Depo Provera and Mood Swings: What Users Say (Page 2)

• jez...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 13, 2015

For Birth Control "I am 28 years old, I have been on the Depo shot for 3 months now to regulate my periods. My first 2 months, I didn't get my period at all, no side effects except a headache for the first week. Now into my 3rd month, and I have had my period for going on 3 weeks straight, and it's really stressing me out. I have been irritable these past weeks, major mood swings, and lost my sex drive. And no changes in my weight, but pretty sure I will not continue this method of birth control."

• Rac...
• August 7, 2015

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I found this site and comments of great interest. My daughter had a shot earlier this year and complained of continuous bleeding (not spotting), feeling bloated, nausea, headaches, cramps, and very depressed and emotional. She went to another doctor who has put her on antidepressants and pills to supposedly stop the bleeding, a week on, still bleeding. My daughter is 24 and has changed from a lovely, bubbly, happy person into an ill zombie who sits on the sofa all day, fatigued and in pain. I certainly intend to seek legal advice."

• Fig...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 4, 2016

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I had the shot on March 20, 2016. I had 2 weeks before the bleeding started. At first, it was spotting, but every day. Then it was heavier bleeding. Then it got so heavy I was changing an ultra tampon every 45 minutes to 2 hours, even at night. I was at my doctor's, exhausted from lack of sleep, crying, anemic, with hormonal acne, horrible back pain from constant period pain, and terrible mood swings. I only had the 1 shot. I refused any more. It's currently August, and I am still bleeding. There is no sign of it ending! I would not have this shot again, even if they paid me!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 8, 2015

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "Absolutely the worst decision I have ever made! Got the shot on March 13 to straighten out my hormones. Was on my period when I got the shot. Stopped a week later. April 4th, I started again. It is now June 8, and I have not stopped! Plus, I am crankier than before and VERY emotional! I am due for my second shot, and I refuse to get it! This is absolutely ridiculous!"

• Wha...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 19, 2017

For Birth Control "On Depo for 19 months, began taking it after my second child. Had no period. Major mood swings, constant exhaustion, and trouble sleeping. No sex drive - after some research, I discovered why. Depo is used as a chemical castration drug for sex offenders in multiple states. My doctor did not mention that I was drugging myself like a convicted sex offender, did yours?"

• Nat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 8, 2013

For Birth Control "My first shot of Depo-Provera was almost three months ago, and I am due for my second shot in less than two weeks. I will not get that second shot and must say Depo-Provera worked very badly for me. I've been bleeding straight for two months now, awful mood swings and depression, extensive hair loss, and no sex drive at all."

• ann...
• July 25, 2012

For Endometriosis "It has been almost 6 months since my shot, and I have been on my period the whole time. I gained 45 pounds, and I was the most depressed I've ever been. I went insane with mood swings, my already bad pain got worse, and I had head-splitting migraines, among other things. I don't recommend it to anyone. It should come with a prescription for Xanax and some weight loss pills to try to stay on top of things."

• Ska...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 13, 2016

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I had my first Depo shot November 25, 2015. I was good for a week with no bleeding. I was supposed to go get my second shot February 25, 2016, but decided not to as I bled and still am bleeding today, 03/13/2016. Cramps are really bad, clots are bad. I wish I had never had this shot. The doctor doesn't tell you that this could happen for months on end. If they did, I guess most of us would have thought twice about having it. I am full of regrets, and I'm more depressed than I was before. I hate the bleeding, it makes me feel disgusting and dirty as it's never-ending on a daily basis. My mood swings are at what I would call a dangerous level. I would suggest that women thinking this is the best contraceptive out there to think twice and read what has happened to us."

• Bec...
• August 29, 2014

For Birth Control "I started the shot when I was 17, about to be 18. I am now 20, about to be 21. Very effective at preventing pregnancy. However, I have terrible mood swings, migraines, and weight gain. When I started taking Depo, I was the healthiest I have ever been. Slowly but surely, I put on the pounds and my depression became unbearable! The first year, I didn't gain much, maybe ten pounds, and went from a size 4 to a size 6. I weighed 135, now I weigh about 170. It's horrendous! I just switched birth control yesterday, so I hope it treats me better than Depo Provera!"

• lea...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 18, 2016

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I got the Depo shot a month ago, and it's been the worst experience of my life! I haven't stopped bleeding, I have horrible mood swings, I'm always depressed, I'm losing weight, and it's basically ruining my life. I hate this shot, its side effects are horrible. I do not recommend it at all!"

• JD3...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 31, 2023

For Birth Control "I am month 2 on Depo, and I would rate it a zero if I could. Since receiving the injection, I have suffered migraines and/or headaches daily. I'm so exhausted I can't make a day without a nap, mood swings daily, a loss of interest as I have no energy, feeling unwell all the time, hot flashes galore, been on my period for a month, and it's major cramps. I wish I would have read about the side effects. I will never get another one and keep telling my husband I regret it daily. I just want my life back, I was hoping it would help with my periods, that is why I was prescribed it, and it backfired. Yuck."

• Bet...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 11, 2019

For Birth Control "Depo-Provera made my periods stop after about 7 months (amazing). It gave me relief from chronic migraines I've had for years. I only have occasional cramping now and have not gained weight. HOWEVER, the first two injections sent my moods wild. I was often extremely anxious and sad (this did go away!). I am doing great now and most importantly, I am not pregnant."

• Kok...
• April 24, 2013

For Birth Control "I am 21, and since I first received the shot in January, I have been bleeding ever since. Sometimes light, sometimes like an actual period, with cramps and migraines. Also, this medicine has completely jacked up my hormones. I am angry ALL the time, ALWAYS sad. I cry every day, over the smallest issues, or for no reason. I am happy, and in a split second, I will feel very low or even have suicidal thoughts. I experience extreme mood swings and flip out on my boyfriend-coupled with less sex from the bleeding. It's very frustrating. I am hoping that this is just my body still adjusting to the medicine. I haven't had any weight gain or acne though (knock on wood)."

• Mae...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 17, 2019

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "Got the shot in June before my period. I have been spot bleeding since! I thought my period was gonna stop, at least I thought it’s now October... Mood swings, yes... depression, less active than normal. I have barely got appetite, can’t sleep. Something changed in the depo, never had this happen. Very concerned for myself and others."

• Leg...
• June 26, 2016

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I got this April 2016 and have experienced extreme depression, rapid weight gain, irregular bleeding for weeks, acne, increased breast size, decreased sex drive, and horrible mood swings. This has been the worst time of my life."

• Anonymous
• October 20, 2011

For Birth Control "I've been on the Depo shot for a year and a half now, and I have been bleeding ever since I took it. I have experienced a lot of weight gain and depression and tons of mood swings. You get cramps every day as if you just got your period. I wouldn't recommend it if you don't like bleeding. Might work for some people, but not for me."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 24, 2022

For Birth Control "The absolute worst thing I have EVER tried in my life. It has made my life a living hell for the past 6.5 months, and I still live in hell. I have gotten 2 shots of Depo and refused to go for the 3rd shot, which was due a little over 2 weeks ago. I have gained 20 lbs so far, and it’s gotten even worse since I stopped the shot 2 weeks ago. Depression, acne, and mood swings are horrible, but the worst of all was the constant heavy bleeding for 5 months EVERY SINGLE DAY! I became severely anemic that I could barely walk for 10 minutes due to extreme fatigue and exhaustion. No sex drive and no desire to do anything at all! Just sleeping half of the day and feeling tired without doing anything. This shot has been the worst nightmare for me. I wish I had done my research before getting it. I now regret it 200%."

• Ken...
• August 28, 2016

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "So I've had two shots so far. My period has been heavy when I get it, and I spot all month long. I've experienced depression in the past, and it seems like it's gotten worse on the shot. I've actually attempted suicide since I've started the shot. My sex drive is crap, and my mood swings are crazy. I don't recommend this shot to anyone."

• 49e...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 11, 2015

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I've only had 3 shots from Dec 2014 to my last one May 2015. After the first shot, my periods stopped completely, no pain, nothing. Also took care of my cyst problems. Used to get horribly large cysts that didn't erupt properly or in a timely manner. So that has been really nice, not having to go through that pain for weeks. Second shot, still going strong, no problems, just a little boob soreness at times. Third shot, here we go - weight gain, lots of hair loss, cramps with bad shooting pain, boob soreness/pain when bending over, brown spotting to heavy brown, which I have never in my life had (I'm 30) for weeks now. Headaches, mood swings - very emotional at times. Going to the doctor 7/22/15, I might just get off the shot. #Listen to your body."

• Mel...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 16, 2019

For Birth Control "Read a lot of negative stuff about Depo after getting my first shot, made me paranoid as anything. For me, it's been perfectly fine so far, currently coming up to my third shot. No massive hormonal changes or mood swings, no weight gain, everything is working well."

• sil...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 25, 2012

For Birth Control "During the nine months I was on the shot, I had a constant period, sometimes heavy, sometimes light. I was tired all the time and began to have suicidal thoughts, which I've never had before. I had crazy mood swings and would start crying for no reason at all. I switched to NuvaRing, and all my symptoms have gone away. I know the shot works for many people, but clearly, it's not for me!"

• kat...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 17, 2015

For Endometriosis "I've been on Depo for almost two years now and have not had a period since I got the injection. I no longer have the debilitating cramps that I would get each month, which is a godsend. After I'm first given the shot, I have about 5-7 days of being a little more emotional than usual, but it's usually due to my hormones being balanced and changing a little, but it just means a bit of crying and basically how I used to be emotionally before a period. I have noticed that some nights I wake up with a really extreme cramp out of nowhere, but I believe that that might be an issue that's more to do with my hormone levels, etc. Either way, Depo has definitely spared me from weeks spent in bed because of the painful cramps!"

• Cas...
• June 4, 2015

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I got my first shot April 28th, 2015. My period was supposed to come May 10th and didn't. It was a week late, and I've been bleeding and spotting ever since. I have bad mood swings and get mad over absolutely nothing. I get cramps all day, every day, and it's so horrible. It's been almost 3 straight weeks of bleeding, sometimes heavily and other times just spotting. I don't know if it even protects against pregnancy because you can't have sex if you're constantly bleeding! I would NOT recommend this to anyone, ever. I have an appointment with my ob/gyn on Tuesday, so I hope there is some kind of solution since I have to ride this out till the end of next month!"

• Jay...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 11, 2019

For Birth Control "I would never EVER recommend Depo-Provera as a birth control option to ANYONE!! I had my first shot around 3 weeks ago. I’ve had crippling headaches ever since. Constantly feel sick, mood swings, and the onset of depression is QUICK!! I honestly cannot wait for this shit to get out of my body! DO NOT EVER TRY THIS! Condoms are the safest as no hormones put into the body and will save you a lot of hassle!!!"

• moo...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 6, 2022

For Birth Control "It genuinely ruined my body. I no longer menstruate, I inadvertently gained 40 pounds. My mood has never been the same, with worsening mental health. I wish I never put this stuff into my body. Good chance that I'm infertile now, despite never having problems with my reproductive system-I used to have very regular periods and a healthy sex drive, now, reduced to nothing. Please, please do yourself a favor and stick to a pill."