Has anyone experienced depression as a side-effect from taking the pill?

I was on the pill for just a little under 2 months and went off of it because my ex and I broke up. My cycle is still off-kiltered and I've been experiencing a rough spell of depression. Apparently, it's a common side-effect and can last anywhere from 3 months to a year or so - depending on how long you were on the pill. I've been off the pill for almost a month and am STILL having the neg. effects: depression and anxiety.

I just wanted to pass on the word for those of you who are dealing with depression and could very well be (or have been) on the pill. What an eye opener!

Basically, the pill depletes the body's zinc levels, B vitamins and essential fatty acids, while causing copper levels to go up.

I was advised by other women experiencing these same symptoms, the following:

Multi-B vitamins, omega oils, fresh air and exercise.

I don't take the pill. Actually, with the exception of antibiotics, OTC cold medicine and motrin, I will only take any kind of medication as a last resort. Many times there are more natural ways to correct/prevent a problem, but what you say makes ABSOLUTE sense! Vitamin B and zinc are going to work wonders for you, I promise. Hope you're feeling back up to par soon.

Good God, girl! Your insides must be pickled Don't get me wrong..if I needed medication to help with a disease or something potentially life altering, i'd take it. Right now i'm walking around with a prescript for cholesterol meds. I'm first trying diet changes, but if my cholesterol doesn't drop in the next 3 or so months i'll take the pill. I just thought my doctor was too eager to put me on medication right off the bat. The cholesterol is high, but not dangerously so, and i'm only 31. Everything i've read advises women in their child bearing years against this kind of medication.

The threat of losing your child(ren) does wonders, doesn't it? Well, for good parents like us anyway. I'm glad the meds work so well for you. I was on antidepressants off and on for several years. They didn't help me much. My happiness felt "simulated" if that makes any sense...but I still felt the yuck festering deep down. I do believe that much of my depression was envioronment related as opposed to chemical which makes a huge difference. The docs just wanted to dope me up though, it didn't matter that I needed to make some huge changes in my life. Turns out it mattered alot!

Well hey...at least the kids had fun while you were out of your mind, right?

Hi missjess,
I have tried almost every type of oral contraceptive on the market and cannot tolerate any of them. I even tried the Depo Provera injection and I was basically bipolar until it went out of my system. Some of us just cannot tolerate any type of hormonal contraceptive. I rotate betweeen being super mean(not my usual state) and sobbing like an irrational child. I have a tendency toward anxiety and depression anyway, so the hormones in contraceptives (mainly estrogen and progesterone) really screwed me up.

My suggestion:
Get fitted for a diaphragm. Takes a bit of getting used to but does the job without you needing to ingest hormones. I actually have had an IUD since my daughter was born. I dont even notice it's there. (not that I'm gettin any these days) I dont know which pill you were on, but you could try one that has a lower level of hormone like Loestrin. There are several of those on the market. They didn't work for me but I guess it depends on how sensitive you are to the hormones. I hope that helps.

Thanks ladies. I'm not on anything right now .. don't need it as I'm single again. I just didn't realize it was going to affect me this way. I've been off it for a while and I'm STILL going through the side-effects. What did I do today? I took my son to his soccer, came home and did absolutely nothing. In fact, I just woke up. Poor kid. He's having cereal for dinner. Yikes!

As for high cholesterol, my grandmother has been on meds for it for years and it hasn't done her any good. It hasn't even gotten better so I wouldn't bother starting that now.

Hey there,
Well i tried a bunch of different birth control pills as well as the nuva ring and Ive always had bad reactions to them. The pill especially makes me rather mental. I get depressed while on it, moody and irritable. Unable to function. Although i had that problem already the pill always made it twice as hard to get out of.
The nuva ring however i had bad visual side effects from. Id be careful with something you're supposed to leave in your vagina for three weeks straight. . . makes me nervous. Good luck with the birth control.

Sarah

Wow, that is weird. Who wants to lactate when not absolutely necessary. Hope that goes away.

I'm finally starting to feel myself again! I'm able to sleep better, eat better and generally live my everyday life better.

Phewff, I'm so glad it's done and over with for the most part. NEVER again!

I actually ended up telling my ex about it the other day and he said he noticed certain things about me that was different as well. I think he was a bit relieved when I told him my side of the story.. to know there was a very specific reason as to why I was acting odd and anxious.

Glad to hear you're getting back to yourself.

Thanks missabb!