Anxiety and Birth Control

Hi, I just went on the birth control pill (Sprintec) a little over a month ago and recently I have been having severe anxiety. I have always had problems with anxiety and have had panic attacks 1-2 time per year or less for a long time. However, it never affected me to the point of dysfunction until now. In the past 3-4 days I have felt dizzy, anxious, and unfocused constantly and have had one or more panic attacks every day. I do intend to seek help but I wanted to know if birth control can exacerbate preexisting anxiety and if so, will these symptoms improve as I continue to take it?

[JSGeare]

I HATE white space -seeing a question with no answers. But ther horrible truth is, "danged if I know." Surely your doctor has an opinion, and surely you have asked or will ask. Meanwhile, let's hope that someone who has faxed 'zactly the same thing as you will put you savvy on this. As for me, I'm just hopin' and prayin' that you feel better!

[nursegirl6572]

Oral contraceptives can most definitely cause or exacerbate anxiety.  Whether that is what is going on with you...it's hard to tell.  Discuss it with your doc...maybe he will decide to try a different BC pill.

Have you ever taken any oral contraceptives before?  I was going to say...if you had...and they worked for you with little problems....it may not be a bad idea to ask your doc about going back there again.

Good luck.

[mmcaxo64]

Thank you for your answers guys! I just went to my psychiatrist for the first time today and she's starting me on lexapro... I really think that this has been a long time coming and the BC just kind of heightened it. I've heard that heightened anxiety starts to decrease many times as bodies adjust to it so I'm hoping that with the lexapro I will start feeling much better

[JSGeare]

A lot of people swear by Lexapro, and a few people swear AT Lexapro, so stay close to the psych to make sure that your medication is the right stuff.

And ...you ARE getting therapy, right?

[mmcaxo64]

I've already tried therapy a few times because my brother and dad are both bipolar so my mom pushed it a lot but had trouble finding a good therapist. Right now my mom and I are asking around about therapists who are good with anxiety and who are really down to earth... I just can't stand a condescending psychologist