Major depression symptoms and conditions

I have to say I am SHOCKED over this site but had to read every bit of it. I am a TRUE believer in the Mirena and until I came across this site while searching for sites to send a friend to encourage the Mirena I never knew how many horrible things could happen for someone on the Mirena. HOWEVER, I guess this is proof when with any type of birth control including Mirena it is said it's not for everyone. I happen to LOVE mine. I'm actually on my 2nd insertion. My first one went very well, after a crampy insertion and 2 days of horrible cramps controlled by ibuprofin I was left to enjoy 5 years of birth control w/out problems. I can't take the pill as no matter the dose I spend the 1st to weeks nauseated and vomiting in the morning, I tried the Depo Shot (personally that is the EVIL OF ALL EVIL birth control methods, gained 68 pounds in 11mnts never going over 105 pounds except for pregnancy in my life, have battled to control my weight since therefore I believe it destroyed my metabolism forever, major depression to the point of medication and medical leave from work & the world). And after an accident pregnancy no way was condoms going to be enough for me. My Dr. recommended Mirena and I gave it a try. I was not lucky enough to go period free my first insertion I did have a max of 3 days of period with little or no cramping. My second not as good, I now have about 5 days of spotting only if sex promotes it and occasionally after using the bathroom a little blood on the toilet paper, never needing to actually use any feminine products. I use to get ovarian cysts all the time, small enough surgery was only needed once but I knew when one was there and I knew one they "popped" as my doctor would call it. I haven't had that problem since I started with Mirena, I'm told its due to the small amount of hormones (hence the reason my Dr suggested Mirena versus a non hormone IUD). My sex drive has not been affected one bit...in fact like one of the positive posts I just read...my husband and I have discussed more then once prior to coming across this site how much more of a sex drive I do have, although we contributed it to not being pulled down in the dark world of depression from the Depo shot...and the freedom of placed once & forget for 5 years type birth control. I have 8 friends and coworkers that have the Mirena...One person had a problem, hers "fell out" in the toilet and she had been cramping and in abdominal pain for a few days prior not connecting it to her Mirena...but after 2 months of other methods she had another one placed and has had no problem since...that was 2 years ago. It stinks to hear how horrible this "wonder bc method" is for others...(are you seeing how terrible the other methods were for me first for me to feel this is the wonder of all wonders) and of course I'm concerned with the fact that most of you that had a problem had SEVERE problems..not just a small one here or there. But I'm going to bet that on the flip side the methods that caused me hell might work for one of you. I have 2 more years left on this 2nd cycle...I pray I never have the problems you do if I chose a 3rd insertion...however, with science today we can only hope your complaints are taken seriously and the makers of Mirena continue to improve so that less and less people run into these side effects. I'm not sure I would have another option...SCARY!

this is the first week on the avaine, and the first day i had HORRIBLE cramps( which was the reason my doctor is trying me on b/c so i wont have to deal with the strong cramps and pain i USUALLY get with my periods), and it felt like my insides where moving around the second day i cried all day when i had nothing to be sad about, i found myself having MAJOR depression for three days in a row, my nipples are very sensitive now and i find myself really dry inside, and it burns sometimes when i go to the washroom, im not sexually active so i know i don't have any infections, but im kind of worried about the side effects ive had so far on avaine...should i switch to a different pill?

I had my Mirena removed two days ago and already feel a little more energy. I had it fitted in August 2006 and had major life changes about the same time. I moved to a new area and had a new job and my best friends moved 7 hours away from me...so when I started losing clumps of my hair, felt stressed out, tired all the time and depressed, I didn't think it was due to Mirena. I went to see a doctor and they told me it might be a thyroid problem so I had tests done and everything was fine. He said people lose their hair due to stress so I tried not to stress and all of my hair eventually grew back. I still felt tired all the time and would get angry easily and would have major depression episodes. I would stop talking to friends and family because I was this different person I didn't know how to tell them about. I was in college and my grades suffered because I would get so depressed I would get suicidal. I stopped taking a full load because I felt I wasn't mentally capable. I have always been very smart in school so for me to get bad grades made me feel even more depressed. I have had no drive to get out and do things that make me happy. I have had no sex drive. My boyfriend has been with me since a little before I had the Mirena inserted. I feel like he doesn't even know the real me. I feel so stupid for not adding this all up earlier and wasting 3 years of my life depressed. I told my doctor about all the symptoms before I had it removed and she said things in my life were most likely the reason not Mirena. I look at these posts and know she is wrong because people I know and family have seen me change for the worse and it has all been since I have had the Mirena. I was a person that would work all the time, take a full load of classes, go out with friends and family and enjoy life. Now I am a person that doesn't work, is taking 2 easy classes, most days stays in the room all day in bed on my computer and sleeps. This is ridiculous. I already want to leave the house. I am sure I am not back to normal already but I can see a spark there that wasn't there before. I am staying off birth control. I want my hormones to even out a little while before I even think of it again. Naturally we are supposed to have kids so when we take something to alter that we should be prepared for side effects. I would suggest getting this taken out because even if you think you may have no effects from it...later on you may realize you did. I will update with another post in a couple months to let you all know if my life has changed for the better. Good luck to you all.

Wow!!! I can't believe it! I just found this site. I've actually been on Advair 500/50 for years now, about 7 years at least. Just as a bit of a background, I'm 24 years old, used to be extremely active, played water polo, was on the swim team, and was just overall very active in high school. I've had severe chronic asthma since I was 8 years old, so in order to help me stabilize my asthma, my critical care pulmonologist put me on Advair. It was a "miracle drug"! However, while my asthma was under control, I was experiencing all these other symptoms that everyone else has been talking about.
Anyway, to make things worse, I just talked to my (new) doctor and she told me that the Advair makes it so that some organ (I'm sorry, I don't remember the name) actually stops producing prednisone (or the same stuff that your body naturally produces itself to keep your lungs working correctly) if on it for long enough. It makes sense because for the first few years it was prescribed to me, I really only filled the prescription as I was getting sick as a backup, but other then that I was generally under control. For the last I'd say about a year, I've been consistent and used it regularly as the doctor actually prescribed, every day, twice a day, whether I was sick or not. Now, I can't go even a week without it, otherwise I'm in the hospital.
During the last year or so that I've been consistent with taking the medication, I've had major depression, gained 45 lbs, fatigue, anxiety, dizziness, nausea, heart palpitations, heartburn, leg pains, sore throat, sinus infections (we just finally decided I was just allergic to our animals and I've been on decongestants for pretty much the whole year, doing sinus flushes, etc and I'm still all stuffy!), unexplained bruising, crazy mood swings, muscle pains, headaches, heartburn, etc. I thought I was just completely crazy, I kept believing it was all in my head!!!
I'm going to my doctor today and asking her to prescribe me something else. The funny thing was, I was just on my way to the hospital b/c my doctor's been treating me for the last 3 weeks for vertigo accompanied by the heart palpitations and the nausea, she finally is giving up and is sending me to the emergency room. I figured before I went that route, I'd look into it myself. Go figure!

I had a injection of Kenalog on11/25/2008 since then I bleed for 19 days straight, I notice a white spot and a small indentation with a red spot at the injection site. My doctor refused to listen to my cry for medical needs and even told me his materials to pre form a procedure was expired. I became upset with this and started investigating my drug interaction to learn I had an allergic reaction. I went to him and demanded a MRI. IT was then I learned I had muscle atrophy from a injection of some nature my doctor would get the results and go over them with me. When i asked and basically told him I figured out what happened he became very angry with and such issue and told me I had a mental issue that was incurable and proceeded to call the law on me. I promise since the I have a very large indentation in my right elbow very little muscle left very sensitive very limited use and suffering from major depression over how horrible it looks. And it now is starting to spread to my lower fore arm as well, what can we do. I filed a complaint through the FDA AGAINST THE DOCTOR... ALSO a lawyer here in thr grand rapids area, and my contact the news station to help find answers to WHY SO MANY ARE BEING PHYSICALLY HARMED BY A DOCTOR WE TRUSTED. AND NO REASONS OR EVEN A I'M SORRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi all
I had my second mirena coil fitted 2 months ago. My first one that I had for 5 years I thought agreed with me - however now I am having second thoughts. My reasons for looking on this website were that I seem to have become very low, tired and have bouts of being very snappy and intolerant. A few of my friends have noticed the change in me. No idea where the placid happy go lucky J. has gone? My appetite has grown as have i a few pounds. I have also started become over anxious about things! If there were reasons for this I wouldn't be concerned but life is great at the moment!

I don't have any of the other side effects I have read about on this site, however over the years I get bouts of sore tonsils and a horrible metallic taste, at same time feel very drained. Had every test under the sun plus allergy tests all to no avail - Has this occurred with anyone else?

J.

Thanks everyone here for your comments. I experienced severe insomnia, restlessness, and anxiety while taking Flomax. Also, stuffy nose, swollen throat, and shortness of breath. Since insomnia, restlessness, and anxiety are not widely reported side-effects of Flomax, at first I didn't think that was the cause. Instead I thought I was having a relapse of the major depression that I recovered from 10 years ago, which began with similar symptoms. That scared me! Then I talked to my doctor, and he told me to STOP taking Flomax. I did, and within 24 hours, the insomnia and restlessness are gone. I don't know what our next treatment option is going to be, but it sure won't be Flomax. Flomax had me flummoxed!

I have been on both Yasmin and the generic version for years and LOVE it! I had been on several different types of Ortho and had horrible acne and migraines so finding Yasmin was like a gift from heaven - no migraines, my skin was back to normal and my period was so light I bought tampons about once every three months.

I have had a lot going on in the last year and kept forgetting to take my pill each day so I decided to try the NuvaRing and the results have not been positive for me. I am calling my doctor today and asking her to switch me back.

For those of you who have switched from one pill to another, just remember that it can take three months for skin issues to clear up. When I switched to Yasmin from one of the Ortho pills, I initially had worse acne on the second month after changing but by the end of the third month everything had sorted itself out hormone-wise and my skin cleared up. Thank goodness my doctor and dermatologist forewarned me or I might not have stuck with it.

I had Mirena inserted in 2007 due to a lack of tolerance to birth control pills. The experience was very painful for me. However, the doctor explained that the initial insertion process is different for every woman as we are not all designed the same. My cervix/uterus is oddly positioned. According to the doctor they are "crooked". As a result, the doctor had a difficult time properly inserting the mirena, which in turn resulted in major pain! But, this was just my personal experience. Not every woman will encounter this difficulty. However, I would recommend taking at least 2 ibuprofen before the procedure. Throughout the past 2 years, I have experienced a range of symptoms. Major depression, severe mood swings, acne, lack of energy, excruciating lower back pain which mocked mild labor pains, and the overall inability to function normally. I begged the Doctor to remove the Mirena 6 months ago, but she convinced me otherwise considering I cannot tolerate birth control pills either. Nevertheless, I am 35 years old, have one child already, and do not plan on having more. Well, last week, I was basically confined to my bed due to excruciating lower back pain, and severe bleeding. I called the Doctor, and they finally saw me today. I insisted on having the Mirena removed once and for all, and already feel 100% better just 12 hours later! The purpose of my message is not to discourage anyone, as we all have different levels of tolerance when it comes to pain, medications, etc.....Yet, I felt compelled to share my personal experience as it was not a positive one for me! The only "positive" symptom I obtained from the Mirena was a lack of periods. Unfortunately, there was a downfall to that as well. Due to a lack of a regular menstrual cycle, I felt extremely bloated, and had difficulty losing weight despite working out 5 days a week, and eating a proper diet. I sympathize with each and every one of you, and appreciate your efforts in sharing your experiences. Upon stumbling upon this website a few days ago, I finally found the courage to have this thing removed so I can once again "feel normal!" Good luck to all of you!

I just recently began taking Paxil for major depression because I am still nursing my options are limited. My symptoms aren't too bad. I have hot flashes all the time, and I'm sooo tired. It's hard to get anything done because I have NO energy at all. 5 yrs ago I took Lexapro for anxiety (I had extreme anxiety!!!!) and it worked great w/o any side effects. I would recommend it to anyone. Unfortunately nursing moms can't take it. I'm not so sure I want to continue w/Paxil. I've heard so many bad reviews about it.

I wrote about a year ago. My 17 year old daughter was suicidal and horribly depressed during the year she was on Singular. Her asthma doctor had seen this is girls her age and took her off it immediately. Turns out it was not even helping the asthma as she improved on only Asthmanex.
She got better after being off Singluar 2 weeks but was never the happy, outgoing girl she had been before she started. She is now suffering again form an episode of major depression.

Are the effects of this drug permanent? She got so much better after she stopped it, it was like I had her back, almost. She never made ti back the whole way.
I filed a post-marketing MedWatch adverse drug report form one year ago. It is the only way we can prove what is going on. I used to be a certified clinical research co-oridinator. The FDA can't know unless we tell them. Please let them know what a dangerous drug this can be.

I have been taking zoloft for 14 years for panic disorder with mild depression. various doses, but now im at 200 mg, and have been at that dose for a long time. it was like a lifesaver from my previous med, imipramine. i did have really vivid dreams, weird ones, for a long time, but not so much anymore. i think that the long term effect of taking it has taken a toll on my mental clarity/concentration, though. I feel like i can't concentrate on anything or complete a thought anymore. even typing this i feel like i'm getting lost. like i'm constantly in a fog. or it could be that i have 5 month old twins, lol, i guess. but really, its never been this bad.
i too feel like i have had some loss of emotion, not feeling sad when its completely appropriate to. and i've also had way too much emotion at the wrong times, flying off the handle at people and such. the worst thing is my dr. would ask me "what makes you happy, what do you do for fun?" and i would just stare at him with a blank look cause i had no idea what that felt like anymore. or maybe i couldn't think enough to answer him. physically i think zoloft makes me twitch - eye twitches, nose twitches, throat clearing. and i can't have an orgasm to save my life :(
recently i've been having some breakthrough anxiety and my dr. wants to add wellbutrin to the zoloft. if anyone has experience with this please send me a message. i'm kind of scared to do it.

I am noticing hair loss. I was on 150mg of XL for a year and then I was on 300mg for 6 months to deal with situational depression that my 150mg dose was not enough for. I lost more weight (because I had no appetite at all) but then slowly got used to the new dose. I have been confused sometimes and fuzzy brained. Often someone can say something to me and I don't even hear them. I have significant memory loss and trouble focusing on 2 things at once. If a radio or TV is on, I can't carry a conversation... even if i am looking directly at the person I am talking to. I have reduced back to 150mg but I am still having these side effects. I just thought I was getting loopy from having been on so many different drugs continually for 6 years. I do love having energy with Welbutrin and losing all excess weight I had but I can't stand losing my hair.

i took lupron only once and stopped because of all the side effects. immediate side effects were back pain, MAJOR DEPRESSION and mood swings, blurry vision with extra sleep in the eyes.

i have endo and had a laporoscopy for it but still had pain so doc said to use lupron. it is the worst drug i have had to take with the most side effects. I ONLY HAD ONE SHOT and i STILL HAVE BACK PAIN 6 months later!!!!! i am a drummer and now cannot play the drums. i have tried acupuncture but did not work for me just made pain worse. i also have gotten more acne, blurry vision, stomach issues. my life is not the same and now i have the side effects from LUPRON AND ENDO.

I went to docs for the back pain told them i took lupron they cannot find anything wrong. i went to a rhumatologist also. i am supposed to get a bone scan to see if they can find anything but they are doubtful. the only thing that helps with the side effects are back rubs, heating pads, tiger balm, taking walks, breaks from the computer and an occasional puff from mary jane seems to be the only things that help.

DO NOT TAKE LUPRON THIS DRUG IS BAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have been taking 300mg of Wellbutrin XL since 2005. The doctor prescribed it to me due to major depression. Ever since then my hair is thinning, I used to have really thick hair and now its very thin. I have severe ringing of the ears, if I am in a quiet room I can't concentrate. The worst of it all is that I have extreme paranoia. I constantly worry about EVERYTHING! I have to sleep with the lights on and have to have the TV on at night as well. Sometimes I hear things or see things that aren't there. I can not sleep on this medicine what so ever, so they put me on another medicine to help me sleep. I am going to tell my doctor I want off of it now! I can't stand it! I get so worked up over it I feel like I am going to have a heart attack. I also shake like crazy when I get scared. When I go to get my nails done my hands tremble and they ask me to relax when I can't.

Ahhh, Loestrin 24 E....where do I begin?? Well, first off I have to say that I started taking this
with a completely open mind. I didn't read the box for side effects and I didn't search the web
to read all the blogs. I just started taking the pills on the first day of my period as instructed.
I knew from taking birth control previously in my life that I am putting hormones in my body and that
my body might react to them but, I didn't think that much about it. I started feeling 'funny' about
the 2nd day into the pill but, I just thought that it was the extra hormones that were in my body that
had not been put there for YEARS!!! About the 4th day on the pill my husband really started to
notice a change in me. I was moody. I would go from happy to sad in a second flat. He told me that
I was doing it and I just got mad at him for saying it. Then I would be mad for being mad. I could
not get happy-these feelings didn't end. I had a HARD time getting over ANYTHING!!! I also had a
major sex drive before I started the pill, then it dropped. It was so weird. I went from wanting and
having sex up to 3 times a day to not wanting my husband to put his hands on me at all. It was not
good for us. About day 8 or so I still was not admitting that the pills were making me not me. By
this time I was in a MAJOR depression. Nothing made me happy, my husband would try and try to get
me anything and everything to make me happy and nothing would work. I hate to admit this but, I
didn't even want to see my son. And he and my husband our both my life!!! I live for them and love
them more than anything and want nothing more to spend all the time in the world with them so when
I started feeling like I didn't want either one of them around and that if I died or killed myself
that no one would notice I knew that there was a problem. I hurt my body was in constant pain.
It didn't matter what way I would sit or how much I would stretch I still hurt. I would fall asleep
(well really pass out) at 8:30-I just was sooo tired. It was worse than being prego. I was bi-polar
like crazy!! I could not concentrate on anything. I had major anxiety!! My breasts were super tender
and blew up the week before my period. They hurt so bad. My back hurt like crazy. I have NEVER had
zits before but, since I have been on this my face has broken out a number of times and I have back acne!!
I HAVE NEVER HAD THAT!! I was so sad for no reason at all. I am not a person who cries and I would cry over
ANYTHING!! I got nausea BAD!! I have had headaches. I gained weight quick!!! The list could go on and on!!!
It was pretty hard to get it off. I didn't admit it to myself or my husband
until about day 11. I finally called the doctor and told her to get me off the pill. She has put
me on ocella and I started it 3 days ago. I was still bleeding until yesterday. I had a light period
but, it isn't work the crazy bit** that I was in the mean time. I am so happy to be off Loestrin 24 E
and would not give this pill to ANYONE. My sister-in-law had the same problems that I did. I am finally starting
to feel like myself again and I am loving it. Looking back on the way I acted it was like an out of
body experience. I hope this helps others!!!

I think that if you are having any question on if you should stop taking this drug then STOP taking it!! I am so glad that I did!!!!!!!!!!!

Ahhh, Loestrin 24 E....where do I begin?? Well, first off I have to say that I started taking this
with a completely open mind. I didn't read the box for side effects and I didn't search the web
to read all the blogs. I just started taking the pills on the first day of my period as instructed.
I knew from taking birth control previously in my life that I am putting hormones in my body and that
my body might react to them but, I didn't think that much about it. I started feeling 'funny' about
the 2nd day into the pill but, I just thought that it was the extra hormones that were in my body that
had not been put there for YEARS!!! About the 4th day on the pill my husband really started to
notice a change in me. I was moody. I would go from happy to sad in a second flat. He told me that
I was doing it and I just got mad at him for saying it. Then I would be mad for being mad. I could
not get happy-these feelings didn't end. I had a HARD time getting over ANYTHING!!! I also had a
major sex drive before I started the pill, then it dropped. It was so weird. I went from wanting and
having sex up to 3 times a day to not wanting my husband to put his hands on me at all. It was not
good for us. About day 8 or so I still was not admitting that the pills were making me not me. By
this time I was in a MAJOR depression. Nothing made me happy, my husband would try and try to get
me anything and everything to make me happy and nothing would work. I hate to admit this but, I
didn't even want to see my son. And he and my husband our both my life!!! I live for them and love
them more than anything and want nothing more to spend all the time in the world with them so when
I started feeling like I didn't want either one of them around and that if I died or killed myself
that no one would notice I knew that there was a problem. I hurt my body was in constant pain.
It didn't matter what way I would sit or how much I would stretch I still hurt. I would fall asleep
(well really pass out) at 8:30-I just was sooo tired. It was worse than being prego. I was bi-polar
like crazy!! I could not concentrate on anything. I had major anxiety!! My breasts were super tender
and blew up the week before my period. They hurt so bad. My back hurt like crazy. I have NEVER had
zits before but, since I have been on this my face has broken out a number of times and I have back acne!!
I HAVE NEVER HAD THAT!! I was so sad for no reason at all. I am not a person who cries and I would cry over
ANYTHING!! I got nausea BAD!! I have had headaches. I gained weight quick!!! The list could go on and on!!!
It was pretty hard to get it off. I didn't admit it to myself or my husband
until about day 11. I finally called the doctor and told her to get me off the pill. She has put
me on ocella and I started it 3 days ago. I was still bleeding until yesterday. I had a light period
but, it isn't work the crazy bit** that I was in the mean time. I am so happy to be off Loestrin 24 E
and would not give this pill to ANYONE. My sister-in-law had the same problems that I did. I am finally starting
to feel like myself again and I am loving it. Looking back on the way I acted it was like an out of
body experience. I hope this helps others!!!

Well I think that I have been the most dramatic person posting on this website.I have had the mirena since May 2007 and overall thought that it was the best thing in the world until I started putting two and two together. I have had bouts of major depression, hair loss with every combing, acne galore (Im 30 years old and have always been complimented on my clear skin), headaches,moodiness, been a recluse, no sex drive, when i did have sex it hurt my ex so bad that we just decided not to, and not to mention the weight.I work out twice a day on my bike, do weight lifting 5 days a week and do stomach exercises twice a day.All of this was done to my dismay because I have not loss a daggone pound. The straw that broke the camels back was when I went to see my doctor and he told me that I had to get a rx filled for bacterial vaginosis. (I don't have sex and haven't had sex in 6 months) so it couldn't have come from new or many sex partners(Im not that type of chick). He said that the hormone that the mirena delivers can make the normal bacteria in your body grow in excess. Well I just about lost it. I was so upset that I asked him to remove it. He told me that in order for them to do it I would have to wait until after the holidays. Well that wasn't good enough for me so I marched out of his office, drove home in a rage, and marched upstairs and snatched it out myself. I thought it was going to be painful but it actually didn't hurt at all. I haven't started bleeding as of yet but am prepared for it. The only good thing that I can say I will miss about the mirena is the absence of my period. I went the whole time without one. The thought of not having a period scared me as well. Regardless, this is my story and I know I went to drastic measures but i was extremely unhappy.

I work at a computer all day. I have just begun taking Wellbutrin and I have noticed that my eyes seem to be getting more and more sensitive to the light on my screen. A couple days ago, I was looking at a paper and then back at the screen while I typed and, my eyes just went out of focus. It was like I was looking cross-eyed. There were two of everything and it made me really dizzy. I have had inner ear problems in the past and I don't know if the Wellbutrin is triggering them or what. I am not using alcohol or other medications other that Benadryl at night. Has anyone else experienced this? This is scary.

I took paxil when I was around 24 years old. The stupid psychiatrist (who was so cold, and never smiled, and then asked me to tell her how I felt) at the time never warned me about NOT stopping it cold turkey. So one day I did stop and I experienced symptoms already described by other people: extreme relapse into depression and anxiety, felling like I "wasn't real", social phobia, agoraphobia and feeling suicidal. Now I am on Effexor and my doctor says "there are no withdrawal symptoms". I was put on Effexor due to a diagnosis of major depression last 6 months ago and I believe it was all precipitated by hormonal birth control. All the doctors and psychiatrists I spoke to about the possible link between hormonal birth control and depression and anxiety told me there was no link (or that it was very rare). I hate the attitude of the medical community:(

Hi, For those who are wondering if you can experience sudden, intense emotional changes as soon as you begin using the NuvaRing, here is my story:

I was on NuvaRing for 2 months. I put the 1st one in on Friday and by the following Tuesday, I had severe irritability, anxiety, anger control problems. I blamed myself but looking back now, having found websites and forums where other people talk about going through the same thing, I know it was the ring. I remember that Tuesday, thinking I had gone too far with my boyfriend by blowing up at him and being extremely anxious, unable to deal witht he stress i was facing that day. After I blew up at him, I was so remorseful and I cried and cried. The following evening, the Wednesday, again I became frightingly aggressive toward him, followed by intense crying. I felt so bad, so angry with myself for treating him that way. These outbursts continued and I became increasingly tired. I ended up going on the pill because the Ring gave me intense burning during sex. it was very painful. 4 months later, I was diagnosed with major depression and put on antidepressants and work arrest.

I warn everybody not to use hormonal birth control. If you decide to use it, be aware of the signs if your mood changes. It is so easy to blame yourself when it comes to emotional problems, but they are related to physical health (brain chemistry). It's all a big whole which you cannot separate. So if you play with hormones, you can become very screwed up emotionally. And don't expect the doctors/pharmacists/psychiatrists to listen or to recommend you go off the pill. For me nobody listened. it was my own decision to stop everything.

I was on Nuvaring for 2 months and it changed my mood drastically. I recommend that women not go on this medication. Within 4 days of inserting my first ring, I experienced severe mood swings including hostility and anger and sadness. The emotional pain was unbearable. All my insecurities and anxieties were amplified and I found I became aggressive with mainly my boyfriend. I experienced severe anxiety. Then the sex: PAINFUL, BURNING during and after sex. Vaginal dryness, or more like the little lube I did have was very thick and unslipery. At first I thought I was making it up because I was nervous about being on hormonal birth control (I had wanted to avoid it but the gynecologist said my uterus was too small for an IUD). But several times we tried to have sex and the pain kept coming back. It felt like being stabbed. And then I had constant burning while peeing. I was finally put on some kind of special yeast medication. The NuvaRing severely impaired my life and relationship. I urge you to be CAREFUL and INSIST if your doctor tells you "it's not your birth control". I went of the pill after the Nuvaring and ended up being diagnosed with MAJOR DEPRESSION. I went off the pill 4 days ago and will NEVER ever use hormonal contraception again.

I have recently been diagnosed with severe depression with ADHD (inattentiveness) which is now suspected to be due to the depression. I also have OCD which I can remember symptoms of, since chilkdhood. I was placed on Paxil, in my early twenties, to treat OCS, and anxiety. It helped with the anxiety at the great expense of a complete loss of sex drive, imagination and ideas, motivation and lethargy. I also put on a nasty amount of weight and lost passion for things. I took myself off Paxil, dangerously, cold turkey. In my late twenties I discovered ephedrine and felt "clear." I went to my doc who promptly switched me to Ritalin, concerned by my self medicating with the infamous and deadly ephedrine cocktails that are commonly used in the fitness industry to drop weight, among other things. The Ritalin, while not as much impact as ephi, seems to help.

Now in my 30's,assuming I, like many of my relatives who have been diagnosed, have adult ADHD, juggling a career, wonderful relationship, friendships and my fitness lifestyle, I was sent to the Psychiatrist again to treat major depression that was exasperated by a recent stressful work situation, a job that I have since quit.

I have been on "trials" with drugs such as Wellbutrin, Dexedrine, and Cipralex. After feeling stoned on my first week of Cipralex, I have been placed on Wellbutrin XL 300mg, and Dexedrine spansules, 20 mg x 2 daily. In the beginning, while feeling "foggier" It showed much promise. My Doctor told me that the brain fog (which I ironically enough have been trying to combat with Ritalin) would subside after about a month or two. Miracles did not occur. I guess I expected one. I thought meds would bring the hop back into my step and song into my heart again. Not the case.

In the beginning, I did notice less downers, less fear of what others thought of me, less obsession with perfection in every eay, and less self blame and shame. I was beginning to feel saved. After 5 months, things went downhill - worse than before I sought out help. It has been 6 months on Wellbutrin and Dexedrine (occasionally switching to Ritalin in hopes of identifying which more successfully lifts the fog) I am miserable... I am losing my confidence with driving - this is creepy - I find that what was normally automatic responsed (ie: Red means stop and Green means go) It now takes me a few seconds to remoind myself what means what as I approch each intersection. Tell me this wouldn't make anyone feel retarded. Last week, I had a hard time organizing 2 identical stacks of 4 papers that needed to be stapled together. I had to recount them, re-arrange them more than once to make for certain that they were as they should be. This freaked me out and now my new employers are beginning to notice my slowness with things, I have also become even more paranoid that others in the office are out to take my job, regret hiring me, or are conspiring to fire me, unhappy with me performance. This hyper-sensitivity became obvious to my employers when they approached me about their deep concern of watching the confident take charge woman they hired for a senior position, "wither away and become overly apologetic and meak." My heart is breaking. I now think of doom, failure and death on a daily basis. I won't harm myself physically but I am tormenting myself emotionally. I can't tell you all how much energy it is taking me to write this. I have NO energy or drive. I lost passion for things including my pets who now just piss me off. I lost a lot my compassion for others, keen imagination and passion that I was known for. I don't care that I have not returned my friends and families phone calls. I am becoming a real loser, so to speak.

My ADHD seems to be at its worst. My brain literally feels like there are cotton balls stuffed behind my forehead, behind my eyes, causing pressure and foggy loss of sharpness, wit and clarity. It feels that if I could just remove the cotton, All the clarity would be "there." Reading an earlier post by someone else describing her symptoms as a "head full of cotton balls," has inspired me to add my own 2 cents.

My doc has added a prescription for Cellexa, that I am to add to my Wellbutrin and Dexedrine cocktail. I feel like what makes me me, is dying. My fiance is concerned that I am become someone else, not me. My employers are wondering where the woman is they hired back in May. I have always struggled with self esteem issues but I have learned to fake confidence until I can build it for myself. Also, I have come to the belief that everyone suffers from some level of vulnerable or low self-esteem. Some are better than others at compensating for it or covering it up behind an armor or wall of false acts of confidence.

I no longer get the highs I once enjoyed when making a sale, creating success for my clients and my company. I no longer feel driven to achieve and grow. The desire is still there, but I can't seem to summon enough motivation or energy to undertake anything as simple as calling a client. I am beginning to feel like I am dead inside. I need to talk to my employers but it is hard to have others understand or empathize when in comes to mental illness. There is still so much prejudice and ignorance associated with it. Those who don't understand it or have experience with it, fear people who have it, presuming that we are unpredictable and dangerous I feel guilty killing a spider...

The weight loss has been great - I went from an athletic 127 lbs at 5' 4" to a very toned 118 lbs. I am hoping that it is more to do with my Yasmin birth control pills that I have also been placed on, 6 months ago. I am now wondering if they have anything to do with it too.

I feel as though pills are being made out to sound like the answer. Here's another pill, and another pill and another one... I fear that the more pills I take, the more lost the real me becomes. I fear that one day I might not be able to get her (me) back.

Anyone else share the above?

God Bless us all, we need it!

I have been on Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo for 9 months. I went through a major depression last spring. I was diagnosed with MAJOR DEPRESSION and went on anti depressants and on sick leave from work. Now looking back it seems there could be a link with the birth control pill. Around the same time I started taking it, I started having such bad MOOD SWINGS, ANGER control problems, ANXIETY and fatigue. I was always getting angry at my boyfriend and picked fights. No more sex drive either. I spoke to my GP, to a psychiatrist and to my pharmacist. I asked them "should there be a link with the pill?". Each and everyone said "no", "highly unlikely". Nobody suggested I try stopping the pill BEFORE starting anti depressants. I got a second opinion from a other doctor. THIS is what he said to me:" you'll be very depressed if you get an unplanned pregnancy." the thing is ladies, they DON'T WANT YOU OFF THE PILL BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT UNPLANNED PREGNANCY. THEY DON'T WANT YOU OFF THE PILL BECAUSE IT PAYS A LOT MORE TO PUSH PILLS THAN TO RECOMMEND OTHER METHODS (pharmaceutical companies giv big incentives and gifts to doctors). THEY DON'T ENCOURAGE YOU TO LISTEN TO YOUR BODY.
I'm going off the pill at the end of my pack and am giving myself a couple months to see if I feel better. then I am going off the anti depressants.

I suffered from major depression last spring. The worse in my life ever, with a lot of anxiety.
I have been on Effexor XR 75 mg for 6 months. My main problems are :
LOW SEX DRIVE 9could also be from the birth control pill), SHORT TERM MEMORY PROBLEMS (a bad one), DIZZINESS.
My doctor felt that i needed to increase to 150mg because she thought i still had problems (like lack of motivation and negative thoughts): we started by adding 37.5mg extra. By day 2 or 3 of this increase, I was waking up constantly during the night, and felt extremely agitated. Like I would crawl right out of my skin. I couldn't lie still and moved about a lot in my bed, especially my legs. By day 6 of this increase, my anxiety was SO BAD, I was back to nearly the same anxiety I had in the spring before starting treatment. BE CAREFUL about increasing your dosage. TELL SOMEONE to watch if your mood changes and to take you to the ER if necessary. thank goodness I didn't need to go.
I now take fish oil (omega 3) and within a couple months of that, I noticed that my anger/impulsive and concentration seemed better. I am also going off the birth control pill this month 9ortho tri cyclen lo). I brought it up to my GP, to a psychiatrist and to my opharmacist that I was depressed and could there be a link with the birth control pills and they all said "I don't think so."; "no", "very unlikely". Well my major depression, MAJOR MOOD FLUCTUATIONS, anxiety and ANGER control problems all started with the beginning of the birth control pill.