anxiety attacks after stopping birth control

I too hope this gets better during next months! I read somewhere that B-vitamin deficiency is common on women who are on the pill. I take pills that contain 7 different B-vitamins it's called BEFOLI and I think it is a Finnish brand but I'm sure you can find something similar in the US. I also take another pill called Betolvex which is B12 and I heard it's called a "memory-vitamin". I hope these help with my hormones and mood ! I'm feeling a little better but I'm taking it slow and going day by day. I have a doctor's appointment this sunday, she's the same doctor who consulted with me to stop the pill and she was very nice and understanding so I hope she knows best what to do next with these withdrawal symptoms. x from Finland

Thank you for posting this!! I have been off BC for a month and have had many of your same symptoms. Some days it feels completely hopeless and have to keep reminding myself it WILL get better with time. I would love to chat with you more if you can.

Thank you for sharing your story!! I'm about a month off the pill and have been to see several doctors, some were more helpful than others. I had blood work done, thyroid checked, etc. to rule out anything. I was given an antidepressant, but it's an absolute last resort for me as I'm terrified to take meds and don't want to put any more c**p in my body. The week after my "period" with the last pack was by far the worst. I was crying everyday, missed work, completely miserable. I wasn't sleeping much so I know that made things a TON worse. I've been keeping a journal of my symptoms too, it helps to track everything. The mornings are usually worse for me as well, I find I'm anxious and depressed/crying for no particular reason other than I just feel so awful. I've been a runner for a long time but have taken up yoga the past month as it seems to help me relax. I have to force myself to go out sometimes but I know it helps. This forum and others have helped so much, just knowing you're not alone. It's crazy drs. don;t know/don't tell you this stuff when you start the pill. I would have never ever started it had I know coming off would throw my hormones so out of whack.

I'm so glad I found this forum and that I'm not the only one going through this horrible and scary time.

Here's my story:
I have been on BC for 10 years and have ways been on a low dose. I was on Ortho Tri Cyclen Lo for about 5 years. I've never had any issues with any of the BC I was prescribed. I got married in October 2014 and ran out of my birth control prescription (Ortho Tri Cyclen Lo) towards the end of February 2015. I had to change insurance companies and see a new doctor due to getting married. I was given a month courtesy pack since I wasn't a patient yet. Little did I know, there isn't a generic version of Ortho Tri Cyclen Lo so I was given the generic of regular Ortho Tri Cyclen without my knowledge. In the middle of May, I experienced bad anxiety for 2.5 days straight. I just constantly felt on edge and scared. All I could do was lay down to help me feel "ok". I went to see my primary doctor about it and she tested my thyroid, my blood work from April was all good, and I wore a heart monitor for 30 days. Everything was normal. I decided to stop BC since that was the only thing I could pinpoint that had changed in my life. I had never experienced anxiety before this. I also experience random crying for no reason, pressure in my head, feeling spacey/foggy headed. The anxiety is what I struggle with the most but it hasn't been as bad as it was in May, and it doesn't happen every day, but it comes and goes and I struggle when I have to be home alone. I went back to see my doctor a few days ago because my anxiety was really high and I was seeking reassurance that there wasn't anything else wrong with me causing this. She said she couldn't really justify an MRI of my head to insurance so they wouldn't cover it, but she ordered a 24 pee test that is supposed to test my adrenaline levels (I get results next week). Of course she wouldn't come out and say my issues are a result of BC, but said stopping BC could have been a physical stressor on my body which causes the anxiety. She prescribed me Sertraline (generic Zoloft) to help with the anxiety. I took 25mg for 2 days and decided this isn't the route I want to take. I have never been depressed in my life nor have had anxiety. I've always been a happy person and able to handle most situations. My doctor did mention to me that CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) might help me so that is my next step. My anxiety now focuses solely around my health and the fear of having something wrong with me. I hope seeing a psychiatrist will help with this anxiety and I hope this passes soon!

I am thankful to see that several people on here have been able to move past their situations. I've almost reached my 2 month mark since stopping BC so I hope this gets easier! Wishing everyone good luck with their experiences!
-Christina

Hi,
I have a similar story, it's been about 2 months off BC for me. It's been a roller coaster, and I just hope that the worst of it is over. The toughest for me has been the anxiety and insomnia. I went to a naturopathic dr. (very expensive since my insurance doesn't cover it) b/c I just want some relief. I had blood-work/thyroid checked at my regular GP, and everything came back normal. I'm also seeing a counselor for CBT. I would love to chat more with you.

How are you doing now?

Hello all, 

Just wanted to come on here and recap my recovery and hopefully provide some hope for some of you out there feeling utterly hopeless. The last time I posted, I was a mess. And now I am much less of a mess. I was due for my last depo injection on June 11 so techincally I've been off for a little over a month. I wont' say by any means that I am healed. But my anxiety has decreased, the joint pain and fatigue has decreased and I am feeling much more positive about life. 

The symptoms that still remain: anxiety waves that subside pretty quickly, intrusive/violent thoughts generally only right before bed, foggy thinking (some), tension headaches, detached feelings from my loved ones, and an overall emotional numbness. Still no sign of a period though. Although it doesn't sound that I am better, I really am improving. I keep my fingers crossed that I'll fully recover in time. 

Hello everyone! So happy to find this forum, and realize that a lots of people are going through similar thing. I was taking BC for 3 years(don`t remember the name), and not until last July when I experienced sudden anxiety, my hart started to race, and I though I might die right on freeway. I had to drive 30 miles to get home, and I wouldn`t believe that I can make it. I was going on carpool line by myself and just hoping I can make it home.I had no idea what was going on with me, and not until few days later I realized it might be because of BC, so I stopped taking pills. Right after I stopped taking pills, it just got worse. I had to miss few days of work, was just staying home, and hoping that I won`t die. I had huge anxiety doing anything, and couldn`t focus at all. I couldn`t be by myself, and just in general felt very miserable. I barely made trip to the store (only few min walking), and got very anxious at self-check out. I also though I gonna be like that for life. My car was broken at that time, but I totally didn`t see myself driving, especially being by myself in the car. I didn`t keep track of the days ( I do regret it now), but about two weeks after I stopped taking pills, I went to usual self and it was a great relieve. I would carry water with me everywhere I go after that. I feel like if I will stop breathing, water will help. (I know it doesnt make sense, but that`s in my head). This June , I got new BC pills (I told doctor the story, and she suggested trying different once). After taking them for a month, it started all over again. I felt sudden anxiety driving, walking, basically doing anything I normally do. I would be late for my class because I waited until traffic slows down. (traffic would make me go crazy). Had to cancel my work few times. Couldn`t focus on homework etc. And thoughts that I will die, and no one is there to help me. I stopped the pills immediately, but would never go back to them. It been little bit more than a week since I stopped them, I am feeling better. But still not complete myself. Hopefully,it will go away soon. I really want to be the happy person I used to be, and drive myself anywhere I need to.
This forum was such a great relive, because a lots of people described basically my feelings.
Good luck! I will keep you updated!

Hey Sam4014!

I have been off BC for almost 2 months. I couldn't handle the anxiety anymore so I went on anti-anxiety medication. I felt so bad, I couldn't control my thoughts at all and I felt like I was losing my mind and myself, like constant panic attack + depression for a week straight after my first period off BC, all I could do was lie down. I take the smallest dose possible a day and it's used to cure panic disorder (as well as anxiety and depression). It has made everything so much better!!! I literally couldn't function anymore and it was making me depressed so I decided enough is enough. I have a wonderful doctor who believed me when I said this is caused by my BC. Unfortunately the medical world hasn't done much research on this subject so there isn't anything else to cure this but regular anti-anxiety meds and therapy (and I couldn't get into therapy because it's summer so). I tried some supplements during my first month off but they didn't do much unfortunately. Some girls have found help in those. I have also been taking ear acupunction and it has been good, there we have been trying to take care of the hormonal imbalance. I hope everything will even out soon. I hope strength for everybody who's going trough this! It's tough! Some girls on another forum have been saying this could take 6-12 months to recover from. Don't be scared to ask for help, if it's therapy, medication, supplements, anything. This is not your own making, this is caused by your birth control pill but the reaction you are having is real anxiety and if you need help to get trough it it is completely OK.

Hi!
I'm pretty much in the same boat, it's been almost 2 months off. I too finally got anxiety meds in desperation. I wasn't sleeping and this of course was only making the anxiety even worse! I'm taking the lowest dose and halving them. I was so reluctant to take them (I have anxiety over taking anxiety medication!) but they have helped. What are you taking for the anxiety/depression? I was also prescribed an antidepressant that I haven't taken..I'm VERY uncomfortable with it and think I would have more anxiety about taking it and any possible side effects than any benefit I would get from them. I have been going to therapy and it's helping. I've always had a bit of anxiety before all this but I think all the on and off I did with the pill really messed up my hormones and I also started a new job around the same time I went off BC for good 2 months ago. I think the combination of it all sent my anxiety into overdrive. I've never had depression ever in my life but it's taken a toll, the anxiety, moodiness, insomnia, and just generally feeling like c**p. I went to see a naturalistic doctor who has me on some supplements. I'm waiting to get the results back from my hormone level testing. She too said that lots of women have go through this when stopping the pill. I have been trying to do yoga on the days I feel good. I used to run every other day before all this started but just haven't had the energy lately. I have even thought of going back on the pill to try and feel better but the thought of going through all this again when I eventually need to get off is just too much to bear. I would like to try acupuncture, I know lots of girls here have had success with it. My regular MD said it takes on average 3 months for your hormones to balance out. I wasn't on the pill for very long so I hope my body will balance out soon.This has been one of the hardest things I have ever been through, I still can't believe that OB/GYN's don't seem to have a clue that this can happen as a result of stopping the pill.

That's good news! Even small improvements are encouraging because it means that you are getting better! I have to remind myself all the time that I'm not going to wake up one day and be 100% better, as frustrating as that is and how much I wish that would happen. I'm celebrating the small things, I know I'll be stronger when all this is over. It's really put things in perspective as far as taking care of myself and my body. Hang in there, we are all here to support each other and et through this!!

I forgot to add...my naturalistic doctor said to drink LOTS of water, about 80 oz. a day. This will help get all the toxins from your body and speed up recovery.

Sam! Same time it makes me super sad that you're in the same boat as me but it's kind of comforting as well to know I'm not the only one taking medication for this. Don't be anxious over it: the anxiety meds are going to make you better, not worse like BC. I was anxious too at first but I now can see how this works and it's making my life so much easier. My meds contain venlafaxin and the dose is 37,5mg. It is not a calming med you take every now and then when you feel bad, I have to take it every morning for a few months. I can't break them into smaller pieces, I have to take the whole capsule. I used to have a few panic attacks and anxiety after them already while I was on BC and I really want to get this whole anxiety thing actually cured. My doctor said this medicine is something that's actually healing and has permanent results in the long run, so hopefully in the future I won't have anxiety problems anymore (besides normal anxiety which is of course part of life but you know what I mean with anxiety PROBLEM when it is actually effecting your everyday life). This has been the hardest thing for me too and it is bothering me like how can a BC f**k your life up like this it makes me very sad. I don't want to turn bitter though because that's not my nature and I know that I will get back to my happy, more care free self who can enjoy being alone and staring at the ceiling with my own happy thoughts. Like you, I want to celebrate the small things and see the small improvements :) This will be a distant memory some day, hopefully not long from now and you are right, this makes us stronger. I hope you'll recover soon! Don't be too hard on your self, this will pass I promise. The water thing is also something my acupuncturist told me! I really should drink more water anyhow so this is good time to start to learn that and make it a habit. In Finland we even have an old saying "Water is the oldest of all treatments".

How are you now

Hi!
I'm so glad the meds are helping you! I too know I will always have a bit of normal anxiety that's manageable. I know this will make us all stronger; the positive aspect of all of it is I've really seen some aspects of my life I want to change. I wish I had done more research about BC before ever taking it, I never ever would have thought hormones could do all this!! Lesson learned! I don't know how many women out there experience these kind of issues but just reading and chatting about it all has been so helpful for me. Thanks for writing me back, have a great week!