Depression and the Depo Provera birth control shot.

Hi Tashleyboo,

I'm glad to find a recent post to this!  There is HOPE.  I believe from experience you can return to your happy non-depressed, non fluctuating "normal" state of mind. 

My 1st Depo shot (Planned Parenthood)was September 2011 and I experienced extreme emotions that I had a gut feeling was from the shot.  I was an already moody person in my cycle but not to the point of crying from normal stress until the Depo Provera shot.  Emotional pain was magnified and break-up/arguements felt more cruel and unfair than usual.

My 2nd Depo shot (Planned Parenthood) Fantastic! I became an Early Bird! I could do overtime for work like I was a machine and barely even feel it, then go in and pound away again.  More energy, less distracted.  I took benadryl though to be able to sleep at night.  Insomnia is definately part of the package with super early bird reaction. That is above my normal state, as I am a night owl naturally.

My 3rd Depo shot (Jan-March 2012)was solitary confinement.  Just a day after the shot, it was like BOOM, I'm depressed and empty isolated feeling...the night before my birthday!  I mean my birthday is on St Patricks day and always some fun bubbly dance of the Irish I could be doing but nope, lost the drive To drive or go anywhere.  I made myself call a friend because I couldn't go down like that for my b-day. Company helped, but it was just the begining.  I had no idea where the finish line was out of the "emotional slum of unpredictable random sense of self"!  It was the most challenging inner battle I've ever gone through because I didn't understand the "why is this me now?" "what can I do about it" and "when does it end".  With the economy the way it is, I just thought the moods of the world were finally catching up with me.

My "Intermission Point of Peace" happened about 2 1/2 months into 3rd Depo shot I referred to above.  What gave my brain a doorway is an article I stumbled upon about Therapy - We can Take Control because  we are not to blame, and we can choose to rise above it.   My attitude changed because I realised I had a right to  love, health, happyness etc, I owned up to feeling crappy and trampled on by friends and lovers.  This is just an example of so many turns my mind was able to make.  I grieved, my spirit cried, I went to sleep, and felt carressed by a caring embrace inside.  I knew then, it was going to be ok. The next day, the love for myself was there again, love for life, appreciation of others, thankfulness of making it out of the "dark disconnect" feeling.

4th Depo Shot (Private Doctor) Extremely Positive so far, like the 2nd Shot was, only better . I was instantly motivated and hyper rather than tired and unmotivated!  Feels like a Depo shot build with drugs to counteract the Depo Provera common symptoms like Adderall or something.  Insomnia though gets me.  I fight off sleeping until the 3 hours of possible sleep decision has to be made.  Then, I have to force myself down.  Can hormones do this?  Either way, I believe there is a link between what makes the mind not want to sleep and Depo shot because there are TWO extreme sides.  I've never actually seen the Box of Depo...It's always some Medical Assistance with a clear, non-labeled needle ready to stick me with...(laughing at this).  So, who knows, but there IS HOPE.  Part of the way out is knowing you are able to get out, and you are loved.

5th Depo?  um NO.  See, the pattern above shows that either Ovulation is better suited for Depo on one ovary side than the other, or my body balances me with a crappy Depo shot to make up for my superwoman depo the time before...OR it's NOT always the same Depo "Brand"...a generic Depo Provera might be your world of trouble so I would ask your doctor to get you the real deal if he/she hasn't been giving you what you think.  Have you seen the box? Just saying...there's alot of different "hydrocodone" manufacturers and they are not all the same effect, for example.

Hang in there...don't forget to post when you're feeling better too! 

All the same symptoms exact!! The eating weight gain depression extended period and crying and I have also only had one shot starting in June.

Hello,

I started the depo shot in December 2010 for the first time. My friend had gotten on it and loved its convenience so I thought I'd try it too. It immediately made me stop having a period, which I loved. about a month in I started realizing how miserably depressed I was. At first I blamed the shot, but then realized I had always been depressed and doubted the shot had anything to do with it. In March 2011 I decided to go ahead and get my second shot because right before it was time to get it my horrible depression had seemed to get a little better. When the horrible side effects returned I decided to switch to a birth control pill, Lo Loestrin FE. I stayed on that for a while and didn't have another period for a few months and only every 4 months. In July 2012 I decided I'd give depo another chance because I was starting to forget to take my pill daily and missed its convenience. It's been a month since I got that shot and I am regretting it more than anything! I had forgotten all of the other side effects! The weight gain, headaches, cravings, HORRIBLE mood swings. The tiniest things set me off so bad I just wanna sit and cry! A friend said something not nice to me the other day and I knew he was joking but I couldn't help but cry! I'm having a terrible time yet again! Last time the bad side effects seemed to subside right around the time I was due for another shot, thankfully! I plan to get back to the pill but don't know how to deal with these symptoms for at least two more months!

Hello,

I'm so glad I found this forum and was able to read your personal stories regarding Depo/side effects. I have also had severe depression and crazy mood swings. I have been off the shot for 7 months and just started my period again. Since it started, the emotional rollercoaster has grown exponentially. I literally can be laughing one minute then crying the next then growling with rage. I feel terrible and my personal relationships are falling apart. Before the Depo, I had irregular periods but no mood swings (especially none that were uncontrollable).

Does anyone know when/if this gets better?

Also, my period is on day 9 today and is still heavy. I've read other accounts that it gets better once the chemicals are out of your system which worries me since I'm already on my period and my doctor says that is the main indicator that my system is free of Depo-Provera.

Thanks,
Catherine

 I have been on the depo shot for alomost a year now i am just starting to get very moody, depressed, so tired but cant sleep, i love the depo shot this is my only side effect. any body else have just this one problem i really dont want to get off it but i dont want to be so moody! i am a very happy person normaly, even my husband has been asking whats wrong, and starting to cause fighting in my marriage, and we normaly dont fight, help!

i have called they are goin to get back with me i have been taking other medication i was a lil curious about that ill ask him about that too thank you!

Hi Honeybunchzzz,

It sounds like you are handling it well. The down in the dumpps feeling that is. I am glad that is all that is going on. Welcome to the forum. Do keep posting.

Hugs, Karen

Hi Bethany,

Thank you for sharing and welcome to the forum...

Hugs, Karen

Hi there Cinnamonswan,

Welcome to the forum. I am not familiar with the shot, I always took birth control pills, then got my tubes done in my 30s. I hope you get some good advice here.

Take care and keep posting...

Hugs, Karen...

Hello. I am 15 and got this shot because I have horrendous periods and my mom has endometriosis, so they thought this would keep me from getting it too. I thought it would be pretty cool not to have a period. And honestly, I would rather have a period every day than deal with the hell I have been through with this shot. I've only had it for a little over a month now and there is a huge change in my personality. I just got moved out of my old house and school right after I got this shot and am having an extremely difficult time making friends. This shot has intensified the pains of being socially awkward, and when someone is rude to me, I feel like crying immediately. I go home and cry so hard that it's insane. I am ready to just do online homeschooling. My symptoms have been: weight gain(I am so depressed that I eat to make myself happy), extreme mood swings, severe anger, exhaustion, migraines, and everything else that comes with a period. Just no blood. Please DO NOT get this shot! Some doctors consider it toxic due to the fact that once it's in your system, you can't get it out for three months. I will be stuck in this hell for another two months and possibly more than that. I was previously on TriNessa birth control and it was SOOO much better than this. If you consider this shot because it sounds convenient, beware: there is nothing convenient about this shot.

What a relief to find that other woman are experiencing the same side-effects from the Depo shot.

I received my 2nd shot two days ago and afterwards felt a surge of uncontrollable rage, sadness, discomfort, etc. I have experienced a constant period, or period-like symptoms for the last three months, pretty much each time I go to the bathroom.

I guess I question why I decided to go through with the 2nd injection after experiencing these symptoms for over three months; however I convinced myself once again that it is much better than the potential of an unwanted pregnancy.

Before the Depo I was on the Mirena IUD, and had similar side-effects: dizziness, constant sadness (crying at everything), irritability, anxiousness, and a rash that resembled cystic acne. My sex-drive is relatively non-existent despite having a great looking partner. I have not had any issues with weight gain, or at least my weight has remained relatively consistent.

I am considering going to a psychiatrist that can help, and perhaps prescribe meds that can at least stabilize my mood swings.

What I dread the most is the effect it will have my reproductive health in the future. What will this synthetic hormone have on my ability to get pregnant someday? I am 30 years old, and I am afraid that it will screw with the health of a future baby.

I hate that I will have these chemicals inside me for the next 3 months, and you can bet I will not be getting another shot. I wish providers would be more honest about the side-effects of birth control - particularly with the Depot, as I have researched endlessly and have read that women with a history of Depression should not take it. Sometimes I feel that providers are so dead-set on getting you on birth control, that they ignore the potential risks. Everyone is different of course, and I do believe in the benefits of birth control, but I wish that it was easier to navigate the right option. I suppose any time you expose your body to something foreign in order to alter its natural function, you offer yourself for all kinds of potential problems.

Has anyone sought antidepressants for help with their birth control depression?

Hi xxizziexxx,

I hope that you feel better soon. Welcome to the forum. We have a resource thread at the top of the page, visit when needed. You are going to feel better. Keep posting, it really helps. Good luck with the birth control...

Hugs, Karen...