Depo-Provera: asking the FDA to investigate

Top 409. Aug 18, 2006 6:58 PM

» laran - depo provera

In response to depo provera posted by angelscuddle:

I am just starting to gather info on how many people have complaints about depo. I was on it for about 2yrs 6mths, only on 3x the normal dose, I received the quarterly dose every month for a condition that my gyno thought would be relieved by large doses of depo, stopping my cycles. Well, it certainly stopped my cycles, but it has nearly ruined my life, and now nearly 5 years after stopping the injections, my menstral cycle is a mess, heavy, debilitating, lasting anywhere from 8 to 20 days. I have headaches that start at the base of my skull, and feel as if my brain is swelling and pressing on my skull. I have arthritis in my neck, joint and muscle pain, chest pain to the point of seeing a cardiologist, no heart condition so far, but he said that a common side effect of depo was thyroid issues, explaining some of the chest pain, depression and the inability to lose the 80+ lbs I gained in less than 8 months. My family thought I was pregnant and not telling them!!!! I have many other conditions that I never, ever had until depo. I have been tested for lupus, and even had that specialist tell me that since that test was negative, that I was basically just fat and crazy. Sweet. Anyway, I am finding comfort in knowing that I am not alone, many others are suffering the same physical, mental, and emotional symptons that I am experiencing. Hopefully if we all yell and scream enough someone will listen, stop telling us we are crazy, and do something about it. I, too, was active, "the queen of stress", never bothered by anything, and now I have anxiety attacks to the point where I can no longer return to work, which is a fast paced, high stress, physically demanding job that pays well with excellant benefits. I would love to feel like my old self again, and I would love to make sure that no other woman has to suffer because MD.s refuse to acknowledge the effects hormonal drugs have on people.

-- posted by laran

Top 410. Aug 19, 2006 5:54 PM

» snowflake79 - understanding

Great finally I understand were those crazy headache were coming from...my doctor told me it could be allergies!!! Let me laugh.
Also the pain in the neck after I exercise or I dont have enough sleep.
And my heart racing like I have run a marathon when I have been sitting in front of the TV for 2 hours!!!
I will go through it, I now I can, I am strong!

-- posted by snowflake79

Top 411. Aug 24, 2006 6:12 PM

» brandywine41 - Depo caused my fibromyalgia

In response to Depo caused my fibromyalgia posted by cadwellm:

Hi There,

I'm in the same boat your are. I took Depo in 2003 (2 shots) and am still feeling the affects. Have your symptoms gotten any better. Mine have gotten better, but I've leveled off. I'm working with a naturopath type doctor to get better.

Brandie

-- posted by brandywine41

Top 412. Aug 24, 2006 6:48 PM

» cyndiar33 - i think that the depo has ruined my life.

i think that the depo has ruined my life. i started taking the shot about 3 months before i got married. it was ok till i got the 2nd shot. i started bleeding and it didnt stop for 1 year and 3 months! it was horrible (especially for the honeymoon)! i was tested for lupus and it came back that i had it, so the doctor told me that it would be the best for me. why did i listen???? now my period is still messed up and i have really bad side effects. my warning : dont take it and done listen to the dr no matter what they say!

-- posted by cyndiar33

Top 413. Sep 12, 2006 1:27 PM

» jen1035 - Re: Re: what happens after quitting Depo?

In response to Re: Re: what happens after quitting Depo? posted by hollowbb:

I am 35 years old. i have been on the depo shot for 10 years now. I have one daughter, and don't plan to have any more. (Divorced).My next planned injection is Sept. 28, 2006. I do not plan to take it. The depo shot has made my body go into early menopause. I too am waiting and concerned about the effects after I stop using.

-- posted by jen1035

Top 414. Sep 12, 2006 8:31 PM

» flababe811 - Depo is horrilbe

When I was 15, my mom and doctor thought the best choice for me was to put me on the depo shot since I only had to get it every 3 months. I was told that I wouldnt gain weight and there wouldnt be any side effects. And they were right UNTIL almost 6 years later, my OB/GYN looked at my chart and told me that if I ever wanted to have children, I should stop taking the shot immediately. I had asked her why and she told me that the shot wasnt meant for that long of a use. So I stopped taking the shot and almost immediately, sypmtoms started to appear. I gained weight, my blood pressure (which I never had a problem with) went into hypertension and nothing I did could get it down, started having back problems, and became semi-depressed. It has been 4 years since I've been off depo and things are still not right. While I menstrate normally now, that wasnt always the case. It took me almost 3 years for that to happen. I have headaches everyday, I'm always tired, have back problems, and I really have to watch what I eat because of my blood pressure. To anyone wanting to know if the depo shot is the way to go, ITS NOT! Dont do it. And to everyone who has had it, I'm sorry for everything ya'll are going through. I know how you feel and it makes me feel better I'm not alone.

-- posted by flababe811

Top 415. Sep 13, 2006 8:17 PM

» tynben - side effect from depo

I began to take depo in 2003,at first everything seemed fine my period immediately stopped, but I started having suicidle thoughts, depression, headaches and stress. I was always aggetated and the least little thing ticked me off. I lost interest in wanting to extra curriculum activities with my two kids . The only good thing about it was that I never bleed. This year March 2006 was the last time I received a shot and I don't plan on continuing the depo ever. Right now I just want my life back. It's been six months and I haven't had a peiod. I would like to have another kid within the next year or so. I just hope the depo didn't affect anyhting seriously that would prevent me from getting pregnant!!!

-- posted by tynben

Top 416. Sep 15, 2006 5:47 PM

» MoonRae78 - 800 mg of ibuprofen to stop bleeding?

ive been on the shot since feb of this year and no problems up ubtil aug 1st when i got my 3rd shot and an annual....about a wk after mt shot i started to spot off and on for about 2 wks. it finally stopped, then about 1 1/2 wks ago i started to bleed again....i talked to my dr today and she said its normal to bleed on this type of birth control, I can take 800mg of MOTRIN 3 TIMES A DAY FOR 5 DAYS.....if this doesnt slow or stop the bleeding, i can then go on a BC pill to control the bleeding and get me regular again....i got the shot cause if the hormones that aren't in it.. i get sick on the pill all then time!!! ANY ONE HELP????

-- posted by MoonRae78

Top 417. Sep 17, 2006 5:46 PM

» Marty110 - Horror Story

It's amazing how this discussion has been running since 2002, and nothing is being done about this drug which should have never been put on the market. Iam 20 years old, and had my first child in January of this year. In March I got on the depo shot and only had one injection. Since MARCH of this year untill now I have been BLEEDING! I have had surgey to correct the problem, (D & C) and that didn't work. I told my Dr. and he commented that I was bleeding for the reason that I was stressed out. I then told him you would be stressed out if you bled for seven months!

-- posted by Marty110