birth control pill causing anxiety/ depression??

[torque]

I was just wondering if anyone has been on birth control pills and have suffered from anxiety or depression issues? I have been on the pill for 11yrs now and cant take how I am feeling anymore. I went on the pill for irregular periods, but since then I have been feeling blah, libido has decreased severely, I have sinus problems- I found out I have no allergies- so I think it is related to axiety, I worry constantly about everything; I get so nervous I get light headed sometimes. I thinkk I am going to try and stop the pills. I was just wondering if anyone had similar side effects from birth control pills. Thank you!

[Annad1973]

I have my normal pill check on Monday and am going to question the pill. Am 40 and felt soooo anxious recently it (well, for the last few years!) it keeps me awake at night and I worry about my teenage son all the time.  I also feel completely detached emotionally from new husband and any friends. I did come off it for a while and it made no difference but willing to give another try!  Help!!!!!!

[Linznorland]

I know you posted this 3 years ago but can you PLEASE give me an update on how you are doing??? I have the EXACT SAME STORY. Sprintek, married, bought a house... Please let me know what you did to recover and how long it took....
THANK-YOU

[jen25uk]

I too am so glad i found this site! Ive been on Microgynon 30 since my teens, im now 25. I went back on it after pregnancy and then a couple years later I came off it because I was suffering with anxiety, which was because of circumstances but I'm now thinking the pill could have exasperated it. I had a break from it for a few months and went back on it when I began to feel better. For the past 18 months- 2 years I have been taking back to back packs, 3 in a row equalling 63 pills and then a 7 day break (missing 2 periods). I had heard of others doing this to skip their periods and further help with PMS symptoms and asked my nurse if this was safe and she said it was absolutely fine and she recommended I do this.
I've had bad PMS for the past 2-3 years, including uncontrollable crying and anger, depression (usually at the time of the month) severe migraines and low sex drive. My sex drive is now completely non existent which has caused big problems in my relationship with my fiance. I thought there was something wrong with me and he has thought that I'm not attracted to him anymore, which is not the case.. I just physically have not felt like sex AT ALL!
It has got to the point we haven't had sex in over 2 months! He has also said he feels I'm emotionally withdrawn and harder to live with because in arguments or disagreements I've got out of control rage and uncontrollable crying and I don't even know why. Also the past 6 months I've become extremely anxious. I worry about EVERYTHING! About what people think, about my job, comparing myself all the time to other people, even strangers. Its seriously gotton me down. I also freak out about the most insignificant silly things, only realising afterwards how much stress ive put myself through.
I've been to the doctor and she has suggested having the non-hormonal coil but since hearing peoples bad experiences with that aswel as the pill I've decided to come off all birth control. My fiance agrees, he doesn't want me to have the risks or even have to go through the procedure of a coil when it may not even work out and we will have to use condoms.
I am on day 3 of not taking my pill, I've stopped mid pack. I just want the hormones out of my body as quickly as possible. I feel at peace of mind already knowing I'm not the only one in this situation.
I'm a little apprehensive about my first period, coming off the pill which hasn't started yet. But I am convinced now that hormonal birth control is not for me.

[laqwerty22]

I have been on Tri-Cylen Lo for 1.5 years now. I am 23 years old. I was always a very level-headed, chill person until I started taking birth control. The effects were barely noticeable at the beginning...it was almost a gradual build up of anxiety up to what it is today. Currently, I have  no interest in seeing my friends, I get anxiety leaving the house, and if anyone asks anything about me personally, I started to cry uncontrollably. I can't handle social situations at all unless with those who are most close to me. I used to be much more of an independent person. Also, within a year of taking the pill, my eyesight has worsened dramatically (leaving the eye doctor completely baffled, it's like nothing he's seen before!). I went to the doctor's to talk about switching to the copper iud since it's hormone-free. The doctor said that it wasn't the birth control pill that was causing these symptoms and prescribed me another hormonal bc pill. I don't think I'll even risk trying this new pill. I'm sick of being trapped within my own hormonal mind and need to get back to my happy self. I plan to keep searching for a doctor who will listen to my concerns.

[ladwye13]

I came across this site as my last hope.
I am currently on my 2nd pack of Lo Loestrin FE. I was previously on Loestrin and about several other brands in the last couple of years. Each time being told by the doctor to give them a couple of months- all with the same results. I have developed severe panic attacks, sleeplessness, thoughts of suicide, extreme anger/ rage, migraines,  forgetfulness and most recently severe hives all over most of my body at random times of the day. My face would begin itching so terribly I would sit at my desk crying, practically scratching the skin off my face. I thought I might have food allergies and tried different things, to no avail.  I wanted to attack everyone around me and had to pretty much talk myself down from many situations where thoughts of suicide were completely overwhelming. I literally sat in the food court of a local mall and contemplated jumping from 3 floors up and began to cry (while sitting there alone). I am a mother of 2 teenage sons and have been many years on BCP... I have never found one that I didnt feel absolutely terrible on- I don't want to live my life in a constant state of madness and decided 4 days ago to stop. I already feel happier, no night sweats, nightmares, there's no itching for 3 days now, I feel like I actually have a sex drive- and am human again. I am not sure what the next step is for me, but I cannot and will not continue my life like this and hurting people around me-

[ryan_258]

I can completely relate to every single one of your guys' comments put together! I've been on the pill for a little over a year now, and I have been acting absolutely ridiculous. I've never been so needy in my life, especially with my boyfriend, and I'm constantly hostile to every person I talk to. I want my boyfriend to pay attention to me 24/7 and when he's not, I throw huge fits and childish temper tantrums. I'm constantly complaining about how I hate my life and how I'm so unhappy with everything all the time, and it progressively has been getting worse. I don't know what to do-I don't know if it's the pill that I am taking or if I'm seriously just a psycho.