Severe mood changes and BCP?
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| Thu, 08-26-2004 - 12:13pm |
I saw a psychiatrist and she suggested that I might be bipolar and gave me a new medication (Seroquel) to try. Only thing is, after 2 days on the med, I was in a complete "brain fog," couldn't think clearly at all or concentrate...and I'm in med school, so that was a serious problem! I know this is bad, but I missed my dose of that med last night on purpose...and I'm starting to feel slightly more normal now.
Anyway, I just recently realized that I started back on a very low dose of birth control pills (Mircette) several weeks ago...I'm not sure of exactly how closely the timing of starting the pill and the start of this mood problem correlate. I'd been on higher doses of BCP before with no problem (except migraines), and I thought I'd try BCP again mainly because of my monthly episodes of severe depression right before my period.
So now that has me wondering, could even such a low dose of BCP have "swung" me in the opposite extreme from depression to some kind of hyper state? I know I'm generally very sensitive to medication, but this seems kind of unlikely...I just wanted to see what you all think...since it would definitely be good not to get a diagnosis of bipolar disorder.
Thanks,
Rose

I looked in the drug advisor: http://www2.eckerd.com/content.asp?content=pharmacy%2Fdrugadvisor&cookie%5Ftest=1 and Mircette may interact with medicines used to treat depression. There was nothing to indicate that Seroquel interacts with hormonal contraceptives, but you might ask about it too. I would ask both your psychiatrist and the doctor who prescribed Mircette for you what they think and suggest. Is it possible to use another method of contraception and stop taking Mircette for a month to see if the severe problems go away?
If it is an interaction between BCPs and your depression meds that perhaps a switch to an IUD or vaginal barriers might be a solution. Let us know how you’re doing, ok?
Hugs,
Jill
Still, one of the reasons I went back on the pill was because I was getting severely depressed every month before my period (and this cycle started once I went off BCP before). I also have really bad pain and nausea and cramping before my period...occasionally for two weeks before my period and then also during it! So having only one week a month without that pain wasn't good!
So I wonder if maybe even the low dose pill might have swung my mood in the opposite direction (from depression), but I guess as the doctor said, that's very unlikely. It has changed my cycle...I'm having my period again only two weeks after my last one ended (I'm usually very regular), but without the depression this time. I guess that change in cycle is normal for the first few months, right?
Anyway, sorry to go on for so long...I guess my situation is kind of complicated! I think I will stay on the Mircette until my next doctor's appointment in a few weeks and then see what she has to say. Thanks for mentioning those other options for birth control...but in my case, I'm not using the pill for that purpose (good thing, because I forget to take it pretty often!)...since I'm not sexually active (sorry if that's too much info...just wanted to clarify).
OK, thanks again, I really appreciate it,
Rose