Depo Provera and Headaches: What Users Say (Page 3)

• Laz...
• November 16, 2016

For Birth Control "I stopped taking Depo because of the depression and lack of sex drive it was causing me. I had the spotting in the beginning for about 3 months, and after the second shot, I felt dizzy all the time. I'm in the process of getting it out of my system, and it's an absolute nightmare. Since skipping my last shot, I've had heavy spotting and headaches almost every day. I can't sleep through the night at all, and I've been having an increase in nightmares that I'm certain is related to the birth control. My dreams were never this bad before. My hair also started thinning badly, and I had to cut about a foot of it off. I loved my long hair. DO NOT get this shot. The side effects are not worth the risk."

• Vic...
• August 21, 2016

For Birth Control "I got my first shot in June 2016, thinking it would be a better alternative from the problems I was having with the pill. I ended up bleeding for a whole 3 months, which defeated the purpose of getting it for birth control because I couldn't have sex anyway because of it. I got a second shot in August, and the bleeding stopped, but I started getting headaches and feeling dizzy frequently. My next shot is scheduled for October, but I refuse to get another after reading other women's reviews and horror stories. The side effects are insane and not worth the risk. I would never recommend the shot to anyone."

• Kur...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 3, 2013

For Birth Control "I've only had my first shot. The first month was okay. I was always hungry, severe backaches and headaches, and a few hot flashes. I got my cycle a week or so late. I'm in my second month, and I've been having really bad cramps, constant bleeding, and diarrhea. No weight gain, at least not yet."

• Ash...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 30, 2019

For Birth Control "This is my second go-around with Depo, so I already knew what to expect. My first time on Depo, I was on it for almost 3 years. In the 3 years I had it, I never had a period, nor did I gain weight. After getting tired of going to the doctor every 3 months, I switched to the IUD. After 2 years, I was ready for it to come out. So I went with something I knew: Depo. I love Depo, no period. The only bad thing I can say about this drug is I do have a headache after getting my shot. The headache only lasts for an hour or so. Everybody is different, and their bodies react differently. This is a win-win for me. No periods = no babies."

• Ver...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 8, 2018

For Amenorrhea "I was on the jab for 5 years (20-25 years old). While I was on it, I was fine - no problems apart from frequent headaches. My last jab was in July 2017. I spotted a few times from September to December, and then in the middle of December, a nightmare started. I have now been bleeding for 4 weeks. Heavily bleeding as well. My breasts hurt too, I went to the doctor, and I was prescribed Norethisterone for 10 days. If this doesn’t help, I don’t know what will. These tablets give me an awful headache too. I am worried that I won’t be able to have children in the future. I feel weak because of the heavy bleeding. The doctors should inform of the side effects after stopping this injection. I would definitely not recommend this to anyone."

• Ver...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 8, 2018

For Amenorrhea "I was on the jab for 5 years (20-25 years old). While I was on it, I was fine - no problems apart from frequent headaches. My last jab was in July 2017. I spotted a few times from September to December, and then in the middle of December, a nightmare started. I have now been bleeding for 4 weeks. Heavily bleeding as well. My breasts hurt too, I went to the doctor, and I was prescribed Norethisterone for 10 days. If this doesn’t help, I don’t know what will. These tablets give me an awful headache too. I am worried that I won’t be able to have children in the future. I feel weak because of the heavy bleeding. The doctors should inform of the side effects after stopping this injection. I would definitely not recommend this to anyone."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 13, 2012

For Birth Control "My experience on Depo has been a nightmare. I have been on it for almost a year, I will be bleeding for a month straight, then it will stop for a week or two (if I'm lucky), then it's right back to bleeding. I have also had awful headaches, bad body aches, severe abdominal cramping, mood swings, random depression, and chest pains."

• dee...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 5, 2016

For Birth Control "Side effects are the worst. This shot has ruined my life for the past 3 weeks I've been on it. I have body tremors, hair loss, headaches, nausea, dizziness, tiredness, weakness, and that's just some. I have gotten anxiety. I don't want to do anything besides be in my house. I've never been this kind of person, and it's scary. Poison to my body. Do your research."

• Roy...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 10, 2019

For Birth Control "My 1st Depo-Provera shot was in August, and I have been sick since then. It stopped my periods, but I'm spotting, I'm forever exhausted, I get a horrible headache and pains when I'm hungry, my mood swings are so terrible, and I always want to be alone. I'm so depressed and anxious, and I feel like a zombie. My next shot is on the 18th, and I'm not going, I'll seek alternative contraceptives. I'm not a sickly person, but this shot has got me sick for 3 months."

• Ron...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• March 14, 2021

For Birth Control "Depo Provera was a big mistake. I was on the injections for over 5 years. Everything was perfect at first. I was 19 years old and didn't want to get pregnant. No periods, it was perfect. But 5 years later, I started to have headaches, breakouts, mood swings, and I gained weight, so I decided to come off it. The GP told me it would take my body about 6 months to get back to normal. I remember that 3 months after stopping the injection, I started my period, which lasted a month, and eventually I had to go to A&E because it was getting worse, and I was very weak. It will be 4 years since I stopped the injections this year, and my estrogen is constantly low since, to the point where my GP is worried that I may start menopause early. My periods are late. I am only 28 years old. I regret taking Depo Provera, and because of my experience, I tell everyone not to take it. The injections prevent pregnancies, and I never got pregnant while on this, it definitely works, but I now pay the price."

• Jay...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 10, 2019

For Birth Control "Only had one shot and made my life hell, been itchy so bad the doctors had to put me on strong antihistamines, have a stomach ache all the time now, started with back problems, have been bleeding for 3 months straight, nightmare not heavy but brown like discharge. Every time is actually making me so depressed, made my anxiety ten times worse. I can't wait till my body actually gets back to normal, that's if it does. I had headaches nonstop for weeks too, not good when I have two young children to look after. I had a really bad reaction to this, I ended up going to the hospital, and they told me never to have this again. Only one shot and feel like absolute garbage, had my shot on July 1st as well."

• Sco...
• May 2, 2015

For Birth Control "I have been on the Depo shot since October 2014. After my first shot, I bled for 2 months straight. I consulted with my doctor, and she said it was normal. I got my second shot, and I bled for 6 weeks straight. Within the 2 shots, I started noticing acne, headaches all the time, and lots of anxiety, fatigue, dizziness, and I find myself being hungry all the time. I told myself that I would not get a 3rd shot. I have severe cramps, and I have not bled since the 6 weeks after I got my 2nd shot, so I was happy about not having a period. I decided to go ahead and get the 3rd shot. I have not had any bleeding, but the acne and headaches, anxiousness, dizziness, and fatigue are all still happening. I don't like what the shot is doing to my body, therefore, I"

• Nic...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 11, 2019

For Birth Control "Horrible experience. Was on Depo for a year, last shot ran out in May 2018 and I am still suffering now, October 2019, from the hormonal imbalance that it has caused. Rapid heart beat, fatigue, head pressure, acne, allergies... the list goes on. Stay away if you are considering it."

• Dan...
• June 11, 2013

For Birth Control "I've had two shots already, and so far it's been almost perfect. I actually switched to this because I'm slightly underweight, and I've heard many stories about women gaining weight on the shot, so I switched in hopes that I would. So far I haven't noticed any significant weight gain, the only side effects I've had are headaches for about the first week after getting the shot, and I started getting acne on my face. I've never had acne, so this was kind of disappointing for me. It's nice not having to remember to take a pill every day, and my periods are already almost non-existent. Plus my insurance covers this, so the prescription is free, and there's no fee when I go to get the shot!"

• Ber...
• April 15, 2017

For Birth Control "I'm on my second, and last, depo shot. The first time I got the shot, I only experienced spotting for about 2.5 months. During my second shot, I've experienced severe abdominal pain, causing me to barely be able to eat for a few months now, depression that comes and goes out of nowhere, headaches, weakness, and fatigue. Even if I sleep 8 hours, I still feel exhausted throughout the day. Since the second shot, I've had multiple anxiety attacks. I would not recommend this shot to anyone. I haven't felt like myself in months, and even the smallest amount of stress will get to me and cause an anxiety attack or depression. Before the shot, I've never had any of these symptoms."

• jpa...
• July 30, 2016

For Birth Control "I got my first depo shot about a week ago. I went right from the pill to the shot. This shot is ruining my life right now. I am constantly nauseous, I have chronic fatigue, and I have constant headaches. I also can't stop eating and feel hungry even after a big meal. I am praying that these side effects diminish because it is making my social life, professional life, and personal relationships very rough."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 25, 2016

For Birth Control "I've gotten 2 shots so far, and I'm pretty sure it's making me completely crazy. Even scarier, since I started this medicine, I started getting crazy headaches. I was at work, and my face started going numb, and then I started seeing all these bright lights, and then I couldn't see out of my left eye... Btw, I'm 28. I haven't gotten pregnant, so it's effective for that, however, I would NOT recommend this. I've always been moody, but the feelings I've experienced with this are so overwhelming sometimes... it feels like I'm going to have a panic attack like every other day. It's good if you want to be depressed, literally question your mental health, bleed every single day... Totes switching."

• Luc...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 29, 2018

For Birth Control "Absolutely hate it. I took the birth control shot, have gained so much weight and can't lose my baby weight. I feel pregnant and super moody, literally have all the side effects: weight gain, headaches, tiredness, etc. Super moody, so now my husband and I are having more issues because of my hormones. Anyways, I'm changing birth control methods next month. I'm considering an IUD, hormone-free. I want to feel like myself, and the birth control shot is by far the worst I have tried."

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

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I have four boys, and with my last son, I got the shot - big mistake. I got the shot after giving birth and have been bleeding since. June 10, 2015, now it's October, and I'm still bleeding and feeling horrible with low energy and headaches. I'm moody, and I gained a lot of weight. When I gave birth, I was 178, now I'm back at 197, no good. Depressed."

• Sic...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 10, 2019

For Birth Control "I cannot put into words how terrible my experience with the Depo shot was. I’ve basically been bleeding since Oct. 1 (first day of the shot), and it is now Dec. 10. The headaches I’ve had are outrageous, the back pain is terrible too. I would get random nausea spells, and towards the end, I've been breaking out like crazy! I cannot wait to switch to something else in 7 days because the Depo shot has ruined my life! I will never, ever, ever get back on it. I’m hoping the pill will work for me."

• 31y...
• April 18, 2016

For Birth Control "After 1 week of receiving the shot, I had night sweats for 5 days. I've been having severe anxiety. My body aches like I have the flu. It will be one month I've been on Depo, the night sweats are away, but I'm having pain in my feet and in my knees. The odd thing is, instead of gaining weight, I'm losing weight. I've lost so far 12 lbs in almost a month. I'm starting to spot due to my period, which always comes on the 20th. Not getting cramping yet. I'm not going to get Depo again because of the night sweats, leg pain, and some minor headaches I don't like. I'm 31 years old and a mom of 4. My husband says since the shot he has noticed me more down and not in the mood. So I'm certain the Depo is causing all this craziness to my body. I'm getting blood work done to see if it's my thyroid."

• Jen...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 19, 2019

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "Depo has been horrible for me. Blood clotting disorders run in my family, and I told them that before the shot. They told me to just go to the ER if I had any problems. Of course, I thought if you have a clot, it will probably be too late most of the time, but anyway, I was stupid enough to go forward. Since the shot in October, I freeze then burn up. Not just normal freezing, it feels like my body is in shock, and then when I am hot, it feels like my blood is boiling. I have also developed restless leg syndrome (RLS). It is so bad I can hardly sleep. Then comes the worst part. I was told it would stop bleeding, but possibly have abnormal bleeding the first time. I have been bleeding badly for more than two weeks. I am so weak. I have also had headaches, chest pain, and toes going numb. Whatever you do, don’t take this shot until you read everything you can about it. I will never take it again."

• Jen...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 16, 2024

For Birth Control "I had a headache for the first week but that has faded. No weight gain, no bleeding, no more than usual bloating, no sex drive changes, no emotional side effects. I feel awful for those that have had negative side effects. I often do with most meds so I'm absolutely shocked that I don't."

• Ari...
• May 29, 2013

For Birth Control "I've been on the Depo shot for a year now, and the only problems I'd faced were the headaches, nausea, and mood swings. It's great not having a cycle. I'm opting to try another method, but the shot seems most effective. Although everyone's experience is different, mine was okay."

• Nik...
• February 2, 2016

For Birth Control "My experience with the shot was horrible. It only took one shot for me to turn down the rest. I got the shot 5 months after having my first baby. No sex drive, it was gone. I had mood swings, missed my period. I like my period (I never missed a period aside from being pregnant). I suffered depression that felt like a very bad case of postpartum depression. It caused ovarian cysts to develop and rupture (ending up in abdominal bleeding). Energy was very low. It caused bad headaches. Vision problems. Only good thing that came from it was that I gained some much-needed weight. Overall, this isn't something I would personally recommend. I also was angry that my doctor didn't do her job and tell me what the positive and negative side effects were."