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!!!

[Caz6422]

I agree, and I'd go even further and say if you have a history of depression just dont take the risk with it - it's not worth it. I can't wait for it to come out of my system now, hopefully it'll be quick and I'll get back to normal. I've been advised by the doc to take Microgynon again straight away, although I'm a bit nervous about another Pill - but I've taken it before so hopefully it'll be ok.

[NikkiMc72]

I am so pleased to have stumbled accross this site when googling cerezette.
I started taking it about 6 weeks ago and 5 of these weeks I have slowly been becoming more and more depressed. This last week has been a nightmare. I have been off sick from work ,done nothing but cry, have panic attacks,terrible headaches, and awful thoughts that I am going to die!
My partner suggested the possible link and I came off the pill on Friday, already the headaches are beginning to subside.
Back on femulen for me!
Thanks again, hopefully I will quickly be on the mend!
This site is fabulous, made my day. Thank you

[HS1]

Just to repeat the previous posts really and say thanks because without reading these posts I would probably still be thinking it was in my mind. I have been on Cerezette for 5 months. Usually a very happy go lucky kind of person but since changing from Mercilon because of headaches I have been very anxious, depressed, argueing lots with DH and have lots of spots around my hairline. Also had an increase in appetite and loss of sex drive. Went to GP and they changed pills but I can't bear feeling like this anymore so decided to stop taking any and give my body a complete break.

[Lolly1234]

Hi, just an update on my story - I've been off Cerazette now for about 10 days and I really do believe now that it was what caused my Anxiety and panic attacks. I'm feeling better within myself and more in control phsycologically but this pill is still not completely out of my system yet, its hanging on for dear life and making me feel yucky on and off physically - I had bad nausea and metallic taste in my mouth for the first few days (GP said this was normal withdrawal reaction) and dizzyness. Still keep getting these weird numb, tingly sensations every couple of days and a racing pulse. Its quite scary, I'm just trying to hold on and hope it will be over soon. I just wanted to let anyone else having weird reactions coming off Cerazette to know about mine. Good luck!

[suzybare]

I cant believe how many people feel the same as me-im not going bonkers
ive tried Microgynon marvelon and cilest-all send me bonkers hormonal crazy.
The Doctor recommended Cerazette saying it should react differently. but i feel like ive stepped a few years back into the twilight zone.

my symptoms are: really bad spots-like boils around cheek and hairline, no sex drive, no self esteem/confidence, feel like i cant cope with daily life stressors, dont feel like going out anywhere, wanna stay in bed/the house, arguing with fiance over the studipist things, crying all the time, poor sleep quality, bizarre throbbing pain in right leg (not linked to anything), no energy, feel weak.

im normally a strong person, who cant sit still for 5 mins, loads of energy, self esteem and confidence.

im going to take myself off these pills and see how i feel over the next week-il keep you posted.

im sure this will please my fella too, instead of walking on eggshells and counselling me.

[joey38]

Hi - further to my previous post, I now have a question for everyone who stopped taking this pill. I came off it over 2 weeks ago now, and decided to wait until my next period before I started back on the comined pill. My pack of Cerazette that I stopped would have been finished last Friday had I kept taking it, so I would have expected my period any time from then. There is no sign!! Did anyone else take a while to get back to normal? I can't decide whether to just accept that my body is readjusting after coming off this horrible pill that does stop your periods, or start to get worried that I may be pregnant!! Any ideas??

[JustKeepSingingCarols]

Took me a month iirc to have a period.

[hawkes85]

hi everyone, can i just say how happy i am that i found this site! i have been on cerazette for nearly 2 years now. at first i thought this was an amazing pill i didnt have any periods which i was glad about because i was put on microgynon when i was 13 for seriously bad irregular and painful periods, my periods had always been bad, the night i started them when i was 11 it looked like there had been a murder it was so bad!! I'm 23 now and i have been on most combined pills, cerazette being the first pop as i put on weight so had to be put on a pop. i didnt get on well with any pill except yasmin, and although i still had periods on yasmin and they were still painful i knew when they were coming so it was ok until they put me on cerazette.... the past 18 months have been real hell for me... and i'm now even more worried that the cause of all this depression and upset have been caused by cerazette! and to think if i hadnt been put on it i would be alot happier now... but anyway i have stopped taking it now because i am a complete emotional wreck... i cry for no reason and i recently started a new job due to being made redundant and i am a complete mess! i can't do stuff and i get frustrated because i know that i have always been a strong person.. it would take a hell of a lot to get me crying but now the smallest thing and i'm crying and once i start cying it dont stop for ages.. its like a floodgate has been opened! in may last year i went through a really rough patch, kept having panic attacks at work and running into the toilets to cry for hours at a time while my manager was outside wondering what was going on, i also started arguing with my mum alot until she kicked me out! i went to my doctors and he put me on prozac, i was on prozac for 2 months and while i was on them i was an even worse emotional wreck! so i stopped them and just had councilling. i thought i was having a breakdown and thought i was free of it but then i had a car crash and then got made redundant and started my new job and its started all over again! crying for no reason, panic attacks, mood swings, guilt, low self esteem, no confidence etc etc i went to the fpc who prescribe me my pills and told them i was depressed and was convinced it was cerazette and the nurse told me i'd put on over a stone in 3 months and it was my weight causing me to be upset even though i explained that i had once been big and happy (and i dont even consider myself to be that big! a size 16 - average size for uk woman...) but obv the nurse knew best... and i left with a 6 month supply of cerazette and agreed that i would go off and put myself on a diet and do more exercise. yesterday i had another emotional breakdown at work and came home and searched for emotional side effects of cerazette and found this site!!! and oh my days now i am convinced that its this pill! all the misery started after i started this pill but ive always been moody (probably because of being on the pill) and thats not my only bad side effect.. i have had tingling fingers, headaches which i had never suffered from before but i thought it was eye strain... spots like boils on my chin and cheeks, strange warm feeling in my legs (dunno if this is related) weight gain (over a stone in 3 months) i always feel hungry too and i saw someone had mentioned symptoms of pregnancy, i crave particular foods now and i didnt before such as tuna lol i also feel depressed, anxious, suicidal, discontent generally, and like a fat ugly mess to be honest but yesterday i stopped taking the pill and i will keep you posted on how i feel. i have a question for people who have already stopped taking cerazette. how long was it until you had your first period and was it worse than normal? i am really dreading mine! i'm sorry this is so long! i just really wanted to get it all out and thank you if you have taken the time to read it

[hawkes85]

i forgot to mention i have been suffering from sore itchy boobs no sex drive and i have noticed that i'm growing a faint moustache... can cerazette cause facial hair?? also hopelessness, terrible mood swings like feeling great one minute and miserable the next.

[rocksanta]

Joey - don't want to worry you but I would do a test. I was on cerazette and came off it for all the reasons people have talked about here. I know other people have different experiences but I have worked out that I conceived either just before or just after I came off it - turns to

[LilySwalLoosHerTurkeyBaster]

I am like a new person off this pill!
Was put on it when dd was 6 weeks , she now 11 mths.
JKS sent me over here and am glad she did.
Stpped it straight away and the fog has lifted!

[kathrynharriet]

Hi everyone! This all sounds soooo familar! Over the last 6 months on this pill i was terrible, never felt worse in my life! I Have 3 DC and when i went back to the Dr to complain about the side effects i was told it was prob the stress of having young children! I was tearful grumpy tired just all round shit! No sex drive, after being of this for a few days felt so much better! I have been of this for 6 weeks now and feel great, but no period? Done 2 tests and both negative. I Had probs with my PCOS before i had children i am now concerned that i have triggered them off again by using this pill. Any advice? Thanks for this thread its nice to know that your not alone! xxxx

[leerachel]

Actually it isnt my own experience, but my daughters.

3years ago my daughter began taking Cerazette following the premiture birth of her daughter, she had a pretty tough birth, but appeared to cope with it amazingly, she had always been a person that was able to cope with most things in life and see a positive, however, at her post natal visit, the doctor put her on the mini-pill Cerazette and within days her personality changed, she began having mood swings, sometimes so irrational it was really hard for those around her to understand, she would cry a lot and everything seemed negative, she suffered headaches, her confidence seemed to plummet and she started having thoughts of self harming. she was told that she would not have a period but around every two months she would bleed extremely heavily. My grandaughter died when she was only a few months old and the doctors considered some of my daughters simptoms to be related to this, (even though she had them before the loss of her baby) however three years on they continue, she has self harmed on more than one occation and it appears to come in a cycle, she is such a wonderful woman and before being put on Cerazette she never suffered with any of these things, she was strong, bubbly and a sheer charm to be with, it is agony to watch my beuitiful daughter suffer in this way. She has been to councelling and has the support of mental health.
In desperation I began to monitor the 'dark' episodes and there was definately a pattern, The Phsycologist is in agreement that there appears to be a cycle to this and it is not classic depression, bypolar or any of the 'usual', however I am supprised they have not investigated this pill.
I googled Cerazette and was absolutly shocked to see how may other women appeared to be suffering the same symptoms. Why is this pill still on the market, why is it that it isnt being given a yellow card to be investigated. I am aware that there appears to be a minority of women who do not appear to get these symptoms and I am very glad that they are ok but on balance the amount of women who do is alarming... this needs real investigation, who knows how many women have actually taken there life and it hasnt been investigated!!

[PetitFilou1]

To the original op I came off this pill after two weeks after experiencing bleeding every day, severe breast pain and terrible mood swings. However I do know several women who have taken it and experienced no side effects whatsoever. To be fair the potential side effects are clearly listed in the accompanying patient leaflet. You need to read it carefully if you are thinking of taking it (not that I am suggesting your daughter didn't).

[Bex1985]

I am so glad i have found this website. For the last two years i have been taking this pill and i have not been myself but could never pin point what was wrong. Over the last six months i have been a nightmare to be with. Im 23 and have been married to my wonderful husband for over three years. how he has coped with my for the last few years ill never know and recently he has asked me to make an appointment with the doctor because he cant cope anymore.

in desperation i decided to google cerezette and depression and was shocked by what i found, if only i had done this months ago.
I am constantly nagging and shouting at my husband at the smallest insignificant things for no reason. I have just got the job i have always wanted and have no energy to get up in the morning, all i want to do is sleep, ive put over two stone on, i constantly crave the wrong fatty foods. i cry for no reason and have nasty mood swings and thoughts! Oh and i have no sex drive what so ever, which made my husband think i no longer wanted to be with him but that was not the case but along with the moodiness what was he suppose to think?

after reading this site i will no longer be taking this pill and hopefully i will get better and my marriage will survive this!
i will keep this site updated and hopefully the fun, outgoing Bex will be back!

[pillpuzzled]

any links between cerrazette & vaginal discharge....?!!(blush)

[JammyApples]

My experience with Cerazette....

Month 1: I had a 3 week period.
Month 2: a 2 week period.
Month 3: a 1 week period.

During this time I had mood swings tiredness and ALOT of spots! It was like going through puberty again everything was pretty bad (I'm 30!) then on the fourth month I had no period but was still getting alot of spots but by the fifth/sixth month it was like a magic switch had been flicked the spots disappeared, obviously my body had adjusted and now I feel great - better than I have for the past 10 years!

I used to get very heavy periods and very tired, there is a history in my family of heavy periods and anaemia. My auntie died only a few weeks ago because of this, if only she had been able to take this pill and avoid those heavy periods then maybe things would have been different.

For me the 4-6 months of hell while my body adjusted were worth every minute for the new lease of life it has given me now. I think it is a bit harsh for the lady who thinks this pill should be withdrawn because we all react differently and for anyone whose life is being ruined by their periods then just maybe this is your answer. Just give it 6 months while your body adapts and decide then. I've even managed to lose a stone in weight because I am not so tired all the time and I don't have to miss gym classes because of painful periods!

[hawkes85]

I stopped taking Cerazette 2 months ago now and still no period? did anyone else experience this and how long until u did come on?

[silentlywondering]

JammyAples I am glad you had a positive experience with this pill however I was on it for nearly two years and nearly lost my husband and children through the severe depression and mood swings I for one am extremely glad I came off it.

[rosbif]

Very bad experience too, dr laughed at me regarding lack of sex drive and anxiety. Came off after a year (so really gave it a go!) and feel so much better. Periods took three months to return

[zan06]

I'm so pleased I've found this site, but I'm also a bit worried...

I have been taking Cerazette for 5 years and have been lucky enough not to have any major problems with it. However, I was concerned I might be pregnant and as I have no periods while on Cerazette, it's difficult to tell. So my GP suggested I stop taking it, wait for a period and then start it again (he clearly hasn't read this site!).

I stopped taking it 2 weeks ago and haven't had a period (which I've now realised is normal thanks to this site!), but I have got a painful distended stomach, am ravenous and nauseous (and all pregnancy tests are negative!)

I want to start back on Cerazette as soon as possible, but now realise that I might be waiting some time before I can start it again, because I have to wait for a period.

Has anyone done this?? Come off Cerazette and then started again soon after? And did it cause any problems??

[RedFraggle]

Petitfilou - I did read the full patient information leaflet. I always do. It says "mood swings". Mood swings are not quite the same as suicidal depression!

I started this thread not to slate Cerazette as I'm sure some people are fine on it, but I wanted to make people aware that sometimes mini-pills can seriously mess with your emotions. If you have had a baby and are depressed the first thought of all GPs (generally correctly) is to think PND. But sometimes, just sometimes it could be your contraception.
I just think that there should be more detail in the patient information leaflet, "mood swings" just doesn't come close....

[lollydegenkolb]

Totally with you on the cerezzette, I have had the marina coil three times now, still maintain that its a fantastic form of contraception, and helps with the hormones around that time of the month, but unfortunately the third time I had it, didnt help me so much and the marina was removed after 18 months, as its life span should be five years, I was prescribed cerezette to help with the hormones mostly, but also as a form of contraception (five kids is enough), I have been on it for a year, and nearly lost my marriage over it as well, until someone said that what they was experiencing was similiar to my situation, and that she was told it was her pill, which would you believe is cerezette, I have absolutely no need or desire for sex whatsoever, the thought just made me want to make an excuse up, and trust me, thats not me, I have piled on the pound, and have experienced severe headaches, I took myself off them, to see if there was a difference, and what a difference, time to try another marina coil, never go near that pill again......

[lillyrose3]

hi just had to post cos im so glad i found this forum. ive just come of the compined pill cos of my increased waigh, my doctor was like, yeh that a very good choice well put u on .. wait for it cerazette. she said it was safer and hardly any side effect and all the info on it say the same so i whent ahead ive been on it nealy three month and im paranoid spotty and lactating with very sour breasts and i thouge it was the pill so stop taking it and decide to just use condoms. ( i was 100% pos not pregnent) had my son 10yr ago so know the symtome well. anyhow thought ill just look for some info on it incase i was wrong and wow i dint know all this and also did u know this pill is used to help women lactate when they what to breast feed and adopted baby, it medicly proven to help mmmm anoyed no that i was seled as a safe to use drug..... think we all need to enlighten the medicle profetion.

[jankje]

Hello,

I,m from the netherlands, and i'm happy with the things i see here.

I'm on cerazette for 4 months.
In the begin i just thougth; my body must accustom to cerazette
but for the last month i realy notice mood swings, and i can cry al the time. for nothing.
I'm not as happy as i was before!

My english is not zo good but i hope you can understand it.

I also hope that if i stop with cerazette i feel much better!

Ankie