Thoughts of suicide symptoms and conditions

I have been on Loestrin for almost 2 weeks now. i am 23 and have two young children. This is the first bcp I've tried and so far it's been terrible!! I had a 10 day full blown period that just stopped yesterday with intense cramps. Today I'm feeling like I have the flu woth severe body aches/weakness and I am so light-headed that every time I stand up I almost black out. I have also had severe nausea, headaches, depression, thoughts of suicide, mood swings, insomnia and anxiety. I don't know if I'm going to be able to stick this out to see if it gets better.. I can hardly take care of my children! I'm starting to wonder if maybe I'm having some sort of allergic reaction. I'd think at this point I'd rather have my extremely painful 2 week periods back!!!

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 started the ring and about a week later got intense itchiness and break through bleeding. It was supposed to be time for my period, and I thought since I timed it wrong possibly I was going to have it anyways. So I took the ring out. The itchiness went away immediately. Also, I could NEVER get the ring all the way in. It dropped down considerably, and I made many attempts to move it. Two days after I took the ring out I had HORRIBLE depression, thoughts of suicide and self harm. Also I was exhausted but unable to sleep. I feel a bit better, and I have no idea what it's half life is and if it will wear off, or if a new medication is needed to rebalanced the hormones. I hope not, as I had a bad experience with hormone balancing medications in the past.

I am absolutely convinced that my life has been negatively affected by Nuvaring, and it took me a year and a bout of terrible depression to figure it out. I would NOT recommend it.

Now that I look back on a year ago when I started taking Nuvaring, my undiagnosed depression took a turn for the worse and thoughts of suicide took over my life.

I got over that with pills to help with depression symptoms, but then started realizing that perhaps my mood swings (i can be emotional but this is extreme), bloating (i didn't realize what that really meant until I read that sometimes it makes you look pregnant, which happened to me), vaginal itching (yuck), maybe just isn't entirely my own fault. What really got to me recently is that I had what people call migranes with aura or ocular migraines earlier this year around October, and I didn't think much of it. But then it happened to me again at work earlier this week, and it was awful. I had to lay down and go home early. This morning I woke up with a terrible headache which has not gone away. I also remember a period of time months ago when I always had a headache.

Why didn't I do anything? Well it seems ridiculous to pin all this on the ring....UNTIL you do a simple search on google like "nuvaring side effects". I am happy to hear that I am not alone, outraged that nuvaring would not list some of these obviously prevalent side effects, and glad to be moving on. Now my challenge is to find another form of bc, because condoms are...condoms.

I've been on Yasmin for about three months now because I used to miss my periods, freaking out thinking I was prego which would be hell because I am only 19! My doctor recommended it to me. I was on it for about one week a long time ago and stopped because it didn't get rid of my acne and when I went back to her she said it would definitely be at least two months until it cleared up. Finally my acne is clearing and my periods are regular, I used to go two to three months without a period. So far everything has been great except horrible head aches and most importantly, MOOD SWINGS!! Wow. I just moved in with my boyfriend about a month ago and I snap him 247 for no reason> I pick fights like a drunken bar fly and I have been having spurts of crying almost every day and thoughts of suicide. I don't know what to do and I am unsure if it's just me or the BC? After reading all these horror stories I don't know if it's hurting me or helping me! I am afraid if I go off of it that my skin will break out like it used to and I don't want to confuse my body cause it's just starting to become used to it. What should I do? Right now I can't afford to go to the doctor again it was $200 just to sit with a new gyno for literally 3 minutes! I only work part time and I just want advice, because I don't have health insurance and it's not fun being me right now!! Please, any suggestions?

I got the Mirena on 2/2/09 and had it promptly taken out on 2/13/09. This evil device made me feel emotions from rage, anger and depression to out right panic attacks where it felt like the walls were closing in on me and I couldn't breathe. I had major bleeding from the moment it was put in, but thankfully no cramps. I was very tired and had motion sickness while driving. I felt very hungry all the time.

I didn't even attribute ANY of these symptoms to the Mirena (except the bleeding) until I was packing my bags to leave my husband in a moment of pure rage followed by a panic attack. My husband calmed me down and wanted to know WHAT was going on, because I've NEVER acted that way before. Also, I've NEVER had a panic attack before. The only thing he could think of was the it was the Mirena because that was the only new thing in my life.

So, we googled the side effects of Mirena and found that many women experienced rage, depression, thoughts of suicide, and panic attacks as well as fatigue and motion sickness. So, I made an appointment to get it out. My OB didn't want to take it out. She said I hadn't had it in long enough to give it a fair chance. But I told her that my husband wouldn't let me go home until it was OUT! She did take it out, but all the while she was looking at me as if I were INSANE. She said there is no medical way that Mirena could have caused any of what I described (except the bleeding). She said that scientifically it is IMPOSSIBLE because it only has a low progesterone dose. She tested my thyroid instead (which came back just fine). She seriously did not believe me. I told her that I had googled the side effects of Mirena and she simply told me, "You can find anything on google to support your claims if you try, but it doesn't make it true."

Since I've gotten it out I have felt like myself again. No more rage or moody panic attacks. I am still bleeding, and although it was heavier than I'd ever experienced before, it is FINALLY going away.

I am so glad I found this site because now I know I'm NOT crazy!

I'm a 22 year old student that has been on paxil for three and a half years. Paxil changed my life--my anxiety was absolutely debilitating. But like a lot of you, I'm now facing a new problem: memory loss. I constantly 'misplace' words, forget appointments, and periodically even forget things like my age. My studies have suffered because of it, but again like a lot of you, the withdrawal symptoms and the potential of my anxiety returning is terrifying.

I'm not sure what I can do. I am physically addicted and emotionally dependent on this drug, yet I'm also a young man with a worsening memory and grad school ahead of me.

I started the drug Lamictil about six weeks ago at the insistence of my Doctor and my wife because I suffer from SAD (Seasonal Depression brought on by long periods of darkness and cold - winter). Recently I noticed that I can barely get out of bed and that my feet hurt. I am a trained athlete and my workouts have been essential for controlling my sadness and now my depression is worse than ever and as a side benefit I have tremendous feet and leg pains, rage issues, thoughts of suicide and extreme sadness. I have also broken out in a rash which could be Johnson-Stevens disease - all because those two nitwits didn't want to deal with my occasional sadness. They just threw me under the bus -IF YOU ARE TAKING THIS GET OFF IT and if you are seriously depressed ask your health provider for something more stable. No matter what your condition is short of seizures, this medication is not the answer.

I have been on Topamax since August 2005. This spring I began to have odd problems that I did not attribute to the drug. In April, my doctor prescribed Lasix for swelling in my legs and feet. In August I developed peripheral neuropathy in my legs and feet and began experiencing numbness in my chin and lower face. My doctor prescribed Lyrica for the peripheral neuropathy. Also in August, I began experiencing extreme fatigue and sleepiness. I became depressed and irritable. By September was falling asleep everywhere--even driving. I was exhausted because I awoke from sleep feeling totally unrested. I had a sleep study done and they told me I spent only 25% of the normal amount of time in the two deeper stages of sleep. At the beginning of November, I suddenly became plagued with excessive thoughts of suicide one Friday evening. I decided to stop all my meds, except the antidepressant. Within 48 hours I felt MUCH better. No obsessive thoughts and no more falling asleep. I felt like a giant weight had been lifted from my shoulders. By Thursday I was feeling rested when I awoke in the mornings. I looked up all my meds, including the clinical trials with ALL the side effects and recommendations on Tuesday of that week. Lasix increases the potency of the Topamax and has many of the same bad side effects as the Lyrica I was prescribed--sleep disturbance, depression, dry mouth, etc., etc. Since stopping those medications the first of November, Topamax, Lasix, and Lyrica, I have returned to normal. Even the peripheral neuropathy is MUCH better. No swelling or sleepiness or fatigue. No more irritability or deep depression. Definitely no thoughts of suicide. I can taste food again. And none of the migraines for which the Topamax was prescribed. My doctor is pleased that I am feeling so much better and concurs with the action I took. The medications were apparently interacting with one another and multiplying the intensity of the side effects. So, if you take multiple medications, please go to the clinical studies themselves and read about ALL the side effects uncovered in the studies. On the prescription information we get at the pharmacy, it lists only those discovered at "high incidence", including interactions with other medications.

I stopped taking Yasmin over a year and half ago as i was getting thoughts of suicide and migraines, i spoke to my doctor who said that i was having an estrogen withdrawal in my 7 day break so she gave me oestrogen tablets to take in between. I don't usually take any kind of tablets, not even for headache so i thought this was stupid. So after a couple of years of taking it (oh and i forgot to say im from England were this drug hasn't been out long, i was used as a guinea pig, first to trial it at my local doctors) i stopped. Then the trouble began two weeks after stopping i got more headaches and started to itch my head on one side. The result was my hair fell out caused by alopecia, caused by body shock from coming off the pill, after that i developed Telogen Efluvium, which is another form of hair loss. I ended up loosing 50% of my hair all over. I had oily skin and severe acne.
So now i am now still recovering, i take Viviscal herbal tablets at £40 a month, to help my hair growth. But all this dosnt help the fact that i am still recovering, i do however see the light at the end of the tunnel and im just going to be patient.
I if could just get some time with the people who make this stuff and also spread the word, DON'T TAKE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It feels so great to have seen that other people are experiencing the same unlisted side effects. I am on 100mg of doxy twice a day for 20 weeks. I've only been taking it a few days but holy crap. I have been so depressed lately. All I do is cry. And I can't explain why or what I'm thinking that triggers it. I do have things in my life going on that are upsetting me, but nothing that should get me to this point. I have random thoughts of suicide, which is getting me even more down. I have always been such a fun loving, care free person. But now everyone is always asking what's wrong me. I didn't suspect the drug, but getting off and calling my derm ASAP. Other than the depression I've spent a few days throwing up after taking the antibiotic, but I hadn't had too much to eat that day.

I'm still in disbelief about how all of us are experiencing the same side effects. i NEVER would have thought that Mirena could have caused any of this. I'm glad i googled it and found this site.
I'm having mine removed tomorrow and i can't wait!!!!! i can't wait to feel normal again

Hi
Again just like many of you ladies out there i am so glad i came across this website. I have been taking Yasmin for the last 2.5yrs. I used to have very think long hair, and was always complimented on it. recently my hair has thinned out, and falls out everytime i comb or wash it. I have reecntly started to experience numbness in the tips of my toes, i have just in the past few days experienced knee joint pains. Last year i had very bad chest pains, and i never thought it would be the pill, but i have been complianing to my family about breathing difficulties too. I do feel nauseous most of the time, and i feel tired all the time, i fall asleep anywhere. I am a pretty healthy individual. I have suffered headaches, reduction of vision, pain just under my ribs near the lungs, especially when i wake up in the mornings, i suffer hot flushes, again like others mostly at night... I used to be a pretty calm person, but now looking back i have had my moments of rage !
Thank God i came across this website because luckily im on my 7day break at the moment, and will probably not take them again ! and try lady comp just like another lady has .... hope this helps

I notice vivid dreams/night mares the first night. The second day I notice thoughts of running of to very far places. The third night severe chest pains, extreme anxiety, irritability, and thoughts of suicide. Now I have been treated for depression in the past but never attempted suicide. After the third day of singulair i wanted to take a gun to my jugular vain in my neck and pull the trigger. Oh the joy of a panic attack.

ive been on Yasmin for 5 months. its been the worst 5 months of my life. been VERY depressed desperate and had suicidal thoughts. its made me cry and cry and cry. im still currently taking this but am waiting to finish this pack and change to loestrin 20. all women react to different pills. but from my own experience i wouldn't go near this pill. i wish id changed pill sooner because i cant handle my life at the moment.

Wow. This news gives me so much hope. I've been on the Nuvaring since it was still in the post-trial stages and nobody had even heard of it. My doctor recommended it because it was supposed to help with acne and weight gain, and I'd been having no luck with Yaz or Ortho Tricyclene. I've always had irregular periods, I've been depressive since high school, and I started having migraines when I was 13. Ten years ago, I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia. What this means is that all these symptoms that everyone was describing here, while they have been getting dramatically worse, were nothing I would even think of ascribing to my birth control. I've gained 40 pounds in the last 3 years, but I blamed that on my increased depression and general malaise. I'd stopped having migraines more than once a year, but now I get migraine-like (not usually as bad as the originals) headaches as often as 4-5 times a month. I've had insane mood swings ranging between white hot anger and debilitating depression (even having thoughts of suicide for the first time since high school), and sex burns and leaves me walking funny about 99.9 percent of the time. I thought it was just me, or the fibro (which leaves me feeling pretty sensitive all over); same with the nausea, especially in the morning and always during my period. Could this seriously be the Nuvaring? Oh my god, I hope so. An easy solution like that makes me want to cry from relief.

... but how do I do birth control now? Do we always have to use a condom? I've never been pregnant, so I've been told the IUD isn't nearly as safe if your cervix hasn't been violated by childbirth. Oh well, better than being crazy, I suppose.

I had the Mirena IUD inserted six weeks after having my youngest son, which was August 2007. I have always had a bit of a weight problem, but when I was pregnant with my son I started exercising, eating right and when I gave birth to him I was 20 lbs lighter than when I got pregnant. I was told the Mirena was great. No weight gain, period will stop and can have it in for five years. So I got it. It's been a little over a year and I am getting it out! I gained 30 lbs. and I barely eat anything. I dieted, exercised and tried my hardest to stop the weight gain, but nothing worked. And now I look 6 months pregnant again. I have been depressed and had thoughts of suicide at one point. And I DO NOT have that type of personality. I am usually a very laid back, happy person. My advice to anyone thinking of getting the Mirena IUD. DON'T DO IT!!!!!!!!

Please add me to the list of people with an extremely adverse reaction to Singulair. I had been taking 10 mg Singulair since 2005 after sinus surgery In June 2008 after returning from vacation I didn't get my prescription refilled in a timely manner and went without it for ~one week. In July I got a new prescription filled for Singulair and also began taking Advair Diskus 250/50 and AllegraD after an increase in asthma symptoms. I first thought the anxiety attacks were from the AllegraD as the "D" is for decongestant and contains psuedo-epinipherine. But the anxiousness continued and got worse after stopping the AllegraD. I then stopped taking the Advair (and also a nasal spray that I use called Flonase also since 2005) but was still in a major depressive episode with daily thoughts of suicide. It wasn't until I stopped taking the Singulair on August 23 that I started to return to normal. My normal does include a history of depression for which I take 10mg Paxil daily. Like the post from the psychiatrists wife noted, I am not sure if there is a direct scientific connection between these events. I do know that I never want to go back to that place I was in. I am shocked at the speed with witch I started to feel good after stopping the Singulair. I still have low grade sad feelings but I have stopped planning my own death. I always took my dose of Singulair in the morning and ~one hour later would begin to feel anxious. My evenings were tolerable with emotions slightly better. I simply stopped taking the medication without tapering and I am beginning to deal with what happened to me. Thank you all for sharing. Thank you.

My doctor prescribed lamictal after I reported hypomanic symptoms from prozac. The first couple of days on lamictal I thought it was the miracle drug; it really eliminated my mood swings. But as the days progressed, I began to have the following disturbing side effects:
- terrible insomnia (waking in the middle of the night and can't go back)
- horrifying violent dreams (of animals and people being hacked to death with machetes... interestingly, I reported this to my doctor and her response was, that just means your brain is adjusting to the chemicals...easy for her to say, she's not waking up with terrible memories of these disturbing dreams)
- weird pains and stiffness in my neck with swollen lymph nodes in the neck
- increase in anxiety and feelings of panic
- increase in feelings of anger and agitation
- feeling of detachment
- thoughts of suicide and the meaninglessness of life
- carbohydrate cravings and weight gain of nearly 4 pounds in 2 WEEKS!!
(weight had previously been stable for years)

These symptoms all appeared after taking the lamictal after only 2 weeks. Even though my doctor recommended actually INCREASING the dose of lamictal and/or adding prozac, I decided to wean off the lamictal (I was on the smallest dose of 25 mg) as an experiment to see if the symptoms would go away...
YES they did!! Every single one of them went away and were COMPLETELY gone after the second day of discontinuing the lamictal.

I know that this medication is being touted as the new miracle cure for bipolar II especially, but I think more clinical studies need to be done on lamictal. This experience was a very scary one and not unlike that reported by others on this site.

Hello everyone. Im twenty years old and this is my second attempt of using Nuvaring. The first time I was on it I thought I was ok, but when I think about it today..(two years from the first time) things weren't ok. I had thoughts of suicide and lacked self worth. However, I decided to get off because of financial reasons. This being my second attempt, Nuvaring is has already provided me with about 4 migraines a day. At first I thought they could be managed until they were accompanied by nose bleeds. Ive lost my job, fiance, and social life due to the mood swings and irritability that I now have. This will be the final time that I will ever use this CRAP!!

Hello everyone. Im twenty years old and this is my second attempt of using Nuvaring. The first time I was on it I thought I was ok, but when I think about it today..(two years from the first time) things weren't ok. I had thoughts of suicide and lacked self worth. However, I decided to get off because of financial reasons. This being my second attempt, Nuvaring is has already provided me with about 4 migraines a day. At first I thought they could be managed until they were accompanied by nose bleeds. Ive lost my job, fiance, and social life due to the mood swings and irritability that I now have. This will be the final time that I will ever use this CRAP!!

I have been on singulair for almost 2 years and i feel that it helps a lot actually when i don't have it my asthma acts up a lot, but it's only mild asthma so it's not too bad but it makes the difference. occasionally get a headache possibly attributed to it or more likely the zrytech however you spell that, but i like the singulair better than anything else and have had no thoughts of suicide or moodiness or anything weird.

The nausea is tolerable, generally short-lived as long as I eat prior to taking the Chantix and drink plenty of water.

I have a sense of...fogginess....detachment, while at the same time, seem to sense clear hidden messages in the way people look at me, in what they're saying to each other, and to me. Yep, it's probably paranoia.

The nightmares are horrible. I dream specifics about deaths of loved ones, in horrible detail. I also awaken at least once a night gasping in terror, unable to get a breath.

The thoughts of suicide are strangely comforting and don't seem wrong at all. I'm depressed, but comforted knowing that I can end it if I really want to. Bizarre and I know it on some level at least.

I'm bruising easily this time. I mean REALLY easily. A small bump results in a hard, raised, dark bruise.

I developed a rash on my stomach that's been there for 3 days but seems to be clearing today.

This is my 2nd time taking Chantix and I'm 3 weeks in. I had the same symptoms last time and expected them this time. I'm smoke free but plan to continue with the Chantix as long as possible. The urge to give in and have one cigarette is too strong post Chantix. I tell myself everyday that the thoughts are NOT me, and that I can let them come and not act on them because it's the drug, not me.

I was given a free sample of Topamax to help with neuropathy, but while I still feel the neuropathy pain, I have so many side effects. It's been several weeks, and family members are concerned with the changes in my behavior and ability to function. My wife is afraid to let me drive, and worries about my performance at work - the stress is hard on me.

I've had severe moments of panic, agitation, rage and thoughts of suicide.

Since I can't tell that it's really treating the pain, I want off of this medication.

Hi, all. I'm 30 and have been taking Yasmin since Oct. 2006. Yesterday, I finally went to my OB/GYN and asked to take me off it. I can't believe it's taken me so long to realize it was the cause of my many health problems.

Like others have said, I've had many side effects but never connected any of them to Yasmin - until a friend was thinking about using it and told me she'd read it had bad side effects such as mood and GI problems. Once she said this, everything clicked.

Immediately after starting Yasmin, I started gaining weight and had terrible depression. Crying ALL the time. I thought both were because I had started a new job that was very stressful, and I've had struggled with depression my whole life. But this was severe enough that I've had thoughts of suicide and my actions really worried my husband. I asked my doctor to increase my Prozac dosage.

In June 2007, I started having migraines. The first one was so bad that my husband took me to the ER and had me get a CAT scan. It was clear, but the migraines have continued about once a month since then. I've been prescribed Maxalt for when they occur.

Also in 2007, I started having GI problems, especially bloating, cramps, heartburn, gas, and quick-onset diarrhea. The diarrhea got so bad, I'd have to leave parties, work, etc. One day, I didn't make it to the bathroom in time (thankfully, I was at home), was in tears, and my hubby said to see a GI doctor. I got the full workup, including a colonoscopy, which was clear.

In 2008, I started having Restless Legs Syndrome and extreme fatigue. It'd get tingles/pain in my calves when watching TV, in movies, on airplanes, and when asleep. I would sleep 12 hours and still be exhausted. I'd go to bed at 7 or 8 p.m. Finally, I had a sleep study in March 2008 and was diagnosed with RLS and was prescribed Klonopin.

This spring, I've had terrible sinus problems and headaches. I've had allergies before, but never this bad. My Allegra isn't working anymore. I have incredible post-nasal drip and sneezing. Go through Kleenex like crazy. My doctor prescribed Nasonex.

And finally, since Oct. 2006, I've gained about 60 pounds while on Yasmin. I chalked it up to stress from a new job and planning a wedding. Yes, I gained weight WHILE I was engaged. In the time between buying my wedding dress and my wedding, I gained so much weight that my dress had to be let out. I thought it was because of stress, not exercising and a poor diet - but now I realize it shouldn't have caused me to gain THAT much weight. I've continued to gain weight since I've been married.

Now that I put this all together, I realize I am on THREE NEW MEDICATIONS, increased my Prozac, had a colonoscopy, a sleep study, and a CAT scan, and gained 60 pounds ALL since I started Yasmin.

And aside from the medical problems and prescriptions, my lifestyle has changed and I use many over-the-counter drugs. Of course, I'm overweight. I use antacids about 5X a week for heartburn, simethicone about 3X a week for gas, Advil about 2X a week for headaches, sleep all the time, have unusually strong depression, still have diarrhea, and have terrible sinus/runny nose constantly.

I feel so stupid that I never connected the dots. And I realize as I'm typing this that I sound like a hypochondriac because of all my drugs and doctor visits! Most of all, I'm outraged, and truthfully, very sad, that I got married at a very heavy weight because of Yasmin.

I'll post again in a couple of weeks to let you know how I'm feeling off Yasmin. I pray it's much better. Thanks for this forum to share our experiences.

-Katie