Hi! I am 31 and was recently diagnosed with ADD. Can anyone tell me of any experiences with birth control and ADD medication? I took a depo-provera shot, and it' been AWFUL. I feel like I'm losing my mind. I will not take another shot, but my OBgyn is wanting me to try the patch. For the first month it seemed like my ADD meds weren't even working, and I cried sooo much. I have an appt. on Thursday (9/8) with my psych.

Thank you,
Anna

I don't know about Depro provera, but I do know that hormones can definately mess with your functioning, especially as an ADDer. Just just out the perimenopause section and you'll get an idea of what hormone fluxuations can do.

Scattered

Hey there. I've had luck with Estrostep for BC pills. I can't do the shot and I'm not willing to try the patch due to hormonal migraines that incompacitate me. I've taken Estrostep with Ritalin and Lexapro/Prozac (I've recently switched from one to the other). I think Estrostep has been so good for me because of its low hormone dosage. Good luck! Marie

Hi Ann

I have had Depo Provera, did your doctor know you are ADD/HD when you recieved it? If so, then he/she should be shot or castrated!! This is not an appropriate form of birth control for us, already hormonally challenged women.
Which dose did you recieve? The 3 month, 6 month or 12 month injection?
It doesn't really matter which - you can counter act some of the side effect naturally with Glyco Nutirents.
It won't make it go away altogether but it will help.
I am sorry that you are going throught this, I went through it myself. Hang in there and try if you can to just keep telling yourself, "It's the Depo not me".
You can do it!
Bekkii

Thanks for everyones information!
Utter Nutter,
I took one shot in August, and I have been spotting ever since. My body aches, and I just got put on prozac for the mood swings. I have had Premenstrual problems since I was 12, but they got so much worse with the depo. I only took one shot!!!!!! It has been so horrible. THank you for your reply.

Ann

Anne...

we are very similar. I got my cycle at 9 and it was horrendous my whole life!! Please look into trying to get some balance back in your hormones. In the worst case, there is a drug here in Australia called pimolut - it can help counter act the effects of Depo...awful stuff that is.
Hang in there and do check out the Glyco Nutrients...they took me down from a 10 day cycle to a 4 day cycle. I have had 10 day cycles since I was 13, at 31 to have 4 days is sheer bliss.
Hang in there, it will pass!

I take Yasmin and love it! Other birth control pills made me crazy! As for the shot, I know a few people who took it and hated it too.

Estrogen generally magnifies ADHD symptoms so the more hormone you take the worse the mood swings and stress from undermedicated ADHD will become. It's my understanding that Depro can be hard on the mood swings of a "normal" healthy woman...so hold tight and definitely ask for something that has a lower hormone level.

re: #1

(a) I recently read that the "Evra" PATCH [contraceptive] can cause overdoses and underdoses -- as can the Duragesic PATCH (fentanyl).

Basically, PATCH Technology (as a scientific delivery system) is not perfect.

re: DepoProvera

(a) The hormone in Provera is well known to make people feel awful physically and emotionally ("dysphoria"). Women on HRT take it. It is part of what makes females feel awful during PMS or PMDD.

It makes them feel blue and retain water. (It is the same long-lasting depot injection used to "temporarily castrate" sex offenders for 3 months.)

(b) I have known several people that have had dysphoria/bad hormonal reactions to DepoProvera, and have heard of NUMEROUS second-hand and third-hand accounts about others negative outcomes.

(c) DepoProvera has been linked with Osteoporosis.

I am still having awful symptoms from the depo shot and I only had one injection last August. I'm having spotting every two weeks! Has anyone had any luck with the nuvaring? I tried it after I thought the depo had worn off, but had to take it out because of the continuous bleeding. Also, I just started Prozac along with my adderall and I feel a lot better now.

I am still having awful symptoms from the depo shot and I only had one injection last August. I'm having spotting every two weeks! Has anyone had any luck with the nuvaring? I tried it after I thought the depo had worn off, but had to take it out because of the continuous bleeding. Also, I just started Prozac along with my adderall and I feel a lot better now.I'm glad the Prozac is helping. One of the things that gets knocked out of wack with the cycle is serotonin levels T(that's one reason women tend to get the munchies for carbohydrates and chocolate before their periods -- these things raise serotonin levels). I take something to raise my serotonin levels beginning about two weeks before my period that really has helped with the mood swings. One thing you'll have to watch as you get older and approach perimenopause, is that since you're sensitive to this hormonal fluctuation you may have a bit of a bumpy ride and have to adjust meds and lifestyle and such. But at least you'll have an idea what's happening and not be cause totally unprepared like many of us.

Scattered

diane 35 works for me.. other birth control pills make me strangely depressed. i tried getting off of it.. but i realized, with the dopamine condition in my brain, i am unable to tolerate the hormonal changes, thus.. i have to use it.

I have heard nothing good about Depo-Provera from women who have used it. My daughter who may be borderline ADD at the most had a horrible time after just one shot. It took her over two years to back to anything like normal (and then she was in a car crash and developed Fibromyalgia and Myofascitis). If so many women need to take an antidepressant after getting a Depo shot, then why the heel are doctors still prescribing this awful drug?

(I could rant for hours about doctors and pharmeceutical companies. Grrrr)

I take Yasmin and love it! Other birth control pills made me crazy! As for the shot, I know a few people who took it and hated it too.
I took Yasmin for about 2 1/2 years, then got an IUD and went off of Yasmin for about 10 months. My PMS was horrific! My husband couldn't stand to be near me. I got really worked up about little things at work. Terrible mood swings, lots of anger.

I just started taking Yaz (low dose Yasmin) last month and had one moment when I was tired and got snappy with my husband...that was it as far as the PMS went.

I take Adderall XR and the two seem to do fine together.

Every woman I have ever known to be taking Yasmin is happy happy happy with that pill. Plus it makes my period about 32 hours long...can't complain about that!

i have a copper (paraguard) IUD. I know theyre not popular and have no idea why. ive had it for 2 yrs and experienced heavy periods for a couple months but now have NO adverse effects whatsoever and I never have to think about it or remember to take anything or worry about med interractions or anything. i just CANT get pregnant! :)

I have heard nothing good about Depo-Provera from women who have used it. My daughter who may be borderline ADD at the most had a horrible time after just one shot. It took her over two years to back to anything like normal (and then she was in a car crash and developed Fibromyalgia and Myofascitis). If so many women need to take an antidepressant after getting a Depo shot, then why the heel are doctors still prescribing this awful drug?

(I could rant for hours about doctors and pharmeceutical companies. Grrrr)
Same about the patch. I tried it and literally became homicidal. When I complained, they said that no birth control has ever been tested with mood disorders or those effects in mind. Mental state and mood during trials are only minorly noted. A psyciatrist at my univeristy had some answers for me:

Basically if you have mood disorders or problems with extreme mood with PMS:

Always go for a month by month pill
Try for the lowest dose of hormones effective unless you find more helps stabilize the mood (happens some times)
Avoid cyclical medications where the hormone leves vary from week to week
Take the pill at bedtime or same time close to it, to avoid hormonally induced mood swings.