Birth Control and Depression?

[Cynthesizer]

Hey my name is Cynthia. I'm a 20 year old female college student and I began taking birth control for the first time 5 days ago. I was put on Loestrin24Fe. I wanted to go on it, largely because my periods are very heavy and extremely painful if I don't take a large amount of medication the minute I feel cramps coming on. There have been times when I've thrown up all day because of the pain. My breasts also become extremely sore and very swollen. I have been informed by my doctor that birth control pills are the most effective means to ease the severity of these symptoms. The other reason I'd decided to go on it is because I have a longterm boyfriend and wanted use it as a method of contraception as well. However, I think I may be experiencing some side effects from the Loestrin24Fe. I have experienced some mild nausea after taking the pills and even at random times throughout the day. I have also experienced some slight headaches that aren't too severe and haven't lasted very long. My breasts are becoming swollen and painful, as they do right before my period. But my primary concern is how I've been feeling since the second day I started the Pill. I have been having very dramatic mood swings. I have never been a particularly happy person but in the past five days, I have gone from content to feeling extremely down in a matter of seconds. Last night I was feeling fine when I suddenly had the uncontrolable urge to cry, which I did for nearly an hour. I didn't know or understand why I was sad but it was almost like a black cloud came over me which did not go away until right before I went to sleep. Overall, I have been feeling more sad and anxious than I have been feeling content. I have lost much of my motivation to do anything. Any little thing makes me upset and there's nothing I can do to cheer myself up. I am a very driven female, as I am a neuroscience major at Johns Hopkins. I run 5 miles a day and am part of an acapella group at school. In the past few days, I have had no desire to do any of these things. Does my body just need to get used to the change? Should I wait it out? Switch brands? Stop taking it? Could my depression get even worse? Please help!!!

[amberelise]

My cousin said she had to try several different birth control pills to find the right one for her and i have tried 2.  I took the mini pill for 3 days a couple of months after i had my daughter and after only the 3 pills i went nuts and was saying all sorts of things i didn't mean but i quite taking it and i went back to normal.  A ferw months after I had my son i tried lo/overal  and it was awsome my mood got so much better my face started clearing up (acne) and I had a ton of water weight that it was getting rid of for me.  So i suggest telling your doctor about your symptoms and see if they can't find one that works better for you.

[clairebear78]

THANK YOU... that is EXACTLY how I am feeling!! I hve been on it for almost 2 weeks and am about at my wits end. I am older than you and am taking it for the first time (I am 32). I got married about 4 months ago, and we decided that is what would be best/ easiest. So far, my breasts are so sore that I can't even sleep on my stomach. I keep thinking that I will give it 6 weeks and then if I don't get any better then I will quit. My moods are just very blah... I am usually very happy, laugh and giggle, now I am crying at nothing (or I think in the grand scheme of things it is nothing) and just blah, I don't want to work out, I don't want to work, I just want to sleep because that is when I feel normal. I just don't feel like myself. I keep thinking if I just stopped right now then that it will change, but I really want to try hard to stay on it and give it a good shot at letting my body adjust. So, please know that I am RIGHT there with you. If anyone has any thoughts, please share. I am on Alysse.... so it is lo dose like yours, but still giving me the side effects!