Strange symptoms after getting off Depo Provera - Part 2

Hi there, I'm sorry to hear that the depo went badly for you but it sounds like a lot of the normal stuff while going through menopause. Can you give us an update on how your'e doing? Thanks!

Hi everyone, thanks so much for all of your postings. For the past few weeks, I have felt like I have been losing my mind with what has been happening with my body. I have been on depo on and off (more on than off) since the end of 04, and I have not had a period since that time. I'm 29, I just got married in July 09 and did not have my last depo shot which was due on July 24th 09, since we would like to start a family soon. It is the beginning of October 09 now, I have not had a return of my period, and for the past few weeks I have experienced so many of the symptoms other women have described. My breasts are HUGE (about a D right now, I am usually a C) and extremely sore. They hurt constantly, more so if they are touched in any way. I am completely exhausted, no matter how much sleep I get. I have gastrointestinal issues, mostly gas and bloating, and stomach gurgling. (I know, TMI) I have also experienced severe dizziness in the past 2 weeks, sometimes to the point where I have to reach out and hold onto something to not fall down. Since I began taking the shot, nearly 5 years ago, I have gained 12.5 pounds. I have not gained anymore weight since being off of depo, but I have not lost the weight either (I am finding it very hard to hit the gym or go running with the exhaustion) Additionally, I have taken 3 pregnancy tests, all negative, in the past 4 weeks, one just 3 days ago.
It would be nice if some of the ladies who have posted or will post, could keep us updated on their symtoms as the weeks go by. I will try to do the same since I didn't really see posters coming back to let us know when these symptoms have gone away!

So I am 22 years old I started taking depo at 17.. up until last month I never missed a shot. Depo worked great for me, minus the weight gain of about 40lbs over 7 years (I also became less active after high school) I did get pretty depressed and I guess just kind of learned to control my moods while on it, or so I thought. My shot was due Sept 18th 09 and I figured after a constant 5 years of being on it my body could probably use a break from it, considering the bone loss thing depo can cause. I immediately started on ortho lo and I started getting horribly nauseated a few hours after taking the pill (and still am), I also have headaches and my boobies are sore.. but its not an intense pain as other people have described it just feels like I worked out a little too hard at the gym... thinking it was just from starting a new pill. I had NO idea that getting off depo would have these symptoms. I dont feel any depression coming on, I actually feel more normal than I have in the past 5 years, I guess I didnt realize how depressed/moody the depo had made me. If I can just get passed these symptoms I'll feel a lot better about the decision to get off of depo. I know this is common but I feel I should also say that I haven't gotten my period yet, but I can't expect it to come right away hopefully i get it sooner rather than later. I am so glad I found this, Thanks a mil to all those who have posted, it gives me a sense of normalcy *whew* I'm not going crazy..

Hi Ladies
I went to see another Doctor, i decided to see a lady doctor this time, one that may understand a bit more about the sick feelings we are experience going off depo, after telling my new doctor what I've been going through the last 4 months, the first thing she had said to me was,"you should never have been put on depo at that age being so close to starting menopause", I was so shocked to hear her say that,Doctors always stick together,what doctor will amit to drugs they prescribed you,are bad for you when they dont work for you.,anyway it gave me relief to know she understood what I was going through,and after starting on HRT 3/4 months ago , my hormones have started to settle down, i've started to feel much better,I was also given some pills to stop the nausea,I’m to stay on HRT for at least 12 months.
I know this info wont help the younger readers,but at least you know your not alone.
So if you are not having any luck with you doctor, try to see another doctor better still a woman doctor, if she’s had children she will understands the symptoms, the feelings of being pregnant, and you not pregnant,the breast tenderness,the nausea etc etc, all the symptoms of being unwell coming off depo.
(besides what male has ever felt the symptoms of being pregnant, so why do we see a male doctor when we feel that unwell)
It would also be good if people gave a time period, how long they have been feeling sick for,give an example of days, weeks, even months,also write back to let others know how long it took you to get well again.......

One lady on the forum asked about the Mirena
If your thinking about the Mirena “PLEASE” do your research, you found this forum, there is a forum for mirena withdraws symptoms just google it (the mirena can be just as bad as depo)
All the best ladies, hope you all start to get your life back soon.

Royal Women's Hospital

Depo Provera is a hormone used for contraception. It is given by injection and its effects will last for three months at a time. It is similar to progesterone, which is one of the two main hormones made by a woman's ovaries during her normal cycles.

Why use contraception?

Contraception is necessary if you wish to avoid an unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections.

How Depo Provera works

When a woman has Depo Provera, her body senses the presence of the hormone so that her own hormone production is 'switched off'. Because of this, her ovaries will not release an egg and this is how pregnancy is prevented. This is very similar to how 'the Pill' works. Depo Provera is also sometimes used in the treatment of endometriosis.


How well does it work?

Depo Provera is a highly effective method of contraception, more effective than the combined pill. If 100 women use Depo Provera for 1 year, possibly only one of those women will fall pregnant, that is, 99 will not. No form of contraception is totally effective. Depo Provera will only continue to be effective if injections are given every three months when due.


Side effects

Because hormone levels are low, most women develop very little uterine lining and have reduced periods. After two to three injections, many women will have no periods at all because there is no lining building up to shed. Some women will have nuisance bleeding, which is usually light and irregular. Occasionally a woman will have troublesome heavy bleeding, which can usually be controlled by hormone treatment.


Other effects,See your doctor if you have any of these

•A small amount of weight gain sometimes occurs, although many women have no change and some lose weight.

•Some women may be troubled by headaches, abdominal discomfort and mood changes.

•Some women have a reduced interest in sex, particularly women who are prone to depression.

•A small minority of women experience other side effects, which may be a nuisance but are unlikely to be serious. These include allergic reactions, fluid retention and breast soreness.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of Depo Provera?

Advantages

•Depo Provera is highly effective with a very low failure rate.

•For many women the loss of periods is an advantage with relief of symptoms such as premenstrual tension and period pain.

•Depo Provera is also likely to cause some reduction in risk of ovarian cancer, endometrial (uterine) cancer, endometriosis and possibly pelvic infection.

•An injection is given every 12 weeks and no other effort or remembering is required.

Disadvantages

•Some women do not wish to see their doctor every three months for an injection.

•Some women experience side effects as already described, which may be uncomfortable or unpleasant.

•Once the injection has been given, the hormone cannot be removed. If a woman wants to stop the Depo Provera she has to wait for it to wear off. In some women, periods can be slow to return after the injections are stopped; sometimes it takes up to 6 or 12 months. However, more than half will fall pregnant within 12 months and over 90 percent within two years.


[b]Other things to think about
[b]Hormone levels are very low while using Depo Provera, so there is some concern that this may lead to some thinning of the bones (osteoporosis) in women who use Depo Provera for a long period of time. The importance of this is not yet known, but the changes would be expected to happen more slowly than those that occur normally after menopause and reverse after the injections are ceased
Women commonly worry about drugs of any kind and cancer. Although it is extremely difficult to prove a complete lack of risk,
Depo Provera has not been shown to have any effect on the risk of breast cancer. It should be noted that protective effects against cancer of the ovary and uterine lining are very likely. No ill effects on the developing baby have been shown to occur if Depo Provera is given when a woman is already pregnant or in the very rare case where a woman becomes pregnant despite the injection.


Who can use Depo Provera?

Depo Provera can be used by most women who do not have any serious medical problems and by many women who use other forms of contraception. It may also be suitable for women who cannot take the combined pill for medical reasons.


Who should not use Depo Provera?

Depo Provera is not suitable for women who are experiencing the following:

•bleeding disorders or taking anticoagulant medication

•undiagnosed abnormal bleeding

•history of some forms of cancer

•certain other serious medical problems

•already pregnant

•wanting to become pregnant within 12 months.

Royal Women's Hospital

I was supposed to get may last Depo shot the second week of October. I decided not to after being on it for 1 year and 5 months. I started when I was 18 and now I'm less than a month away from being 20. Instead of not having periods at all I bled constantly while on the Depo, and my periods were always irregular lasting up to a month straight.

I've been off Depo Provera for almost a month and I believe I'm starting to experience symptoms of withdrawal.
I've been having cramps tenfold and they're the worse in my lower back. I'm experiencing a lot of nausea and fatigue. I've been getting these horrible migraines that make my head pound and hard to focus. There also has been some tenderness in my breasts too.

I'm not sure how it has affected my fertility since I'm not trying to have children at my age, but since I've been off I have not started a period yet.


I didn't enjoy being on the shot. The effectiveness is convenient, but the side effects aren't worth it.
I plan to switch over to the pill and take Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo, which I hope will regulate my periods better.

Hi Ladies,

I have to say to everyone who has taken the time to leave messages on this thread and number 1 a massive thank you! nice to know i'm not cracking up!!

Well I went to see my GP due to getting dizzy from being on the pill, he told me the way to go was Depro - so the nurse said about the bone density possibilities - no porblem i thought i'll take calcuim and vit D so my body can absorb it.
Well after 24 hours (it gets a bit graphic - sorry) i was getting mild tummy cramps - didn't think much of it, then they got very severe went to the GP who thought i was having an eptopic - i wasn't as a result of this terrible jab ive had scans, cameras where they dont belong, become anemic keep fainting, my hair is falling out, ive gained 3 stone, in 12 weeks - all in 1 jab - the weight gain sucks as im a sports and weight personal wellness coach!! - the sysmptoms have been terrible my boobs are swollen and so tender that a bra is uncomfortable, my stomach is so big and bloated, i constanlty have a headache and some blurred vission as well as heart palpitations, and now the GP says im bleeding out internally!! - great! im depressed and just want to do nothing, no energy and its all reltated to 1 injection that my GP called 'fantastic'!! needless to say i haven't been for my 2nd jab!! i feel like im expecting there white / clear discharge - i really dont know if this is normal. and the weight just isn't shiffting. and my poor fella thinks im going off him as well my sex drive is non existant! and my mood swings are rediculous

I gotta say im pretty well lost for words that how easily we can get this injection, and the side effects people are suffering is just rediculous i feel for everone who is on or trying to regain a life after having it, ive only been off of it 2 weeks, no period and my symptoms are not getting any better, im not posting this for sympathy - im posting it in the vain hope someone who is considering taking this outragous drug gives it some serious thought, and i certainly wouldn't recommed it to anyone - not even an enemy.

i never thought id say this but please come back periods and get this crap out of my system! i really hope theres no long term affects!

Guest wrote:

I've been on depo for 16 years now - longer than anyone I've ever heard of (from the ages of 22 to 3. I've had weigh gain along the years but I attribute that more to age and lack of good eating habits than to depo. Basically I've loved being on depo and not having periods for 16 years. Now I'm thinking of getting off it due to concerns about bone loss (I had a bone density test about 2-3 years ago and it was fine), but I found this thread and I'm terrified!! Is there anyone out there who 1) has been on depo this long, and/or 2) has gone off depo after a long period of time and hasn't had any of the symptoms people describe? I'm just curious if by nature the only people writing on this thread are the ones having problems, or if EVERYONE who goes off depo experiences these terrible symptoms. Please feel free to write me directly with your experiences. lucky@alum.mit.edu

I had been on depo since 1996. I got my last shot in October of 2008 due to wanting to give my body a rest and try to let it get back to normal. I unfortunately have had many of the side effects listed in this forum. I have gained about 20 lbs and never did when I was on the shot. I have also not been able to lose it! I am a personal trainer and this is really frustrating and depressing! My breasts grew a whole cup size and were so sore for about 6 months. They felt like they were sunburned all the time and working out or putting on a bra was horrible. I still cannot fit into many of my clothes and my moods have been awful. I also experienced the night sweats but they have gone away. I have been taking a small dose of the hormone in the depo just to feel sort of normal. The whole time until I started the hormone therapy--I thought I was pregnant too. Two tests and negative results of course. I just never imagined going through such a horrible experience. I am still not regular and still have severe moodiness. Hang in there though. I hope all of this will eventually get way better. I started my period finally in July of this year but it is far from regular.

Here is an article that just came out on
"Women Struggle to Quit Depo-Provera: Birth Control Injections Have Long Safety Record, But No Tests on So-Called Withdrawal Symptoms"
It doesn't really answer any of our questions but at least these withdrawal problems are finally coming to light.

Hi Ladies
I have been on the rollercoster for over 3 months now,no help from my doctors,I ended up going to a naturopath,he is also a pharmacist,when I told him about all my symptoms and that I was on depo, he rolled his eyes,he said i was having withdraw symptom's.
He told me Depo suppresses the hormone progesterone,when you come off depo, the progesterone hormone slowly increasing in our bodies,with the other hormones they end up out of balance,it takes time to get the all the sex hormones back into balance .

Thanks to our doctors we now have a Suppressed hormone and low stomach acid (reason for putting on weight while taking depo),when coming off depo our hormones are in shock,they are fighting one another trying to work out a way to work together again, our stomach acid is so sluggish reason for feeling all these symptoms of nausea, fatigue,not losing the weight we put on when taking depo etc,I was given a list of very high protein foods and some tablets to kick start the stomach acid into working again so my body will be able to absorb the food i eat better and help put the hormones back into balance, after a few weeks you can start to feel the difference.

If your thinking of going on depo,depo it made so that your body is tricked into thinking your pregnant,so again the symptoms of feeling prego for the first few month, thats meant to happen.......it does settle down.....,the best thing is, dont even think about going on depo stay away from it, because at some stage you will get some kind of symptom, stay away from depo.............