Side effects of stopping the birth control pill...depression?

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anyone experience hot flashes? If so, how did u cope with it?? Mine are really bad. I was on the pill for 20yrs and now im off at the age 38. i feel like Im going to burn up into flames!

*Christine* · Newbie Joined: 01 May 2008 Posts: 1

Ever since stopping the birth control back in January of this year I have been a mess! I've been dealing with bad anxiety, something I've never had before. I'm also noticing the regular stress in my life I had before has become harder for me to deal with now. It makes the anxiety even worse. I was told I had to stop the pill for health reasons. I've always had migraines since my very first period, but over time, the pill was making the migraines worse and more frequent. I was told it could cause a stroke if I stayed on. I've been on the pill for 13 years. The main reason why I stayed on it so long was because it was convenient, I always knew when the period was coming and I could plan stuff around it. I got a lecture from my long-time boyfriend how since he had a vasectomy I didn't need to stay on the pill. Now I wish I had stopped the pill years back when he got the vasectomy. Maybe the whole withdrawal/hormonal change wouldn't be lasting as long as it is for me now. I just wonder how much longer this is going to be? It's already been 5 months, my period seems to be on schedule now. One showed up end of March and then another showed up end of April, which is a good sign. I just can't stand all this craziness with the damn anxiety and dizziness! Granted, it's slightly better than when I stopped in the beginning, the feelings hit me much more frequently then. Now it shows up here and there. I've gone to the doctor to make sure it's nothing else. They've ran tests and such and all came back normal. I notice I seem to get the most stressed when I'm at work. I've been at my job for 6 years. Yes, it can be stressful, but I always was able to handle it before. The problem is now, with my hormones still all wacky, I'm having a tough time dealing with things than before. I walk in the door and the dizziness and anxiety seem to grow the longer I'm there. I even was getting more migraines than before. I might have to look in to either counseling or maybe even hypnotherapy to help me with the stress. Some days when I come home from work the anxiety will hit me so severely I feel as tho I'm going to have a heart attack.

What's the longest anyone has had anxiety/dizziness and so on since stopping the pill? Is it normal that I still feel this way after 5 months? I was told by a friend I might be having a harder time because I just stopped cold turkey. I finished up one packet, period came and then I just didn't start a new packet from then on.

gshaenan · Newbie Joined: 16 Mar 2008 Posts: 4

Christine, I had the same thing after getting off Yasmin after several years on it. I, too, had a thousand tests done and the doctors, one after another, concluded anxiety. I ordered the Linden Method on eBay to deal with anxiety, it’s not cheap ($177), but it does help a lot. I am taking Lexapro, but slowly getting off it. I would not suggest you start taking pills, if you can go without them. Coming off Lexapro is also hard. I was dizzy for awhile. I would suggest you read ALL the post in this thread. It helped me greatly to see I am not going through this alone.

cocochanel · Newbie Joined: 31 Mar 2008 Posts: 7

Christine, if you read my post- we are in the same boat...
The dizziness seems like it NEVER goes away.. My symptoms started in January and even though not as severe as they were, they still lingering in and out of my day. The dizziness and floatyness is the worst feeling, Feels like I have taken severl cups of cough medicine- like a damn zombie. I bought Lucinda Bassetts program and its not cheap either.
I too was given Lexapro and didnt take it- I had and HAVE my days in which I wish I would have taken it, or am ready to pop the pill.. but then I think the pills give you the same side effects of the symptoms you are having.. plus I just found a webpage- and man it had lots of interesting blogs of people trying to come off lexapro- and it appears its one of the worst to withdrawl from, because even though the doses of it are lower- the pills are more concetrated than the other pills... apparently a 10 dosage is equivalent to 30 dosages of other anti depressant/anxiety pills.. and it has some lasting effects after coming off.... look how bad we did with withdrawl from birth control....

cocochanel · Newbie Joined: 31 Mar 2008 Posts: 7

gshaenan · Newbie Joined: 16 Mar 2008 Posts: 4

That's the thing about anxiety - it will make you believe it's something else. I think anxiety created by a hormonal change will feel different from a regular anxiety or phobia. I have gone through this with several friends before me, and we all thought we had something other than anxiety. If you read all the post before, you will see how many women had anxiety the first few months.

I am getting off Lexapro because I would like to get pregnant next year. I am not going cold turkey though, the suggested way is to reduce the dosage by 25% every two weeks. Lexapro works well, although the frist 4 weeks might be hard. You might be more anxious then, after that, it's fine. I am about to go 50% of the dosage, and I am a little anxious, but with those CDs I mentioned before, it's doable. Hope this helps:)

Bdawn · Newbie Joined: 07 May 2008 Posts: 1

I just wanted to say that I have experiences the exact same thing since coming off of the pill. Dizziness (an almost constant state of feeling like I'm on a ship!) and anxiety symptoms have been the worst. I also get hot/red faced easily and have sweaty palms. :/ This does make me feel better knowing others have gone through this too, but I wouldn't wish these feelings on anyone. I've had all kinds of tests done and so far everything looks good but I still can't figure out why I feel this way. It's been about 3 months (since I went off of Yaz) and some days are worse than others but I hope that it gradually gets better as I "balance out." I am trying relaxation exercises and walking, and just thinking positvely. Good luck to you all!

botanicalove · Newbie Joined: 12 May 2008 Posts: 1

Hello everyone! For those of you who are wanting to follow a natural path toward healing after coming off birth control pills, I wanted to suggest a couple of great herbal remedies: Vitex (aka Chaste Tree Berry) and Motherwort. (Please note that these herbs are not appropriate if you are pregnant or trying to become pregnant.). Both will help balance the bodies' production of hormones. When you discontinue the use of birth control pills and experience a negative change in mood, you are basically experiencing something akin to postpartum depression. While you're on the pill, your body is tricked into thinking it's pregnant, so when you stop using them, it is very similar to when you give birth, and have a dramatic, sudden drop in hormone production. However, since the pill is synthetic, it really screws with your hormones.

Motherwort is specific for heart palpitations caused by anxiety. It calms the nervous system, helps balance hormones, and supports the heart. It is often used during menopause which is, again, another time that we experience a profound decrease in hormones, accompanied by the "crazies." The Elizabethan herbalist Culpepper wrote, "There is no better herb to drive melancholy vapours from the heart, to strengthen it and make the mind cheerful, blithe and merry. " This website has some great links to informative webpages about Motherwort: http://panicdisorder.about.com/od/motherwort/Motherwort.htm

Vitex is wonderful in balancing the hormones and helping with PMS symptoms (bloating, breast tenderness, anxiety, irritability, acne etc.) Specifically, it influences the pituitary gland to regulate the balance between estrogen and progesterone.

These are tonic herbs, and as such, it is VERY IMPORTANT that you continue taking them for several months. Although you may feel relief in a much shorter time, it does take quite awhile to stabilize hormonal function. This is not a quick fix, but true healing... it works on deep levels to heal the cause of the problem (hormone imbalance) rather than just masking the symptoms (mood disorders.) Please be patient with yourself and with the herbs. Allow them and yourself the time to heal. Also, spend a bit extra and buy the highest quality herbal products that you can. Liquid extracts are generally the most absorbable, but if you can't stand the taste, try to find a liquid softgel (powdered herbs in capsules are generally more difficult to break down, and therefore less absorbable). Talk with the folks at your local health food store, and they can surely recommend a good one for you. You might even be able to find a nice combination that includes both of these herbs.

In the meantime, get plenty of exercise (yoga is especially helpful), eat well (try to avoid caffeine, refined sugars, or any other heavily processed foods that can trigger those awful feelings), maybe try some meditation, and most importantly, go easy on yourself. You're not going crazy, and in time, you will get this all straightened out. If you need some immediate relief, kava kava can be quite helpful, just avoid it if you have any history of liver trouble.

I hope that this is helpful to someone. I'm not a doctor, and do not intend to diagnose or prescribe anything, just provide some useful information. These hormonal changes can be a difficult thing to go through, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel! You will be just fine.

jesslynne · Newbie Joined: 12 May 2008 Posts: 2

This is amazing to me to read these postings. I suffered from anxiety and panic attacks before I ever really started taking the pill. I don't think that the pill either helped or hurt me.
I however have had the worst time since going off the pill ( a very low dose one)--I was on it for about 7 years. I started having vertigo. I feel like things are moving or that I am swaying even if I'm not. It it like feeling like your on a boat almost. It has been so horrible. I am currently seeing a Chiropractor who is into holistic healing and have had some accupuncture done to help this. It has helped a little but because I was on it for so long she says it can take awhile to get 'out of my system'. I have been off for about 6-7 months, so I am patiently waiting and hopes it gets better. I have had other things checked to make sure this makes sense and even tracked my cycles---the vertigo is worse right before and during my period. I really trust my chiropractor and so I am crossing my fingers that my body will get regulated soon. It is amazing the things medicine can do to our bodies---I try to stay away from anything now that isn't natural.

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Side effects of stopping the birth control pill...depression?

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