Can the contraceptive implant implanon cause anxiety and depression?

[Stress_Head]

Hi,
I have had the implanon now for 2 years and since then have experienced 6 month cycles of extreme depression and anxiety followed by periods where i return to my normal happy mood and behaviour.  For the last month I have been feeling hightened level of anxitey, which have caused social withdrawal, and fellings of sadness and depression. Most worringly, recently i have had thoughts of self harming.

I couldn't seem to put my finger on why I was feeling this way, and till tonight, hadn't considered the possibility that it could be the implanon. I have done some brief reseach and found that the implanon can cause depression, but I am concerned can it completely explain the reason for my extreme long-term changes in mood, or is there something more deep routed?
Thanks

[Becash]

I was pleased to find a recent post on this subject!  I had the implant put in after my second child in August 2009. My periods became unbareable. I had to take the mini pill for six months as I bled constantly.  I became bitter and moody and my husband almost left me as he couldn't take any more. Then things got worse, I started having panic attacks and severe anxiety. Go diagnosed as gad and postnatal depression. 4 years on with 2nd implant I still suffer with anxiety and panic attacks. My husband stuck with me thank goodness.  After reading this topic I do wonder if the implant could be the cause of all this heartache. I have asked my go if the implant is the cause but he says not!  I'm not so sure now. I have the other side affects like feeling like I'm pregnant and having period symptoms but not period.  I am thinking of having a third baby so might have the implant removed, it will be interesting to see if there is any change to my life of anxiety :/

[nessaom]

It's unbelievable how many women this contraceptive implant is affecting, and all in the same way! I've felt like a different person since January this year. At first, the Implanon was fine, I felt fine and even my boyfriend noticed how fine I was feeling! But from around the time I had my Implanon put in, I went through a lot of emotional bullying from my boyfriend's mother and both of his parents made me feel so low and worthless. I lost weight purely from stress. For months, I've not known whether I've been depressed because of how they made me feel or whether the implant has made those feelings of anger towards my bf's mum stronger or whether it's just the implant alone! I have the feeling that I may have to take the thing out soon because I feel like I've made such little progress in getting over the bullying that I went through.

I bled everyday for almost 10 months. The lovely nurses at the clinic were so sympathetic, but prescribed me 2 different types of contraceptive pills to take with the implant still in. It just got worse... I felt nauseous, sick and so upset that I would scream. The bleeding stopped eventually on it's own, and it seemed like things were ok. But then my moods have been unbelievable, and I thought that it was more than hormones because I've felt suicidal and also like I could really hurt the ones I love. And I feel so guilty. I haven't wanted to be around my friends and I have irrational thoughts such as "she isn't really working on my birthday, she's just not wanting to see me."

I feel like I can't talk to people a lot of the time. I used to be able to call people up to ask for information on some things, but now I just hope that they have an email address so that I won't have to speak to anyone.

I'm taking this thing out asap! Thank you to all of you who have shared your experiences. I think that this has made me think about everything so much clearer and now I know that I'm not alone.

[tracy1592]

ive had the rod in for 2 and a half years, I just don't feel like my self any more, I thought I was going insane, I am glad im not the only one, I am not my self any more. im being a monster to my boyfriend when hes done nothing wrong I feel so guilty, some time I cant control it! I just don't feel like doing nothing no more, nothing interest me, I even force my self to go to sleep wen I wake up in the morning because I cnt face another day like it, plus not having a job dosent help just makes it worse. my mood swings are extreme and I get hot flushes like pin pricks on my neck wen I go out, I want to be able to tell my boyfriend but I don't think he will understand and he will fink im a geek lol , I cry every day, iv put on 4 stone,i could go on all day. im guna go to docs 2mora and explain even tho I will feel embarraest, women should get know the side affects of the rod, doctors just want you to have it because to many young girls are having children, they don't tell you the affects I have even got a bad skin rash round my neck and back due to stress,  

[Melr1987]

I have had the implant for 3 months and since having it fitted I have bled constantly, have horrendous acne on my face, chest and back, and have become unbelievably depressive. I have changed from someone who was so laid back and happy to a highly strung, stressed to the max, b*tch. The funny thing is, I am completely aware of it but there is nothing I can do. It's like a fog has descended and nothing can clear it. I know the acne is contributing to my bad moods - I was invited to a costume party this evening and was meant to be meeting a good friend for dinner but I have cancelled both. I don't want to leave my house looking like I do. I have never felt like this before in my life and it is terrifying. I am scared I'm going to go to my doctor and they will just prescribe more drugs rather than allowing me to have the implant removed. I think I'm going to make an appointment for monday :(. Has anyone else had problems convincing their doctor to take it out?!

[25zero5]

I have only had my implant for a couple of months. I am so fed up of crying for no reason but especially when I am with my partner. I was such a fun loving person and love to laugh. but all I do now is feel sorry for myself and cry like a baby without any particular triggers. Not happy ! Thanks for sharing your stories everyone. Helps to know I'm not going totally mad all by myself.

[oliviao56]

I am having mine out today and will report back on if it was the implant causing the depression/anxiety/tearfulness, or if it was unrelated. I am really not sure as it was fine for the first 2.5 years, but the last 6 months I have been a wreck. I am hopeful it is the implant because then at least there will be an answer, rather than actually having to deal with depression. I have been unable to sleep, anxious, heart racing, depressed about my job, social life and future, unable to feel happy even when doing fun things or with friends, I just feel disconnected and not at all myself. I am so hopeful that having the implant out will let me feel like myself again, even a few months is too long to be feeling this way.