Can a female have a reaction to a depo shot?

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I will be the first to tell anyone I know nothing about depo. My daughter called this week and was telling me her friend had a reaction to a depo shot. Is this possible? Any explanation would be appreciated. Thanks.

Specializes in NICU.

I know I'm weighing in on this a little late, but I had some bad times with Depo. I was on it for a year and was very emotional during that time (lots of ups & downs, mood swings, getting mad or upset over the smallest things). It wasn't too good for my skin either--started getting blackheads and had never had them before. I also lost 10 lbs. over the year, which I didn't need to do since I only weighed 110 when I started on it. I would not recommend it to anyone.

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I have been on depo for almost three years and I am getting ready to come off. My husband is in the coast guard and I don't get to see him much so it is not a huge concern. But I only gained 8 pounds (might have been that I am not 20 anymore too), never spotted, and never had pains or headache, and never had panic attacks. But I am afriad that since I was relatively symptom free that I will have all these terrible side effects as I come off of it. I am a patient person so if someone could tell me their timeline for how long it took to have a first period, be regular, and get pregnant that would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Home Health.

I decided not to use depo because of the risk of severe depression. I've already been there without depo.

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i have been using depo for a year now and its the best thing that ever happened to me.:) I don't have periods (which I hate) and I dont feel anything really.

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SO I called my NP today and told her that I want to come off depo and go to that seasonale or seasonique and she told me that since I never had a period on the shot that she might have to induce a period for me and I am concerned because it has been 3 years since my last one and I am afraid of it being extremely heavy. Does anyone know about this?

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Specializes in Community, OB, Nursery.
SO I called my NP today and told her that I want to come off depo and go to that seasonale or seasonique and she told me that since I never had a period on the shot that she might have to induce a period for me and I am concerned because it has been 3 years since my last one and I am afraid of it being extremely heavy. Does anyone know about this?

That's really something that's best addressed with your NP. It's not within our scope of practice nor our terms of service to address here. That said, I do understand the concern and wish you the best. :)

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I guess I just was looking for a personal experience story. Just a rough timeline or guestimate.

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Specializes in Ante-Intra-Postpartum, Post Gyne.

I went on depo when I did not have any health insurance because it is so cheap. I am not sure it is a reaction, but I got a acne like rash all over my back and I normally have very clear skin. Osteoporosis runs in my family and depo depletes 4% of your bone mass. I stopped having a period which was the only good thing about it!

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Specializes in L&D.

I was on depo for a couple years and HATED it. I have a permanent bruise on my side (depo can cause this) that I got when I was 17 (currently 24). After I got it I instantly lost any sex drive, weight gain, horrible mood swings, bled all the time for a few months, and then eventually was told that I might not be able to have children when I went off of it and the doctor's couldn't get my periods started again.

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Specializes in Nurse Scientist-Research.

There was a lady on one of those discovery channel shows "mystery diagnosis" that was allergic to her own natural progesterone. As in anaphylactic reactions. Only super careful monitoring and diary keeping on her and her husband's part uncovered this extremely rare condition which was treated with removal of her ovaries. I would think if someone can be allergic to their own hormones, certainly they could react to anything given per injection.

I think sometimes patients attribute some symptoms as reactions that might be overly dramatic. It does not sound like the case with your daughter's friend.

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