Drug Ratings for DEPO-PROVERAAverage Rating: 2.1 (2009 Ratings)
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Results are sorted by Date Rating Was Added Key to Ratings: 1=LOW (I would not recommend taking this medicine.) Page: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 |
| RATING | REASON | SIDE EFFECTS FOR DEPO-PROVERA | COMMENTS | SEX | AGE | DURATION/ DOSAGE | DATE ADDED |
  | F M | | | | |||
| 1 | avoid getting pregnant | PANIC ATTACKS! | I am now 27, I got a shot of this when I was around 20. Shortly after I got the shot I remember I had shortness of breath quite often, which led me into having panic attacks and hyper ventilating. I went to the E.R. 2x in one week. I'm so glad I came on here because I was about to go on this again, thinking the panic attacks were coincidental....now I remember how much I hated the shot and couldn't wait for it to leave my body. I remember not being myself at all...locking myself in my room and sleeping all the time. It was horrible. Actually think I'd rather get pregnant than go through that hell again. | F | 27 | 3 months 1X AN | 6/28/2010 | 3 | Birth Control | Constant Nausea. | I have taken Depo-Provera off and on since I was 17 and only recently I got back on it. The side effects of this medicine have been so extreme I suffer daily with tireness, vertigo, nausea, mood swings, body aches, cravings, digestive problems and just feeling terrible in general. Weight gain is normal, but my symptoms are that of pregnancy though I have been tested and are not pregnate. The biggest change is the nausea, constant when I get up in the morning and anytime I eat. I have been to the ER and they perscribed me something for the nausea, but it has been miserable for me and I can do nothing but wait until the hormones leave my body in a few months. I would highly suggest the pill to any woman who is considering birth control, as depo's side effects are not worth it. I would also like to thank all the previous posters as your comments have helped my research greatly. The nausea is awful, if you are having the same symptoms and the doctors can find nothing else wrong with you, get off the Depo. | F | 29 | 1X AN | 6/24/2010 | 1 | My sister was prescribed it | Horrible anxiety! Moodiness, Even more irregular bleeding | Hi, im a concerned, outraged brother that found this site after recieving no help from the "glorified, all-knowing Doctor." My sister started the shot due to heavy bleeding and irregularity. Her doctor put her Depo and after a few weeks of treatment she started showing signs of anxiety. So much so, she would regularly have panic attacks during class time. These attacks became so severe, her 4.0 gpa dropped to almost 2.0 because she couldnt sit through a single class. About a week after these side effects began, she saw her doctor again, but her doctor was clueless as to why she might be having these symptoms, and eagerly dismissed the idea that Depo could cause someone such harm. Really wish doctors were more concerned with helping people... | M | 22 | 3 months 1X O | 6/23/2010 | 1 | Ovarian cysts, hormone imbalance | extreme mood swings, fatigue, depression, hair loss, weight gain | at 17 i was diagnosed with polycystic ovarian syndrome and put on the pill. at 21, i decided i had had enough of the pill and went on the shot...huge mistake! in the past 2 years, i have felt like a completely different person. i'm tired all the time, always feeling depressed, and have extreme mood swings that effect my daily life. before depo, i used to have a thick head of hair, but i've lost half of it in 2 years. this can't go on anymore and i refuse to get the shot again! | F | 23 | 2 years 1X O | 6/21/2010 | 1 | Birth control, stop period pain | No sex drive whatsoever, depression, anxiety, moodswings. | Depo is the best birth control in the world, as basically I can't bear for my partner to even hug or kiss me, let alone have sex. I force myself to have sex with him twice a week, but it makes me feel sick and I dread it when I know the time has come. Also, my periods totally disappeared for the first year, now I have been bleeding for 2 months. Moodiness and depression and crying for no reason. I can't wait to come of it. Men complain that using a condom doesn't feel nice for the few minutes they have to use one, well try feeling like crap every single day for a year!! | F | 26 | 1 years 1X O | 6/21/2010 | 3 | regulate monthy cycle | definitely insomnia, within a few days, swollen all over | it has taken away menstrual pain and now I have no period | M | 41 | 1 months 1X O | 6/17/2010 | 1 | birth control | Loss of desire to have sex, leg cramps, headaches, blurred vision, irregular bleeding, vile temper, poor memory | Not sure if my sympoms are due to taking depo, but after reading this i feel for certain some of my symptoms are caused by the depo. I've had sex once in 6 months so I suppose you could argue it is good for birth control but I don't wamt to live like a nun. I'm far more moody than normal for no reason and still feel mentally like I'm having a period each month without actually havin one. | F | 30 | 1.5 years 1X AN | 6/17/2010 | 5 | prevent pregnancy and no menstrual | Ive had a few mood swings but i think it was just my child's father that was pissing me off all the time i really doubt depo had anything to do with it honestly | I love the shot ive been on it 4 months and im loving it. i have no menstrual cycle. I have a decreased appetite bc lord knows i dont wanna gain any weight. I guess it depends on how your body takes it bc if my damn hair would come out like im hearing it would be the end of depo for me bc i dont play about my hair | F | 26 | 1X O | 6/16/2010 | 1 | For extreme period pain | EXTREME mood swings, no energy/weakness, lightheadedness, heavy bleeding, rash, constant pain in my abdomen | I was given this injection as I was told it could help me with my periods which are incredibly painful. I was told to expect some spotting and that was it. For the first 2 weeks after the shot everything seemed okay, I then developed a rash that went from my feet to my knees and from my hands to my elbows, antihistamies stopped the itch but the rash didn't go away for about 1/2 a week. Then I started to bleed. Not spotting. Proper HEAVY bleeding, clots and all. Initially I was in less pain than I would have been prior to having the shot, but by day 10 of the bleed, my pain was increasing more and more to a point where I was having to take the same old regimen of painkillers as I had done prior to the depo. Eventually the bleeding pettered out after 11 days, but I am left with constand and really bad pain in my pelvis, in the same 2 locations I have always experienced pain, and despite the fact the bleeding has stopped I am still on high strength painkillers for this pain and I don't know when it is ever going to stop. I also have a lot less ebergy than usual; I was running 20k a day on my crosstrainer but now I struggle to stand up from the setee without a wave of lightheadedness hitting me. The bleeding has caused me to go anaemic again (so much for light to non-existant periods!!) I also had the most unbalanced mood swings about a week prior to, and during, my 11 day bleed, ranging from feeling suicidal to teary, angry, all very negative. I wish I had never had th | F | 33 | 6 weeks 1X O | 6/16/2010 | 5 | No period, can have sex when I want | My side affect on the shot is that I want to have sex all the time. So I love it, it's the best thing that ever happen to me | The shot isn't for everyone, I been on the shot for five years and I just love it. And I know a few more people thats on the shot and they love it also. It's just different for everyone | F | 24 | 5 years 1X AN | 6/12/2010 | 5 | prevent pregnancy | slight mood swings, but very rarely and easily reconziable. | I was on 1 year, off a year and back on for a year after that. I haven't been on it in 2 or more years. I believe that it may have caused a heavier period now or thats just age. I plan on getting back on it this month. The was one time i can remember getting more upset than normal. Other than that, I love it. I will start to take more calcium after reading this though. Thats a good idea. | F | 26 | 2 years 1X O | 6/11/2010 | 1 | Birth Control | Lost weight was the only plus. Was Moody, had low labido, and got depressed quiet often. | Don't Take it!!! I hate that my doctor recommened it. i had my last shot July 2009 and still have not had a period. I lost my insurance so i had to quit and im glad i did now that i no the side effects. I recently got my insurance back and going to my ob/gyn and finding out why i have had a period for almost a year and if ill ever get one back. I was only 16 when i started the shot, and i've always dreamed of kids in my future, now i might not have any or their could be serious life threating side effects. it may have crushed my future! | F | 19 | 3 years 1X AN | 6/9/2010 | 4 | Not wanting a period/birth control | None of the normal side effects, increase sweating | I guess I'm one of the lucky ones. I actually love the shot and have not had any of the "normal" adverse side effects. The very first doctor that put me on the shot in 1996 told me to take at least 1000 mg of calcium a day. I did and with calcium supplements and excerise my bone density test have come back normal. I have put on a few pounds but considering I started the shot at 22 and am now 36, I attribute the small weight gain to age, not eating healthy and not excersing as much. I do sweat more and noticed the increase sweating within a year of starting the shot so I don't know if the two are related, but it makes since that they are. However, I haven't noticed anyone else mention an increase in sweating. I've had many discussions with my OBGYN regarding the shot and he has said as long as my bone density test come back fine, I can stay on the shot. | F | 36 | 14 years 1X O | 6/4/2010 | 1 | Birth Control | Good- skin cleared up, sex-drive went up. Bad- gained 15-20lbs., hungry often. | PLEASE DO NOT TAKE THIS DRUG. I should've know since the beginning... My body seems to have become "dependent" on this horrible shot. Toward the end of the three months, I'd start to bleed sooner and sooner... First I'd start to spot a couple days before I was scheduled for my next shot, and then I started spotting a week before, and then two weeks, and the spotting turned into heavy bleeding. Two years down the road of dealing with this, I decided to stop taking the Depo Shot because I started a heavy flow A WHOLE MONTH before my next shot. As of 6/3/10, it's been three months since I started bleeding, and there's no sign of it letting up. The MAIN REASON I decided on the Depo Shot was because it was a simple shot once every ninety days, instead of taking a pill same time every day. Now I'm stuck with a never ending period- 1,000 times more difficult to deal with than a pill. | F | 20 | 2 years 1X O | 6/3/2010 | 2 | Contraceptive | Incredible weight gain. 11Kg from last injection to now. 1 and a half stone since taking it. No other side effects but told to come off by doctors because of weight and height. Im only 5ft and now weigh 9 stone which is too heavy for my height. | I wish I was warned about the weight gain properly. I was told I would gain a little bit. Not that much! | F | 38 | 365 days 4X AN | 6/2/2010 | 1 | birth control | Made my hair fall out! When I went in for my last shot, I mentioned to the nurse that my hair was getting thin right on top of my scalp, just behind my forehead and bangs. She shrugged and said "That's one of the side effects." I was horrified! They never told me that during any of the consultations! I quit the shot immediately. That was 10 years ago and my hair never grew back! | F | 36 | 1 years 1X O | 6/1/2010 | 5 | birth control | i had almost no side effects! i had a period once a shot. that means once every three months. | i was the skinniest i have ever been on the shot! i am 5"8 and was down to 132 ilbs. i got off the shot to have my tw daughters and now i am back on! i can't wait to be that skinny again! | F | 26 | 4 years 1X D | 5/29/2010 | 1 | Birth Control | WEIGHT GAIN, mood swings, loss of interest | I gained just under 40 pounds in the year and a half I was on depo. I experienced severe mood swings that I couldnt explain, I always felt anxious and I started getting calcium deposits that my doctor unofficially attributed to the Depo shot. These deposits started developing on my wrists, but I now have them under my upper eyelids. It makes it nearly impossible to see anymore. I need glasses and I've had several "surgeries" to try to correct the situation. I have been off of depo for years now but am still affected by it. I certainly would not recommend this form of birth control to anyone else as I have has SUCH a negative impact. =/ | F | 23 | 1.5 years 1X AN | 5/26/2010 | 5 | birth control and no more periods | No periods, no bleeding, no mess, no fuss, no bloating, no mood swings, no pain and no interruptions for vacations, swimming, sex, exercising - Happy! | I had started taking Depo 4 years ago then read some of the "horror" stories and even though I was having no bad side effects I stopped and immediately my life long "horror story" of heavy bleeding for 3 weeks with pain that would keep me in bed for at least 2 days then maybe I would get a 1 week reprieve before it would all happen again. So I talked to my doctor and stared back on it and couldn't be happier. I know drugs react differently to different people but I also see a pattern in the women with bad side effects that most of them are in their early 20's and have been on it for sometime. | F | 41 | 4 years 1 1X O | 5/25/2010 | 1 | No getting pregnant and period. | Painful sex, bleeding for two months straight, pain in the pelvic area, mood swings, aggression. | I don't recommend this to anyone at all. It is the worst mistake i have done and i am only seventeen. It hurt while having sex as well as bleeding every time after we were finished. I still hurts and I haven't been on the shot for almost 10 months now. DONT TAKE IT. | F | 17 | 2 months 1X M | 5/25/2010 | 1 | To Prevent Ovarian Cysts | nausea, headaches, hair loss, fatigue, depression, suicidal thoughts, vision changes, eye and nose dryness, bled for 3 weeks straight, more cramps, digestive distress | This shot has made me so nauseous I can barely eat or drink. I ended up dehydrated in the hospital. I had an endoscopy and biopsies taken to check on my stomach (normal they say) because my digestive system is so screwed up since about 2 weeks after getting this shot. I am losing more hair than normal. I have headaches daily. My eyes are so dry I had to buy glasses because I couldn't wear my contacts any more. My nose is so dry it bleeds when I blow it. I bled for 3 weeks and had cramps the entire time, then stopped bleeding and I have no idea what to expect there. My stomach is so screwed up I have to take prescription nausea medication on a daily basis and can no longer eat all the great foods I used to enjoy. The nausea made me so miserable I called a suicide hotline when I realized I was having suicidal thoughts - I just want the nausea to stop. The nurse practitioner who gave me this, Kristin Branche of Phoenix/Tempe, lied to me about the possibility of side effects. DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH - Medical "professionals" are clueless about the dangerous effects of this horrible poison. I had it once a month and a half ago and can't wait for it to be out of my system. | F | 25 | 1 times 1X O | 5/24/2010 | 3 | Pregnancy prevention | Facial Hair, Weight Gain, Decreased Sex Drive, Moody | I have been taking Depo off and on for 9 years. I have experimented with other things here and there but always go back to it. Every time I have stopped taking it my period returned right away. While taking it I never have bleeding except when my next shot is almost due. When I was younger I had no bad side effects at all. However, I am getting older now and I think it's impacting me differently. Over the last few years I have gained 20 pounds, and it's hard to get the pounds off and keep them off. I do find myself very, very, hungry sometimes for about a week at a time. I am also growing a lot of hair on my chin and will have to get laser hair removal. My sex drive is all but gone now, I have noticed that when my next shot is due my sex drive increases. I also find myself having days where every little things tics me off. It was a good friend until the last few years. I plan to discontinue using it for good. | F | 29 | 9 years 1X O | 5/22/2010 | 1 | pre-essure tubal procedure required | SEVERE post-pardum after 7th child triggered by shot. 25lb weight gain in 2months.insomnia, loss of libido, pelvic pain and bloating, feeling pregnant/tired, hungry, depressed, suicidal. | I am now dependant on Zoloft to keep me even chemically. I was suicidal and unable to pray myself out, or go to counseling or anything I would normally do. I am also seeing a weightloss doctor to help. He was immediately concerned that I had taken depo. He is giving me b12 shots every 5 days to help balance me out. My poor husband is having to deal with my loss of interest from the shot and the Zoloft. I hope my system clears soon. I have heard it could take up to 9 months for one shot to clear your system. Please DO NOT TAKE THIS DRUG. | F | 31 | 1 times 1X O | 5/21/2010 | 1 | pregenancy prevention | I have become a shell of a woman. I cry uncontrollably. I have muscle and joint pain to the point of stroke. I have panic attacks. Beyond panic attacks. Complete mental breakdowns. This has never happened in my 36 years. My chest is tight, my mind racing or compleltey full of depressive thoughts. I cannot stop sleeping now, whereas I could not sleep at all before. Both sleeping symptoms all in 2months. Breast-tenderness, nausua, blurred-vision...I was a happy person before. I have lost my job, about to lose my boyfriend. DO NOT TAKE THIS DRUG!!! I am currently cramping and making my best effort to keep away from pharmatcuticals of all kinds. Please help me, GOD! | F | 36 | 60 days 1X AN | 5/20/2010 | 1 | just got married wanted to wait 4 b | headaches, severe mood swing bleed for 22 days straight,signs of pregnancy, and extreme weight gain | i was suppost to recieve another shot the begining of jan 2010 and didnt still havent had a period have tons of signs of pregnancy all tests have been negative. had a period for twenty two day during the time the shot was still in my system | F | 19 | 1 times ? 1X O | 5/18/2010 | 5 | Birth Control | I have experienced increased MOOD SWINGS as in crying for no reason, becoming more DEPRESSED than usual, and alsoSNAPPING AT PEOPLE and everything AGGITATES/AGGRAVATES me. i already have a past with emotional issues and Depo-Provera just increased and highly intensified them. I also have frequent HOT FLASHES, and more HEADACHES than usual. Other than these side effects i am very pleased. i would recommend this because its convenient(for me) and it gets the job done. stops my period and protects me from becoming pregnant. I have been with the same man for years now and we never worn a condom(kind of stressful and nerve-wracking), but with Depo i am less stressed and he has come in me before and i haven't become pregnant!:) | F | 16 | 2 months 1X AN | 5/17/2010 | 5 | birth control | no periods which is great. No negative side effects. Use to suffer from very painful periods which would put me in bed. I am really enjoying the loss monthly cycle. | I love this form of contraception. No ruined vacations due to periods. No negative side effects for me. But I never had side effects with the pill in the past either like alot of people have. My overall health is very good; diet and working out. For those with no side effects, you will love this form of contraception. Makes intimacy carefree due to effectiveness of drug in the prevention of pregnancy and no periods. | F | 46 | 12 years 12 weeks 1X O | 5/17/2010 | 4 | for birth control | Heavy bleeding, on and off for three months, a increased sex drive, no weight gained. | I have only experienced REALLY HEAVY bleeding, my doctors haven't told me why though. I have been bleeding for 3 months. I got the shot in jan. and it now may. so its not that bad. I have had a big increase in my sex drive, no weight gain at all, im health all but for the heavy bleeding. I recromend this form of birth control for women who know they can handle the spotting and that dont want to have kids right away. | F | 16 | 6 months 30MG 1X D | 5/13/2010 | 3 | period every 2 weeks | I have noticed terrible hair loss, oily hair, big big painful pimples. No other side effects yet. | I started taking the depo shot as I have been on estrogen b. control pills in the past for frequent periods. I noticed hair loss before the change in pills but now the hair loss is coming on faster. Cant keep the grease out of my hair! My skin is very oily. Giant papules. Thinkin of getting my tubes tied cus no hormone therapy is worth this. Oh, on top of the hair loss, just brushing my hair makes my scalp feel like it is sunburned. But it did alleviate the frequent yeast infections(1every 2 1/2 weeks) which was another reason i went on it. I am switching to bio-identical hormone replacement therapy...... | F | 40 | 2 months not sure 1X O | 5/9/2010 | 1 | Pills gave me a headache | Weight gain, depression | WOW, I just had a light bulb go off in my head today. I have been wondering what in the world is wrong with me! I had taken depo for 7 years before i had my son and never experienced any side effects and thought it was the best birth control ever. Everyone i knew hated it and i didnt understand why. 3 months ago i decided to get back on it because pills were giving me headaches. I just had my second shot yesterday and i am regretting it with everything i am. To know that i have 3 months plus of hell to go through before i get this out of my system. I am so depressed, i care about nothing, have no energy to do anything. Oh and the weight gain just mulitiplies the depression...Would not recommend this drug to anyone because if you experience the adverse effects there is nothing you can do to get it out of your system! | F | 29 | 90 days 1X AN | 5/9/2010 | 1 | to thin uterus for surgery | I have had scalp hair loss, acne, weakness, nervousness, hair growth on my face and a big brown spot the size of a nickel came up on my face. I've had constant bleeding for 6 weeks. | F | 39 | 3 months 30 mg 1X O | 5/8/2010 | 1 | birth control | bleeding your life out,crying for no reason,loss of sex drive,tired weight gain, false pregancy signs | i got the depo shot for the first time 1-21-10 OMG why the hell did i do that. Feb comes no period hmmm I thought i was pregant simply because the same signs I was having wit my 1st child was starting to happen so I went to the clinic and nope wasn't pregant I was jus starting to get serious with my bf and april came and I started my period no big deal I thought so I WAS WRONG I bleed something terriable for 2 1/2 weeks straight then when I finally stopped bleeding For 1 day I started again and for the whole month of april I bleed every 3 days. Then for like the last four days of the month no bleeding. Sex was horriable trying to make love to my Man was so hard because for the 3 days that I didnt bleed we tried but I just wasnt into it I layed there with no drive at all I felt like crap because Im in love with him and to fill nothing while you make love with you man is terriable. April 18th was the day I was due back for the shot did I get it HELL NO NO WAY I WOULDNT WISH THIS TO The PPL WE ARE AT WAR WITH if your doctor try to recommend you to this RUN & RUN FAST this is close to LIFE IN JAIL thats jus how bad this shot is. Imagine bleeding damn near every time after you have sex my boyfriend is the love of my life and guess where he's been sleeping on the couch. He is mad at my lack of drive. And he's been sleeping there on and off for a month May is here and I bleed for 6 days heavy and thought i WAS OFF but depo had a surprise for me I bleed right after intercorse. Mi | F | 18 | 1 times 1X O | 5/7/2010 | 1 | birth control and stop periods | I am having such bad mood swings it is driving me nuts!!! I have struggled with depression for a large part of my life but have really gotten control of it with the help of prozac but now with the depo shot, i feel myself slipping down at times its an awful feeling.. I hate it I cant wait for these three months to be over... never again getting this shot.. I pray for those around me having to deal with these mood swings, i do my best to control them. I do not recommend depo! | M | 38 | 1 months 1X O | 5/7/2010 | 1 | Contraceptive | Dry skin, decreased sex drive, horrible depression, anxiety, nausea, loss of fertility, no period for 7 months even though i only had the shot once, weight gain, blurred vision, back pain, hot flashes | I want to get pregnant and haven't used ANY birth control since the shot a year ago and nothing has happened even though we're trying... sex hurts, i'm always dry... I really want a baby and depo seems to have stolen my fertility. | F | 21 | 3 months 1X AN | 5/6/2010 | 1 | Birth Control | consistant spotting for 1 month and counting! easily angered or offended. Always frusterated, insecure, and pain in my pelvis and back | I started the depo when i was 16 and only took one dose. I felt like i was always pmsin but without any period. I gained weight and i was very unhappy with the shot so i discontinued it. I went back on it recently and now i feel angry and tired all the time. I havnt stopped spotting for a month now and its so frusterating. Everyone has different reactions with different types of medications Howver , even with that in mind, I wouldnt recommend this shot. It hurt me emotionally and physically.. and was terrible experience | F | 20 | 1X D | 5/6/2010 | 1 | birth control | extreme mood swings, increased anxiety lasting longer than a day, severe depression, a period lasting for 3 weeks (non-stop bleeding), cramping during the entirety of the 3 week period, decreased sex drive, confusion | Depo is terrible. I wish I could go back in time and knock the syringe out of the doctor's hand. If you are thinking about Depo, please, please, please do your research and for your own sake keep reading this post. Before Depo I had mild anxiety, but it was completely manageable and I rarely had panic attacks. I was deeply in love with my boyfriend and generally very happy with my outlook on life. I have been on Depo for 5 months and they have been the worst 5 months of my life. For the first couple of weeks, I had random fainting spells and even hot flashes (I am 20!) accompanied with nausea and confusion. I felt tired and worn out all the time, and would cry for no reason. It worried my family, friends, and my boyfriend. They warned me not to get the extra shot. But it was so convenient, so I just had to. So I did. Big mistake. Since my second shot I have had numerous anxiety attacks spurred on by basically nothing, crazy thoughts no normal person would ever think, trouble sleeping, decreased sex drive, and moderate to severe depression. I don't know who I am anymore and I have no idea what I want. I just want to stop feeling this way. I still have about a month and a half left on this shot, and I can't wait for it to be over. Please, please think twice before going on Depo. I wish I had. | F | 20 | 5 months 1X AN | 5/4/2010 | 1 | Birth Control, Period problems | BITCHINESS, TIREDNESS, BLOATINESS, BLEEDING, PAIN WITH SEX, HUNGRY, WEIGHT GAIN | ALMOST CAUSED ME CANCER ON MY UTERUS BECAUSE OF THIS HORRIBLE MEDICATION, THE WORST DAMN MEDICATION ON THE PLANET :'( IT BASICALLY RUINED MY BODY! DONT TAKE THIS. I GOT PREGNANT ON IT AND MISCARRIED I bled for a month before my actual needle was due, wondering why my bf pulled out and be blood every where after sex, painful sex like my innerds are being "RIPPED". Lots of problems, cramps, extremely bloatiness, back pain, loss of sex drive or overdrive of wanting it, hornmonal problems, unexpected bleeding, pregnant symptoms which I wasnt, ANTIBIOTICS CAUSES MAJOR PROBLEMS for your body, DISCHARGE AT IRREGULAR TIMES Mucus discharge that smell funny and dark in colour or clear from Vagina. I dont recommend ANYONE TAKING IT. CONSIDER YOURSELF WARNED!! | F | 22 | 2 years 30 1X AN | 5/4/2010 | 1 | reduce hot flashes | extreme irritation and nervousness | did not reduce hot flashes | F | 54 | 1X O | 5/2/2010 | 1 | birth control | Bloating, extreme tiredness, hair loss, extreme cramps, extreme cramps after orgasm, painful sex, some bleeding after sex. | I am currently 19 and have taken the shot since I was 16. I am still on the shot for I just got one april 22nd, 2010. My mom has noticed changes in my mood and says I have mood swings. I currently feel depressed a lot, my sister does hair and has noticed my hair has gotten A LOT thinner, I cannot go a day without taking atleast a 3 hour nap and I get 7-8 hours a night as it is. I have no sex drive and when I do have sex it is very painful. I will wake up in the middle of the night and have bad cramps that feel like charlie horses. And I get cramps about everyday and feel like I am going to puke. None of these symptoms happened at first but they have all been more noticeable in the past year. I go see my doctor thursday and will not be getting my next depo shot thanks to this site. | F | 19 | 3 years 1X AN | 5/2/2010 | 1 | Fibroids | immediate forgetfulness, irrational thinking, depression, fatigue, explosive anger, mood swings, blurred vision, dizziness, constant bleeding and menopause | I will NEVER, recommend this drug! It's terrible, and it should be taken off the market! I feel that additional medical research will not improve this drug! I got my first shot in January 14, 2010. An hour later, I was forgetful, paranoid, anxious & confused. I skipped my menses that month. In February, I started to spot, this then increased, bleeding more throughout the months. There were times when I passed very large dark red blood clots. I visited my doctor and explained my symptoms, as well as my altered state of mind. I asked him if there was something that he could prescribed to stop the bleeding and to counter act the drug to get it out of my system. He replied I would need a "D"- for some reason, he didn't complete the last part of his sentence, he was going to say a D & C. He changed direction and said that I would need to take another shot. I told him there was no way that I would take another shot and how in the hell could he have the audacity to recommend that I take the shot again even after I've told him what I'm been going through. He called me later on that night (feeling guilty) to check on me, he said "I don't blame you for not wanting to take another shot." I feel extreme anger, I have a drug in my system that has to wear out. April 15 - 25th I had a very heavy menstral with large dark clots. From April 26th - 29 nothing, now today, the 30th I went to the restroom and noiticed that I'm starting to spot. Well, I thought all | F | 49 | 3 months 30 mg 1X M | 4/30/2010 | 1 | Birthcontrol | severe mood swings, deppression, eczema, severe headaches, from no periods while on the shot to constant periods for 6 months after getting off shot, crying uncontrollably over nothing. | I had too many side effects to count. I have always had dry skin, but on this shot I developed series eczema where my legs would start bleeding becuase I would itch them so much in my sleep. I honestly became a crazy person with the constant mood swings and would get so angy over the tiniest things that I would just have to grind my teeth to keep from screaming I was so mad, and I have always been an easy going, laid back person before the shot. I hated who I was becoming. I also gained about 40 pounds in 6 months and coulnd't control it no matter how much I worked out or dieted. I am still struggling with the weight and I have been off the shot for over a year. I would NEVER recommend this shot to anyone and STRONGLY urge anyone to get off of it as soon as possible. I don't understand how this shot can be legal. Also the doctors where I got this shot didn't warn me of any of the side effects which isn't right! They said that there weren't any more side effects with the depo than any other birth control which is NOT TRUE!!!! This is the devil's drug. | F | 21 | 3 months 3 shots 3X O | 4/30/2010 | 1 | Painful periods | Breast tenderness,fatigue,fluid retention,sadness,unable to lose weight-but i havnt put any on either while being on depo which people say they have done,aching limbs,light period 24/7 since the day of 1st and last of the injection | I wanted to have the depo provera injection because for many years now i have been having extreme pain with my periods and,because i have had M.E,(chronic fatigue syndrome)it made the pmt a million times worse and i was bed bound with no energy and looked as white as a ghost.So i thought this would help me.I DID i must say look at this forum and i read all the horror stories and comments so i knew the side effects and knew what i was letting myself in for.But i thought,i might be the lucky one and everything will be fine-NO.I had my first jab 31 days ago and,even though things were ok to start with during the 1st week,things went down hill from then on.Id been healthy eating and exercising prior to the injection and had lost 9 pounds.Yay.But the week after the jab id put it all back on again which f****d me off so much.Then i started to have no energy to carry on with my exercising,which after 9 years of M.E and finally recovering from it and getting my life back to normal and getting my energy back,the energy was zapped again.So anyway,as the next few weeks went by,my period has been on and hasnt stopped-light spotting constantly.The thing that i really hate about depo is just how its making me feel.Losing all my energy again.Ive had my fair share of that to last me a life time and i want it back.I havnt put on any weight since the injection but i havnt lost any either.I feel massive though and it is just because of the fluid retention i know but it doesnt make me feel any b | F | 32 | 31 days 1X O | 4/28/2010 | 1 | depression, anxiety, mood swings, tired all the time, and very emotional | after i had my second child in 05 i started taking the shot and was terrified that if i got off i would become pregnant again so i took it for 2and a half years and i and no period and was very deperessed and i gained about 60 pounds over this time when ever i heard about the i.u.d. i got that done and 2 years later after having problems with that also i started taking the shot again and now i remeber why i stopped taking it in the first place! but i am terrified of getting pregnant again. and of course my husband doesnt understand why i have been so moody and sad lately. | F | 22 | 2 years 1X D | 4/28/2010 | 1 | birth control | no period for three years, vaginal tissue was destroyed, initial penetration was enough to put me in tears and tear me inside, frustration | I was on depo for three years. my sex drive gradually decreased during this time. Also, sex started to become painful. It ended up so bad that I would be torn inside after anything went in there. My last shot was due in July of '09. I decided not to take it, thinking it might be the lack of periods causing it. My OB took one look inside and said my vagina looks post-menopausal. I am 26. He prescribed estrogen and it helped a little initially, and then it stopped helping. The thought of sex puts me in tears. I'm a newly wed and cant enjoy it because of this nasty piece of medicine. I still haven't had a normal period and we wanted to try for a baby soon... I have an appt. with the OB (6th one since quitting depo...) on thursday. I'm going to request the pill to see if it will kick start me into a regular cycle, which would hopefully mean more natural estrogen to aid my poor vag at least. | F | 26 | 3 years 1X O | 4/27/2010 | 1 | Birth Control | Anxiety (paranoid), depression, mood swings | I started taking the depot shot when I was a teenager. I have been off and on the drug since. Though it is worth mentioning that I have only been off it a total of 2 years in the entire ten years I used it. The first time I went off it it took about 4 months for my period to come back. It was only slightly more uncomfortable than I remember. However, I am now in my late 20s and I know that I need to take better care of my body if I want to have babies some day, so I have been off the shot since August 2009. Mind you, this is when I would have been due for my next shot. It is now going into May 2010 and I still have not had a period. I fear that I may have done damage to my fertility! This drug should be marketed as a short term solution not a long term method of birth control. No one should be on this for more than six months. I am relieved to know that I am not alone. As women we should speak out against these horrible drugs. I thought I was the only one with anxiety and depression from birth control. It's the big elephant in the room! Remember when post partum depression wasn't a common conversation topic? Now it's common knowledge! Let's bring these issues to the forefront of our health care! If we don't we will continue to suffer in silence. | F | 26 | 10 years 1X AN | 4/26/2010 | 2 | Birth Control | HAIR LOSS, loss of libido, spotting, sore/tight joints. | I had no side effects during the first shot, but I got the second shot and my hair has been falling out like crazy. I've read that this could be a side effect for high androgen birth control options. I'm sure my lost hair will grow back eventually, but I do not want to take the chance in getting a 3rd shot for fear my hair will continue to fall out. Birth control is so frustrating, I feel like I can't find a side-effect free option for me! | F | 24 | 5 months 2X O | 4/23/2010 | 5 | easier than remembering the pill | The depo shot was great while i was on it and i got my last shot 3 months ago and now ive got all of these strange and to be honest scary side effects: dizziness blured vision. Extreme hot flashes. and just feeling over all weird. Has Anyone else experienced these symptoms after GETTING OFF depo | F | 20 | 5 years 1X M | 4/19/2010 | 1 | To prevent pregnancy | After recieving the shot, I became very depressed. I have no sex drive at all, and I cannot get aroused. Me and my boyfriend had been together for a year before I got the shot and our relationship was great, not perfect but pretty close. And now we aren't together because of how depressed I am. I get mad at him for absolutely nothing. I feel justified in the moment but then when I think about it later I realize how irrational it was. I've completely stopped hanging out with friends I used to hang out with on a daily basis, I sleep every chance I get because I am so incredibly tired all the time. I've hadsevere back and knee pain. I never really thought that the shot was the cause of these problems, but after reading all the stories about the negative side effects I'm pretty sure depo has caused these issues. The one good thing about depo is that it does prevent pregnancy. A birth control that lowers your sex drive, whats the point in that? Me and my ex used to sleep together everyother | F | 18 | 7 months 1X D | 4/18/2010 | 4 | so i wont become pregnant | M | 16 | 3 months 1X O | 4/16/2010 | 1 | Birth control | Moodiness, anxiety, back pain, exhaustion, fatigue, etc | I just finished my first three months of the shot and will NOT do this again. I am a very upbeat happy person and lately all i do is cry and have extreme anxiety. This shot has effected my job, and more importantly my relationship with my boyfriend who thinks i'm a crazy moody person nowadays. I do not recommend this shot. I can't wait for it to leave my system. | F | 18 | 3 months 1X AN | 4/14/2010 | 1 | Contraception | Bleeding almost constantly since about 2 weeks after my first injection, sometimes quite heavily and with bad cramps. Anxiety, depression, moodiness, tearfulness, almost felt hysterical at times - this has caused me to have to take time off work as I felt incapable of doing my job when I would burst into tears for no reason, and I've felt lower than I ever have, but haven't been able to put it down to anything going on in my life. | Do not have this poison injected into you! I had my first jab in December 2009, after trying a few different forms of the pill and finding that none of them agreed with me (either tearfulness/anxiety or bleeding before I finished the pack). I had previously had Depo when I was 18 or 19, and found that it stopped my periods, but was hell when I came off it. I bled pretty much solid for six months when I stopped it the last time I tried it. This time, I knew I wanted contraception for a few years and knew my experiences of coming off it wouldn't happen again for quite some time, so I decided to try Depo again. How wrong was I?! I started bleeding a couple of weeks after my first jab four months ago and haven't stopped apart from maybe 2 weeks during that time. Emotionally I've gone through hell too, feeling like I was cracking up and unable to go to work for a couple of days because I felt so hysterical one minute and so low the next. I can't wait for this to get out of my system; I've read it will take at least 6 months. There is no way of getting it out of your system any quicker, it's not reversible if your experience of depo is as hellish as mine. Think very carefully about having this, even if a previous experience of Depo was okay, it seems it affects your body differently as you age, as well as it affecting different people in different ways. | F | 27 | 4 months 1X AN | 4/11/2010 | 4 | didn't want a baby or a period | no period, no craps, no mood swings | On depo for 15 years… after about 2 years no more periods, no craps, no mood swings…loved it. I have gained some weight over the years but that is due to my diet and can’t blame that on the drug. I’m 5’6 started when I was 18 and weighed 120 now I’m 145. My doctor was concerned about my bone density. Had it tested last month and it was normal but due to the fact I just had a birthday and have considered the fact I might want to have a baby someday I did not get my last shot which was due March 16,2010 about a week after my shot was due started getting hot flashes and felt totally blaaaaa. The hot flashes are gone I just got some very light spotting no craps yet but have a serious lose of energy. I normally go 2 the gym 4-5 times a week and find it hard 2 drag myself there 2 plus times. I still walk my dog 3 times a day but really wanted some helpful information on how to help my body detox faster. The sooner I can get this drug totally or as much as possible out of my system and get back to my energetic self. There is a down side to everything and at 18 I could not see that thought it was the wonder drug. Now I’m not 2 sure. | F | 33 | 15 years 1X O | 4/9/2010 | 1 | contaceptive | excessive weight gain and hunger camparable to pregnancy | I have been off the shot now for four months and have not been able to lose the weight no matter how often i work out. I gained 18 pounds on the shot in a matter 4 months and still am steadily gaining weight since the side affects are known to last up to six months after coming off. I DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS SHOT TO ANYONE! I was always thin with a high metabolism but this shot has ruined my figure. please do not ever take this medication. | F | 24 | 4 months 30mg 1X O | 4/7/2010 | 5 | Couldnt remember to take the pill | PMS like symptoms and some spotting right before it is time for my next shot. I dont have a period other than the occational spotting every couple of months. | Depo was my first birth control and it has been great. I have never been one to remember to take a pill every day so once every 3 months is perfect for me. I cannot say any weight gain or other sypmtoms are caused by the depo.. they could be from me being a piggy! I stopped taking the depo and had my son and then started again right after I was done breast feeding. I plan to have another child again in the next few years and continue the shot. I think it's great and wonderful! | F | 25 | 7 years 1X AN | 4/6/2010 | 1 | birth control | depression, anxiety, mood swings, headaches, frequent bleeding, hot flashes, blurry vision, reduce sex drive | i've only tooken 2 shots so far; and i will not be back for my third. id rather take my pills everyday; than get this shot. after taking this shot; i quickly spiraled down into a deep depression. i went to a counselor, and she told me to do research on depo; and that my depression could be related to the shot, and most definitely, i see that now, i am not the only one suffering. i hate this shot, wouldnt recommend it. ive continued to bleed, doctor telling me, it just takes time, but i hate it. im cleaning it out of my system, this shot really brought me down, and i feel almost every side effect. i believe there should be more research done on this shot. | F | 20 | 1X D | 4/6/2010 | 1 | couldnt remember to take the pill | depression, severe stomach aches, very frequent vomiting and diarrhea, numbness in hands, severe nerve damage causing severe arm, hand and wrist pain, massive weight gain(while throwing up and having diarrhea constantly, riddle me that batman) , sluggish, always tired, incapacitating headaches, moodiness, really bad paranoia, bone loss, easily broken bone, joint pain, thyroid condition............. | I could not figure out how I had turned into this angry person who hated myself, and everyone else, I am still trying to battle the depression, I hate looking in the mirror, I cannot lose the weight, I hate being around people when I used to thrive around others. I am ridiculously paranoid about everything when I used to be care free. I am losing the ability to use my hands for more than 5 minutes, then they go numb, and once the feeling comes back there is enormous pain that goes from my shoulder to the tips of my fingers. I cannot grip things tightly at all, and cannot open jars etc. I have a hard time holding my 2 year old for more than a minute at best. I didnt get my shot last month and am trying to flush it out of my system, still havent gotten a period, but I guess that is normal till the 3rd month of not having the shot. I am just hoping that I can get treated for the damage it has caused me and I hope people do what I was too stupid to do, and actually read about what this thing can do to you before they get it. Its a poison in my mind, and I wish I had never taken it. I have such a mess to deal with, and I just hope that I can go back to the way I was, and like myself again once I get my body back....... | F | 22 | 592 days 1X AN | 4/5/2010 | 1 | Birth Control | Weight gain, vaginal dryness, no sex drive, painful intercourse, bleeding after intercourse, irregular bleeding and spotting, intense cramping after orgasm, random irregular bouts of severe cramping, tiredness all the time, lack of energy or interest in anything, hair loss, bloating, IBS, frequent urination, emotional and moody, paranoid, depression, anxiety, sore boobs, bloating and gas, joints and muscles ache, occasional headaches, bad acne, anger problems, and possibly other things I haven't noticed yet. | I have been on the Depo since I was 18 and was not informed of any of the side effects at all. Most of the side effects I have experienced didn't start up until a few years after I first started taking it. I'm tired of being in constant pain and discomfort and did not continue with my current shot. I instead started on Lybrel bc pill which is the first and only no period pill. I love not having a period and can and will deal with occasional spotting but hope all of my other bad symptoms will go away. Please research before going on the shot it's horrible and I fear will take forever to leave my system. I have also heard that the shot can make women more susceptible to STD's so be careful, also of the bone loss issue. | F | 25 | 7 years 4x a year 4X O | 4/5/2010 | 2 | 18yrs old. I did not want children | NO PERIODS(WHICH WAS REALLY NICE). NEGATIVES: STEADY WEIGHT GAIN, DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, IRRATIONAL BEHAVIOR, VERY SHORT TEMPERED, OVERLY AGGRESSIVE, BLOATING, WATER RETENTION, GASTRO-INTESTINAL ISSUES. DURING THE 15 YRS ON DEPO I BLAMED MY SIDE EFFECTS ON EVERYTHING BUT THE DEPO,I NOW KNOW THAT I WAS IN DENIAL. I SOUGHT HELP FOR DEPRESSION & ANXIETY WITH MEDICATION & IT DIDN'T HELP. NOW THAT I'VE STOPPED, I REALIZE HOW MUCH THE DRUG AFFECTED ME. | 15 YRS ON DEPO. I'VE BEEN OFF OF IT SINCE 8/08. I'M NOW HAVING PERIODS EVERY 14-16 DAYS FOR 6 DAYS. I NO LONGER HAVE THE ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION PROBLEMS I HAD, I FEEL MUCH MORE NORMAL AND RATIONAL I DON'T 'FLY OFF THE HANDLE' FOR SILLY REASONS. I HAVE YET TO LOSE THE WEIGHT THAT I GAINED WHILE ON DEPO. ONE OF MY FIRST UNDENYABLE CLUES THAT DEPO WAS THE ISSUE, WAS WHEN I STARTED GOING TO THE GYM AND WORKING OUT 2HRS A DAY 5 DAYS A WEEK FOR 6 MONTHS WITH NO WEIGHT LOSS WHAT-SO-EVER! I LOST VERY MINIMAL INCHES NOTHING SIGNIFIGANT ENOUGH TO BEGIN TO JUSTIFY THE AMOUNT OF CALORIES I WAS BURNING!! I'M IN THE 'DETOX' STAGE OF THE PROCESS NOW, INITIALLY (1ST COUPLE OF MONTHS AFTER STOPPING)I HAD SEVERE CRAMPS & BREAST TENDERNESS, I BEGAN TO START FEELING MORE 'NORMAL' WITH LESS ANXIETY & DEPRESSION. I FEEL MORE 'NORMAL' AS EACH DAY GOES BY, MY PERIODS SEEM TO BE LIGHTENING A LITTLE THE BREAST TENDERNESS IS MINIMAL BEFORE MY CYCLE AND THE CRAMPS ARE BARELY NOTICEABLE. I'M SOON GOING TO GIVE THE EXERCISE ROUTINE ANOTHER TRY. I WILL LIKELY SEEK OUT THE HELP OF AN ENDOCRINOLOGIST TO FIND OUT WHAT MY BODY IS DOING.I HOPE TO HEAR FROM ANYONE WHO HAS GONE THRU THE 'DETOX' OF DEPO AFTER BEING ON IT FOR YEARS SO THAT I HAVE AN IDEA OF ANYTHING ELSE I MIGHT HAVE TO LOOK FORWARD TO. | F | 35 | 15 years 4X O | 3/31/2010 | 1 | birth control | After a year and no periods. I began bleeding so bad I couldn't go out. (For fear of bleeding through my jeans.) At which time my ob/gyn recommended an endometrial ablation. Which meant more than likely no more children. So, a little over a year after the ablation I am being told I might need a partial hysterectomy. It seems the ablation can cause scarring resulting in pain. There is no way to stop bleeding like that from depo to my knowledge. I feel if I would have never taken depo then no ablation would have been needed which means no hysterectomy. I would strongly urge women to consider other options. Please note that I was breastfeeding while on depo because it appeared to be the safiest for my son. I only hope that he does not have any problems later. | I feel it is unsafe for women and should be investigated further. | F | 36 | 1 years 4X O | 3/31/2010 | 1 | birthcontrol | severe rashes, vomiting and nausea - | Not enough warning bad side effects | F | 18 | 2 months 1X O | 3/27/2010 |