Depo-Provera: asking the FDA to investigate

Top 59. Mar 25, 2003 12:57 PM

» TheLizardQueen - Re: Depo

In response to message posted by stempleton:

i'm not a doctor, but i think you should talk to one, i've been on depo for over a year, the break out on your face could be a number of things but if its from the depo its only because (duh) depo is a hormone treatment and therefore messes with your hormones resulting in zits, weight gain, and mood swings. also, there is something about if you somke and are on depo then then it results in high blood pressure and your more likely to have a heart attack. and the hair thing... did you know thta average person loses a hundred strands of hair a day? I think your just stressing over being on the shot. also, i strongly suggest talking to a doctor or going to the depo website www.depo-provera.com

-- posted by TheLizardQueen

Top 60. Apr 2, 2003 3:24 PM

» southernmisses - depo provera

I am in a state of shock after hearing all of the terror stories. I recently had a polyp removed. the doctor said the best way to keep it from growing it back was to take the shot. I will get it on the 21st. Is this a huge mistake? Please help me!

-- posted by southernmisses

Top 61. Apr 8, 2003 2:27 PM

» yeve - Wow.

I began going on Depo in July last year and now that I've read all the horror stories I am getting of it ASAP. My dr. suggested I go on it because we have been having trouble finding a birth control that does not create problems with my menstrual cycle and depression. When I began going on Depo I loved it like a lot of other people. My mood swings disappeared and it was almost like I was on an antidepressant. I actually lost weight, and I loved the fact that I didn't have to worry about taking a pill or getting my period. The pamphlet the dr. gave me before deciding to go on it listed a few symptoms which included: weight loss or gain, loss of bone mass, possible migraines, possibility of blood clots. These were very similar to many of the after-effects warnings on all birth control pills and I didn't experience any of them while on BC. I was a bit concerned, but when I spoke to my dr. he told me that very few women experience any of these symptoms and what most women experienced was a 'slight' weight gain. He himself had never treated anybody else who reported the other symptoms. I should have researched a bit more before deciding to take it.

Since reading the problems women have experienced and researchinDepopo a bit more on the Internet, I am appalled that this drug is available without any kind of long-term research. By searching several web sites dealing with side-effects oDepopo, one can get a relatively clear picture of all the of side-effects. From three differenwebsiteses I found these:

"Can cause irregular monthly periods and spotting may occur. There can be bloating/weight gain, headaches, depression, and hair loss."

"More common
Changes in uterine bleeding (increased amounts of menstrual bleeding occurring at regular monthly periods; lighter uterine bleeding between menstrual periods; heavier uterine bleeding between regular monthly periods; or stopping of menstrual periods

Less common
Mental depression; skin rash; unexpected or increased flow of breast milk

Other side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. However, check with your doctor if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome:

More common
Abdominal pain or cramping; diarrhea ; dizziness; fatigue; mild headache; mood changes; nausea; nervousness; pain or irritation at place of injection or place where implants were inserted ; swelling of face, ankles, or feet; unusual tiredness or weakness; vomiting ; weight gain

Less common
Acne; breast pain or tenderness; brown spots on exposed skin, possibly long-lasting; hot flashes; loss or gain of body, facial, or scalp hair; loss of sexual desire; trouble in sleeping"

"*Side effects may include:

abdominal pain
acne
depression
dizziness
fluid retention
headache
increased appetite
increased or decreased sex drive
increased risk of blood clots or stroke
irregular periods
menstrual changes
mental depression
mild hair loss
pregnancy symptoms
pregnancies, which ectopicoccur, are more likely to be ectopic (in the fallopian tubes)
prolonged menstrual bleeding
small increased risk of breast cancer
spotting between periods
stomach aches
tender breast
very little bleeding or no bleeding at all
weakness
weight changes"

Notice the many uses of the words "may", "possible", understating the occurance of these effects. After nine wonderful months of being on the drug, I myself am starting to gain weight dramatically - eight lbs in the last month. I am beginning to experience sevebreatsr loss, pregnancy symptoms such as sore breats and nausea, and my depression is coming back, along with severe anxiety attacks which I have never had before. Had I come to this message board before going on it, I wouldn't have even bothered.

-- posted by yeve

Top 62. Apr 10, 2003 7:54 AM

» Bratt1212 - Depo shot

Just to let you guys know, there are lawsuits in progress against the makers of depo provera. I myself have a meeting with an attorney on Tuesday April 15 to discuss a possible suit.

-- posted by Bratt1212

Top 63. Apr 17, 2003 8:17 AM

» battywoman - Endo

Hi,
I am 23 yrs old and have endometriosis. I have started taking Depo-Provera. And the difference between myself and others who are taking Depro, is that I am taking it as treatment for my endo, not birth control. I have been living with Endometriosis for a very long time, and so far none of the side effects that I have experienced have compared with the pain of my endo. I have been in and out of the hospital with painful periods, having to get shots of Demorhal. I have experienced constant pelvic pain, every day, with relief maybe one day a month, and not having pain for a day only makes the pain so much more painful. I have gained and lost my fair share of weight, depending on how nauseated I am. And I have had diarea EVERY DAY, every day for years, 6 to be precise.

But the thing for me is that, I'm desperate.

I have rejected surgery, and am trying all sorts of things. And Depo Provera to me is a tamer alternative. Maybe it's easier for me because I probably won't be able to have kids anyway, so the thought of Depo Provera causing infertility isn't as scary for me, I don't know. But all I do know is that Depo Provera is a better alternative than taking 2 high estrogen birth control pills a day, or other "knock me out drugs."
Taking Depo Provera is not such a bad thing for me compared to the alternative. I encourage you to ask if the side effects out-weight the pain and long term effects for yourself.
It may not be such a bad thing.
Marie

-- posted by battywoman

Top 64. Apr 17, 2003 4:43 PM

» ttcweb - Re: Re: Medline Drug Imformation concerning side affects of Depr

In response to message posted by TheLizardQueen:

LizardQueen, the shot that you are on is not Depo-Provera. The monthly birth control shot is called Lunelle. It is a much lower dose of synthetic hormone than Depo and does not cause the same side effects that Depo does.

I just wanted to make sure that everyone understood that Depo is a shot that is injected every 3 months, and that Lunelle is a shot that is injected every month.

-- posted by ttcweb

Top 65. Apr 28, 2003 9:22 AM

» linerds - Depo

I went on depo shortly after breast feeding my son. The doctor told me it was safe and would cause me know harm at all. Several of my family members were skeptical. How could something that stopped your period be good for you. In June of 2002 was my first shot, one month before me wedding. I weighed in at 130pds. Three months later I had another shot and went up to 136. After three shots, I began to have sever heart pains under my breast. This was followed by a tightening in my chest that would cause me to stop breathing. I went to the hospitals several times and they ran so many test I lost count, but none of them had to do with depo. They didn't ask if I was even on birth control. My white blood count was high, indicating cancer. (My mother passed away at the age of 30 from breast cancer.) This put a big scare on me. I asked them if depo could have been the result of my problems. They said they were unsure and for me to go off of it and come back in three months. Sure enough in three months, my counts were normal there was no cancer and my heart and chest pains stopped. I did however gain almost 15 pds and lost a lot of hair. My hair is back now and I'm down to 137. Only a little while more to go. Don't believe everything your doctors tell you. They may not know the effects depo will have on you, because it is different for everyone. Make sure you research it for yourself before you decide. A friend of mine was on it and she has no problems what so ever.

-- posted by linerds

Top 66. Apr 28, 2003 9:27 AM

» linerds - Re: Re: Depo

In response to message posted by TheLizardQueen:

Of course people lose hundreds of strands of hair a day, but when you go to pull your hair into a ponytail and your pulling handfulls of hair out, that is not normal. The doctors told me after I went off depo that that had to be the cause. My hair grew back as soon as i went off. It is just different for different people.

-- posted by linerds

Top 67. May 1, 2003 8:55 PM

» skies - depro shot

hi my dr had adviced me to try the depre prevera shot i have high estrogen i had 3 d and c's now i cant stop period. i also have pmdd , i tried nirth control pills they had all had estrogen in them and at low amounts and still made me depressed, and suicidal.

so my conclusion would be to try the shot , i cant get threw a menstral cycle with out anxiety panic and mild depression
the anxiety panic and depression only comes when i ovalulate
im in a catch 22 dr says to young for hysterectomy and birth control pills dont work, herbs dont worki been going threw high estrogen for 7 years now and i dont think i can handle another menstral cycle when i cant even leave the house due to pmdd

please wish me luck i read all your letters but i have to treat the estrogen inbalance

if the ovulation stop then maybe i can have a normal life again well atleast i hope soo. wish me luck.

-- posted by skies