Patch causing depression??

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-17-2004
Patch causing depression??
6
Mon, 07-19-2004 - 2:33pm
I have been taking the patch for about two and a half months now, and roughly within that same ammount of time I have seen a major shift in my emotions. I mean, I've been emotional before, but usually only the week before I get my period. This is ALL THE TIME!! I feel like I can literally be fine one minute and a disaster the next. Has anyone else had an irregular mood change since being on the patch?? If so, what is to be done?
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Mon, 07-19-2004 - 6:24pm
Hi Laura,

Moodiness can be a common side effect when starting or changing hormonal contraceptives. If you can hang in there I would try to give the patch at least 3 or 4 cycles to allow time for your body to adjust to the new hormones you are putting in it. If after that time you are still experiencing side effects then you have given the patch a good try and another choice might work better. I hope you are feeling better soon.

Hugs,

      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-17-2004
Tue, 07-20-2004 - 4:21pm
Thank you for your reply. I think you are right about giving it more of a chance to work itself out. I guess though that my main concern is the insane amount of change that there has been in my mood. I mean, besides the patch itself has anyone else ever had a major change in mood because of their BC? I mean, not just the regular side effects that come along with most BC, but a MAJOR change?
Avatar for jenni_bear79
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Tue, 07-20-2004 - 9:04pm

I don't usually post on this board, I'm more of a lurker, but your post caught my eye.


I've had an absolute terrible time with my emotions since I've been on BC. I have Generalized Anxiety Disorder to begin with, so that makes things more complicated. When I first got on BC right before my wedding, I just thought that all the emotions were stress and

Jennifer
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-17-2004
Tue, 07-20-2004 - 10:53pm
Thank you soooo much for your post Jen! It's so nice to actually hear that I'm not the only one experiencing this! The thing is, it's not like this is just a "side effect", I have been a completely different person for a while now. And I sat down with a calendar today and realized that I've been on the patch for almost four months (not 2.5 like I had said earlier)...so it's not like this is just b/c I'm starting a new BC. This is completely altering me. I am having a harder time at work, in my relationship, even just relaxing. I started having anxiety attacks today which I haven't had since college...and I have no idea why. Now, I'm not saying that there aren't other factors involved, but it's nice to actually hear you say that you have been through something very similar. I hate hate hate to think or blame this change on a drug...but it's the only constant that I can point to and say, "yea, since I've been doing this, I've felt like crap!"...thank you so much for letting me know I'm not alone!

((((Hugs)))) I hope you're doing better as well!

Laura

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-03-2004
Wed, 07-21-2004 - 4:40pm
When I was taking Levlite I had lots of wild mood swings. I took it for about a year. I didn't notice what was happening right away either, but once I realized that it was probably the pill that was making me overly emotional I stopped taking it. I went back to normal my normal self almost immediately after taking it. It's good that you are aware of emotional changes you are having because of the pill. I'm not sure if you should keep on trying with the patch or not. If it were me, I would stop and use something else, but that's just because of what I have experienced. It maybe that you will get used to it and feel better later too.
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-02-2004
Wed, 07-21-2004 - 6:51pm
I felt like was going crazy when I was on the patch, I was crying all the time and got mad for no reason, it also made me sick. I didn't give it very long because i couldn't handle it. If you can stick it out I heard it very good. good luck