Desogestrel

[Hrg1]

Hi all, so I’ve been on desogestrel for 2 years now. I couldn’t tolerate the injection nor the pill which had both progesterone and oestrogen I believe it was. I felt ok when I first went on desogestrel and my periods completely stopped which I didn’t mind at all. However, I’m wondering if it’s the cause of acne on face and spots on back and chest, also very irritable and anxiety has come back with a vengeance. More so health anxiety now. I’ve been on citalopram 10mg for 7 years after my daughter had a seizure and I had panic attacks. Doctor seems to think it’s worth stopping desogestrel as apparently it can cause/worsen anxiety. I don’t need contraception as I’m single anyway. Just wondered if anyone else had these symptoms on it? Feel at a bit of a loose end knowing what to do. Thanks

I was on desogestrel for two years and experienced some of the same side effects like back and chest acne, plus the odd spot on the face I wouldn’t usually get. I also gained weight because I constantly felt an insatiable hunger and of course, sore boobs.

I had to come off it in the end when I started experiencing deeply depressive episodes, where I’d cry most of the time for no reason. Everything felt so bleak and hopeless, I was struggling to function. There was no real cause or reason and I could wake up the next day in my usual state of mind with no effort. Having suffered with anxiety some years ago, I knew this wasn’t me.

Doing better now I’m off it and back on the combined pill. The doctor said it couldn’t be the pill, but I knew.

Cerazette had an awful effect on my mood and skin. I honestly wanted to sit on the sofa and cry, had acne all the time and my hair was so greasy it looked horrible by the end of the day. Felt much better when I swapped to Noriday which is norethisterone based.

My GP denied desogestrel was to blame but as soon as I stopped that particular pill I felt better within days.

its awful isn’t it, I’m 33 and only ever suffered with the odd spot on my chin when I was due a period. Never this though!

doctors say any side effects normally happen within the first few months so that’s why I came on here to see other people’s stories.

It’s scary how it can affect different people. Especially mentally.

I think I’ll stop taking it and hope my anxiety eases.

Sorry to hear you had a rough time with it too. And yes! My hair is greasy so easily and I’ve had hair loss more than normal, it’s thinned out so much :(

im definitely going to stop it and see what happens, just worried about side effects coming off it too. It’s like a vicious circle isn’t it x

Following as in a very similar position!

Started desogestrel just over 2 years ago due to heavy periods, realised over the last few months that I’m an anxious mess, can’t loose weight and generally unhappy! After a lot of research and reading all went back to mini pill!

Took my last one on 31/12! Now just waiting for the side effects of stopping! x

I've been on Desogestrel for almost 10yrs. Never had a problem with acne or any of the other problems listed.

Hey, sorry you’re in the same position. It’s crazy what a little pill can do isn’t it. I was fine when I first went on it so when symptoms start down the line it’s hard to pin point if it’s the pill or not. I stopped taking mine yesterday and had cramps since last night but no bleeding yet. I already feel lighter in my head so fingers crossed it keeps going positive. Fingers crossed you feel better too x

I was on cerazette for years. No side effects at all but I never had children and stopped it when I was 54. Apart from sometimes feeling warmer than I used to be I have had no menopausal side effects and my memory is excellent.

@Hrg1 how are you getting on?

Hey! Well I’ve had cramps every single day since stopping, headaches and feeling a bit eugh but no periods yet. How have you been feeling since stopping? X

Hope you’re ok x

So I’ve had my breakthrough bleed, but lots of headaches - not usually a headache person!! But hopefully it will start to settle soon! Hope you are getting on ok! x

It affected my mental health and gave me terrible headaches (migraine level). Plus I gained weight. It wasn’t horrendous but I wouldn’t choose to take it again.

I'm sad to read so many negative effects with Desogestrel.
I've been one of the lucky ones - I was having life-threatening periods where I would flood for weeks on end and was even hospitalised in need of an urgent life-saving blood transfusion because my GP at the time wasn't taking me seriously when I was saying I'd been bleeding heavily for months.

Luckily got a fantastic GP after that but at the time I didn't want to go onto contraception as we were still hoping to have a successful pregnancy but I had to have repeated blood transfusions and iron infusions as my bleeding was so bad - we finally gave up hoping for a baby and I finally agreed to try Desogestrel (this was at a point where the doctors in the surgery and in hospital were all saying that my only real options were Desogestrel (although Norethisterone was amazing and helped keep me alive after my life-saving full blood transfusion when they urgently needed to stop me from menstrually bleeding - it worked pretty quickly and I was discharged after a few days of not bleeding, but apparently they didn't want me to stay on it indefinitely) or a hysterectomy which I really don't want.

The Desogestrel worked quickly for me and although I'm sometimes a little bit spotty, whereas I always had clear skin before and I have gained weight and I do still occasionally get tummy cramps and very light bleeds about twice a year, I've not found it to be a problem - I'm also on 20mg of Citalopram after a mental breakdown.

I hope you all find your correct answers - it's horrible being reliant on medication.

The headaches must definitely be a hormonal thing then. I’ve been getting them behind one eyebrow or at the temple on one side. Yesterday was left side then today horrible throbbing headache on right side out of nowhere. No breakthrough bleed yet. X

I’m thinking as it’s been in my system for over 2 years the headaches are as you say and just us adjusting to it all!