Major Microgynon problems - anyone else had this?

[dinosaurus]

I started taking Microgynon 2 months ago after having quite a long break from the pill (I tried various sorts years ago didn't feel brilliant so came off it). I decided to have another go because I just feel its the 'easiest' type of contraception and thought it might be worth a try.

I know there can potentially be alot of side effects and discussed these with my doctor who reassured me that it would help me with my rather annoying pmt!

Anyway, in a nutshell, I have turned into a depressed, emotional, grumpy but also, at times, a rather detached, unemotional person. My sex drive has disappeared and I sometimes feel a bit sick and dizzy. What is most alarming is that although I obviously know I haven't been feeling great, people around me have commented on it. My poor husband told me last night (on the nicest possible way) that I've completely changed and the rows and arguments we've had in the last couple of months (which have increased due to my grumpiness) is seriously getting to him - in 15 years, I've never seen him quite so sad. He also described me as seeming very 'preoccupied' in that I've almost withdrawn from him?? Strangely enough, a couple of people at work have commented on me seeming 'preoccupied' which just seems such a coincidence.

I have stopped taking the pill as of today even though I'm midway through a pack because I can't stand it anymore. I'm convinced it is the pill - I have nothing else going on in my life to make me feel like this - in fact, we recently moved, I enjoy my job and my relationship with my husband was good. I am actually feeling quite upset that this pill appears to have changed my personality and am wondering how long it might take me to get back to normal? I haven't phoned the doctor because I feel rather stupid describing the symptoms above. Has anyone else experienced this? Could something else be to blame? It just concerns me that people have commented on how I have majorly changed and that I've single handedly put a massive distance between my and my husband. please help if you can enlighten me!

I've been on Microgynon for at least 14/15 years and I've never had a problem with it, touch wood.

The thing is I would like to give up the pill and move onto something like the coil but I read so many horror stories about it that I'm reluctant to change.

I had terrible problems when I took it for nearly a year. My spots got worse, but the most severe side effect was that my personality changed. I became incredibly paranoid and was convinced DP was cheating on me with a female friend. It nearly ended our relationship. Now I look back on the year I took it and wonder how I could've behaved so irrationally. I do have a family history of depression and anxiety problems so I was maybe more prone to it.

I've since found out that I have PCOS, so Microgynon was the worst possible pill for me to be taking. I've since taken Marvelon and Dianette with far more success.

Hi everyone....I have been taking microgynon for about 3.5 years and had never had any problems until recently when I have been feeling very emotional and like i am about to burst into tears for no reason at all. Am going to see my GP as think it must be my pill although would be interested to know if anyone else has suddenly developed problems with microgynon after having taken it for a long time?

x

Hey guys, I'm 16 and have just had my withdrawal bleed after coming off of microgynon 30 about a month ago. I have been experiences horrible withdrawal symptoms and your stories have really helped me stop worrying as well as a few others I have found online. I have been experiences awful anxiety issues about my health but most of all my relationship. I've been with my boyfriend for almost 2 years and have never had any troubles or worries about being with him but the other night (the first night of my withdrawal bleed) a thought suddenly popped into my head questioning whether or not I feel we should be together. It was totally out of the blue and we were so loved up just a few days before so I don't understand why I suddenly felt like that :(also, it being just 4 days until Christmas, I don't feel excited at all. I just feel detatched from everything and not myself at all. I can't stop worrying about my relationship and why I don't seem excited to see friends or family and what on earth is wrong with me!!! :( and all this worrying is meaning I can't sleep or eat which is making me feel even worse :( I would be hugely greatful if any of you could reply, I'm dreading Christmas if I'm still feeling like this and would feel much better if I knew why I am. How long did you all feel anxious and not yourself? - Emily

I've decided to come off microgynon as it's making me anxious, depressed and have violent outbursts. I'm not taking anything hormonal ever again as so far the injection and the mini pill have also made me have horrific mood and personality problems and my family can't take anymore of it.

I had a break from all contraception a while ago and felt fine with none of the above, so I'm going back to that. I'd rather have my heavy periods than the side effects of hormonal contraception.

I believe it is to do with the progestin they use which is levonorgestrel. you may do better on a different pill which uses another type. the Mirena coil uses the same progestin, so that is likely to give you similar unpleasant side effects. Stop taking it and you should start to feel better very soon.

All the reasons you listed above is why I had to stop taking it. I was 'raging' all the time, had migraines and had no libido what so ever. I didn't even want my husband touching/kissing me. It made me feel like I hated my husband and it made me a twat angry towards him and it nearly ended my marriage, I was on it for a few years.

This happened to me too when I was 14 (on pill to regulate painful periods). It changed me so dramatically, I was angry, evil and almost suicidal. I feel constantly guilty about the way I acted when on it even 17 years later.

My new doctor swapped me onto microgynon after years of being happy on lowestrin 30, presumably as it's cheaper & almost immediately it had horrible effects. I bled constantly with stomach cramps so bad that my boss found my curled up on the toilet floor crying! And the mood swings were horrendous, it genuinely made me a little bit evil!
Stopped taking it, demanded my old pill back & returned to normal almost immediately!

I was on Microgynon for about six months years ago, and it completely changed me. My best friend (who I shared a flat with) and then-boyfriend actually sat me down and told me something had to change as I had become so horrible

I came off the pill, got the contraceptive implant (which I know lots of people don't get on with but it worked well for me) and it was like night and day. Went back to being myself as soon as effects wore off, and never looked back. Best mate is still best mate, and boyfriend is now my DH so they both forgave me for being such a bitch.

Scary that there are SO many people with awful experiences of it and that they're still prescribing it.

Hope you feel back to normal soon OP.

I was a sobbing wreck on microgynon - about 15 years ago. What really pissed me off was gp suggesting antidepressants without even trying stopping the pill first! I wasn't depressed - within a few weeks of stopping it I was back to my normal self. From other experience, medication side effects seem to be routinely dismissed by medical professionals, which seems extraordinary to me.

Hi, I am really pleased I have read this info on the pill. I am 20 and currently taking microgynom 30 - I have been for 4 years now but since just after Christmas 2013 I have been feeling like a totally different person. My mam has suggested this to be the problem after weeks of me crying for silly reasons and sometimes no reason. sometimes I will start crying in public and I have to run to the toilet to compose myself. Its anything from something I read on the news the night before to things that happened in the past which I will suddenly dwell on and make into something its not. I also find myself anxious being out and about and struggle to get out of bed for work and uni. I have a total lack of energy, my appetite can be non existent or I want to eat everything. I have put on about a half a stone in the last few months and I would normally healthy eat and go to the gym once a week but I just cant find any motivation. I often feel almost self hatred and guilty as if I am a bad person. I even started seeing a counsellor to talk about my stress and anxiety but I have just thought of the pill to be a cause in this - do you think this is possible? I really don't like the idea of anti depressants :(
Thanks

also after reading these messages it has dawned on me that perhaps I have a low libido due to the pill - I thought it was just the way I was or that my other half just had a really high one, I have had nothing to gage it on as I have always been on this pill.

I suffer with depression & this pill made my mood drop so badly I had to stop taking it. I tried the 30 & the 20 but both affected me.

I had to come of that pill for the exact same reasons op. it nearly ended my marriage. would never touch it again

there is no reason to stop prescribing this pill, it works fine for some people. For others, like the OP, it has bad side effects. Experiences can also change over time.

It is the cheapest one with the longest history.

see your doctor, OP, and try a different one.

this is why those who ask for others' experiences with pills are wasting their time - everyone reacts differently. Happily here are many different brands.

I had a terrible time on it. But I suffer eventually on all pills and can't take many now because of migraines - we use condoms now. Just too risky with DCs to risk mood swings.

Hi, I took Microgynon 30 for the first month and changed into a different person! I have now been off these horrible pills for 5 days. I am feeling much better since being off them but am not back to my normal self, I have been experiencing awful anxiety and panic attacks along with not being hungry and constantly sleeping/tired! I will also think about past events which I no don't bother me when I'm not in this way but now they will just make me panic! I also just don't want to see my boyfriend I feel like I am become more and more distant by the day when I no after 2 years of being together I do love him!! Is anyone able to relate to my bad experience and let me know how long it took them before they felt 100% themselves again!? Thank you

I have been taking microgynon for 3 weeks and for the last week of taking it I felt tired lethargic palpitations shaking thought I was going off my head. Stopped taking it last Wednesday and I am starting to feel normal not quite 100 per cent yet. Has any one suffered this as well and how long before they felt normal.?

I was awful on it. No libido at all, and I had these sort of chest pains - not heart problems, but they felt like it. Put on a lot of weight too. Came off it after about 6 months.

Annoyingly that put an end to all hormonal contraception for me - the cap it is...

It's not supposed to be prescribed to people with any tendency to depression. Of course they can't always know that in advance.

My GP told me that and I think it's in the risk factors described in the leaflet.

I tried Microgynon 20 a few years ago. Within a few days plummeted & I'd never felt so low. I suffer with depression normally stable on my meds but this affected me so bad just after taking it a few days. It's ok just to stop but you will get a withdrawal bled in a few days. Make sure you use additional contraception. Maybe a copper coil would be an option for you as no hormones.
I can't take any pill because of my depression & also get migraines. DH has had the snip so I don't have to worry now. I tried the Mirena but even the hormones in that affected me.

I also tried Yasmin & Yaz but couldn't get on with those pulls either. If you had trouble with Microgynon then I would avoid those pills too.

OP do your research on replacement pills/contraception so you don't get another one which contains levonorgestrel which is the progestin probably responsible for your troubles. don't accept a Mirena coil, it's the active ingredient in that too. I just can't do hormonal contraception or HRT for that matter. looking back, I wasted a lot of my life as a result of being buggered up by the Pill. it really just doesn't suit some women.

I have been on it for a week as I get married to a wonderful man and 3 days before The wedding I just freaked out. I cry and get angry I get depressed I don't want him I touch me and I feel detached. Thank you for your comments as I thought it was me but I know it's not. I love him to bits but can't stand him. I thought it was me but I am relieved that this is a side effect. Thank you