I've just realised the mini pill (Cerelle) may have caused my sudden depression/anxiety!

[showsomeclass]

I'm kind of hoping I'll discover some shared experiences here - although I'm not sure i'm on the right thread (please let me know!)

I have never been diagnosed with depression or anxiety in my past - I am currently 39

About 2 years ago, I came off the combined pill because of migraines, and was put on Cerelle. This happened to have the same timing of meeting a new man and starting a new relationship

For the first few months, I had butterflies all the time, felt sick, couldn't sleep, had a constantly tightening feeling around my throat and like I had something stuck in it, and felt very on edge all the time. I crazily put this down to the new relationship and being 'love struck'.

Anyway, things didn't get better. The anxiety worsened and I think developed into more of a depression. I run my own business and previously been very driven and motivated. Now I do as little as what I can get away with

I haven't been putting any effort into my other personal relationships

I have almost psychotic thoughts about things that might be happening that aren't. I think everyone has an ulterior motive. I have zero self esteem and just think negatively about absolutely everything! I get obsessive about things (particularly new man, although not so new any more)

Anyway - I stopped having periods when I started taking Cerelle. Like totally vanished. My GP told me this could happen and it was totally fine.

I have had particularly bad mental health thoughts and behaviour in the past week or so and then today, I came on for the first time in about a year and a half or more! And with it - my mind suddenly feels more balanced, more ME - than I can hardly remember!!

Has anyone else had this with Cerelle? Or any other light anyone can shed?

I'm so relieved right now because I feel so normal and happy - but absolutely dreading tomorrow as I may not again..

[XTINALADY1]

Sorry in advance for the long post:

I found this thread last week, when i was at the end of my teather & I've just registered with mumsnet so I can post my experience regarding Cerelle (and hoping my experience may help some of you).

I was put on Cerelle mini pill 8 weeks after the birth of my first baby due to breastfeeding. Prior to pregnancy I'd been on microgynon for 10 years and cilest for 6 years (both combined pills). As I'd always used hormonal contraceptives and they'd worked well for me, I thought it'd be the same with the mini pill. How wrong was I!!!

I had taken the first months pack and all seemed ok... tbh I wasn't looking out for any side effects but in hindsight I was getting more lazy, low & disconnected but blaming it on having a new baby & being tired. Fast forward to my second pack and within a week I turned into a psycho. That was last week. I always keep busy but all my energy had been zapped, everything was a struggle.

I've always been a worrier so I'd say I suffered new-mum-anxiety pretty badly even before taking the pill but at least then my thoughts were limited to worrying about dropping the baby/not wanting others to walk around holding the baby (because they may drop her)/questioning am I a good mum etc. However, by Tuesday last week my thoughts turned dark and anxiety kicked up 100 notches. For example I walked past two high school kids, chatting on a bridge doing nothing wrong, one just happened to have a bottle of water. As I walked past them and for about 20 mins after, I saw red, visualising them having acid in the bottle and what I'd do if they threw it on me and the pram & what I'd do to them. The anger. The fear. My physical shakes. It was like I had a mini panic attack. And that was just one incident. There were at least 10 others daily. By Wednesday I was in a depressive state, teary, suicidal thoughts. I found myself holding a knife blade in hand. I tried to 'snap out of it' but then the guilt hit - If I could feel that way maybe it'd be best if I'm not here anymore. I was going out of my mind. I was actually scared. Thursday morning I posted on a fb group similar to this to ask if anyone had had similar thoughts/experiences etc. and by lunchtime I had almost 100 responses, with roughly 85% in agreement that the mini pill (some stating cerelle specifically) had cause them to have similar reactions/intrusive thoughts. I cried rivers reading the msgs and finally opened up to my sister, mum and a Dr friend. She advised me to come off Cerelle immediately.

This past weekend I still felt a bit foggy and low and had a few unpleasant thoughts. But today (4 days after stopping) I AM ME AGAIN! Energy enough to complete some tasks around the house. Happiness in abundance (I am usually happy and positive but was avoiding people so no one could really tell). But best of all... no more intrusive, dark, suicidal thoughts. I even tried to think a dark thought this morning (to test my new happiness I suppose) but it was like my brain went 'no thank you' & I couldn't. I am so pleased I've come off it and will be avoiding the mini pill in future. For contraception for the foreseeable, he'll just have to cover up. It's unbelievable & scary what a teeny tiny pill can do to you.

My first advice to anyone experiencing or scared they're experiencing similar... TALK TO SOMEONE, friends, family, Dr. And soon!!! In the moment of my lowest low, I was reclusive, teary, physically shaking & wanting 'to leave'. I never ever want to experience those feelings again. It was so out of character. And although I knew it, I didn't want to admit it, incase anyone passed a PND judgement. It was only finding this thread last week that I realised there could be a connection to the pill. So thank you all for being so honest.

I think it's definitely worthwhile thinking about changing pill or coming off it all together for a bit if you're worried. It's worked wonders for me.

[Brindle01]

I started cerazette three months ago. Don't need it for contraception but need something for heavy periods,as they were causing anaemia. For the first month I felt great,then gradually been feeling very low,very depressed,tearful ,no sex drive, very very tired and no enthusiasm in anything. Struggling with my job too. Made the decision a few days ago and came off it. Still feel low ,brain fog,but hopefully will get out of my system soon. So it's back to square one,back to docs. Can anyone tell me,is the coil the same as cerazette ? Thank you.

[irunlikeahipoo]

I honestly think that the majority of hormonal contraceptives cause a lot of the mental health problem that women ( young women ) in particular seem to have
Many take the pill when quite young so don’t generally know what there normal base line is for their mental health and then when you start getting depressed and anxious it’s blamed on being young and hormonal periods so you just accept it . Meanwhile your mental health gets worse and worse.

I took the pill as an adult in my mid thirties so straight away I recognised that something wasn’t correct I went from being perfectly normal person to a raging angry person within a few days . Sleeping depressed and totally irrational
Had I been a teenager I might have accepted this as part of growing up
Or as a young woman hormones / period problem and carried on taking the pill and getting worse and worse
But as an adult in my thirties it was easy to pinpoint that what I was experiencing was not normal for me and the only thing that I had Changed was taking the pill
As soon as I stopped taking it I felt fine and back to normal

[Daihla]

I've been put on Cerelle as a trial pain reliever.
I've been sterilised so definately not to prevent pregnancy!!!
I've been suffering with troublesome ovarian cysts and noticed one of the side effects to this mini pill is ovarian cysts. Makes no sense why they would use this.

Has anyone discovered they have ovarian cysts from using this mini pill?

I've been reading the posts on how everyone seems to be depressed or anxious.
I've only been taking this for a month and thought it was just me feeling down with the pain I endure each day but I have noticed that I am exceptionally low in mood. Feeling like the world is caving in on me. I keep fighting to feel normal but just want to curl up in a corner and be done with it.
What's even worse is I have found I've become completely disgusted by anything intimate with my partner. Even a kiss seems to grose me out. This ain't normal because to me my partner is 'hot stuff' !! I just can't bare him touching me.

Has anyone else experienced this? If so does it wear off?

I've also found my breasts are killing me. I've never suffered with tender breasts before so am struggling to deal with it.

Anyone with advice for reducing this pain would be greatly appreciated.

I now can't work out what is worse. Living with excruciating abdominal pain caused by my ovary or the seemingly horrible effects I'm getting from taking this pill.

I feel mentally drained !

Is this mini pill worth continuing with I wonder. It has reduced my pain quite dramatically however I'm not sure the side effects are worth it.
I didn't even realise it could be this pill but going by everyone's stories it makes complete sense it's the cause!!

[mjfitches]

I have been on cerelle for over 4 years now. My moods have been all over and I have spent half of the time on anti depressants - I thought this was due to other things happening in my life, but now I am starting to wonder... I haven't managed to stay in any relationships, as I just overreact and am very sensitive. I have stayed in education as it is more flexible and somedays I cannot face the idea of being in the work place. Hmmm... maybe time to come off!!

[DentonSW430092]

If anyone is still reading this, I've been on cerelle for a few years now, then went off for around 5 months this past summer 2018 from March to August. I'm 42 with 2 boys 9 and 6 and a fabulous marriage. Absolutely NOTHING to cause any panic or heartache in my life. I just was sick of taking a pill, not for any real bad side effect. Then, having decided against the snip (for now) I started taking Cerelle again around the beginning Sep. 2018 Then, around mid October I started getting serious anxiety over something minor I did in my past. It was occupying my every thought and was turning into a negative thought pattern, heart palpitations accompanied by proper insomnia for WEEKS. For several nights in a row I fear I was having a panic attack and literally did not sleep many nights. For 5 weeks now I've been battling insomnia on a nightly basis, and have gone many nights with no sleep at all wit my mind racing on different things in my past and negative thought patterns. Having confronted my initial fear from my past with my husband (something in hindsight seems innocuous but which had built up guilt in my mind for weeks) I thought all was well. Until the next night yet again i couldn't sleep and the anxiety, fear and dare I saw depression reared its head just a day later. I feel not myself as if I'm walking in a fog and can't control these horrible feelings of anxiety and discomfort. I feel this must be something to do with my pill, Cerelle. Any thoughts?? I am going to take a break from it as having absolutely NO history of depression or psychosis and having a pretty perfect life, i cannot understand where these horrible feelings are coming from? Seeing GP this week and explaining all, sleeping pills not working and can't help but think this is all hormonal and to do with Cerelle and my chaining hormones. Any thoughts appreciated!

[rjr523]

Hi, I'm currently taking cerelle too and I've never had anxiety and been as angry with life as I am now I've always been a strong happy go lucky person, I've had struggles with contraception as I'm not allowed to be on the deppo injection anymore due to being under weight, I used the pill which you take for 21 days then you have your period but I bled constantly, I'm not allowed the implant as I'm allergic to it and I have a short canal so the coil is a no go. I'm starting a new job as a prison officer and this is my career of a life time. I hate using condoms with my partner as it's just not the same and if I fall pregnant at this time when starting my new job it would crush me because i really want to get our wedding out of the way and my first year of my job out of the way before having a baby. although having a baby is a dream of mine and I've had a lot of tests around being able to have children I would be over the moon if it accidently happened but the timing is just not perfect for a baby atm. I just don't know what else they would be able to offer me is there another pill that makes you less angry? Or do they all make you feel like that? I've tried the st John's wort 300mg herbal tablets and they seem to help but Jesus trying to swallow them and not choke to death is a night mare 😂 any advice would be great. My life is always this complicated so do I just put up with it? Also my partner works away throughout the week so maybe condoms might have to be the only answer but I don't want to effect our sex life

[SnobblyBobbly]

Bellabingbong - I would. I posted above about how I felt and it was awful. I hadn’t been on the pill for some years and it was straight after I started it again that I began to feel depressed. I was blaming my work at the time but when I was considering anything that had changed in my life, the only thing was that I’d gone back on the pill.

It might be worth talking to your husband about it and discussing alternative forms of contraception while give yourself a break from the pill. Reason I say discuss with your husband as for us it was ok we’ll use condoms, where as for others it might be that husband gets the snip.

I hope things get better for you, it’s a bloody awful feeling x

[numptynuts]

Lovely ladies. It's hard isn't it?

I can never expose myself again to hormonal contraceptives. Ok it's great for some, but some of us really struggle and there's not a hells chance on earth the medical profession will attribute what's happened to us to the simple pill. But yes it can !! It does.

But why would they admit to this can of worms? What would happen if they did.

[HappyGirl86]

I'm still unsure what to do but I really feel like this pill contributes to my anxiety and depression!

[bellabingbong]

Hi All

I'm sure this has been covered a million times. I've been put on the mini pill - progesterone only- due to heavy periods.

I've been on it a month now and have for the first time in my life developed anxiety and this morning woke up just feeling incredibly blue. I'm normally so happy - I've got a manic busy life (3 boys under 5) but I enjoy it that way and love my husband to pieces! My sleep has gone to pot in the last 2 weeks due to the anxiety and the dr have me a very low grade sleeping pill last night so I had a solid 8 hours last night and feel fine in that respect.

Just been doing some research on the pill and found it says 34% more likely to be diagnosed with depression and anxiety on progesterone only pill?!!

Has anyone else felt like this? Should I come off the pill? Just want to feel myself again!!

[razwana85]

hi, im posting for the first time. i was on the combined pill and i had to come of them due to severe migranes and i was them put on the cerelle mini pills and i have gained weight with them and some side effects with them and i spoke to my doctor and she advised that on my next periods i am too come off them. and i plan to do that.

[barnacharmer]

I was on it and it was awful. Everything was grey and I was so unhappy. I've never felt like that before or since. I was in a really bad place and I couldn't work out why, looked at the side effects and there it was- depression. I can't believe no one warned me, surely a doctor should warn about something like that. It did take a few months before I felt 100% back to normal.

[PollytheDoily]

I was on hormonal contraceptives and they turned me into a psychotic , nasty, anxious, unhinged bitch.

I know it was them as I started them at age 42 and was off the fuckers by age 44 (last year) and have returned to my normal, laid back self.

Do not underestimate the power of hormonal contraceptives and don't think you're depressed because......do some research. I did and I'll never touch them again. (Appreciate they help others - caveat!)

[SnobblyBobbly]

Just a little update, I came off Cerelle after I last posted, I'm not using any replacement, and I feel much happier. My mood is lighter again, I'm not dreading the rest of my life as I was a month ago.

Just had my first period since I came off it so everything is back to normal.

If you're feeling as low as I was and are wondering if it's Cerelle, it's got to be worth a try coming off it to see. I bought a box of StJohns Wort about a week after stopping to help things along so taking a couple of weeks worth of that may have played a part as well.

[wowthisisnoteasy]

Oh my days.......I've been wondering if my pill/hormones could've caused my recent meltdowns.....so glad (that I'm not alone) to see this thread!

I have had cerelle in the past but my most recent one was something else I can't recall the name of at the moment.

Whilst taking it I felt nervous and a bit worthless a lot of the time and would get a migraine post period. When I stopped (after 3 months) it got suddenly worse....I couldn't sleep and I found myself panicking without cause to nicely compliment the migraines, upset tummy and dizziness.

[HappyGirl86]

Hi girls! I'm another one who is wondering if the mini pill contributes to my anxiety. I've always been a worrier but I genuinely feel like something is making me feel like this and I can't pin point exactly what is making me feel so anxious if that's makes sense.
I've asked my GP and he disagrees but I feel like they don't like to criticise the pill for some reason. I guess they don't want to risk unwanted pregnancies.
I am very tempted to come off the pill and see how I am in 6 months time but I don't want to just make a rush decision- although I have been thinking about this for over 6 months now.
This sounds daft but I feel like I am very easily affected by hormones. I felt very weird when I was only 4 weeks pregnant, I had hip problems from only 16 weeks which was related to hormones and I also get hormone related migraines which is why I can't take the other pill. I worry that my anxiety is here because of the hormones in the mini pill. I'm sure this all probably sounds a bit silly and I have no medical knowledge!

[Cassie15]

Hello to those of you who have previously posted on this thread. I am relieved that I have found it as I genuinely thought I was going insane and reading this has helped me a lot. Showsomeclass I can totally relate to your post. WouId it be ok to chat?
I'll try to keep this short.. I started on cerells a few years ago and I had strange thoughts,anxiety,random panic attacks now and then which seemed to get worse.. this may sound crazy but I sometimes feel when I start a brand new batch that the side effects become either worse or they even disappear! For example last month I was "normal" on the pack I had,then I started a brand new batch at the end of last week and I feel like my anxiety is through the rough, horrible even scary thoughts and I just can't seem to feel like me :-( I'm currently on holiday and it's ruining that so far because even though I am here with my boyfriend whom I get on amazingly well with and all is good in my life,I feel this immense dark cloud over me that makes me feel scared and my thoughts and feelings are a bit out of control.
Cerelle is the only reason I can think of that adds up to being the cause of me feeling like this now and before, I think I may need to give my body a break from this lethal stuff.
Cassie

[SnobblyBobbly]

I just googled Cerelle and anxiety as since I've been taking it (having not used any form of contraception for around 10 years) I've felt tearful, anxious, paranoid and been having really negative thoughts. I'm coming off it as of today to see if it helps, as it is the only thing that's changed.

I'll keep the board posted about any difference. I really hope it is the pill, I really don't fancy a life of doom and gloom

[Lmd2017]

Hi there, was just wondering if anyone has had relief from anxiety and nausea symptoms after coming off cerelle? How long did it take to return to normal? I have started feeling anxious/dizzy/nauseous since coming off cerelle and losing my mind :( any help appreciated. Thanks

[Apkd1996]

They have now put me on Noriday - does anyone have any experiences"?
Im scared to start taking it as after being on cerelle I nearly lost everything.

[s0903]

I've been on the contraceptive pill since the age of 18 (now late 20s) and have not had a period since then. I was on Cerazette roughly speaking from 2009-2016. In late 2015/early 2016 I ordered my repeat prescription and was given Cerelle instead, being told its the same.

I've never linked the two before however I started having extreme anxiety around June 2016 till present. I've been on anti anxiety medication and had CBT. Although I can easily pin point exactly what started my anxiety, and I do feel better for having had the above treatment, I still am not 100% - now wondering if this could be pill related?

I did have an episode of depression in 2010, again easily able to link this to a cause, however this was shortly after being put on Cerazette? Again, not something I ever considered but now am wondering if this could be linked?

There are articles in The Debrief recently which back this thread up. Very interesting read and I know a number of my friends have recently discussed coming off of the pill/using other forms of contraception as a more natural process that lets them feel more "them".

[Magpiemagpie]

I was on Yasmin Pure evil
I normally get a bit pms bad moods for maybe 2/3 day a month. I can time it perfectly as it's just before I get my period I feel tired and want to sleep loads as soon as I get my period I'm fine .

From the moment I took this bloody pill I felt down miserable tired anxious and stressed
I have absolutly nothing to feel down about .

I took Yasmin for 17 days got thrush straight away and my tiredness just went through the roof sleeping 15 /6 hours a day and no energy or motivation to do anything
I felt like I was permanently how I feel those 2/3 days of my period

Stooped taking it and took some SJW and immediately felt better
I will never take another BCP as long as I live

[Apkd1996]

I was prescribed with Microgynon at the age of 16 and took it for four years up until February this year when they insisted I change my pill due to some weight gain.

The pill was changed to Cerelle asend I have stopped having periods all together - along with this my anxiety has become unbearable. I have dark thoughts and have started to feel guilty for things which I haven't even done wrong.
Every time I feel guilty for something I insist on telling my partner and I worry that this will eventually cause him to want to split up with me. This then leads to further worry and is making me think about splitting up with him. We have been planning children and our life together and to break up with him would be the last thing I want- having read this thread it has suddenly clicked that it could be my pill causing all of these problems.

Does anyone have a recommendation for an alternative contraceptive method?

[misiabella]

I got so bad on Cerelle that in the end I had very disturbing, and very real suicidal thoughts. I took it for about 8 months and it was hell. Constant spotting was the least of my problems. I was in constant anxiety, I would cry in the car after dropping kids at school, constant fog and inability to gather my thoughts. I had moments wen I was extremely angry and had to really control myself. I was irrational and emotional. I almost divorced my husband. Finally I couldn't even sleep at night as my head was full of anxiety and suicide looked to me like a very tempting option. With the last of my sense I went to gp to change it back to cerazzete which I used to be fine with (before they decided to save some money and changed it to cerelle) The effect of cerelle worn off within a few weeks, but even after the first week the difference was huge. They are supposed to be the same, but there is something in cerelle that gave me anxiety/depression.