Deprovera side effects

Nurses General Nursing

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Hi everyone,

First of all, I am still pretty new to the forums here since I've only posted a couple of times. I'm a nursing student and will be starting my 2nd semester of a 2yr ADN program on August 25th. =) I'm a 25yr old wife and mother of a 2yr old boy and I'm "hangin in there" trying to make it through school like everyone else.

Okay now back to the subject of my post (I'll try and make it short).

I've been taking Deprovera for a little over 2 years now mainly because the pill was not as convenient (would forget to take the darn thing!). I'm starting to wonder now if I've acquired some of the main side effects from this method of BC. I'm extremely moody (when I get home from work, the littlest things will set me off) and irritable, my sex drive is pretty much non-existent (honestly, I'd prefer some good chocolate next to sex anyday!), I have amenorrhea and occasionally experience some abdominal cramping.

My main concern is depression (mood swings, etc.). I don't feel like myself, or the person I want and know I can be. Somedays I just wake up in a bad mood for no apparent reason. I'm really worried because I feel as though my family is suffering and I don't know what to do.

Is depression a common side effect of Deprovera? I was thinking about going back on the pill if it'll help improve my moods but after a little research on the internet, I read that discontinuing deprovera may also cause moodiness (as well as some other complications).

I appreciate any advice offered and apologize if this topic may have already been covered. Thank you!

Hi SmilingBluEyes. I know this is my decision. I have an appointment with my primary next week and will discuss other possible options. It's just nice to hear other women's stories and know that I'm not alone. I thank you and everyone for your advice, suggestions, personal experiences and support. :)

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Hi shirleyTX, thanks for sharing your experience. I'm glad you get a chance to relax over the summer and that your moods are probably not due to Depo. As for me, even though I have a break from nursing school, I'm still really moody and irritable. I'm only taking one summer class (statistics) and I'm also working as a nurse's aide two shifts a week. I thought it could be my new job because I give a 110% at work and when I get home I feel like I don't have anything left to give to my family; when I get home all I want to do is wash up and go to bed. But I'm irritable even on my off days.

The funny thing is, I think I'll be in better moods when fall semester starts again because I'll be around my friends who I can talk to and who I feel can better relate to me and my stress problems. I've felt a little alienated during this summer break because most of the friends I talk to are in nursing school.

Well, I'll see how things pan out. Thanks again and enjoy the rest of your summer! =)

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JnJTyson, I haven't had any problems with hair growth in the wrong places but I think it is one of the many side effects of Depo. I'm sorry you had to go through that and am glad you are back to normal. :)

Here's a link to a website where a woman shares her personal story about Depo. She experienced practically all the side effects that Depo has, including yours.

Thanks for sharing!

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Specializes in critical care, med/surg.

I was on Depo for 2 years. I gained 20 lbs while on it, as well as amennorrhea. Every month, I would get ill (nausea, vomiting) a week before my shot was due. After I went off Depo, I did not start having a regular period for almost a year.

It's definitely an issue you want to discuss with your doc, but do some research and make sure you are informed as well.

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I am currently using Mirena and I love it! I don't get the hormonal "rage" that I did get with the pill and I still have a sex drive (a big plus for my husband). My OB highly recommended it after the birth of my second baby. Plus, my periods have stopped

:roll !

I agree with the other posters, talk to your dr. There are so many forms of birth control available that you shouldn't have to use something you're not happy with.

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JnJTyson, silly me! I offered you a link to that website but didn't copy and paste it in. Ooops! Here it is:

http://www.abcinternetmarketing.com/depo-provera/

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I have been on Depo for 2 years now and was on it for a year a year before that (hope that's not confusing). I seem to be a little "touchy" with my moods. I thought I had really bad mood swings at first. Then after I had a semester off of school, I realized it's more stress than anything. I also experience amenorrhea as well as a VERY decreased sex drive. I don't like to be touched and it's really hard for me to get in the mood. But I think it could be too I'm so busy with work and school who in the heck has time to think about sex!? but I do know that most of it is because of the shot. I thought about getting on the pill, but since every single female on my mom's side of the family (5 sisters plus their daughters) have had ALL their kids on the pill, it seems to be common sense that I take the pill If I would LIKE to get pregnant. I haven't heard good things about the patch. I friend of mine uses it and she says it falls off all the time. she has to duct tape it to herself. lol! Anyway, that's my depressing birth control story.

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Hello!

I know exactly how you feel. I started taking Depo whil I was in H.S. and took it for a total of five years. No period, no sex drive, headaches, slept all the time, and I got to the point to where I weighed 200 lbs. I was working in a Dr.'s office when the new PA who was the same age as me said "get off that thing." It got to the point to where I think I was getting clinically depressed about the whole ordeal. I went off the shot and got on the pill. I lost 20 lbs in the first month without even trying. With that I was actually excited to see the new femine products out there and went shopping for my period. I began having regular periods again and all of the side effects went away. I then started back to college and found it way difficult to take the pill on time between working and school. I switched to the patch about six months ago and love it. Since my whole Depo experience I have lost about 70 lbs, and gained so much self esteem. I now have a wonderful PCP who is a woman and understands all of the female problems which I think is very important. I blame Depo for keeping me in a shell for five years and was just so young that I didn't know what was wrong with me. Thank god I talked to the PA I worked with and know have a wonderful PCP. Good luck in what you decide. I wish you the best, but please just get off that thing it can't hurt and if you are still having problems then maybe try something else. Don't expect a miracle at first though, it will take your body awile to get back to it's normal stage. I don't care what any research or Dr. says it can't possibly be good for your body to not menstruate. It just isn't normal to put our bodies through that king of alteration just for BC. Why don't men have these problems?

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was typing a ranting tirade about BC and men, but i know that nobody wants to read it. so, food for thought. if men had to take a pill in order to have sex with us, "would they".......or would they make us use the drug free alternative. think about it........

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Hi Student,

I believe at the time I was using "Desogen" BC Pills. I was originally presribed them by a dermotologist in college to control breakouts which it did help. But then I went to my OB/GYN for a yearly check up and I told him what I was on, he thought it was odd because that particluar pill carried an increased risk for blood clots. I still stayed on it though, because at the time I wasn't having problems with it and since I don't smoke and don't have a family history of blood clots there didn't seem to be a need to switch.

I also believe that getting off of that particular pill was the reason I lost about 20-25 pounds. I was never "over weight" while on the pill - perhaps a little pudgy though, but after I quit I continued to eat the same amount and types of food and yet gradually lost a good amount of weight. Nothing else can be attributed to it as I have had my Thyroid, etc. checked.

My husband and I currently use condoms. And, let's just say that we practice even safer sex in that even if it did break it would be no where near getting me pregnant! :imbar

It's really a personal choice though. Women in my family have a tendency to be very fertile people and get pregnant when even multiple types of BC are in place. No Kidding! Thus, I feel safest with a physical barrier and a great amount of distance between us.

Hey, perhaps is sounds a bit OCD but unlike the women in the EPT commercials - "Could I be Pregnant?" - I never have to wonder before I get my next period.

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cokie...good thought!

I put my boyfriend on the pill. I told him if he wants me to be on it, then it's his deal to worry about. He has to pick it up, buy it, and give it to me everyday. If he forgets, then it's his prob, not mine. Let me say, it's fun to watch a guy stress about a missed pill. (I will actually take it, but I won't tell him for a couple hours)

I pretty much just go to the Dr, and swallow the pill, he does the rest. Of course I wouldn't do this if I wasn't happy with my current pill, Yasmin.

I got this idea from a magazine, I think everyone should try it!

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Depression, but no period, hmmmm it's a toss up

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