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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by sac on December 8, 2003, at 8:30:58
This message is for any bipolar females out there that may have experience with birth control pills. I am a 35 year old mother of two with bipolar II. Ever since the birth of my last child 3 years ago, I have not been able to get back on birth control pills without having major mood problems. I have tried several different types including: Yasmin, Ortho Tri-Cyclen, Ortho Novum 7/7/7 . Does anybody have experience with this or know of a pill that would be less likely to worsen depression/mood instability. I prefer to be on a pill because my natural monthly hormonal fluctuations are unbearable. Any input would be greatly appreciated.
Posted by ßíllyJó on December 8, 2003, at 8:37:23
In reply to Bipolar and birth control pills, posted by sac on December 8, 2003, at 8:30:58
Have u tryed the coil? i suffer from bad moods especially my time of mnth.... i have just had the coil fitted.. only side affect is, first i had awfull periods then now my periods r next to nothing.. like medication's get worse first.. this was the best thing i ever did, i dont have to worry about missing a pill, moods r stable and i dont freak about long term side affects from the pill !!
Posted by metalflipflop on December 8, 2003, at 9:58:22
In reply to Bipolar and birth control pills, posted by sac on December 8, 2003, at 8:30:58
i have tried about 6 different brands of bcp's (yasmin, mircette, allesse, estrostep, loestrin, the nuva ring), all causing similar worsening of mood--crying a lot, feeling unstable, cycling more dramatically. i had the same reaction when my doc gave me 5 days of progesterone to induce a normal period. i have finally come to the conclusion that my body just cannot take hormones. it's a real shame, as non-hormonal contraceptive options are completely sub-standard. i am thinking of getting a copper iud, though i am still undecided due to risks of greater bleeding and cramps, and infection.
one option you could look into though, if you would like to give hormones another go, is the mirena iud. unlike the older copper iud, it is plastic and releases a small amount of progestin which can help with period problems. as the hormone is so localized, it is less likely to cause the mood-related side effects that plague people like us. i'd say it's your best bet.
i think i have given up on the hormones though, b/c i just value my stability so much and don't want to upset what seems to be a delicate balance lately. there is just so much that science doesn't know about all this.
best of luck.
liz
Posted by judy1 on December 8, 2003, at 10:04:36
In reply to Bipolar and birth control pills, posted by sac on December 8, 2003, at 8:30:58
I'm in a very similar situation as you. do you plan on having more children? have you sought out the help of an endocrinologist? I cannot take b/c pills, but also have hormonal fluctuations. My endocrinologist (an IVF dr.) worked with my levels to get them normalized, it took several months (I had a baby over a year ago and breast fed, so that contributed), but I think I'm finally at a normal level. I take the hormones he prescribes but they are not b/c pills so I have to use alternate b/c methods. I think having bipolar disorder makes PMS so much worse.
take care, judy
Posted by Snowie on December 8, 2003, at 17:54:51
In reply to Bipolar and birth control pills, posted by sac on December 8, 2003, at 8:30:58
I'm not bipolar, but I've tried a lot of BC pills - some that actually made me depressed - but the one that finally worked the best for me is Ovcon. Good luck.
Snowie
> This message is for any bipolar females out there that may have experience with birth control pills. I am a 35 year old mother of two with bipolar II. Ever since the birth of my last child 3 years ago, I have not been able to get back on birth control pills without having major mood problems. I have tried several different types including: Yasmin, Ortho Tri-Cyclen, Ortho Novum 7/7/7 . Does anybody have experience with this or know of a pill that would be less likely to worsen depression/mood instability. I prefer to be on a pill because my natural monthly hormonal fluctuations are unbearable. Any input would be greatly appreciated.
Posted by sac on December 8, 2003, at 21:55:04
In reply to Re: Bipolar and birth control pills » sac, posted by Snowie on December 8, 2003, at 17:54:51
Posted by sac on December 8, 2003, at 22:03:18
In reply to Re: Bipolar and birth control pills » sac, posted by judy1 on December 8, 2003, at 10:04:36
Thank you for your response. As for more children, no we are happy with two. I had a terrible postpartum depression/psychosis with my last child and have struggled to become stable since then (3 years ago) For the sake of my mind and my family, I cannot go through another pregnancy. My problem then, is that I am bipolar II but I would like to be on a b/c pill mainly for contraception but also because my monthly hormonal fluctuations destabilize me also. My thyroid has been tested and is fine. However, most recently I had my estrogen tested and it was low. Possible peri-menopause? My psych doc prescribed Premarin for me (at my request out of desperation) Of course, this still leaves me with the question of contraception. And yes, I agree bipolar makes PMS so much worse. Thanks again for the input.
> I'm in a very similar situation as you. do you plan on having more children? have you sought out the help of an endocrinologist? I cannot take b/c pills, but also have hormonal fluctuations. My endocrinologist (an IVF dr.) worked with my levels to get them normalized, it took several months (I had a baby over a year ago and breast fed, so that contributed), but I think I'm finally at a normal level. I take the hormones he prescribes but they are not b/c pills so I have to use alternate b/c methods. I think having bipolar disorder makes PMS so much worse.
> take care, judy
Posted by AnneL on December 8, 2003, at 22:23:49
In reply to Re: Bipolar and birth control pills, posted by metalflipflop on December 8, 2003, at 9:58:22
Hormonal birth control is very much like finding an AD that works well, but does not cause tremendously undesirable side-effects. . .
I tried the Mirena, progestin-releasing IUD for 3 months. I was depressed with this particular hormone-based IUD, but nothing was worse than OCP's. I would suggest that you give the Mirena a try. Approximately 70% of women who use the Mirena will stop having periods (with the Mirena in place). The thought of not having periods was very appealing to me.I have tried every single combination pill available, all with the same side effects of mood instability, crying, depression, anxiety and palpitations. Progestin (synthetic progesterone) is well-known to cause depression or worsening of depression in some women. This was certainly the case for me. The best contraceptive I found for me is an older IUD called the Progestasert IUD that releases natural progesterone (not a synthetic progestin) over 1 year. Progestasert IUD keeps the lining of the uterine wall (endometrium) thin, yet maintains a normal cycle. Menstrual periods are much lighter than women who have the traditional Copper T-380 IUD. I did not notice any worsening of depression and had one removed and reinserted every year for approximately 10 years. On the other hand my periods were highly unmanageable with the Copper T and I became moderately anemic and was advised to discontinue. Do a Google search for Progestasert IUD and see if you can find this IUD. Some physicians may stock them or may be able to order it for you if it is still on the market. The only drawback is that the Progestasert needs to be removed/replaced every year versus 10 years with the traditional Copper T. My vote would be Mirena first, Copper T second. :) Anne
> i have tried about 6 different brands of bcp's (yasmin, mircette, allesse, estrostep, loestrin, the nuva ring), all causing similar worsening of mood--crying a lot, feeling unstable, cycling more dramatically. i had the same reaction when my doc gave me 5 days of progesterone to induce a normal period. i have finally come to the conclusion that my body just cannot take hormones. it's a real shame, as non-hormonal contraceptive options are completely sub-standard. i am thinking of getting a copper iud, though i am still undecided due to risks of greater bleeding and cramps, and infection.
> one option you could look into though, if you would like to give hormones another go, is the mirena iud. unlike the older copper iud, it is plastic and releases a small amount of progestin which can help with period problems. as the hormone is so localized, it is less likely to cause the mood-related side effects that plague people like us. i'd say it's your best bet.
> i think i have given up on the hormones though, b/c i just value my stability so much and don't want to upset what seems to be a delicate balance lately. there is just so much that science doesn't know about all this.
> best of luck.
> liz
This is the end of the thread.
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