Deprovera side effects

[nurstudnt546]

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!

[nurstudnt546, BSN, RN]

Hi, just a little update for all of those who responded with tons of advice, suggestions, and support.

Had an appointment with my primary healthcare provider for a pap today, but made little progress in getting information about my other BC options. I suppose I need to discuss this with my OBY/GYN. For the meantime, I'm going on the pill.

I know I'm probably stumbling on a completely different topic now but has anyone ever experienced a really akward examination? First of all, my examiner was a PA and I hold no bias/grudges against any titled healthcare professional caring for me, but this guy was just ... I don't even know how to explain it. He read every health question really fast (right down the list), made little eye contact and just generally had a "I'm just here to do my job" kind of attitude when I had questions. I know they were busy but I really was dissatisfied with the patient care I received.

Oh well, I guess I can just look at this experience as an example of how NOT to treat a patient.

Have a great day everyone!

[nerak712004]

I have a question about a side effect....I have never used this before :)

[Gompers, BSN, RN]

I absolutely hated Depo-provera. It was three months of heck. Never got it again.

I gained 15 pounds in three months. I had no sex drive for three months. I was a screaming, irritable lunatic for three months. I'd be yelling at people (usually men for some reason) and in my head, I'd be saying to myself, "Why are you yelling???" and I just couldn't stop myself. It was awful!

The only benefit was that I didn't get my period. Not worth it!!!

[MsPiggy]

My Dil was on this for 2 yrs and had horrible side effects, she stopped it and was dx with stage 4 ovarian ca a month later. We don't know if there is a connection there, her onco Doc suggested one, but why take the risk especially with the problems you have developed recently?

I'm not meaning to frighten you, but there are so many other options out there, maybe a IUD, or the cervical cap-even better. I haven't heard good things about Deprovera at all, I realize this is a biased opinion on my part.

I hope you find something else that is safer & convienent soon. Life is stressful enough, add to it kids, spouses,school etc...I'd try a safer non hormonal route if I were in your position...Well I was (I had my DH get fixxed,lol!, though you may want more children later)...Take care and put your health first, that is most important.

Ms.P

[Mission]

I was on depo for most of my undergrad years. I suffered from mood swings/depression while on depo. Additionally, I lost all my womanly fat (this was not a good thing). Within a few months of getting off depo I gained the weight back and the depression was gone. It was nice not to have periods but I will never go on that stuff again and I have been extremely attentive to my moods and weight when starting a new form of bc. I'm currently using the nuvaring which I have no complaints about.

[Laura77598]

I have had the same thing happen to me too!!! Get off it. First tell your doctor about your problems, but this happened to me also. Thank GOD for vasectomies. I have tried every one of the BC treatments out there, albeit years ago befor some of the newer ones like the ring, the patch, and laser ablation, but every one of them would have the same side effect: I would bleed for 24 CONSECUTIVE DAYS, with ONE WEEK of no bleeding!!!!!!!!!!!! Can anyone say Y-U-C-K??? I also experienced severe depression also. I wound up going in for a DNC procedure, and I will not ever try BC treatments again. Vasectomies are WONDERFUL!!!!! But if you are not married with as many children as you want, I see your problem. Yes this happens to other, TELL your DOCTOR, and ask about discontinuing it. tell him that the complications and side effects are making it a poor BC choice, and ask about other choices. You have NO IDEA HOW INDIVIDUALIZED BC TREATMENTS NEED TO BE, and you would be amazed at all of the various side effects.

Laura

[Multicollinearity, BSN, RN]

It boggles my mind that Provera is still on the market. Many cardiologists think it causes heart disease. It's bad for your bone density. Psychiatrists think it's awful with the depression/irritability side effects. I've read this repeatedly in books and on Medline. My ex-boyfriend, an OB/GYN joked that Provera works because it makes women so darn miserable that they don't want to have sex.

All this considered - I'd choose to remember to take a pill daily. If it's important to you, you will do it.

[iHeartNICU]

I was on Depo for 3 years w/ no side effects at all. Thank goodness. I can't take anything w/ estrogen so on Depo I went. Also, it wasn't for BC but for extremely heavy abnormal bleeding. I think I need to get back on it but reading these horror stories makes me not want to even though I had no trouble at all with it. Hmmm. What's a girl to do?

[jojotoo, RN]

Well, I must be an anomaly. I was on Depo-Provera for about 12 years. I used it to control heavy, painful periods and not as birth control. I thought it was great! No problems and no periods. Right at the end of the 12 years, started to have a little break through bleeding, went to my MD - was told I was entering menopause. I stopped taking the injection and still no problems and again no bleeding. I would definitely use it again.

[babynurselsa, RN]

side effects?........................

Her name is Ericka

[mommy2g1b]

I was on Depo for just over a year. It was great at the beginning...no periods...wohoo! Then the anger started. Not just little mood swings, but RAGE inside of me. I wanted to scream at people, and my patience for my children was just non-existent. So I stopped it.....and it took 9mths for my period to come back and for me to feel normal again. I can't help but wonder if the ovarian cyst problems i had after that, and the borderline ovarian tumor I had last year had something to do with it.

[rn/writer, RN]

Here are some links that provide information, pro and con, about Depo Provera:

Depo-Provera (3-Month Shot) - from www.Birth-Control-Comparison.info from Cedar River Clinics

Depo Provera

Women's Health Information : Depo Provera - a contraceptive injection

Anyone considering taking this medication, whether for birth control or for other reasons, should learn all they can about it and discuss their options with their health care provider.

This thread is now closed.