Loss of interest symptoms and conditions

I am 19 years old and have had Mirena since May 2008. I really struggled with the cramps and continuous bleeding for the first two months. My menstrual periods became less and less until I hit my year mark of having it. NOW, if I'm around a girl friend for more than a few days, I automatically get my menstrual period the same day she will and it will last for 8 to 10 days. I thought I wasn't supposed to get my period after a year of having Mirena?!! I've really enjoyed not having to worry about taking a pill every day or putting a new patch on every week and hope it stays on.... BUT, a year and a half of constant acne, the freshman 15, the anxiety, the decreased sex drive, the abdominal cramps are really starting to take a toll on my mental health!
I recently have developed new symptoms of excessive sweating in my armpits, loss of interest in doing things I used to love, joint pain, thin peeling nails, dry skin, cold intolerance. I mentioned these things to my mother the other day on the phone and she reminded me that thyroid problems are very congenital in our family. I have a doctor appt in 2 days for a blood test. If all goes well, I may just have to say goodbye to Mirena. Its been 100% effective for me in the past year and a half, but I can't handle the excess fine-print bullshit that comes with it!!!

Hi all, I first discovered this site back in May 2009 and posted on 25th June 2009.

I had my Mirena inserted in April 2007 after consultation with my Gyno and being told this is the best option available to me following constant bleeding and pain during menstrual cycles. Also had pollops removed during the same operation (which may have been causing the pain also). I was (like many) led to believe there were NO SIDE EFFECTS!!!! I can only assume we are part of some huge experiment??

I am 43 (soon to be 44 years old) with two adult children (18 and 21 years) and very happily married.

Like many others, my side effects are/WERE mood swings (recent panic attack - very scary!), headaches, abdominal pain, light bleeding for 2 - 3 weeks every month, fatigue and general feeling of unwellness, days of extreme sadness (would not classify it as depression), no interest in anything, almost complete loss of interest in sex, nausea, weight gain. Pre Mireena I had lost 35 kgs (approx 80lbs) with a lot of hard work. My gym regime and diet didnt change but I have still gained 15 kgs.

I use the "were" because I also made the decision to have the Mireena removed and like others was ready for a fight with my doctor.

No need to fight, my doctor listened to everything I said plus informed me she knows exactly what I am talking about because her two sisters had exactly the same problems and had the Mirena removed. Needless to say, THE MIRENA HAS NOW BEEN REMOVED. HOORAY!!!!

It has only been 8 hours so I don't really expect any miracles immediately although it would be nice to wake up and have lost the 15kgs I have gained.

To cut my very long story down, my doctor informed me of some interesting news about the Mirena. I was told at my age (43) to increase Progestron can send the body into Hormone overload, in fact we should be having more Oestrogen instead. The Mirena increases the amount of Progestron in the body, maybe that is part of the problem????

I am feeling so pleased to have the MIRENA OUT, will keep you posted on my progress. So far go good......no signs of bleeding yet.

To all the women still taking this drug: I beg you to stop taking this medication and read all of the posts on this site!!!! Here is my story... I was on Yasmin for 6 years. About 4 years into taking the drug, I noticed a mass on my right side. It was a painful mass that I could easily feel, and it eventually because so uncomfortable that I could no longer sleep on my right side, and it affected basic movement. At the same time, I was beginning to show some side effects of Cron's disease (which runs in my family), so my gastro doctor told me to get a CT scan and an MRI. The tests revealed a gigantic mass on my liver and I was told to see a liver specialist right away. I went to KU Med and was told that I had to have emergency surgery right away, and that I was basically a walking time bomb.... If I tripped and fell, it could cause this mass to rupture and I could bleed to death. He also told me that if I had gotten pregnant while I had the mass, it would almost certainly lead to death for me and the baby. Nonetheless, they cut me open from the middle of my chest clear down to my belly button. They did a liver resection and removed my gall bladder and several lymph nodes. The mass on the scan turned out to be 2 grapefruit-sized benign masses, called Focal Nodular Hyperplasia - most commonly caused from the hormones in birth control pills!!!! Ladies, this was major surgery.... I was in the hospital for 9 days and out of work recovering for nearly 2 months.... and this all took place 2 months before my wedding!!!!!! The MASSIVE stress I endured caused me to have panic attacks and I thought I was going to literally die. Keep in mind that my CT and MRI were purely coincidental. If my GI doctor had not ordered the tests, I would have never known about the masses, and God only knows what would have happened to me.... Anyway, this whole ordeal has DRASTICALLY changed my life and affected all of the people I love, my husband included, who has to endure all of my pain and anxiety. BOTTOM LINE - IT'S JUST NOT WORTH IT! TELL EVERY WOMAN YOU KNOW!

My experience with yaz was terrible. i have been anxious and tired unable to sleep, moody, loss of appetite, loss of interest in anything, i feel depressed. i don't get excited or happy or sad or angry i don't really feel any emotions. i did stop taking yaz but it is still in my system and therefore still effecting me, my boyfriends brothers girlfriend also took yaz and in her very own words "this is the devil pill". i must agree. i would not recommend yaz to anyone. i am 18 years old.

OMG! Just reading these posts are giving me chills. I have had mine in since end of April 08. I had my son in March 08. I was prescribed Zoloft soon after having my son for post partum depression. It didn't help much and the doctor said it should go away by 6 months. It didn't. The symptoms have gotten worse and include thoughts of suicide often. I am EXTREMELY moody. I feel like I am psycho! I yell at my kids and hubby. I cut myself off from friends and family. For a while I was cautious everyday but not so much anymore. I have severe cramping, irregular periods, migraines, and I get that funny feeling like its something in my belly too. Worst of all is the weight gain. I have 3 children and I am naturally thin. After my 1st two I went back down in around 6 months. My son is almost 16 months and I am the same since after his birth! I am 5'7'' 160 lbs...normally 131. I look 4 months pregnant. I workout 5xs a week and have a strict diet..nothings working. Not to mention the dramatic loss of interest in sex. Me and my hubby were very frisky and now I just don't want to be bothered. When we do have sex there is pain and sometimes bleeding. After reading this post I have now realized these things have to be because of the Mirena, too many people have the same symptoms. I am suffering from low self esteem because of the weight gain and other issues and have become very paranoid. It may sound dramatic but I am suffering, my husband and children are suffering and I am making an appointment tomorrow to get it removed....

i am 26 and had my Mirena IUD inserted in Jan 09 and i actually removed it myself. (probably not the best) however i didn't like it and i could feel the string so i just pulled it out. i have been getting lots of headaches, loss of interest in sex, mood swings like crazy, backaches, weight gain, and i have also been super tired!! i have 2 kids so i have felt bad cause i am so tired that i don't even want to do anything but sleep. i didn't put things together until reading all the other posts. i knew that the cramps and stomach soreness was due to it but didn't really think that all the other symptoms were. it's funny cause i asked my dr about the side effects and she told me them but none of them included any of the ones that i have had and the reason i switched from the pill to this was because of loss of interest in sex which definitely didn't get any better with the mirena in fact i think that it got worse cause i also was very dry all the time which i never had a problem with before. i was also very bloated in my waist all the time which i where i gain my weight which was 5 pounds and it says that you shouldn't gain weight. i'm sure mirena is great for some women but it surely wasn't for me. thanks for all of you other women who posted your symptoms!! i wish i would have found this b4 having it put in.

WOW. I am sitting here in tears after reading some of these posts. This is why: I decided to look up the side effects of Mirena because last week I started getting cramps so painful that I was throwing up. I couldn't even walk one night because I was in so much pain. I had Mirena placed almost one year ago- last St. Patrick's Day. I have not had my period since I got pregnant with my son, who was 2 months old at the time of insertion. At that point, I assumed it was normal to not have gotten a period, since I was breastfeeding exclusively. However, my son is almost 14 months old now, and I have yet to have a period. A little less than a month ago I experienced severe cramping much like what i have now, and I actually did start to bleed, but it lasted only a few hours. I have taken several pregnancy tests, just to be sure... all of them negative. Aside from the cramping that may or may not be premenstrual, this is what I have experienced since last St. Patrick's Day:

- Severe Depression (I was hospitalized for 4 days in a psychiatric ward because of suicidal thoughts and self injuring) I am now on a high dose of antidepressants

-- Anxiety Disorder (I have been prescribed Ativan for my anxiety attacks and must see a Psychiatrist regularly)

-- weight gain

-- Migraines (I was prescribed Immitrex, which brought on a whole slew of its own side effects)

-- Extreme fatigue

-- Loss of energy

-- Loss of interest

-- Insomnia (I am supposed to take the Ativan to help me sleep, as well. Ativan is, by the way, potentially addictive)

-- Abnormal bruising

-- Night Sweats

I have been to the doctor regarding each of these symptoms. Several tests have been run, everything comes back normal. The physical effects, they have decided, must be a side effect of my antidepressants. So now I am sitting here, wondering if I ever would have suffered from depression, if it not had been for this Mirena. I cannot even begin to describe for you what kind of hell this "postpartum depression" has put my family through. I have a husband and two sons that have been affected as much as I have.....

I don't know if Mirena is to blame or not, but after reading through this site, I am not waiting for some kind of proof. I just made an appt to have it removed, and even if the depression and anxiety are not to blame, hopefully my insane cramping will disappear! I WILL be back to post how my symptoms have or have not chnaged, once it is removed.

I was on birth control in high school for about two years because of problems with my period. Right before my senior year I asked my mom if I could stop taking it because it made me gain weight. Since then it's been about a year since I've taken birth control and I starting taking Loestrin 24. I instantly gained about ten pounds and my mild acne got worse!!!! My boyfriend noticed mood swings I would have randomly and the change in my sex drive. I try to fight my unexpected sadness and loss of interest in other things but I can't. I just get very sad and depressed for no reason and I snap at everyone! I want to stop taking birth control but at the same time a family is not in my plans. UGHH is there a birth control out there that works without so many side effects????

Almost forgot here is the truth :
The side effects are : ******

SERIOUS side effect such as:
• severe cramps or pelvic pain;
• extreme dizziness, feeling like you might pass out;
• heavy or ongoing vaginal bleeding, vaginal sores, vaginal discharge that is watery, foul-smelling discharge, or otherwise unusual;
• severe pain in your side or lower stomach;
• pale skin, weakness, easy bruising or bleeding;
• fever, chills, or other signs of infection;
• pain during sexual intercourse;
• sudden numbness or weakness, especially on one side of the body;
• sudden or severe headache, confusion, problems with vision, sensitivity to light;
• jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); or
• signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

LESS SERIOUS side effects may include:
• irregular menstrual periods, changes in bleeding patterns or flow;
• breakthrough bleeding, or heavier menstrual bleeding during the first few weeks after device insertion;
• back pain;
• headache, nervousness, mild dizziness;
• nausea, vomiting, bloating;
• breast tenderness or pain;
• weight gain, acne, changes in hair growth;
• mood changes, loss of interest in sex;
• mild itching, skin rash; or
• puffiness in your face, hands, ankles, or feet.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur.

Drug Interactions

http://www.drugs.com/ppa/levonorgestrel.html

Laboratory Test Interactions
Endocrine tests may be affected. Sex hormone-binding globulin concentrations may be decreased; thyroxine concentrations may be slightly decreased and triiodothyronine uptake may be increased.
Adverse Reactions
Cardiovascular
Syncope, bradycardia, hypertension (intrauterine system).
CNS
Headache; nervousness; dizziness; decreased libido (intrauterine system).
Dermatologic
Dermatitis; acne; hirsutism; hypertrichosis; scalp hair loss; pain, itching, or infection near implant site.
GI
Nausea; change in appetite; abdominal discomfort.
Genitourinary
Prolonged, irregular, frequent, or scanty bleeding; spotting; amenorrhea; cervicitis; leukorrhea; vaginitis.
Metabolic
Weight gain.
Respiratory
Upper respiratory tract infection, sinusitis (intrauterine system).
Miscellaneous
Adnexal enlargement; mastalgia; breast discharge; implant removal difficulty; musculoskeletal pain.
Bleeding irregularities
Most women can expect variation in menstrual bleeding patterns.
Delayed follicular atresia
Follicle may grow beyond usual size and may resemble ovarian cyst.
Ectopic pregnancies
Have occurred, although relationship to drug is not established.
Intrauterine pregnancy
Risk of septic abortion, miscarriage, sepsis, premature labor, and premature delivery may be increased with the intrauterine system.
Ocular lesions
Retinal thrombosis has occurred with oral contraceptives; consider possibility in levonorgestrel users.
Perforation
Perforation of the uterus and cervix by the intrauterine system may occur.
Thromboembolic disorders
Remove capsules if thrombophlebitis or thromboembolic disease occurs. Consider removal in patients immobilized for prolonged periods.
Valvular/Congenital heart disease
Patients with certain types of valvular or congenital heart disease and surgically constructed systemic-pulmonary shunts are at increased risk of infective endocarditis, and use of the intrauterine system may represent a potential source of septic emboli.

YEP ! It's in there !

Wow! I can't believe how many of us suffers from the pill from hell, Yasmin. I stopped taking it September 17 after 5 years and I'm worried as hell as to what's going to happen to my body now. But first things first. I seem to have gotten pretty much every side effect in the book.

About a month after starting it I got gastroparesis- paralyzed stomach- and I also became lactose-intolerant after 30 years of drinking a lot of milk. Go figure! I get a huge bloated belly as soon as I drink a little water even now. I have gained about 6 lbs that I can't shake no matter how much I work out and that has never been a problem before.

I had migraines from hell and headaches nearly every day the last few years.

I got panic attacks and was very nervous, had anxiety and it felt like an elephant was sitting on my chest. And that is SO NOT me or anybody in my family. And I know it was the pill cuz I had no reason to feel that way.

I had blurry vision at times. Fainted once in the mall for no apparent reason, I had never fainted before in my life.

I had no interest in my own life or in doing anything whether that was working, going to school, exercising, going out with friends, traveling, whatever it was I was not interested. Again, so not me. I could have died and I wouldn't have cared. I could have gotten a Ferrari and I wouldn't have cared.

I could sleep 10 hours a night, take 1-2 hour naps in the afternoon and go to sleep again at 10 pm, no problem. And the nightmares! Holy crap. Awful dreams about plane crashes, robberies and murderers EVERY night. Thankfully they seem to have disappeared now.

I have high cholesterol, through the roof actually! -no family history there either- and blood pressure is a little high but not too bad. My thyroid was a little elevated last time and the doctor thought it was due to Yasmin.

I snap at everybody and think that I don't love my husband when I actually do love him a lot. He has put up with me being so unbelievably bitchy for 5 year. Bless his soul!

Since I started Yasmin we have had sex about 1-3 times a year. I'm NOT kidding. I haven't wanted anything to do with sex.

I have heart palpitations at times. Shortness of breath just walking up the stairs in my house.

Dry skin no matter what cream I use. Major hair loss.

I went off Yasmin once before and didn't get my period back for over 6 months so I just started taking it again like an idiot cuz I wasn't planning to have kids then anyway.

I was never happy, never sad. Mostly mad or irritated, no problems there.

What else? How many hours do you girls have to read my post? ;-)

To sum it up. Yasmin has destroyed my life for the past 5 years but I was to blind and scared to get pregnant before that I just didn't care. And not caring about my own health was surely caused by that rotten pill too.

What can I expect now that I'm off the pill since 2 weeks? How long before the hormones are gone from my body? What can I expect and when does it get better? Can I go to the ob/gyn after 2-3 months if I don't get my period and have them give me something to start it? Or would that be bad? What about the weight, should it go up or down? Acne? Hair loss? What else? Have you had any medical problems that you needed medicines for due to Yasmin? How long has it taken you to get your period back? And most importantly; can this pill make me infertile???

If there is a class action lawsuit I want to be in it!

didn't have Mirena, but another kind of IUC or IUD whatever you want to call it. I sure hope young women know they could die. Sorry to see these things back on the market. At age 21 I had complications, the device embedded in my uterus and became infected. No one wanted to admit it was the iud. The infection turned into acute peritonitis which is usually fatal. I did live, but had to have a complete hysterectomy. A bit extreme for a 21 year old. Spent 3 months in agony in the hospital. Took 2 years to recover. I had all the side effects associated with premature menopause - premature wrinkling, loss of interest in sex, not to mention no more kids for me.
I later did some research to find out that stones were inserted into camels to prevent pregnancy during long trips. The camels died screaming in agony in the desert from the stones. It works about the same on women.

WOW, I am so happy to find this site. I am a 56 yr old female. I too am on Toprol. I was on 75 mg 2 x's a day for HPB and mitral valve prolapse pain. Then yesterday the Dr. increased my dose to 100 mg 2x's a day .Today my ankles and feet blew up like balloons. I have been having profuse sweating and was cold and clammy for the past year and no Dr could tell me why!! NO sex drive , depression,sleep apnea, severe insomnia, brain fog, short term memory issues, moody, irritable, my husband has threatened to leave me. NO appetite!! Floaters in my eyes started a few months ago, I have so many symptoms that I have read in all your posts. No quality of life for the past year. I have felt like I was losing my mind, gained 35 lbs in past 2 years without changing my eating habits. I gained the weight after I had lost 50 lbs. Been on Toprol about 2 1/2 years ( I think ) Every symptom I have experienced I have read in your posts!! I have type 2 diabetes and am on glucophage, I also take 10 other scripts. I have fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue, RSD in my left arm, muscle pain and joint pain. Pain in my right upper qaudrant. Nausea/ some vomiting, NO ENERGY, Loss of interest in most of life. So now after reading all your posts I have to ask myself, are all my symptoms linked to the Toprol and not syndromes or illnesses? I am calling my doctor in the morning and getting off this med!! They will just have to put me on something else!!!
So how do I post to receive replies?
Joyce47oh

I am a 37 year old female ~185lbs already under treatment for clinical depression with two medications. I used to take Alavert (loratidine) for seasonal allergies but found it had "stopped working" well for me. Since Zyrtec (certirizine) went over-the-counter, I decided to try it.

I took it sporadically at 10mg daily for a period of 2-3 weeks, and then, during a particularly bad allergic exacerbation, began to take it consistently at 10mg daily. My depression, which was previous well-controlled on medication, worsened to the point of severity. Extreme despair, emotional detachment, and loss of interest in pleasurable activities--well, in ANY activity beyond sleep.

I am a pharmacist, and on a whim, I decided to do some research into interactions with my other medications, and found several anecdotal reports of depression onset and worsening in Zyrtec users. This particular side effect of Zyrtec was unknown to me, nor have I received any educational materials or reports in my trade literature listing depression as a possible adverse effect.

I have discontinued the medication in both myself and my three year old daughter (5mg daily). I can already see a difference in her disposition, and I am starting to crawl out of my pit of gloom. I'm using Alavert again, as I never had one issue with it, and I'm supplementing with Benadryl (diphenhydramine) at night as needed for exacerbations.

My ten-year old son began taking Singulair two years ago to control infrequent, light to moderate asthma. I would say it is in the past year that noticeable, and extreme changes occurred in his health and personality. The list of negative changes is a long one. His physical symptoms have included:
frequent, unexplainable bouts of stomach cramping and diarrhea
Painful light sensitivity, listlessness, tiredness, inability to fall asleep, inability to wake up.

The mental/mood changes have been the most devastating. They include:

Withdrawal from friends and family.
Isolating behavior.
Unprovoked anger.
Dislike of being touched
Spaceyness/disorganization/forgetfulness
Depression
Lack of interest in school
Inability to wake in the morning (on weekends sleeping till one pm.)
Loss of interest in hobbies
Aggression
Mood swings (from placid to intense rage)
Talk of wanting to be abandoned
Loss of self-esteem
No joy ever

My son was once considered one of the smartest boys at school. He is a member of the Johns Hopkins Talented Youth program. He performed several levels above his grades in math. Last year all this extraordinary promise began to slip away. This is documented at his school. Recently a math test was given and he scored in the lower third. This may sound like no big deal, “so what if a kid performs below expectations,” but this was my child’s identity slipping away. What once came to him so easily was mysteriously vanishing. It felt like his brain had stopped developing. He no longer wanted to read, (once a favorite activity.) He began to lose interest in music, (once a passionate pursuit). I could go on and on about how his personality changed. About how his friends fell away. He once was a popular, fun-loving kid. What is the most upsetting and inexplicable was his constant sadness and dissatisfaction with life. He frequently said, “I have nothing good in my life.” And, “Why don’t you drop me off somewhere so I can live by myself on the street.” I couldn’t make any sense of comments like these. We had a happy family. Our house used to be full of laughter and fun activities. We have another son, two years younger, who would cry at the changes he was seeing in his brother who no longer wanted to go outside to play, or was even willing to talk to him. They were once best friends. If my younger son tried to make a joke he would be attacked physically. I could find no explanation and so told myself it must be adolescence come early. Friends of mine asked me if my son was sick and they told me they privately worried about his obvious depression. Nothing made sense.

The most devastating episode that happened was finding under his bed some writings where he talked about how the world was a miserable place with no chance of getting better. The only solution would be for him to die and fly away. This is coming from my sweet ten year old son, who once had such a love of life and learning. How could a boy this young be thinking of suicide? It seemed incomprehensible to me. It broke my heart. The next day (12 days ago) I saw on the evening news the report about Singulair being linked to suicidal thoughts. I WAS STUNNED. It all began to make sense. I pulled him off the drug that night and the change was immediate. For the first time in years he fell asleep before midnight. I have heard his beautiful laugh for the first time in months. He wants to go outside and throw the football with his brother. There have been many breakthroughs since he stopped the drug a week ago. I just hope they continue and my once learning-hungry, loving little boy returns to me.

Hello,

I read about how YAZ birth control pill affects the body and psych and I am now scared. This is my 2nd day of YAZ (I've never been on birth control pills ever and I am 27 years old), it's all new to me but after reading all these negative posts about Yaz I don't know what to do. Before the birth control pills, I was depressed, annoying, serious weight problems - 210 lbs :~~((, low energy, low libido, always tired, terrible migraines every 2nd day, ridiculously increased appetite and excessive hunger, hair where it shouldn't be, menstrual blood clots, excessive cramping etc
I have all these problems for 3 years now and now that the family doc. put me on YAZ birth control pill I am even more scared - mainly of more weight gain, it would be a tragedy for me, I am fat enough already and what's worse I can't lose the weight, exercise doesn't help, diet doesn't help, NOTHING. Will YAZ birth control pill worsen my already tragic condition? I just don't know what to do and what to believe ... I appreciate any advice or help you can give me ... Thank You to all!

I havnt written on the forum in so long its really painful somedays to read of all the women sufferring so its very difficult for me to even talk about it most days

I have been off Yaz for 4 months today
I have had nearly every symptom mentioned

Thyroid elevated
Blood Pressure raised
Heart palps
Muscle weakness
Terrible horrible anxiety
Depressed thoughts
Not feeling like myself
No confidence anymore
Feeling of never getting well
Vaginal infection
Loss of interest in doing everything I love
Right eye feels odd the lid
Insomnia severe
Loss of appetite

As I sit here typing I miss the old me it is like the last 4 months have been a blur a rollercoaster unimaginable nightmare

Prior to starting Yaz I was having a great life nice boyfriend fun shopping going out planning trips cleaning gardening working you name it I did it and never ever experience saddness depression or anxiety
I was completely confident holistic easy going even tempered

I was on the pill 3 weeks 2 days off of it and I was hysterical and thought I was losing my mind and going crazy I cried and didnt leave the house for 6 weeks cried and had my family witness me almost losing my mind or so I thought

Although I have made progress I still am not working
I cant be a mom like I was to my daughter
I dont have confidence
I lost 14 lbs
I feel shakey in my arms still and have no clue if it is anxiety stress hormonal or if I have some unexplained illness
I dont know

Living in fear everyday of not being me again is tearing me apart

I had the hormone pellets biodentical inserted 3 weeks ago to try and give me a edge on balancing out I have seen psychologists psychaitrists medical doctors wellness doctors hormonal doctors

No one knows no one understands no one knows whats wrong

Iam forgetting things things I know I know its all scary

I hold hope that Bitter RN is better and a few of you

I want to be me again

What is it we are feeling off the pill months later like m

Is it hormonal is it Post Traumatic Stress is it the anxiety is it depression is it medical problems I dont know
All Iknow is I was healthy and fine and now all this

Anyone who can shed light and hope please say

I have been reading about this now for three hours, and it has made me feel both better and worse. I have been on antidepressants for over 10 years; I think I have been on Effexor for around 4 or 5. It has all but banished my panic attacks; I haven't had one in months now, and those that I have had over the past few years have been endurable to say the least. What worries me is the changes in my personality that have taken place over the past decade. I have been thinking that what I have been experiencing is my depression getting worse and that I have been spiraling down into severe mental illness. It's frightening to say out loud that you think you are going crazy, and so I have managed to keep a tenuous hold on reality and ever onward I go. I mentioned my symptoms to my doctor almost 2 years ago, and her response was to increase my dosage to 112.5 a day. This only served to confirm my belief that my mental health was indeed declining. After reading these posts I want to weep with joy that I am not crazy, it is this magic pill that I take every day. I too have avoided going off Effexor because of the side effects; it seems that it would be easier to withdraw from a serious heroin jones with less suffering. My side effects while being on the medication have been: loss of interest in everything in life that ever interested me, weight gain with loss of appetite (go figure), loss of sex drive and almost an aversion to sex or intimacy, fatigue, confusion, and an emotional withdrawal from those around me. The few times I have tried to go off Effexor (or missed a few days due to forgetfulness or lack of interest in going to the pharmacy to pick them up), my symptoms have been: that weird feeling of your brain having to catch up to your eyes, that feeling of being shocked or zapped, a descent into depression equaling the speed of an Olympic bobsled run, a feeling of hopelessness, headache, cotton mouth, diarrhea, mood swings so severe and radical that I frighten myself, irritability to the point of wanting to chew off my own fingers, tears over everything and anything, and restlessness. Reading over this, I'm thinking that being depressed was not so bad after all. It's kind of sick to wish for simple depression; it reinforces my belief that this medication is bad. I see that in another post someone is asking if there is any rumble of a class-action lawsuit; I would also be interested in this information. Thank you for sharing what this medication has done to all of you, and I hope that my post helps someone else with similar experiences.

My son is on concerta and has done much better ifocusing in school. I do see mood swings when the concerta wears off and he has been running his fingers through his hair and just told me he is pulling at the hair. Has anyone else experienced the hair issue with this?

26year old married female receiveing lupron injections once a month to treat endometriosis. I am due for my third shot next week.

The side effects in the first month were minimal with the exception of my taste buds. I cannot stand to eat anything that looks like, tastes like, or smells like chicken or beef. I am only eating cheese and bread. I can deal with hot flashes.

Second month - UNBELIEVABLE SIDE EFFECTS!!!

*New found love for chocolate (I never liked it before).
*Still screwed up taste buds. I am SOOO hungry all the time.
*Severe constipation, which has led to rectal bleeding.
*Once a day hot flashes have turned into an hourly thing.
*I get up in the morning drenched with sweat - yet freezing cold.
*SEVERE DEPRESSION!!! I am normally a very friendly person. Now I hate everyone and everything.
*Crying all the time.
*Attempted suicide for no apparrent reason 3 days after 2nd shot.
*Loss of interest in things I once enjoyed.
*Insomnia. I can't sleep, yet I have no energy.
*Very moody.
*Muscular and joint pain.
*Memory loss.
*My equilibrium is off. Constantly walking into walls and such.
*Paranoid and scared all the time.
*Weight gain.
*Blurred/double vision.
*Headaches.

I want the endometriosis to go away and I want to be able to get pregnant (been trying for 6 years). But I don't know if I can deal with these side effects anymore!!