HELP! BCP and terrible PMS

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-30-2003
HELP! BCP and terrible PMS
4
Thu, 09-14-2006 - 9:16pm

I was put on BCP due to severe anemia. It has been 4 months now, and the PMS is about to make me lose my mind. The first couple months I was not sure if it was the meds, but now I am fairly certain. The dr did not think there could be a connection, but I don't care what he thinks! I feel like my insides are trying to crawl out, and I will not continue to live like this. My poor dh actually sat down and asked me the standard PPP questions, "Do you feel like you are going to hurt yourself? Do you think you could hurt one of the children?" I am not that far gone thank goodness, but enough is enough.

I will not be going back on it this month, but I am worried about the anemia coming back. Does anyone know what my options might be? Is there any research on what kinds of pills may cause such anxiety?

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-18-2006
Thu, 09-14-2006 - 9:34pm

I don't think there's anything terribly conclusive, unfortunately. I had really bad anxiety on Alesse. I also cried all the time, couldn't sleep and had really hopeless thoughts (not suicidal, but just felt like everything was horrible and could never be better). It wasn't the same on Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo, but I cried at the drop of a hat. I'm on Yaz right now and haven't had anxiety or any particular problems with it at all. I don't know what the difference is. I know that all of the progestins I've tried were very different, and I found one that was good for me. Yaz is also supposed to help with PMDD, which I don't have, but if it is supposed to counteract awful PMS symptoms, it might be worth a shot. It's also supposed to make your period a lot shorter (2 days) because there are more active pills, so it would likely help your anemia too (my period lasted about a day and half last month). Also, if you are on a triphasic now, definitely try a monophasic pill, because a lot of times it is the change in hormone levels that causes mood swings and anxiety.

You should talk to your doctor about your specific problems. I hate how they never want to blame the problems you have on the pill. My doctor now is very understanding, but the one I had before just told me to keep on it...I think with things like weight gain, nausea, and breakthrough bleeding, that's fine to stick it out... but if you are depressed and anxious, there is no reason to hurt yourself like that. Those are side effect that normally require a change of pill anyway, not just more time to get used to it.

Good luck, I hope you find something that works!

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-03-2006
Thu, 09-14-2006 - 9:36pm
I don't know too much specificially about anemia, but it would seem to me maybe look into Mirena since it is known to stop your period. It still has hormones but its just progrestone so you might not have the same problems with PMS. You could also look into the mini-pill you might try that first and see how your body reacts to the progrestone.
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-12-2002
Sat, 09-16-2006 - 3:54am

Hi onesleepgirl,


What is the cause of your anemia?

 


 


iVillage Member
Registered: 08-20-2006
Sun, 09-17-2006 - 2:07am

I don't know how much help this would be to you...but I do know a few people who are anemic and they receive vitamin B-12 shots once a week.

Sarah