stick with it for a month and a half before the depression and mood swings were too much for me to handle. My boyfriend and six or seven other people (some whom I am close to and some whom I am just friends with) told me I was being strangely moody and wasn't acting like myself AT ALL. My moods fluctuated constantly during the day, always tending toward depression, but alternated between being extremely peppy and very depressed and dull, sometimes several times within a few hours. I started snapping at people for no reason, and random crying spells began as the mood swings went even further downhill to the point where those I am close to became seriously concerned about my mental state and feared that I would become suicidal. I could live with the other side effects-- acne, increased breast size & tenderness, nightmares, and spotting-- but not the personality change.

I stopped taking Loestrin 24 two days ago and immediately noticed a change in my personality. One of my close friends called me and two minutes into the conversation, she told me that I sound like my normal self for the first time since I started taking the pill. The mood swings are gone, as is the depression, and I'm willing to live with irregular periods and the hassle they can be rather than become a different person and end up taking even more medicines to treat the side effects of Loestrin.

I was prescribed Biaxin Extended Release, 500 mg/2x daily for 10 days, for a sinus infection. I am on the 5th day, and feel absolutely horrible. The nausea is CONSTANT, I am very tired, headaches, stomach cramping, bad gas, sleeplessness..the list goes on and on. Also, am very emotional. I have a history of depression, but this is a whole new ball game. I cry at almost anything. I called my doctor today to switch to a new antibiotic, and am waiting to hear back.

I just finished my last pack of Yasmin. I rarely post messages on sites such as these - I'm not in the medical field and don't have the expertise to tell anyone what they should or should not be taking. However, after my experience with this drug, I feel like I need to contribute to the large population of women who had bad experiences with it. I'm not the kind of person who cries easily and am usually a very laid-back and easy going person. I started taking Yasmin in June after 8 years of not taking the pill. It was great for the first 3 months or so - my periods were like clock work, they were short lived, I stopped having cramps. Then I started getting upset for no reason - crying at the drop of a hat, getting unreasonably angry and irritated at my poor, incredibly sweet and patient fiancee for the smallest things. I was exhausted - even though I'd sleep a routine 8-9 hours a night. I'm normally a happy person and I literally stopped being happy 3 weeks out of the month. The first week after my period - when the drugs were in the first week, I would be happy as a clam - in fact, happier than I normally would be. I'd feel every day like I'd won a marathon. The second week into the drugs, I'd become quiet and anti-social. Near the end of that second week and up until the end of the pack - I would completely change into a different person. You could track all of this with military timing. I wondered for a long time if I was becoming depressed or anxious - I've had ADD my entire life and been through bouts of depression and anxiety in my teens and early 20's. Since starting my ADD meds 5 years ago, I'd never had another issue with them. This pill brought it all back. Though it cleared up my acne and gave me regular cycles again, its effect on my mental health was just not worth it. I have started to take a new pill and if that doesn't work, I'll try again. I just wanted whoever reads this to talk to their doctor, especially those women with a history of depression, ADD, or anxiety, and let them know the concerns you have. If you take Yasmin or are starting it, call them immediately after you start getting these symptoms so that you don't have to suffer through months of wondering what the heck is wrong with you. Life's too short and there are other forms of birth control out there.

I was prescribed Reglan to increase my breast milk. I have no history of depression or anxiety. After a month or so having taken Reglan I got extreme anxiety and insomnia. I knew I was experiencing something that was NOT normal for me. It was a terrible experience. I had to move in with my mother so she could help me with my baby. I was diagnosed with post-pardum depression/ anxiety and put on antidepressants. Something I never would have believed would happened in my life. I am now weening myself off of them. Although my Ob/Gyn says that this experience was not due to the Reglan I was on. I am not convinced. I was taking it three times a day. I will never take Reglan again.

Today is my eight day on Loestrin and it will be my last day.

I'm 29 and have been off of birth control for over 3 years. I'm a stay at home mom of a very well tempered little boy, I workout every day, I eat very well, I take daily vitamins and I do not have a history of depression.

I decided to go back on birth control for multiple reasons, family planning, endometriosis and to help with mild acne. My gyno recommended Loestrin.

I took my first pill on the first Sunday after my last period, which also happened to be the same day I ran my first half marathon. Since then I can not sleep, I wake up all night. I feel nauseated for half the day, I'm scatter-brained, my skin is worse, I get crazy mood swings and I have gained six pounds in a week, I'm holding an incredible amount of water. At first I thought the half marathon was causing all of these things but it's been over a week and no improvement.

I will NEVER take this pill again.

TriNessa: I am an 18 year old girl. I have loving parents, a great home, good grades, sport teams, wonderful friends, and an incredible boyfriend. Nothing is wrong with my life right now and nothing is even complaint worthy. I started taking TriNessa not for sex but to control my period because I was getting it twice a month and was therefore iron deficit. Then I started feeling a little down, not motivated, sad. Then I started to get this overwhelming sense of doom, like my life was on an extreme downturn, but nothing had changed. I don't have any history of depression but I would have been clinically diagnosed as depressed because I would go to bed crying and wake up crying and had this sense of hopelessness and despair. I almost asked my boyfriend to take a break even though he is the most amazing guy ever until I figured out that it was the trinessa. there is something seriously messed up with this medication and I would advise all to use this with extreme caution.

06/18/07 was the date I quit smoking after 19 years. I took chantix for two months and was smoke free. Sure I had crazy dreams and felt nauseated sometimes but that to me is the reason it works. Will power along with the chantix is the reason I quit. I did however put on twenty pounds in that year and have stayed at that weight since but still not smoking. I honestly believe that with a history of depression this drug actually made me happy and out going. Now, as for the dreams they were intense but normal to me. I would recommend this to anyone with the desire to stop smoking.

I am schedule for a lupron shot on thurs w/my surgeon. I have large fibroids which causes the usual problems, bleeding, etc. I curretnly have lower back and hip pain already due to the size of the fibroids. I am scheduled for a hysterectomy after putting it off for years. My surgeon suggested the shot stating that it would help with shrinking the fibroids and make my surgery easier lap vs. abdominal. Reading this site is truly scarring me I already live with some pain already and have a family history of depression. I have a career I love and make a 4 hour daily commute and it sounds like my life will truly be altered if I choose this. Help!!!

I have been on Yasmin for about 5 years. I have never had an issue. I am worried that everyone on this site is making Yasmin look bad. You all need to remember that not everything will work for every person, everyones hormones are different to begin with so when you add the pill to these different levels of hormones you will get different side effects. To the people with low sex drive, did you perhaps think that this could be due to depression or the aging process? Many women suffer from low sex drive, those on and off the pill. Your sex drive will not be consistent throughout life, mine dropped in my early 20s and now is rising again, it may drop again, it can also be due to stress. All that said if you're suffering side effects that you think are attributed to Yasmin, or any other pill, stop taking it! Not everyone's body will handle it.

Like many patients, I started out on a low dose of Lamictal. Eventually, I was taking 300 mg. This seemed fine for awhile. Then, I started feeling a bit down, so the doctor increased the dose to 400 mg. Increased dosage does not necessarily mean improvement in mood (bipolar). I began to experience a good number of the adverse side effects reported here, including excessive fatigue, gastrointestinal disturbances, cotton mouth and very bad taste in my mouth, muscle tension (particularly in my legs), forgetfulness and confusion, and sinus and chest congestion. At one point in time, I even had difficulty articulating words.

Though I did not suffer from rash, I have been up in the middle of the night with itching all over my body. I had a few episodes of mouth sores and one pimple on my chin. Many of these have improved since the doctor brought me back to 300 mg. However, they have not entirely disappeared. I continue to suffer from the excessive fatigue many of you have reported here.

I recently had a blood test and learned I have very low levels of Vitamin D and Vitamin B-12. I do not know if there is any relationship between long-term use of Lamical and these test results. However, I do know that low levels of Vitamin D can cause fatigue.

Though I am willing to follow through with further blood tests, I am beginning to understand why some people are tempted to discontinue their medications. I am so tired of being so tired and sleeping so much. When I finally get up, I am still tired and drag through the day.

Sometimes, I think I'd rather have a down day or two than take this medication. I should add, though, that my bipolar is not severe, and that I am only reporting how I feel. I'm certainly not recommending anyone discontinue medications for this or any other condition they may be suffering from. If I were to recommend anything, it would be to get a second opinion if one is concerned about his or her treatment.
If I were to make any suggestion to doctors, it would be this: more is not necessarily better. Send your patients for blood tests (mine were ordered by my M.D. and not by my psychiatrist). Increasing the dosage--at least of Lamictal--might result in a host of negative side effects. Your patients might then become disillusioned with their treatment and give up.

If anyone out there has suffered from B-12 and D deficiencies, let me know. I'll let you know what I find out.

And remember, most doctors are really trying to help us.

I just came across an article on the online "Huffington Post" by Dr. Doug Bremner, who researched the connection between accutane and depression, called "If Prescription Meds Don't Kill You They Might Drive You Crazy" He explains the link between Singulair, Leukotrienes in the brain and depression. There are numerous articles by him as well that are definitely worth reading.

Jenna M.
Parents United for Pharmaceutical Safety and Accountability