I was SO grateful for this site. I decided to stop taking the pill (Yaz) in March of 2008. In April almost exactly 1 month later, I became very depressed. It hit me like a ton of bricks. I can even tell you the moment it happened. I have never been depressed or anxious before and am typically not that type of person. Needless to say, I felt like I was losing my mind. In my search for a logical explanation, I realized that as I was noticing the effects of my hormones regulating to my "pre birth control" self and what is normal for my body, (such as an increased sex drive, oily face, acne, hair growing faster, weight loss...), that maybe my body went into a kind of shock because I had been taking these hormones and all of a sudden it had to remember how to make them again itself. So maybe due to them being out of whack, it cause me to be severely depressed.
I went through 2 agonizing weeks of SEVERE depression. Then exactly 2 weeks later, I woke up having SEVERE panic attacks. I went to the ER so they could rule out my thyroid or any other medical issues and begged them to give me something IV to calm me down. I spoke with a Dr. there that agreed with my birth control theory and said that it was very possible. She said that birth control works to make your body think it's pregnant and that when I stopped it, it could've thrown me into a type of post partum depression. AND that drug companies don't do a lot of post market studies so there wouldnt be a lot of information out there about it.
Thank God for her because, my own OB gyne had completely and rudely dismissed that theory. They gave me an antianxiety med and an antidepressant. I took the anxiety drug and decided I wasn't even about to put the antidepressant into my body and risk something even worse than this. So, I began taking some of the suggested vitamins, drinking extra sleepy time tea so I could sleep, and only took the anxiety pills if I really needed them. The severe anxiety lasted another 2 weeks and it mellowed out. So I was dealing with a mild case of depression and anxiety until about mid June and didn't take any pills. Only sleepy time tea. It will now be my 3rd period after stopping the pill and I'm feeling almost back to normal again. I kept a chart of when I had a bad day or a better day and the worse days always seemed to coincide with the time just before my period.
Anyways, I hope this helps, because what helped me was knowing I'm not the only one and that it gets better. I thought of writing the FDA and trying to get someone to do some type of research so that we know exactly what we're getting into before taking this stuff.
I went through 2 agonizing weeks of SEVERE depression. Then exactly 2 weeks later, I woke up having SEVERE panic attacks. I went to the ER so they could rule out my thyroid or any other medical issues and begged them to give me something IV to calm me down. I spoke with a Dr. there that agreed with my birth control theory and said that it was very possible. She said that birth control works to make your body think it's pregnant and that when I stopped it, it could've thrown me into a type of post partum depression. AND that drug companies don't do a lot of post market studies so there wouldnt be a lot of information out there about it.
Thank God for her because, my own OB gyne had completely and rudely dismissed that theory. They gave me an antianxiety med and an antidepressant. I took the anxiety drug and decided I wasn't even about to put the antidepressant into my body and risk something even worse than this. So, I began taking some of the suggested vitamins, drinking extra sleepy time tea so I could sleep, and only took the anxiety pills if I really needed them. The severe anxiety lasted another 2 weeks and it mellowed out. So I was dealing with a mild case of depression and anxiety until about mid June and didn't take any pills. Only sleepy time tea. It will now be my 3rd period after stopping the pill and I'm feeling almost back to normal again. I kept a chart of when I had a bad day or a better day and the worse days always seemed to coincide with the time just before my period.
Anyways, I hope this helps, because what helped me was knowing I'm not the only one and that it gets better. I thought of writing the FDA and trying to get someone to do some type of research so that we know exactly what we're getting into before taking this stuff.
Thank you so much for writing this. I'm having the same problem but to a lesser degree. I'm on my first period after stopping. The one right before I decided to ditch the drugs was AWFUL. I felt great for the in between weeks and now I'm feeling like I'm having mini anxiety attacks all the time. I haven't started my period yet but the I'm due for it. Stupid hormones! Any recommendations on specific vitamins to take?
This post was greatly helpful. My ex has been experiencing a near hell experience with her hormones and anxiety and panic attacks since coming off of yaz. It worked great when she was on it to help regulation but caused other serious health issues including cysts and clots etc. but now that she's off of it all the depression, anxiety, almost chronic, panic attacks, night terrors and more are all a major factor in her daily life and is very disruptive to her work, her sleep and everyday outlook on life. I know there are more than a couple of lawsuits against yaz and we're hoping to get involved in them at this point. I will mention the tea to her as I'm sure it will be something she will happily consider at this point.
Her doctors too are writing her off and tested stuff like the thyroid. I hope this gains much greater attention very soon!
Her doctors too are writing her off and tested stuff like the thyroid. I hope this gains much greater attention very soon!
So good to see this, ive been anxious even couldnt sleep until 4 am one night since I stipped taking it I am never awake on my own past midnight. I am climbing kilimanjaro kind of scared i will have panic attack at altitude nefore I stopped taking it I was feelin fatigued and lost all interest in sex.
Thank you so much for writing this - my theory was right . I stopped taking yaz 4 weeks ago, I bled heavily for 2.5 weeks - I mean really heavy . Now I am having severe cramps between 1-5 am and I am very depressed. I bust out in sweats and shake uncontrollably to the point I cannot hold a cup. Then it occurred to me that I am having with drawls syndrome being on hormones for so many years.
I am determine to fight it though off to the gym to lift some heavy weights . It helps with the depression - best All
I am determine to fight it though off to the gym to lift some heavy weights . It helps with the depression - best All
Amazing. I am fighting through this as well 3 weeks in, man what a struggle. Im a happy person, can;t believe I'm fighting for my sanity through this but this has to be done. THANK YOU for your support everyone , I need it for real