Microgestin FE 1/20 causing depression/low sex drive??

I've been on Microgestin FE 1/20 for a little over six months now. I switched to that from Yasmin b/c the side effects were too much (extreme nausea, adomenal craps), and my gyno thought I should switch to a pill with less hormone dosage (hence the 20 mg now).(I don't take anyother presecribed medication, so I'm not used to having to watch out for noticeable side effects from drugs.)

The pill was great at first, no nausea, no cramping, no break-thru bleeding; when I did get my period, there was hardly any bleeding even, my acne has definetly decreased, and my boobs got bigger.(Kind of nice not having to buy pads that often!).

Unforunately, I did notice that my sex drive decreased, I'm not even interested in being sexual or thinking about it (though that might just personally be me, I'm not sure). I don't even feel like getting off once in a while...it's annoying b/c I have a boyfriend now and I'm unsure about having sex with him (like I said, this part may not be related to the pill)...but I'm worried that the pill has decreased my sex drive.

Also, when I began the 7th month of Microgestin, I noticed that everytime I take the pill at night after eating dinner, I get stomach/abdomen pains, I don't feel really nauseous, but I become bloated and burp a lot. I only get this discomfort after I take the pill, I don't feel the same feelings in the morning after eating breakfast or lunch. Could this discomfort be caused by the pill?

And also, I'm afraid Microgestin might be giving me depression, b/c I don't feel happy anymore on a daily basis. Sure, it's different when I'd go to work (I work with little kids, so of course I have to appear happy at least). But I've noticed I've become more negative than usual and experience a few social anxiety symptoms...Maybe I already had a bit of depression and social anxiety, but could Microgestin be making it worse?

I'm considering just going off the pill...I don't think I'd want to switch to something else right now though it's annoying to have to make an appointment with the gyno and try something new. Like I said before, since I don't take anyother presribed meds (birth control has been my first prescription for a long time), I don't like having to watch out for the side effects. Anyone have any ideas on if these "side effects" is related to Microgestin? I'm disappointed b/c this pill has had some good side effects, but if I'm afraid it's making me depressed, then I wouldn't want to continue with it.

If anyone has anything to share, or have taken this birth control pill, I'd love to hear your input! Thanks so much.

My girlfriend fell off the deep end only after being on the pill for one week. I noticed a drastic change in my girlfriend’s moods in less then a week. She went from being normal to depressed in about 5 days. She did just start a new semester in college, but it’s the first week. Can’t be all that hard just yet. Anyway, I got concerned about her behavior change and by chance Googled (Microgestin FE 1/20 & Depression) It made a lot of since to me now. I had no idea that the pill could cause depression and so quickly. Not sure what her history is with depression because we have only been together for about 9 months now. But up until her starting the birth control things were fine. We discussed it and tonight is the last night she will be taking the pill. Hope she can get back to feeling normal because this weekend is her 23rd birthday and I would hate to see her bummed out for that.

Microgestin FE 1/20. I was on TriNessa for years, when I started to breakthrough bleed and had to think about switching (always a HUGE pain). I've been on this one for almost 3 pounds, and although I haven't noticed a change in my sex drive, I am almost TEN POUNDS HEAVIER! This has never happened before with the pill and I've been on different ones for 20+ years. Yikes. Does anyone else ever go through this? I'm all bloated and swollen and I swear my diet and gym programs are all exactly the same. Help!
Courtney, I guess my sex drive is affected a bit because I feel bloated and gross. You mentioned feeling a bit depressed. Sounds like we should both either try something else or go off it completely!
Liz

A lot of oral contraceptives have the tendency for weight gain. You could talk to your doctor about taking a water pill or anti-gas medicine. I work out about 3-5 times a week and didn't understand why I was still heavy. I tried a water pill and I reduced in size. Consult with your doctor, however, if you're thinking of going on a water pill.

My fiancees sex drive dropped to nothing when she took this. horrible times...

Courtney wrote:

Unforunately, I did notice that my sex drive decreased, I'm not even interested in being sexual or thinking about it (though that might just personally be me, I'm not sure). I don't even feel like getting off once in a while...it's annoying b/c I have a boyfriend now and I'm unsure about having sex with him (like I said, this part may not be related to the pill)...but I'm worried that the pill has decreased my sex drive.

I'm currently taking Microgestin FE 1.5 and I'm in the same boat as you. I didn't have any symptoms before birth control. I started taking Ortho-Tricyclen Lo and had some painful side effects. My GYN said the symptoms would go away after 3 months to keep trying it. 1 1/2 years later I was a totally different person. My sex drive had decreased a small amount each month I took it and I became slightly depressed. I told my GYN that I was still having pains and that I didn't think it was working out.

She switched me to the Microgestin FE, as I said before and I've gotten WORSE! I'm very depressed, I cry at everything and have a fairly negative outlook on life. Sometimes I'm fine. I was never like this before. Now my sex drive has gotten even worse...it's NOT THERE! The idea of sex is almost repulsive to me now and I used to be sexually active about 2-3 times a week. Now once every month is too much! My fiance is going crazy.

I think I'm crazy too because I lash out moodily sometimes at the smallest things. My mood swings are so sever that if I didn't know better, I'd say I was Bi-polar...but of course I'm not.

Don't feel lonely in your suffering, I'd definately say it's your pills! I'm thinking about going back and changing mine or stopping and trying the patch or something. I would definately suggest that you go back to you GYNO and fix it!!

I'm on 1.5/30. It hasn't affected my sex drive at all (but I'm also on a prescription stimulant so I want to have sex pretty much all the time). However, I do think I've been more depressed since I switched. Not horrible or weepy...but generally my mood and attitude feels more negative and tired all the time. I also had other symptoms like yours...breast growth, water weight retention. I think I'm going to switch, though, because I've had good experiences on other pills before.

Megan wrote:

I'm currently taking Microgestin FE 1.5 and I'm in the same boat as you. I didn't have any symptoms before birth control. I started taking Ortho-Tricyclen Lo and had some painful side effects. My GYN said the symptoms would go away after 3 months to keep trying it. 1 1/2 years later I was a totally different person. My sex drive had decreased a small amount each month I took it and I became slightly depressed. I told my GYN that I was still having pains and that I didn't think it was working out.
She switched me to the Microgestin FE, as I said before and I've gotten WORSE! I'm very depressed, I cry at everything and have a fairly negative outlook on life. Sometimes I'm fine. I was never like this before. Now my sex drive has gotten even worse...it's NOT THERE! The idea of sex is almost repulsive to me now and I used to be sexually active about 2-3 times a week. Now once every month is too much! My fiance is going crazy.
I think I'm crazy too because I lash out moodily sometimes at the smallest things. My mood swings are so sever that if I didn't know better, I'd say I was Bi-polar...but of course I'm not.
Don't feel lonely in your suffering, I'd definately say it's your pills! I'm thinking about going back and changing mine or stopping and trying the patch or something. I would definately suggest that you go back to you GYNO and fix it!!

Do you feel like this all the time or is it a certain time of the month?

Do you feel like this all the time? Or is it only a certain time of the month? How long have you been taking microgestrin.

i've been on this pill for about 6 months and i've noticed a change in my mood as well. i thought it was stress from work, as i had been so stressed and depressed i took time off. i didn't once think that it was the pill. i was fine for a while with a few moments of depression until the last week or so. i've been crying non stop and i actually got so bad that i freaked out and go overly emotional about something little with my boyfriend. it came out of nowhere and i have no idea why i felt that way. it wasn't until i spoke with a friend who had similar reactions to birth control that i realized it was the pill. i want to change to a new pill as i've gained weight as well, but mostly because i don't like the depression. a lot of people at work have notived a change in my attitude too. i've never had issues with weight gain and i've gained 10-15 pounds and am not happy. the low sex drive is another issue too. is there another pill that peopple have taken that has less effects?

I have been taking this pill for amost a month. Before i was so excited to try sex with my boyfriend. Now i cant even get turned on! I just have no drive at all to have sex. I am emotional sometimes. Now that im on my period however, i feel much better and more like myself. Things are looking up. I hope my hormones even out. Best of luck to everyone

I've began Microgestin 1/20 5 months ago and the only reason I'm still taking it is because it cleared up my skin. I've been incredibly nauseous throughout the month and it seems to only be increasing. I feel ill all the time. Has anyone else experienced this?
Also- I have a lifelong history of depression and I think my mood may have actually improved since beginning this pill.

Eek. I was on Loestrin for 2 years, switched to Desogen and had been on it for about 4 years or so. I was reading some discussion boards online and decided to try another pill, that perhaps Desogen had been causing my anxiety, mood swings, depression, low sex drive, etc.

Went to the clinic today and asked for YAZ, which would treat my side effects in addition to being a contraceptive, but they weren't able to give it to me (Planned Parenthood isn't able to obtain it for distribution). I didn't know what other options to try, and the doctor was probably more concerned with zipping through to the next patient sitting in the packed waiting room so she gave me Microgestin 1/20.

After reading all of these comments, I'm reluctant to even try it at all.

I've been on Microgestin for 4 months now. The first pill I tried was Orthotricyclene...and it made me so sick all the time. Microgestin seemed to be working...I wasn't feeling sick anymore, but after these 4 months, I've started to notice a pattern. Every month, around the time my period is going to start, my emotions go insane! I get upset over the dumbest things and I can't control it. Sometimes I just cry for no reason at all. After reading all this, I'm beginning to think its Microgestin.

Im just nervous about switching...I don't want to have to try a bunch of different stuff. Bleh.

Coming to forums like these that aren't mediated by a doctor or professional always concern me. On one hand I've learned a little about the side effects that some individuals will have; on the other I see comments like the one Victoria left before me.
Victoria: Medications effect everyone differently. And quite often individuals seek out spaces like this if they ARE having problems. Just like those "rate your professor" pages- of course there is going to be a larger number of negative comments.
Myself, I've been on Microgestin for 2 months. I'd been on Apri for years, absolutely loved it, but had to switch off due to insurance issues. I was on Orthotri low for a bit but, like some of those above, had crappy side effects. While I have only been on Microgestin for 2 months and things could possibly change, I've been happy with it thus far. No changes in sex drive and no depression issues (and I have a history of depression and EDs)- there has been no resurfacing of those issues.
I agree with Heather- in fact I think my mood has changed, although there have also been huge changes in my life that have encouraged that as well.
Good luck everyone. Changing up BC does bite.

I agree w/ JAM generally, too, but I have to say I am also relieved to hear that others have experienced mood swings and slight depression on this pill. I've been taking it for 2 months and think I need to stop - I have never been prone to depression or unreasonably emotional reactions to things, but I am feeling sad all of the time, and also having incredibly disproportionate emotional reactions to things that normally wouldn't upset me.

I have been on Microgestin for a little over a year and a half now. It seemed to be the only pill I have been able to tolerate well and I enjoyed taking the packs back to back as prescribed by the Gyno. I'm always moody anyway... but for the most part I felt not myself. Like a drone or something... if anything for me a lack of emotion. But of course like I said I took it back to back and I don't let myself have a period (for health risk reasons) I honestly wouldn't recommend doing that. The only good thing is that my husband never missed my emotional side! He was so happy not having to experience the mood swings. The downside to all this is I noticed I had zero sex drive. None. Zilch. Nada. Zip. It's really been hard on my husband and I's relationship and I recently told him I done with the whole birth control thing. I honestly don't even know who I am anymore since I've been on them for ten years now. I just want my body back to normal. I'm hoping pregnancy kicks in soon! Good luck to all!

What is this prescription stimulant?????????

karin wrote:

(but I'm also on a prescription stimulant so I want to have sex pretty much all the time).

Since my last post, I stopped taking Microgestin. I feel a difference in my mood already. And my sex drive has increased a lot!

Is anyone on a good pill they can recommend? I know that everyone will have different reactions to different things, but it'd be nice to get some feedback.