Birth control pills and other hormonal birth control

[Peachy]

@Altostrata I'm not taking anything, I am just wondering others experience in WD with taking hormones to help with the PMS/PMDD induced by WD...

[Peachy]

@Altostrata thanks!

[Eastcoastgirl]

On 4/7/2019 at 8:25 PM, Peachy said:

@Altostrata I'm not taking anything, I am just wondering others experience in WD with taking hormones to help with the PMS/PMDD induced by WD...

I ended up with severe PMDD after stopping birth control and celexa. I made it two months off the pill and almost lost my mind. I was put on Lo Loestrin (low dose combo pill) and I got MUCH worse. Went back to my original higher dose estrogen pill and became very suicidal. I have not yet determined whether I have a hormone imbalance from long term use of contraceptives of PMDD , but I found once my body started trying to make it's own hormones, putting synthetic ones back in just made me so much worse. 

[Peachy]

@Eastcoastgirl Thanks for letting me know. How are you now? I literally loose my mind during pms. Will this ever end?

 

Edited November 13, 2021 by Karma
name update

[Eastcoastgirl]

On 5/18/2019 at 5:39 PM, Peachy said:

@Eastcoastgirl Thanks for letting me know. How are you now? I literally loose my mind during pms. Will this ever end?

 

I'm still in really bad shape. I'm the day before my period and haven't stopped crying all day, depressed, flu-like .. so I feel your pain big time. But I also went off the pill 3 months ago so I may have a hormone imbalance. I reinstated 1mg of my antidepressant this month & I found my PMS has been much much shorter but now that i'm really close i'm a wreck and it's not doing a thing. If you ever find anything that helps please let me know! It's so awful.

Edited November 13, 2021 by Karma
name update

[Peachy]

@Eastcoastgirl I'm sorry your suffering, I really do understand. I am more or less feeling WD normal-ish during the rest of the month. I wish there were more stories of women on here that had a bad time during their cycle, and this eventually healed or lessened a lot.  Do you know of any??

Edited November 13, 2021 by Karma
name update

[Eastcoastgirl]

On 5/18/2019 at 8:37 PM, Peachy said:

@Eastcoastgirl I'm sorry your suffering, I really do understand. I am more or less feeling WD normal-ish during the rest of the month. I wish there were more stories of women on here that had a bad time during their cycle, and this eventually healed or lessened a lot.  Do you know of any??

Thank you. I am so sorry for you as well. I am the exact same way. My month is 50% normal and 50% nightmare. I have searched here before and saw quite a few people say their PMS got a lot worse during withdrawal, and also people who are in menopause. I have a strong feeling that hormones are just one of those things that disrupt our sensitive nervous systems and throw us into a bit of a wave. I tell myself that it will get better, I can't imagine it lasting forever. I have developed histamine intolerance and I find my hormone changes not only give me allergy-like symptoms but turn me into a total looney. I am working on fixing the HIT & hoping this will improve the PMDD-type symptpms.

Edited November 13, 2021 by Karma
name update

[FarmGirlWorks]

Evening Primrose oil has really helped me this month with reducing/eliminating the anxiety and depression I get just before it. I am at day 28 and only experiencing minor low feelings (my hair sucks, millenials bug, I hate this city) but not the suicidal despair I have felt in the past. Started it a little over 3 weeks ago. I guess the test will be if it helps next month and the next too but right now I am hopeful. And it is gentle on my CNS.

[Peachy]

@Eastcoastgirl are you taking BC now? I a thinking of trying bio-identicals to help stop ovulation for awhile until I get off this crap and heal some. Might not work, but I have to try something. 

Edited November 13, 2021 by Karma
name update

[Eastcoastgirl]

On 5/20/2019 at 12:12 PM, Peachy said:

@Eastcoastgirl are you taking BC now? I a thinking of trying bio-identicals to help stop ovulation for awhile until I get off this crap and heal some. Might not work, but I have to try something. 

Nope! I have been off birth control for 3 months now. I notice an improvement this month but on my period I can barely move due to extreme fatigue. I've been listening to Lara Briden's book The Period Repair Manual and it's been very helpful. I think from what i've learned, I don't believe bio-identical hormones can stop ovulation, I think only the pill can do that but you would have to ask your doctor or gyno ! I found that even when I was on birth control, I still had a really crappy time during my periods while tapering off Prozac.. it seems to have something to do with withdrawal.

[Repent]

Its been 8 months since i quit Lexapro. Its been hell, ofc. But regarding pms? Oh my lord. I suffer from reeealy bad pmdd since ssri. 

 

So i had some tests done, showed low on progesterone, i got to try Lutinus. Shouldnt. It nearly killed me. So I decided to try the cream instead. All natural, sounded better. So. Besides feeling like crap from ssri most days of the month.... 

I took 200mg of the cream, 10 days a month for 3 months, felt awesome at first! Then Another level of hell broke loose. For 10 days a month now instead I shiver, have fevers and "the flue" on and off all the time. Crazy sinus issues! My nerves are all over the place, everthing hot feels cold and vice versa on my skin, feels like cold water running down my back. My eyes hurt, my teeth hurt and worse of all is the burning skin.. Everywhere i had put the cream my skin is on fire 24/7, im red and  flushing and sweating like a pig, joint pain, muscle pain, my soles on feet hurt, my left arm went numb, dizzy like crazy and just lie in my bed and shake for some days, and im tired.. Like.. Awfully tired, cortisoldrops thru the days.. Where i need to sleep asap. Anxiety from mars!! The day i get ny period everthing in my body buzzez, i cant even stand up, or even crawl to the bathroom. DP is nothing compared to this feeling. 

 

 

... These sre just some of my side effects. Its been 3 months since i quit the cream. Its getting little better by time.. But can your body heal itself now? Will my adrenal go back to normal? Have i destroid myself for good? 😕 So Yeah, im scared shitless now. I know progesterone affects cns, and get stored in fat tissues.. So maybe in time it all would be gone from my body. I hope. 

 

Just my varning here, I would rather rewind, try again to balance with healthy foods, cbt (like reading Claire weekes), try some herbs instead and listen when most docs said i didnt need any HRT since i have my period every month. 

[Priscilla]

I haven't had my period in over 5 months. I was not even going to post here because I now feel like a lost cause. Has anyone gone without their period this long and got it back? How long did it take to return to a normal cycle?

 

[Eastcoastgirl]

3 minutes ago, Priscilla said:

I haven't had my period in over 5 months. I was not even going to post here because I now feel like a lost cause. Has anyone gone without their period this long and got it back? How long did it take to return to a normal cycle?

 

Oh yes many people have gone years and got it back , it depends on what the cause is. Hormone imbalance, perimenopause, PCOS, being underweight, stress, certain medications, illness can all cause missed periods.

[Glosmom]

My (now) 23 year old daughter pretty much had her menstrual cycle wiped out by meds for about 7 months.  As she tapered it returned.... but was irregular.  Now that she is off, she is starting to become more regular again.   

[Eastcoastgirl]

On 5/24/2019 at 7:11 AM, siwoue said:

Its been 8 months since i quit Lexapro. Its been hell, ofc. But regarding pms? Oh my lord. I suffer from reeealy bad pmdd since ssri. 

 

So i had some tests done, showed low on progesterone, i got to try Lutinus. Shouldnt. It nearly killed me. So I decided to try the cream instead. All natural, sounded better. So. Besides feeling like crap from ssri most days of the month.... 

I took 200mg of the cream, 10 days a month for 3 months, felt awesome at first! Then Another level of hell broke loose. For 10 days a month now instead I shiver, have fevers and "the flue" on and off all the time. Crazy sinus issues! My nerves are all over the place, everthing hot feels cold and vice versa on my skin, feels like cold water running down my back. My eyes hurt, my teeth hurt and worse of all is the burning skin.. Everywhere i had put the cream my skin is on fire 24/7, im red and  flushing and sweating like a pig, joint pain, muscle pain, my soles on feet hurt, my left arm went numb, dizzy like crazy and just lie in my bed and shake for some days, and im tired.. Like.. Awfully tired, cortisoldrops thru the days.. Where i need to sleep asap. Anxiety from mars!! The day i get ny period everthing in my body buzzez, i cant even stand up, or even crawl to the bathroom. DP is nothing compared to this feeling. 

 

 

... These sre just some of my side effects. Its been 3 months since i quit the cream. Its getting little better by time.. But can your body heal itself now? Will my adrenal go back to normal? Have i destroid myself for good? 😕 So Yeah, im scared shitless now. I know progesterone affects cns, and get stored in fat tissues.. So maybe in time it all would be gone from my body. I hope. 

 

Just my varning here, I would rather rewind, try again to balance with healthy foods, cbt (like reading Claire weekes), try some herbs instead and listen when most docs said i didnt need any HRT since i have my period every month. 

Interesting. I went off the pill 3 months ago and I have all these symptoms without taking progesterone cream. I am scared to try any treatment. 

[Repent]

On 5/27/2019 at 12:20 PM, Eastcoastgirl said:

Interesting. I went off the pill 3 months ago and I have all these symptoms without taking progesterone cream. I am scared to try any treatment. 

 

But the pill do have progestins.. ? Ive read on hormonesmatter that some Women react like this coming off the pill, hrt och like me, progesteronecream. Like it doesnt matter which one we took as long as we couldnt tolerate it or it f*cked up out hormones, so we react the same afterwards before stabilized.. Im thinking out loud here. 

Edited November 13, 2021 by Karma
name update

[Repent]

On 5/27/2019 at 12:20 PM, Eastcoastgirl said:

Interesting. I went off the pill 3 months ago and I have all these symptoms without taking progesterone cream. I am scared to try any treatment. 

 

Oh and btw, before trying anything! I just read "period repair manual" by Lara Briden. Best thing ever! I learned a lot about how hormones work and have to stabilize after like.. the pill all natural with.. Stuff like zink. Supplement depending on your symptoms. I highly recommend! 

Edited November 13, 2021 by Karma
name update

[Eastcoastgirl]

1 minute ago, siwoue said:

 

Oh and btw, before trying anything! I just read "period repair manual" by Lara Briden. Best thing ever! I learned a lot about how hormones work and have to stabilize after like.. the pill all natural with.. Stuff like zink. Supplement depending on your symptoms. I highly recommend! 

I listened to her book on audible, it is very helpful ! My hormones are definitely messed up.

[Repent]

Yeah, mine too. And it sucks that noone beilves you. Regarding doctors and so. So, well have to pray, and do what we can, and that time allows our body to get back to healthy hormones. Like it was t enough being in wd. 

[Priscilla]

I am 7 months off of zyprexa and have not had my period since I first started taking zyprexa. Has anyone else experienced this? Is there hope to getting ones cycle back? What do you do to get your cycle back? 

[Eastcoastgirl]

4 minutes ago, Priscilla said:

I am 7 months off of zyprexa and have not had my period since I first started taking zyprexa. Has anyone else experienced this? Is there hope to getting ones cycle back? What do you do to get your cycle back? 

I have never heard of that happening. Have you tried Vitex? You may not get it back unless you stop the Zyprexa if it's related to the drug.

[Priscilla]

On 6/23/2019 at 8:51 PM, Eastcoastgirl said:

I have never heard of that happening. Have you tried Vitex? You may not get it back unless you stop the Zyprexa if it's related to the drug.

I've stopped the zyprexa

Edited November 13, 2021 by Karma
name update

[Eastcoastgirl]

58 minutes ago, Priscilla said:

I've stopped the zyprexa

I did a quick search and it looks like Zyprexa can increase prolactin levels in the blood which can lead to lack of periods. Another side effect listed is "problem with periods" .. perhaps you're dealing with these issues still despite being off it , or it could be unrelated.

[Priscilla]

On 6/23/2019 at 8:51 PM, Eastcoastgirl said:

I have never heard of that happening. Have you tried Vitex? You may not get it back unless you stop the Zyprexa if it's related to the drug.

 

On 6/26/2019 at 11:36 PM, Eastcoastgirl said:

I did a quick search and it looks like Zyprexa can increase prolactin levels in the blood which can lead to lack of periods. Another side effect listed is "problem with periods" .. perhaps you're dealing with these issues still despite being off it , or it could be unrelated.

Thanks. I think it's zyprexa related. In any event, I ordered the vitex and primrose oil. Hopefully they work.

Edited November 13, 2021 by Karma
name update

[Priscilla]

On 1/5/2015 at 7:18 PM, Wildflower0214 said:

I have now stopped having my period. I'm sure it's just yet another sign of the optimal health legacy left by Lexepro, Effexor, and Ativan. I just want to take a moment of gratitude, to say thank you to my psych... ;(

Has your period returned?

[Eastcoastgirl]

I'm curious to know what other people experience in regards to the withdrawal-induced PMDD. My symptoms start about 3 days before my period and go all the way up to day 13 of my cycle. I get really exhausted and moody, depression and sometimes suicidal thoughts, major brain fog, and OCD. 

[LostInMarshes]

Is there any hormonal birth control that can work well for women with a history of "mental health", as they say, and antidepressant withdrawals, too?

 

(I've got endometriosis and hormonal birth control is usually prescribed for women with this condition to help keep it in check. Most hormonal birth control I've tried has been bad for me emotionally, and seeing how poorly I function with my emotions out of whack, most of it is not an option? Haven't tried IUDs, though.)

[healingspiral]

hello! I used to use Nuva Ring. It still had a negative effect on my energy over time (around 6 years) but for the first few years I found it really helpful. It gave me very few mental health complaints whereas all the pills made me insanely emotional, moody and totally non-functional. My dr. said the pills get processed direct into the blood via the stomach whereas Nuva Ring only releases local hormones, which made it easier for my system to take, and isn't permanent like a IUD. 

[bottlehalffull]

I've been reading the "Period Repair Manual" mentioned earlier, as well as the author (Lara Briden)'s website and have been learning a lot of interesting things about how progesterone affects the GABA system. Which seems pretty relevant to withdrawing!  @Eastcoastgirl it sounds like the good part of your cycle is the part where your body is making progesterone, which in most people is very calming, almost like a natural benzo, then you basically go into withdrawal from it 3 days before your period when your body stops making it.  But I don't think what you're describing is technically "PMDD" because it's mostly during the non-premenstrual parts of the cycle. Probably when you were on the SSRIs and especially benzos, the meds stabilized your GABA system and now your body doesn't know how to deal with the natural hormonal fluctuations in the system. More magnesium (and maybe l-theanine?) during your "progesterone withdrawal" might help.

 

My problem is the opposite, I'm one of those lucky people with a "paradoxical reaction" to progesterone, meaning the part of my cycle when I'm making progesterone (right after ovulation to a few days before menstruation) everything is fully awful. Brain fog, fatigue, everything is Super Annoying.... but the part of my cycle right before (about 2-3 days) ovulation is great and I have energy and can actually think straight. I know there's got to be some way I can harness my hormones to feel like that all month... or at least more of the month than 2-3 days!

 

The theory is that in some people a small amount of progesterone (actually one of its metabolites) triggers GABA system to an alert state, and that a larger amount pushes through that state to a calm state. Similar to how in some people small doses of ADs are activating, and larger doses are calming. But of course the typical medical response is "let's dump some more progesterone on it and see if it clears up!" or prescribe some SSRIs for the week or two before menstruation to hopefully push the GABA system into the more calm state. (And BTW the progestins in birth control are very different from natural progesterone and don't get broken down into the GABA calming metabolite.)

Edited November 13, 2021 by Karma
name update

[Ma205]

Hi not sure if anyone is still on here but I’m looking for advice on starting birth control during withdrawal. From several days before my period up until like day 13 of my cycle are pure hell. I also have severe endometriosis so I really want to go on a pill continuously to control all of this but am terrified of what might happen. Anyone have any experience with this? 

[LotusRising]

@Ma205

 

Have you ever met with a naturopath to look into the root cause of your hormonal issues? Or tried seed-cycling - it's mostly anecdotal, but some women swear by it.

[Ma205]

8 minutes ago, MedRN said:

@Ma205

 

Have you ever met with a naturopath to look into the root cause of your hormonal issues? Or tried seed-cycling - it's mostly anecdotal, but some women swear by it.

Iv had my hormones checked several times. My hormones are all normal. I did seed cycling for years to try and get pregnant. My body is having an insane reaction to my hormones right now since being in withdrawal

[Ma205]

On 12/17/2019 at 9:40 AM, bottlehalffull said:

I've been reading the "Period Repair Manual" mentioned earlier, as well as the author (Lara Briden)'s website and have been learning a lot of interesting things about how progesterone affects the GABA system. Which seems pretty relevant to withdrawing!  @Eastcoastgirl it sounds like the good part of your cycle is the part where your body is making progesterone, which in most people is very calming, almost like a natural benzo, then you basically go into withdrawal from it 3 days before your period when your body stops making it.  But I don't think what you're describing is technically "PMDD" because it's mostly during the non-premenstrual parts of the cycle. Probably when you were on the SSRIs and especially benzos, the meds stabilized your GABA system and now your body doesn't know how to deal with the natural hormonal fluctuations in the system. More magnesium (and maybe l-theanine?) during your "progesterone withdrawal" might help.

 

My problem is the opposite, I'm one of those lucky people with a "paradoxical reaction" to progesterone, meaning the part of my cycle when I'm making progesterone (right after ovulation to a few days before menstruation) everything is fully awful. Brain fog, fatigue, everything is Super Annoying.... but the part of my cycle right before (about 2-3 days) ovulation is great and I have energy and can actually think straight. I know there's got to be some way I can harness my hormones to feel like that all month... or at least more of the month than 2-3 days!

 

The theory is that in some people a small amount of progesterone (actually one of its metabolites) triggers GABA system to an alert state, and that a larger amount pushes through that state to a calm state. Similar to how in some people small doses of ADs are activating, and larger doses are calming. But of course the typical medical response is "let's dump some more progesterone on it and see if it clears up!" or prescribe some SSRIs for the week or two before menstruation to hopefully push the GABA system into the more calm state. (And BTW the progestins in birth control are very different from natural progesterone and don't get broken down into the GABA calming metabolite.)

hi I know this post is so old, but your post seems to be the only one Iv found that actually matches my theory on all of this. Would you be willing to talk? 

[Kelsears]

@Peachy your description of PMDD is exactly how I feel. 55% month I feel ok 45% horrible because as soon as I start the cycle all withdrawal symptoms come back. The depression is the worse for me. 
 

how are you doing now?