Evening Primrose Oil causing Depression?

[guitarbabe9]

Hi, I'm a 16 year old girl, and often in the mornings I felt unwell, which my mother decided was due to a hormone imbalance, so she gave me oil of evening primrose, which I took. About  week ago, I started to become very depressed - I have had mood swings before, and am prone to quite low lows, if that makes sense? However, it was much worse this time, and I had random crying fits, wanting to hide away, and very low self esteem. Sometimes I felt better again, but a simple, trivial comment fom my father like "no, cut the potatoes a bit bigger" would set me off again back into my depression, feeling like I was hopeless and couldn't cope, an could never achieve anything in my life.
I am not the sort of person who can really talk to my parents, i find it very difficult, as I do not get on very well with my mother a lot of the time, who just gets irritated if I am not my "normal, happy self" and struggle to expres my feelings even to my dad, who I am much closer to. [Both of my parents dismiss anything negative, such as concerns about my appearence, as "normal teenage stuff", but I feel I have it wose than I should.]
Friends as well are out of the question, as I do not really have anyone I trust and who I feel cares about me enough to listen [another thing which worsenes my depression, and vice versa.] So, my question is, is this connected to the oil of evening primrose supplement or my menstual cycle in general? Stupid question I know, but I have never felt like this before, wanting to just disappear and wishing my life would just end [although i would not do that to my family].
I started to improve over the last couple of days, and today I got my period, which has been the worst it's ever been, with awful back pain and nausea; is this also connected, and does this mean anything?

Apologies for the long post, and thank you to all who took the time to read it.

[mrsbake83]

Hi everyone! I know this is an old thread but was wondering how everyone was doing now? I am currently having this problem and it's been a NIGHTMARE! I'm on an antidepressant and anti anxiety medication. My mood has been fantastic until I started taking EPO for my skin and now I feel so depressed I can barely function! It hit out of NOWHERE! I haven't taken it for a couple days and am starting to feel a little better but was wondering how long it took for others to be back to normal after they stopped taking it. Thanks guys!

[sweetbubblelue]

yes, Primrose oil did the same for me. I thought it was harmless for "hormone balance" but i noticed i was crying for no reason for 2 days after taking it, and i remember being unusually depressed after taking it a second time. My suggestion would be to get more vitamin D which has helped with my mood, vitamin B complex, and learn how to make homemade Kefir rich in probiotics to help remove toxins in your body that make you feel negative. Pray for your parents to see them in a different light. I understand how frusturating parents can be. Maybe try writing a note to your mom for any simple thing she does that is helpful and appreciated. There is never such a thing as a perfect family or perfect parents. They drive everyone nuts at some point in our lives. Aromatherapuetic orange and peppermint oils are uplifting in an ionic diffuser and daily light exercise has also proved helpful for me. Avoid flouridated tap water in cooking and drink at all costs.Try to invest in a shower filter too if you can that removes both flouride and chlorine which toxify the body. Best of luck to you. Prayers and love and may Heaven's guardian angels continue to watch over and protect you.

[dkiddy]

Hi everyone hope everyone is now OK . I've been on epo for 3 months or maybe less but I'm not continuing with it. Heres my story.....
About 3years ago I was put on dianette for acne.....erm

[twister23]

I feel like you have just written my story. I'm 19 and am in the same situation that you were. I don't get along with my mother and I can't talk to my father either, nor do I have any real friends. I took 1000mg of EPO for around three weeks for my acne. At first I noticed the hormonal acne on my chin and jawline clear up. But its effect kind of fluctuated and I was about 80% clear. BUT on the third week, I began to experience a serious side effect that I was unaware of. I began to cry a lot for no apparent reason and ended up in a deep depression with suicidal thoughts. This lasted for days. On the fourth day I took 3000mg  that day to help with my menstrual cycle acne and an hour later I couldn't stop crying. I woke up the next morning and cried the whole day. Things had gotten so bad that I was considering checking myself into a mental hospital!!!  I have had a mild depression in the past and I also suffer from OCD but I haven't had a terrible depression or "anxiety fit" like this one in over a year since I've been controlling it. I am not currently on anti-depressants either. Maybe my past history made me more susceptible to this side effect. Maybe it only affects people who have already low serotonin levels.
I am no scientist but it seems that EPO could possibly lower serotonin levels, interact with serotonin or block its effect (or it could do that to another "happy" hormone).  Upon stopping EPO, I've noticed that my depression isn't as bad, the crying has stopped and I am recovering. I am very angry that there was no warning as to this side effect  It seems that the side effects of EPO are similar to the side effects of Accutane. I wrote this review in the hope that others won't be fooled.

[miranda49]

so glad to know that there may be a cause for my brain fog,extreme anxiety and depression...i have been taking EPO for about 5 months to help w cervical stenosis following a leep procedure.The EPO did help my menstrual issues some, but apparently have worsened my anxiety, depression and OCD, along w causing terrible brain fog...it makes me feel a little better to know there may be a light at the end of the tunnel. i will no longer be taking this supplement....from the other little bits of info i have a found about negative side effects, i am gathering it may affect progesterone levels...i just wish  i would have known before i started taking it:(

[sunnie121]

Been taking EVP 2000mg daily for 2 weeks and it has had horrible side effects for me, bad acne breakout, headaches, depression and general aches and pains.  Not to mention itchy skin and rashes, it doesn't work for everyone and as of today I am coming off it and hope my awful issues subside.
Will keep you all informed.