Can a female have a reaction to a depo shot?

ohmeowzer RN, RN · Mar 29, 2008

i had a depo shot many years ago and didn't stop bleeding and ended up having a d&c ... i never had one again... it was horrible

allnurses Guide · Mar 29, 2008

What kind of reaction?

steph

misslo · Mar 29, 2008

Depo is definately evil! I was on it for 4 years and gained massive amounts of weight, grew hair in places women shouldn't grow hair, suffered from depression and body aches. Not to mention heart palpatations and severe migranes. Once I got off the depo, I slowly started to get back to "normal". Thankfully I didn't bleed like crazy like a lot of women did, but I might as well have seems as the sex drive went "under construction" and never returned. No wonder it's good birth control, sex becomes the furthest thing from your mind.

I googled Depo and read a lot of not so good reviews about it. That is what made me realize how bad it is.

Jolie, BSN · Mar 29, 2008

Any medication can elicit a reaction, allergic or otherwise.

I'm sorry to hear of everyone's bad experiences with depo. I've had great luck with it: no periods, no weight gain, excellent birth control that I don't have to remember to take on a daily basis. Just goes to show how everyone reacts differently.

iHeartNICU · Mar 29, 2008

I would think you could have a reaction to depo. It's no different than having a reaction to the flu shot, or morphine, etc.

I took depo for 3 years and never had a problem.....it was great actually....other than the injection site hurt like heck for a few days after.

kayla123 · Mar 29, 2008

I also gained weight, lost hair by the clumps, bled non stop, and for the shining star moment had chest pain that threw me in the ER. Had all kinds of arrythmias and ended up seeing a cardiologist for a work up. They all denied it was the depo. After 3 months when it 'got out of my system', I was fine. Years later had the patch, gyn swore to me it was low dose, had a complete repeat of cardiac episode. Wouldn't wish depo on my worst enemy. Now had a tubal and ablation, couldn't be happier.

catnip · Mar 30, 2008

I was on depo for roughly 8 years, i know WAY over the recommended time, other than about 60lbs of weight gain in 8 years (i know, it wasnt all the depo:rolleyes:) i really couldnt complain, but i got tired of being a dart board and went with the implanon instead, figured 1 BIG poke verses 12 plus pokes. Havent noticed any problems coming off of the depo either. I figure just like any other drug, whats okay for 1 person is not always okay for another.

barefootlady, ADN, RN · Mar 30, 2008

Thanks for input. This lady had respiratory and cardiac reaction plus heavy bleeding. It was denied it was the depo but she literally had nothing else in her system and this was only her 2nd shot. Needless to say, she if off depo and says it was the worst stuff she has ever taken.

2bNurseGemini · Mar 31, 2008

I'm currently on depo and at first I was impressed and happy, now I'm counting down the days until I can go back to my pill. I already have panic disorder so depo didn't help it any! i didn't gain weight, loss of appetite, no periods, loss of hair, major depression and anxiety, sweat a lot, stomach aches at times..

elizabells, BSN, RN · Mar 31, 2008

Sciatic nerve damage from a badly-aimed injection, and three solid months of bleeding after my final shot wore off. I still limp a bit when I've been on my feet too long or it's really cold out.

justme1972 · Mar 31, 2008

i had a depo shot many years ago and didn't stop bleeding and ended up having a d&c ... i never had one again... it was horrible

When the depo first came out, this was what my doctor said "frequently" happened.

I just don't like the idea of something being in my body that I can't take out or stop the reaction too.

I hate taking pills with a passion...but they work.