Nexplanon and Anxiety: What Users Say (Page 3)

• Swi...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 23, 2023

For Birth Control "After being on Nexplanon for two years, I began experiencing severe anxiety, paranoia, and obsessive thoughts about a year ago. It has been an incredibly difficult experience, and I couldn't understand what was happening to me. I had intense nightmares, a fast heart rate, and uncontrollable panic attacks. Prior to this, I had never experienced any mental health issues, which made it all the more terrifying. Additionally, I experienced constant bleeding and irregular periods, sometimes bleeding for months on end or having a period twice a month. The pain was excruciating and caused me to cry and vomit. Furthermore, I developed multiple cysts. After randomly researching the effects of Nexplanon, I stumbled upon numerous reviews that described precisely what I had gone through. It was a relief to learn that I wasn't alone, and I immediately scheduled an appointment to have the implant removed. I advise against getting this implant, as it's not worth the damage it can cause."

• Ano...
• April 17, 2016

For Birth Control "I had Nexplanon inserted 6 weeks after giving birth to my daughter. I was 148 lbs at the time, still losing weight from my pregnancy. I reached an all-time high of 175 lbs on Nexplanon. Extreme bloating. I even wondered myself if I was pregnant. I had severe mood swings, increased anxiety (it honestly became uncontrollable), always hungry, and I overate daily. I felt so tired I didn't enjoy doing anything like I used to. I got to the point where I didn't even feel like myself. I bled all the time: 3 weeks on, 1 week off, and even 6 weeks at a time. I had it for a year before deciding to have it removed, now it's been a week since I had it removed. Please research before choosing this b/c option, it does prevent pregnancy at a price!"

• Moo...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 22, 2023

For Birth Control "I am not sure how I spent a year with this implant in my arm and did not connect it to the very high anxiety, very low mood, and high heart rate I was experiencing. It was the near-constant bleeding that switched on 8 months in that nearly drove me over the edge with constant dehydration, lethargy, dizziness, and irritability. 5 days after having it out and replaced by the Depo injection, I feel worlds better. Negative mental health and anxiety are not a rare side effect, and the packaging needs to be changed to reflect this. Also, 1 in 5 patients in my registered practice are now reported to have near-constant bleeding with only 1 week off, according to my GP. If more knew that, I bet they wouldn’t consider this option, as it destroys your everyday life and well-being. If this is your experience, get it out and try another method."

• Man...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 28, 2020

For Birth Control "I have endometriosis, so the Nexplanon for pain management was great. I only had 4 periods in the 3 years I had it. But it caused me to gain 50 pounds despite me being healthier than I’ve ever been. My acne got worse, my depression and anxiety were awful, and I got horrible migraines. I stuck with it because it was the only BC that didn’t make me violently ill every month, but I’m so happy I got it taken out."

• jay...
• March 7, 2021

For Birth Control "I started getting terrible side effects. Ridiculous mood swings, rage, social anxiety (I'm usually a social butterfly), depression, suicidal thoughts. I got a period/bleeding/spotting for 30 days straight, constantly exhausted, fatigued, lost my sex drive, very constipated and bloated, nausea. Because of the way I was reacting, I at times thought I was pregnant, so add in constant pregnancy scares. Hair was shedding like crazy. I have now fallen out of love with my boyfriend, I am unsure if this relationship will survive. He has been nothing but absolutely supportive and caring, but I've tried to break up with him at least 6 times in the last 2 months. I got the implant out after 3 months and now am on nothing. Everyone is different, trust your body and gut. Nothing says 'effective birth control' better than being super gassy, bloated and constantly cramping from not being able to poop around your new significant other, lol – can't get pregnant if you don't want to have sex, lol."

• Kel...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 13, 2023

For Birth Control "If you have any kind of anxiety or depression, avoid this at all costs. I had it inserted, and I was perfectly fine for the first week. After this, I woke up in a panic attack. I had the worst anxiety and panic I had ever felt for 2 weeks! My GP had no space to take it out, I had to go and pay privately £250 to get it out of my body as soon as possible. Within a week of taking it out, I returned to normal. It was absolutely horrific. I have now chosen to go for a non-hormonal copper coil. All my mental health ladies, steer clear. If I could rate it 0, I would."

• I...
• January 24, 2020

For Birth Control "I got the implant January 15th, 2019. The first couple of months were fine, insertion was a breeze, no periods for the first couple of months. Out of nowhere, I started bleeding with maybe a three-day break in between. It would range from spotting to very heavy bleeding. I also have anxiety and depression, my seasonal depression being the worst. My doctor put me on the same antidepressants I’ve used for years, and I started feeling extremely suicidal. I thought it was because we were trying medication for my ADHD for the first time in years. But I’m convinced it’s this dangerously stupid thing in my arm. I have zero sex drive, I feel like I hate everything around me, everything and everyone annoys me or frustrates me, I’m exhausted all the time, zero motivation, very little feelings of my usual bubbly, happy self. I so can’t wait to get this thing out. If I could give a negative amount of stars, I would. This will be taken out no later than the end of February."

• Jle...
• February 18, 2020

For Birth Control "On Nexplanon from 12.17.2014 to 2.17.2020. The first two years I just didn't have a period. Before the third year, I had depression and anxiety, but I chalked it up to a stressful job and more responsibilities. With the second implant, my period came back full force, massive clots and pain. I was told that's what to expect when you haven't had a period in three years. My career path changed to a much less stressful environment. I really enjoyed my job a lot, but my anxiety grew worse and my depression almost had me convinced I was possibly bipolar. All in all, I have gained 80 pounds in the five years and three months I've had it. That could be because of my depression and lack of energy. I'm more than ready to take this thing out of my arm and hope for the best. I'm not saying the Nexplanon is the wrong way to go. It never failed me once, but I think the symptoms need to be taken more seriously, and I personally feel the longer you're on it, the worse it gets."

• des...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 3, 2022

For Birth Control "I can't stress enough how hard the last four months have been since the implant insertion. Mood swings, sadness, fear, no sex drive, sex is literally an irritable experience, no sleep, constantly tired, can't make me leave the house, thrush, constant bleeding, over a stone weight gain. I am having it removed tomorrow, I wish I could have ripped it out myself earlier. My life is so miserable that the lively, happy, active person feels like I have been imagining her. I wish someone had told me this earlier. I feel doctors and nurses are aware of these problems and yet still using and offering it. Don't do it, not sure how I will go back to my old weight and life, but God help."

• Mar...
• August 20, 2019

For Birth Control "From months 1-7 on Nexplanon, I was feeling fine... Five days ago, I began to have a creeping anxiety; my fear of death and worrying about things far out of human understanding or control was insurmountable. My family and I do not have a history of anxiety or depression. I then began to correlate Nexplanon to these little anxious worries that had been filling my head since I got it. I got my period four days ago and immediately began crying uncontrollably four times a day for the past four days. I had severe anxiety and almost had another panic attack when I was at the gym. The only reason I found out about the severe depression and anxiety that were side effects was because of reviews from women like yourselves. I am on day one without Nexplanon, and I still have some anxiety left over as it’s leaving my system. Do not listen to the Nexplanon company that says only a measly 5-6% statistic of women feel depression and anxiety from taking it. I have read hundreds who say the opposite."

• Kan...
• April 11, 2021

For Birth Control "It was horrible!!! My anxiety was so high and never noticed it until now because I was not that kind of person. My hair was falling in chunks, I was so depressed and had really bad thoughts. I was just overthinking all the time. I would not recommend this birth control. Gladly, I already got it removed!"

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 13, 2022

For Birth Control "I got this implant a few weeks ago, and after 3 days, I experienced a serious mood swing, which then became an underlying depressed mood. For the next few weeks, my anxiety got so bad I could barely eat. My mood swings became absolutely crazy, and I became suicidal. I have had problems with anxiety in the past, but this made it a million times worse. I cry about everything, I am scared to be alone with my thoughts, I can barely recognize myself. I have been so rude to everyone around me and pushed everyone away. It has interfered with my relationships, mainly with my partner. I quickly decided that I did not want to keep it in any longer, and I got it out. I only had it in for around 3 weeks, and I felt its impact on my mental health. I hope that removing it will improve my mental health and I'll be myself soon. I forgot to say that I was constantly bleeding too, why would I want to be permanently bleeding while on birth control? I don't recommend the implant at all."

• Kho...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 15, 2022

For Birth Control "This is like a psychiatric drug that will ruin your whole day or until you have this implant on. I can’t explain the trauma that I suffered with this thing on. I had it for less than 2 months. The first month I had no symptoms and no period. I started to bleed in the 2nd month, and that’s when I started to have panic attacks and anxiety. I ended up in the ER twice, thinking I was having a heart attack. I felt my chest burning, I felt my heart rate increasing and beating so fast that I could hear it. I felt like I had some disease and that I would die soon. I was constantly living in fear. I didn’t even want to do anything. I felt like something was happening to my body. I couldn’t even look after my kids or smile or talk to anyone. This is a nightmare. Please don’t get it. There are plenty of other options. I got it removed today, and I started to feel myself again. I am still getting scared, but it’s lessening now."

• App...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 21, 2019

For Birth Control "It is not worth it. Nexplanon has severely inhibited my life. For starters, the periods! I have been on this for about 10 months now. I have been constantly on my period since I got it in with no signs of stopping, only small (like one or two-day) breaks every month or so. I got the birth control so I could have sex, and now I feel like I can’t! The bleeding is so heavy. Loss of sex drive. Seriously. Anxiety and depression to the max. I can’t sleep because I imagine everyone I love dying. I cry when my husband leaves the house because I’m scared he will die in an accident. I get angry over stupid things and start to hate people when I used to pride myself on being kind. My husband begged me to remove the implant because the mood swings and anxiety were so bad. Weight gain. A lot of it. I’ve never struggled with my weight before. Now with the Nexplanon, I have gained 50 pounds with exercise and dieting, and the scale keeps going up no matter what I do - it’s hopeless."

• Sta...
• February 18, 2021

For Birth Control "I got Nexplanon in November 2020, it's now almost March 2021. My sister pointed out to me that I hadn't started feeling depressed and suicidal until I got the implant. I even handled getting laid off better than this in September. I've gained about 20 lbs, and it doesn't want to leave. I'm considering taking it out because I can't live with these intrusive thoughts. My anxiety is weirdly better? My brain keeps blanking-I forgot mid-sentence what I was saying and can't recall-this didn't happen before the implant. But it does its job-I'm not pregnant."

• Arl...
• November 21, 2013

For Birth Control "Starting Nexplanon about four months ago (7/20/13), yesterday (11/20/13) I had it removed. At first, it was alright; then, a couple of weeks in, I started being moody, which I didn't notice was the birth control. All the while having my period, which didn't stop for the whole 4 months, except days here and there. Four days ago, I felt symptoms come back even worse; experiencing mood swings, manic depression, suicidal thoughts, back pain, anxiety, heavy period. I could only take a couple of days of this before I needed it out."

• Jem...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• February 3, 2020

For Birth Control "I had the Nexplanon implant for about 8 years. I’ve recently had the coil fitted and the implant removed. The difference in my mood is incredible!! My whole family are unfortunately used to my moody ways and over-emotional responses (after 8 years, who wouldn’t be). I thought this was just who I was, but then I started to think timeframes and could link the end of my calmness to roughly the same time I had my first implant fitted. I did some research and found that a lot of ladies are struggling with anxiety and depression while on the implant. So, I decided to change contraceptive. It’s like having that little rod removed took away my trigger! Anxiety has calmed, and my moods have settled very quickly. My family has noticed it, and I feel it. I don’t have obsessive thoughts, I’m not on edge anymore, and I have energy! I feel so much better, I can’t stress it enough. The coil's a much better option for me and possibly for others too."

• Mil...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 7, 2020

For Birth Control "I began birth control for menstrual pain. I was on the Depo-Provera shot for 2 years and stopped because of anxiety and panic attacks that occurred. Never experienced it before in my life. Doctors didn’t think it was the birth control. I’m a 22-year-old healthy female. I go to the gym and I make sure I watch how I eat. I tell my doctor I want something else, I get Nexplanon. A couple of months later, I get anxiety symptoms again, but worse. It was every day now. I tell my doctor it’s got to be the birth control. They don’t believe me. They thought maybe I was stressed. So I got it taken out. And already I’m feeling better. I haven’t had anxiety attacks since. It feels like my body’s slowly trying to regulate itself again. I get a few headaches, sometimes heart palpitations, and sleepless nights. Birth control’s been around for only 50 years, there’s more research that needs to be done. I’m looking for help. I want to know if I’m ever going to be back to normal mentally."

• Eat...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 3, 2021

For Birth Control "I had Nexplanon implanted about a year and five months ago after a pregnancy scare. I was not on any birth control prior to this for about three years. Before the implant, I had my spouts of depression that were due to some life circumstances and were usually treatable without major treatments. After one month with the implant, I had taken a major decline in my mental health. I had suicidal thoughts, major anxiety, and awful night terrors. I ended up having to start taking antidepressants and going to see a therapist. Then I developed a binge eating disorder over the past year. I had always been conscientious about my nutrition and health, but I have now gained about 30 lbs. I have become a couch potato with social anxiety and no energy past making myself some food. It prevented pregnancy but is not worth me living in misery anymore. I am having the implant removed next week."

• Ale...
• April 20, 2016

For Birth Control "I got this birth control thinking, great, no period for three years. Honestly, I would rather have my period every day for the rest of my life than have this thing in my arm still. At first, it seemed fine, I felt great, and then a week or so went by, and I was overthinking everything, became extremely stressed, and kept having anxiety attacks. I'll be fine for a few days at a time, but then something small happens, and I want to cry and yell at everyone. It has ruined my relationship, and I feel crazy. I would not recommend this birth control. I get it out in a little over a week. Hopefully, my mind can remain stable enough to make it till then without another crazy mood swing of depression. Also, I feel like a pregnant lady craving food constantly."

• all...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 20, 2015

For Birth Control "I used to be an extremely bubbly, happy, and very sexual person. I've had the Nexplanon for a little over a month, and my weight has stayed almost the same (I went from 140 to 135). I'm very active and generally up for anything. After having the Nexplanon implanted, I've been miserable. I have at least 2 to 3 anxiety attacks weekly, I'm moody, hateful, irritable, and downright not myself. My poor boyfriend is trying to be a trooper, but I can barely contain my own feelings. My sex drive is GONE, whereas previously I was craving sex twice a day! I don't feel like myself. I had my period for 2 straight weeks after implantation, and now I'm bleeding very lightly continuously. I'm giving it a couple more weeks before I call to have it removed."

• Nan...
• December 16, 2016

For Birth Control "Do not choose this method if you are already an overly sensitive person or may have any depression or anxiety. I would not recommend this. I am 24, and this is my second type of birth control method I tried. After I inserted it, it took me about 5 to 6 months to realize that the medicine caused me to become more sensitive, suffer depression, and anxiety. I have had about 5 panic attacks in one year and am always easily irritated and depressed. Once I got rid of it, I was back to normal. It may not be the same for all women, but this is my experience."

• Qui...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 27, 2019

For Birth Control "My rating is a 4/10 because I did not get pregnant. It's extremely effective, and like some other women said, it worked great for the first few months. During the first 3 months, I had no period, and I was completely fine with no side effects. Then, after 3 months, I began having month-long periods, getting anxiety, panic attacks, and bad mood swings. Couldn't even smoke weed anymore because of the overwhelming anxiety. It got so bad, I got to such a dark place in my head I just felt like it was ruining my life. Got it properly removed at the doctor's 5 months after insertion. Started feeling better just knowing this stuff was out of me and felt back to normal within a week. Yes, you will not get pregnant, but you might turn into a crazy lady. I prefer the pill."

• Pow...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 30, 2019

For Birth Control "I would not ever recommend this birth control to anyone. It was a lifesaver the first year, but since this second year, I've had issue after issue. I have horrible anxiety 24/7. When I'm not panicking, I'm crying from crazy amounts of depression. Not to include the physical changes it's done to my body. I'm constantly tired and weak. I spend almost my entire day in bed, when I normally would be up doing yoga or playing with my child. I have horrible chest pains along with palpitations that only make my anxiety worse. Plus horrible migraines, and awkwardly, I get muscle spasms all over my body, probably from stress. Please think twice before you get this. It will change your life."

• Bos...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 27, 2019

For Birth Control "DON’T USE NEXPLANON. I got it on June 23rd, 2017. I will get it removed on May 8th, 2019. IDK why I waited this long. I got the BC (birth control) because I have always had really bad cramps. I would miss school when I was younger. The BC is terrible. I have mood swings, I am extremely angry, I am depressed, and I have anxiety. Almost every day I wake up, I don’t want to even wake up. I cry every day. I’m easily overwhelmed and sensitive. I’m so mean to my boyfriend. I don’t like cuddling after sex. I don’t like to be touched, but when I’m away from him, I’m constantly telling him I miss him and want to be kissed all over, but all of that changes when I actually get with him. I push people away, then complain I’m lonely. Whenever I’m mean to someone in my family, I don’t feel bad until after I’ve left them. I beat myself up for being so mean to them, and then I start crying. My boyfriend is probably more excited than I am to get this BC out, lol."