mini-pill (cerazette specifically) and depression/anxiety side-effects - a warning! Please read..

[RedFraggle]

After my horrendous experience with a mini-pill I felt I had to post this here as well as on the feeling depressed board.

I had my DS three months ago and after initial baby blues was starting to feel better. Went for my 8 week postnatal check and was prescribed Cerazette (the mini-pill) as I am breastfeeding. After about a week I started to feel really miserable and paranoid, gradually got worse until I could no longer face taking my kids out for the day as I just didn't feel I could cope.
Carried on getting worse to the point I was suicidal and kept thinking about harming myself or my baby. Spent a lot of time sitting with him and my DD throwing tearful wobblers and me sitting on the floor crying too!
Asked my HV for help and she got me a Doctors appointment - my HADS score was extremely high and I was put on anti-depressants, they started to kick in (although the side-effects were horrid) and I felt a bit more normal and so popped on to here for a look about. i hadn't felt up to even doing that for weeks! I saw a post about cerazette and mood swings and alarm bells rang. Googled Cerazette and anxiety/depression and found lots of stuff. I spoke to my doctor and came off all medication and lo and behold - I am totally fine again! Cerazette made me so mentally unstable, it was terrifying. I have had it yellow carded and suggest anyone else with similar issues speaks to their GP and does the same.
The fact that this pill is being heavily marketed to doctors at the moment (according to my HV) means more people are likely to be prescribed it, and at a time when they have just had a baby and therefore their side-effect symptoms could easily be confused with PND.
If you have recently had a baby and were feeling ok but suddenly start to feel bad or not yourself shortly after starting a mini-pill it might be worth considering changing or stopping medication to just rule out a link. Check with your doctor first of course!!!

[Blondie1985]

I've been taking Cerazette since May and have been suffering with hair thinning, it's been a gradual process but its really noticeable now and is not patchy just thinner all over 😫 has anyone else experienced this?? I'm really stressed about it and am panicking that I will end up with no hair at all.

I've now stopped taking it (only since Saturday) so am hoping that my hormones will return to normal and my hair will grow back.
I've also been extremely anxious and stressed recently, which I think also may be attributed to taking this.

[GlassHousesStones]

I’ve just finished my first pack of this pill because I’m BFing. I spent the first week or so crying. Now I am feeling really anxious. I drove home from seeing a friend feeling the need to constantly check my baby was in his car seat. I had an overwhelming feeling I had left him - despite looking at him! After birth I was pretty emotionally stable.

I had considered if this was the pill but hoped it would settle down.

I have also been bleeding for several weeks.

Does this sound familiar?

[GlassHousesStones]

What does it mean to yellow card it?

[Lastbustowhitehawk]

So glad I found this thread! I was prescribed the mini pill this week as I'm breastfeeding. I had planned on starting it yesterday but having read through others' experiences I have decided not to take the risk, particularly given my history of anxiety and migraines.

[Crystalpink]

Hi, I had the nexeplan implant put in over 12 months ago I had it removed 3 weeks ago now as I really think it caused me anxiety and depression. I was given the desogestrel mini pill and have been taking it for 3 weeks and I actually feel like I'm losing my mind I felt suicidel last week, I came across this post so I stopped taking it yesterday I feel a bit better today but was wondering how long has it took for others to feel normal again?

[carolirps]

I need to thank all the mothers who shared their stories. I have never had any episodes of anxiety or panic in my life. Two years ago I did 3 months of use of Cerazete and it was enough to trigger me terrible panic attacks and constant anxiety crisis. After reading these posts, I ended the use and improved almost 100%. I continued with anxiety, but I never had a really strong panic attack. Today I can deal with the sequels that remain, but I still feel sad to know that it was this drug that caused me all this irreversible evil that is still marketed to hurt so many women. Thank you very much for the day I found this page and since then I have always been talking about it with other mothers.

[LikesAnimalPark]

Old thread but still really important info and I hope people who are struggling on the mini pill will find this. I had the same reaction to the mini pill (PoP) and the Mirena coil - anyone else? I just felt dead to the world and lost all sense of fun and happiness. Was fine with BCPs in the past but newer generation pills have higher progestin I think - older pills had higher estrogen?

[blackistheneworange]

Hi, yes. Can't tell you the difference- I can actually have conversations without crying

[swa18]

Thank you @blackistheneworange. Are you all sorted now (no issues)?

[blackistheneworange]

My Dr put me back on my old pill, despite my old age (!) - she weighed up the pros and cons. Hope you get sorted soon

[swa18]

Thank God I found this thread! I thought this was the end of me! Mini Pill Cerezette I've been on a mini pill for about 3 years. My OBGYN in London told me because I was in my early 40's that I was too old for traditional birth control pills. Enter the Mini Pill, I've had different brands and thought they were going well, I mean no period at all! However, I am now in Spain and have still been on the mini pill and now for certain Cerezette. I have been having anxiety attacks, mood swings, depressed, sleeplessness and sunken in eyes. I used to be super upbeat and now have felt alone and useless. During the sleeplessness I felt like this must be the end of my life. Who wants to live like this? I cut out vitamins, alcohol, sex, eating late... Was walking around in the dark at night thinking it was too much light stimulation. I was getting fussy with my husband and crying. My doctor put me on anti-depressants :-( You ladies with so many similar symptoms just gave me hope to feel normal again! I am now 45 and will stop taking this pill immediately! Also, meeting with a new obgyn next week to check into getting my tubes tied. The chance to feel "normal" again is now in sight. Thanks to this thread

[Catscatsandmorecats]

This is interesting - I had PND and anxiety with my first but had no sign with my second DS up until a couple of weeks ago, he's 3.5 months. I have also just started back on cerelle. Now I am struggling with anxiety again, I'm using CBT techniques but am.so tired with the baby I am not being very effective. So I was going to ask the Dr for some.low level ADs - I think I might ask about the pill at the same time. Thanks OP

[Pippa1988]

I’m so glad I’ve seen this post.
My daughter is 4 months old now and after my 8 week postnatal check up I decided to start on the Mini Pill Cerezette. I was given 3 months worth to see how I got on which I had no problems with. I went back to the doctor 2 weeks ago to get more of the Mini Pill and was given a years worth of Cerelle which I was told is the exact same.
In the past 3 days I haven’t felt myself, had the worst thoughts which have caused me to feel sick, dizziness and lack of sleep. It was only today when I googled how I have been feeling the results came back with depression/anxiety. I broke down to my sister and she was amazing support as she suffers with Anxiety herself but after seeing this post I am stopping taking the Mini Pill straight away and will find another form of contraceptive for the time being. Like most have said, I’d rather fall pregnant again than go through this again!
Thank you again for posting this, I feel at ease that it’s not “just me” in this and that there’s clearly a connection with the Mini Pill causing anxiety and depression.

[CES76]

After taking the combined pill for most of the time since being 18 (am now 41) and for a time being on the depo injection, I have always been ok with my contraception. Of course now, due to my age I was told I would have to change my contraception, so 3 months ago I tried the implant. After 6 weeks I had it taken out. Felt so bad on it. Very agitated, emotional, couldn’t settle and anxiety was a lot lot worse. Was then given Cerazette, which I’ve been taking now for 3 weeks and thought that I would be ok but starting to feel the same way. Definitely going to stop taking it but don’t know what to try next!! It’s good to know there’s a lot of people out there that are or have been experiencing similar to myself. Thanks all.

[Trina333]

Wow thanku ive major anxiety went on this pill after having my lb april 2015 .never in my wildest dreams did i link this poison to my feelings theve had me on anti depressants etc .which made it 10 times worse so i binned those n im now binning these thanku for posting as nearly 10 years on your infos helping others like me thanku x

[CL12345]

I just re-read your post; you stopped already!
Try not to stress over it now and see how it goes in the next couple of weeks. Hopefully you'll feel better :)

[CL12345]

Brybry11 common sense would say "stop the pill if you feel like your mental health is suffering from it".
Not having an hormonal contraception is less important than your mental health. Stop it and see if you feel better; in the meantime chose an alternative contraception ;)

[Brybry11]

Hello,
I really hope people are still checking this and can advise me. When my second baby was 8 weeks old I started Cerelle as am breast feeding, within a week my anxiety was increasing (was feeling amazing beforehand) to the point where it was crippling me! I have always been an anxiety sufferer but had been off medication for 2 years and was feeling better than ever- with some ocasional anxiety which I accepted and could control!
I couldnt understand why I was being crippled by this anxiety so googled the pill and was overwhelmed by the many websites i read relating this pill to anxiety. Immedietly stopped. Im now day 4 of not taking this pill however dont see much of a decrease in my anxiety.. please tell me it does get better? I dont want to go back on AD for my anxiety, but at the same time dont know how many more days I can cope with this.. not to mention christmas day being so close and We go on holiday in 3 weeks (both things that i was giddly excited about before this pill, now dread)
Thank you for any replies

[blackistheneworange]

I think this is what's been affecting me but rather than stop taking it I just carried on. Well, today I stop! I just want to feel like me again, and not fall out with my DP, or constantly be in tears on the way to and from work. Aaargh!

[KM15]

Hi Likkleangel, I'm doing great thank you 😀 I'd say 98% back to myself. I still scare myself from time to time with what happened, the awful thoughts and what could have been. But on the whole, I'm loving life and I'm happy again😃
I've been shocked to discover how many other women have had mental health reactions to their contraceptive pill. It has been a truly life changing experience for me as I thought I was going to lose everything.
It's just like a bad dream now. I won't ever take a hormonal contraceptive again, and will be advising my daughter the same.
I'm on heightened alert whenever anyone tells me they are experiencing anxiety - Check your pill ! Check any medication you are taking ! When did you start taking it / when did the symptoms appear?
I'd never experienced anxiety, disturbing thoughts or depression previously (I'm 40 and have taken contraceptive pills for over 20 years) and yet this was the effect Cerazette had on me.
There is dangerously little research about the effects of hormonal contraceptives on the brain. I'd like to take this further at some point, but for now, I'm spending my time appreciating every little bit of my life.
Anyone who is experiencing this now and reading these pages - remember that it will pass in time and you'll be ok again xx

[Likkleangel]

Km15, how are you doing now ?

[Elizaahy]

Hi, I'm looking for any advice I can on this Pill. I was put on it as I suffer from migraines and they said it would be the best pill for me. However the first month I had a bit of bleeding at first then a proper period and the bleeding stopped for a while. Lately I've started to bleed again and it's everyday now. I understand this is normal when on this pill. But what's worrying me more is after sex I've noticed there is blood. The bleeding can have stopped for a couple of hours but after sex there is blood and it's got me worried. I'm going to see my doctor but needed advice to put my mind at ease as I'm not seeing the doctor for another couple of days.
Has this happened to anyone else. Is the bleeding after sex just from this pill?
Any advice would be great as I'm going mad worrying

[KM15]

Just an update from me. I've been off this pill for 5 weeks and feeling more normal although still traumatised by the whole experience. The things that have worked for me to recover is: accepting that I've had a psychotic reaction to this pill (this I've found the most difficult as I felt like it was 'me'), finding a great counsellor to help with the thoughts and anxiety, letting others look after me for a while, reducing my workload to allow me to recover, having reiki. It's been an appalling episode in my life and I'm not sure I'll ever trust Doctors again. Their only suggestion was to go on anti depressants and to ask about contraception. Lol.

[KM15]

I was so relieved to find these posts on Mumsnet last week. I was on Cerazette for three weeks when almost overnight I began to experience awful paranoid thoughts that I just couldn't shake off. Feeling anxious, sick, worried, and that I couldn't look after my children alone. I was frightened and started to think I couldn't drive, go to work, and generally live my life. I woke up during the night and one night had a panic attack with shaky legs and heart racing.
This all happened in only 3 days, although it felt like my life had ended, then I found these posts and stopped taking the pill. I rang my doctor the following day who agreed. By then, I'd already started to feel more like myself again.
It's now day 7 and I'm feeling pretty normal - although still twinges of anxiety and fear. I can't believe that there was no real warning of this on the packet - 'mood swings' is a serious understatement. It says 730 reports of psychotic symptoms for Desigestrel have been received by the Yellow Card agency, compared with 101 pregnancies. We are always told of the 99% effectiveness of the pill and that we could become pregnant. Why on earth aren't we warned about the psychotic side effects?? I've posted a yellow card report myself. Hopefully someone will listen and do something about this. I wouldn't want anyone else going through what I've just been through.

If anyone is reading this and having the side effects, try not to worry - it does get better when you stop taking it.

[Heartweaver]

I am not a mom, but I registered for an account in order to post on this thread.

I can assure you that what all of you experienced is very likely not due to postnatal depression. However, if you are already depressed like I was, the effect of the pill amplifies it. It has gotten to the point that it nearly wrecked my marriage even though all is well, I felt like a victim and prisoner for no reason at all.

It has also caused my health to deteriorate, despite having regular exercise and eating well. I knew that something is clearly wrong if I am plagued with depression on the best time of my life with no stressors present, that it must be the pill who is the culprit. Sure enough, the day after I got off the pill, I am back to my happy-go-lucky self again. I am staying away from artificial hormones indefinitely (had bad effects from Gynera as well).