Switching birth control?

[leopard555.livejournal.com]

I'm seriously considering switching birth controls but first wanted to get some opinions...

I started birth control (Apri) about 10 months ago because of horrible PMS symptoms. The worst part are the mood swings that start about a week before my period, and then once it starts I get really bad cramps and nausea. I was told that it can take several months to know if the birth control will change anything, so I've stuck with it. It immediately (even on the first month of taking it) caused me to get my period at the same time on the same day, which was really convenient. But other than that I don't think it's done anything. I suppose it's good I didn't have any bad side effects, but my moods are still bad, which is the thing I wanted most to alleviate. However, with my past 2 periods I have not been getting as bad of cramps and nausea. But, I have been eating healthier and exercising a little more, so it may be from that.

My question is: is it worth it to switch birth controls? I really want to because the main reason I went on the pill was for the emotional symptoms--the physical symptoms were bad, but midol can clear them up somewhat and they don't affect my life nearly to the same extent that my moods do. I just get so low at times I feel like someone shot me with a tranquilizer. I feel like I act weird, I cry about everything, and sometimes I get so antsy I can't sit still. I feel like I can't really interact with others normally. I also play a sport competitively and the mood swings make me hate the sport--I can't feel any adrenaline, I can't care, and I can't win. It's just a 180 from how I am normally and I can't stand not being able to perform well.

Is it possible for me to find a pill that will help my moods? Has anyone here had any success (and with what pill)? I just remember hearing from a doctor that birth control may not necessarily help with one's pms, you just hope that it does and that there are no bad side effects. But if there's a chance that another pill could help my moods I want to try it.

Comments

[virile.livejournal.com]

The only birth control pill I've heard helping with severe PMS (sereve enough to be diagnosed as premenstrual dysphoric disorder) is Yaz.

[misspaigeb.livejournal.com]

Why don't you just stay on this pill and skip your placebo week? You could even just shorten it from 7 days to 4 unless the pill you're on already does this. From my experience, no matter what pill I'm on I always get PMS symptoms from the hormone drop that is triggered by taking the placebo pills. It doesn't matter what's in the actives really.

I do this on the NuvaRing for 9 weeks at a time (I just insert 3 rings back to back instead of taking a week off) and it has really stabilized my moods. I still get PMS when I DO have my withdrawal bleed, but I don't have a withdrawal bleed every month so it is much less of a nuisance.

[archangelbeth]

I got PMS depression a lot, for a long time. My mom suggested I should take Vitamin B. (above and beyond my usual multivitamin) It was not a fast cure, but by the second month of taking it (4-5 days out of every week, not just PMS ones), I noticed a distinct reduction in the severity and frequency of my depressive episodes, and they just got lighter and lighter as I kept taking it.

Some people get really crabby on extra B, so if you get that, I'd discontinue it, but it might be worth a try.

You might also want to check how your hormones are doing generally -- if your adrenals are a little wonky, then you may literally not be producing adrenalin then!

Luck!

[dayglow.livejournal.com]

I don't think my PMS got bad enough to be classified as PMDD, but it got to the point where I was a raging, uncontrollable bitch every month and I hated it. Even though I curbed what I could (once I realized, oh hey, it's Thursday, period's showing up on Saturday) it still was starting to affect my ability to function and particularly my romantic relationship. It's not fair to my boyfriend to have to deal with someone who is the Mr. Hyde version of his girlfriend, especially when he ended up taking the brunt of the force.

So I just started skipping periods entirely. It's mostly made of win. I don't have to bleed, I don't have crazy PMS as often, I save money on tampons, etc. The only downside is that the periods I do have, I bleed a bit heavier and I cramp a bit harder, but nothing a little ibuprofen and sometimes a heating pad can't handle. :)