Depo-Provera: asking the FDA to investigate

Top 99. Jul 19, 2003 1:14 AM

» Oklahoma83 - I wanna help the law suite

I got on the depo at 17, i only took it 3 times, but that was more than enough. I broke down about a month after the first shot. I was really crazy like possesed crazy. I new i needed help when i was contemplating how i wanted to die. I went from 135 to my current 215. My chest doubled, vaginal dryness, hair loss, memory loss, severe depression, anxiety. My husband has been asking me to get a job for the last year now, but i have a hard time just leaving my home. I didnt mean to take up time, But i would like to see this company pay for what they have done to me and other depo users. Please email me! I need to know what to do in order to get on this law suite. Thank You

-- posted by Oklahoma83

Top 100. Jul 21, 2003 8:52 AM

» bsnyder - problems with Depo

I've been on the Depo shot since I had my 2nd child in 1999. I finally took my last shot in December 2001. After reading the other postings, I finally figured out why I've had all of these symptoms, including weight gain, hair loss, severe abdominal pain, depression, mood swings and facial breakout and rash. Every time I went to the doctor about my symptoms, nothing was ever related to the Depo shot. Since being off of the shot, I am still dealing with these symptoms and have not had a menstrual period yet. My new husband of the past 3 years, and I want to have a baby, but the way things are going it probably isn't going to happen. I'm 36 now and we're not able to continue with trying the new techniques for having another child. Had I known all of this, I would never taken that first shot. This stinks!!!

-- posted by bsnyder

Top 101. Jul 21, 2003 2:42 PM

» Candace9171 - Re: problems with Depo

In response to message posted by bsnyder:

I began taking Depo in November of 2001 and I had three shots, my last one being in May 2002, over a year ago. I began with very irregular bleeding, ranging from spotting to very heavy and then a few months later, I stopped bleeding altogether. I have since not had a period. I have and continue to suffer from depression, anxiety, abdominal pain, back pain, swollen hands and feet (at times), hair loss (and my hair was already fine), and weight gain. Over a period of about three months I gained about 30-40 pounds. This has caused me to have spasms and I am now going through physical therapy. Not to mention, I now have high cholesterol -- at 31!! I have never experienced anything like that or the slightly elevated blood pressure.

I wish to God I would have known what the Depo would do, and nobody told me it was irreversible. There is absolutely nothing I can do to get back on track. They have even given me two different types of hormones to try to get my period back, but to no avail. I am absolutely fed up. And the frustrating part is that no one is going to attribute the symptoms to a medication they prescribed. The medical community needs to take heed and be forthright in the information they give their patients. It's unfair!!

-- posted by Candace9171

Top 102. Jul 23, 2003 1:28 AM

» kiwibirdie - what should i do?

hi there! scary site you have here! i was planning on going in to get the shot for the first time tomorrow morning,... now i don't know.
i have many friends who are currently ondepoo and have had no problems what so ever. the company states the side affects that you all seem to have... but it say's you guys are all in the very small majority.
i was wondering whether or not the people who had problems witdepopo had previously taken the pill. and did you have any problems with the pill??thanxhanx for your time.

-- posted by kiwibirdie

http://www.womenshealthclinic.org/wt_arc...

Top 103. Jul 23, 2003 1:39 AM

» kiwibirdie - this site has some info on depo

-- posted by kiwibirdie

Top 104. Jul 24, 2003 3:32 PM

» bsnyder - Re: what should i do?

In response to message posted by kiwibirdie:

Kiwibirdie,

Both of my pregnancies were planned and without complications. It wasn't until after my 2nd child I was very irregular and I was put on the pill. It gave me severe headaches and after 3 months I still wasn't regulated so that's when I got on the Depo. That's when all my other problems began. I wouldn't recommend it for anyone.

-- posted by bsnyder

Top 105. Jul 28, 2003 8:52 AM

» surfer79 - Depo Provera

Hello,

I am a freelance writer investigating the effects of this birth control method. So far what I have found is more worrying and more and more questions are being raised about this injectable contraceptive.
Basically what I have found is that Depo's main ingredient medroxyprogestrone acete or DMPA is a synthetic type of hormone similar to the natural hormone progestrone.
Basically I am leading to the idea that some women's bodies (a growing majority as opposed to those who are happy with Depo) are rejecting and reacting to this synthetic hormone by way of these unpleasant side effects. It could also be causing a hormonal imbalance which can be further worsen if more synthetic progestrins are prescribed. An effective way to check your hormones is to get a saliva test rather than a blood test which really doesn't give a clear picture. My research is on going, if anyone would like to email please feel free to do so.
I believe that this type of BC comprises women's health.

Take care

-- posted by surfer79

Top 106. Jul 28, 2003 9:18 AM

» ACAMRE - Re: Deop-Provera "THE SHOT"

In response to message posted by PinkCandy:

LISTEN EVERYONE!!!

I took the shot back in december...at first everything was ok...I started spotting and I ignored it at first. they said i could experience breakthrough bleeding...It didnt stop! I was "heavy spotting" (not a period and not just a drop here and there either...)
I bled for three months straight!!! HOW annoying and inconvienient!!! I gained a few pounds too... they say it can take a few months for the side affects to wear off- for your body to get used to it...I took the second shot and hoped for the best. the very next day I finally stopped bleeding!!! For about two full weeks, no more blood! then one night I started cramping sooooo badly, bleeding, and It was hard to catch my breath. I freaked out...It was late at night so I called a pharmacist. It was a very nice female. she said the cramping and "breakthrough bleeding" are normal side effects...I didnt tell her about the breathing thing b/c I thought maybe it was just me freaking out.for the next week i was so misrable. I was so exhaused I could barely pull myself out of bed for school or work or exercise. (I am very healthy, I exercise everyday and eat well) aside from the extreme fatigue, I kept experiencing "shortness of breath" I had to think about breathing sometimes. i always felt "nervous"...I would always breath with a loud sigh like i was upset or something...but the end of the week iwas so freaked out i wanted to go to the emergency room. after many phone calls and family help, I made the connection with the depo shot...I called another pharmacy and they read the side effects paper which i did not have and they said that shortness of breath and fatigue are listed under "severe side effects" and advised me to go to a doctor asap. I finally got a hold of my gyno office which i could not reach this whole time, and i never thought this would have anything to do with the depo shot...i spoke with the nurse and she told me all these horrible things that were happening to me are side effects of the depo, and she has heard of that happening...she said the drug was just taking its course through my body and i could experience these side effects for as long as three more weeks!!!! she did not show any concern and didnt even tell me to come in! thank god by the end of the week i felt normal again. i convinced myself by "mind over matter"- i was not going to let some stupid horomone shot take over my life or body...although the effects really did physically wear off soon after...I continuted bleeding and cramping for the rest of the 2.5 months i was on it. i switched to the patch as a new alternative... tried that for two months, gained 10 pounds, and next week i'll start YASMIN- the new pill that supposidly is sooooo mild with the least side effects, and keeps weight off. hopefull i'll finally be at peace!!!

one more thing- the female pharmacist also told me if i was planning on taking birh control for a few years this is "the wrong one" to stay on- women have a much more difficult time getting pregnant and "regular" once they finally stop it...what a nightmare!

-- posted by ACAMRE

Top 107. Jul 28, 2003 9:20 AM

» ACAMRE - what is PCOS???

In response to message posted by BertaT1:

what is pcos?

-- posted by ACAMRE