OTC and anxiety attacks.

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-26-2004
OTC and anxiety attacks.
2
Thu, 02-26-2004 - 7:39pm
i started OTC for the first time about 7 months ago (july of 2003). this past fall i began to have episodes of nervousness and anxiety and i began to worry about things that i never worried about before. i became very concerned about my health, i became depressed. just last month the pharmacy gave me the generic brand of OTC, trinessa. last month i also had what i believe to be a full on panic attack. is it valid for me to think that the increase in anxiety and nervousness, and the subsequent panic attack could be related to the birth control? it seems from the reading i've been doing on line that other woman have had similar experiences. has anyone ended up changing pills and had success? is this something that my gynecologist should be able to address?
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Thu, 02-26-2004 - 8:16pm
Hi and welcome!

Mood swings are more likely to occur when taking triphasic pills (one in which the dosage changes each week of your active pills) such as OTC and TriNessa. You might try changing to a monophasic pill in which there are 21 days of the same amount of hormones. Usually it’s suggested that you should try a pill for at least 3 cycles to give your body time to get used to the hormones in the pill. Given the similarity of OTC and TriNessa and your recent panic attack a pill change might be in order now. Your doctor should be able to advise you about switching pills tell him or her what you told us.

I hope you find a pill that will work well for you.

Good luck

      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-29-2003
Fri, 02-27-2004 - 7:51am
I didnt have this problem with OTC but with pills that had a higher progestin. Everybody is different, so you may have the opposite effect. Just wanted to let you know that it is possible!