Miena and Depression

I have been on Mirena three years now. I have not felt any of the symptons you describe. I am very happy with mirena.

I have had the Mirena for a year and 4 months. I have been a raging, angry, horrible person ever since. I have just recently (In the past 2 weeks or so) begun to suspect the IUD. After reading this post, I may think that what I was feeling was right. My poor husband and children are suffering. I am never happy (not depressed, just moody). I scream and yell at them all day. I am constantly thinking to myself "why me." I know I have a wonderful life, family, and marriage, but I can't help but focus on the bad things. Like someone else said, I feel like my blood is boiling all the time. Like I am a maniac about to explode. I love the Mirena otherwise. I had VERY very heavy periods before, and now I hardly get anything at all. I am trying to figure out what is best for me right now. But just know you are not alone.

I've been on different kinds of BC throughout my life with similar effects, the only thing I suggest is (if you know you don't want any more kids)have your husband get fixed. No drugs (hormones & antidepressents) make you feel back to normal. My husband did it 1-2 days recovery..outpatient procedure.

Hi E.,
I do not know a lot about IUD's in general, and I'm not sure what your beliefs are but I thought I would write anyway in hopes that I might help in some way. I have read that the female reproductive organs are energetically the creative center of our bodies. Any kind of blockage in this area can cause problems in the body, mind and spirit. So it would make sense that you have felt such anxiety. I am sure if you were to see a natural healer or accupuncturist they could explain all this in great detail. I would highly recommend you read the book Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom by Christian Northrup as well. There are alternatives to prescription meds for depresssion that are much safer. Feel free to contact me if you are interested in learning more. Good luck with everything.

Hi E.,
I read your request and I absolutely had to respond. I had my Mirena removed just over 2 weeks ago, after having it in for 3 1/2 years. At first I thought it was great--no periods, no remembering to take a pill, no condoms, etc. I had experienced depression during my 2nd pregnancy and after my daughter was born, and during the winter prior to all of this. So I didn't really associate anything with the Mirena--I finally worked up the courage to talk to my PCP and tried a couple of different meds (Lexapro upset my stomach, Zoloft really worked well for me overall). However, I'd been gaining weight slowly but steadily and thought maybe it was the Zoloft, so I stopped it and restarted it a couple of times (not really the best way to do things, fyi!). However, eventually I figured that the best thing for me to do was to have the Mirena removed, as I had tried multiple other life changes to improve my mood (switched jobs, changed my work hours to days instead of nights, etc) with little effect. Now that the Mirena is out, I feel like night and day--that sense of not having anything to look forward to is gone, I really do have things to live for, the list could go on and on. Long story short, yes, it could be the Mirena, and I don't think you'll get much support from the medical community regarding this. My good friend is a chiropractor and has treated many women who have experienced similar symptoms. Feel free to contact me to talk further if you want--I truly feel for what you are going through and I hope you can find your happiness again.

This may not be helpful but I have had Mirena since September and have has no side effects (so far)
I hope you are feeling better and figure this out.
K.

Hi E.,

I don't know anything about Mirena, but I do know a bit about depression from personal experience and am honestly appalled that your OB/GYN prescribed an anti-depressant. That's not her job for one and there were no psych evals for two and you specifically raised the issue in conjunction with your BC for three! I have had some pretty bad responses to BC before, severe mood swings, fits of crying uncontrollably, general sadness, etc. Once off BC, I was worlds better. I was also prescribed an anti-depressant as a teen in response to probably general teen angst and I'm convinced now that it had the opposite effect on me.

I'm no doctor, so I won't tell you to stop taking the meds, but I will say, when you have chemicals in your system, it is difficult to find the root of issues when those meds could be part of the problem. I will also say, that if you were not suffering from any psychological disorders prior to March and are not at risk of harm without meds (which I guess is the case since you weren't on them prior) you should be in full control of what is in your body and when. If you don't feel comfortable on the meds, talk to your Dr and get off them. I also recommend you talk to a psychologist or psychiatrist about being on these meds if you intend to stay on them. They are far more equipped to diagnose you than your OB!

These medications are way over prescribed and I find this scenario a prime example. Be strong and follow your instincts. You know yourself and your body. If these behaviors are out of character and you think it's related to the BC, follow that. Best of luck. Believe in yourself.

~Liza
29 yo single mom of 4.5 year old girl.

Hi E.,
I have no experience with Mirena or any IUD's for that matter. I am a therapist and happen to see many women referred by area OBGyns. I hope that you talked openly with your doctor about your symptoms and your hunch that the IUD could be to blame. I'll be curious to know if other women report this same symptom, as this would be very important to educate people about.
Re: lexapro... If your symptoms continue without the IUD, please don't be too quick to give up on the medicine. Lexapro is one of the better medications out there and a family history of depression (your Mom) is, unfortunately, often likely to be hereditary. Often times, people feel sleepy during the first couple of weeks with SSRI antidpressants, and that subsides. If not, ask your doctor for something else.
Good luck to you.
J. V.

Follow your instincts. You can tell your physician you are going to stop the medication and ask for appropriate reduction/weaning method, if there is one, for that medication. You can ask a pharmacist as well for the information about your particular prescription.

From what is written in your post, it seems you are very aware of yourself, mentally, emotionally, and physically.

I wish you well.

Miena,

So sorry to hear that you've been struggling lately. I can't speak to you about the IUD, but I've been on Lexapro for about a year and a half now. I was put on it while pregnant and we discovered our daughter would be born critically ill (she recently passed away). The meds were prescribed as a preventative measure to try and take the edge off what we knew would be a difficult time. I have been pleased with the lack of side side effects and take it at night in case I do get sleepy. I'm not sure how I would be coping with life without it but I'm not planning on finding out soon. I have also known people who have been severely depressed/suicidal and say that the medicine really helped change their life. I am sorry that you are experiencing the depression, but I do think the lesson you have learned about the difficulty in coping with it is an important one. Depression is definitely something that you simply pick yourself up from easily. I wish you luck and hope removing the IUD does the trick.

Hi E.. I have never used Mirena, but unfortunately, I know VERY well how depression feels. Have you looked up the side effects of Mirena? I know that some contraceptives can have bad side effects including depression, so there's a good chance it could be part of your problem, I would do some research there. Also, Good for you for going back to school! I started taking online classes the end of '06 and got my Associates in Feb '07. I am now working on my Bachelor's degree b/c it was such a positive experience. I, too was very anxious, stressed and excited about going back to school, to begin with, but after I got into it and started doing well, I started to feel really good about my decision. I think you will find that the online school community is very supportive and full of people just like yourself. I know it can be hard to have to take medication for something that you feel you should be able to control on your own, but sometimes you really do need the help. I quit taking my meds for my 1st pregnancy and didn't continue taking them again for over a year. After I started taking them again, I wondered why I ever stopped, they helped me that much. Now, as I am at the end of my 2nd pregnancy, I quit taking them again, but started getting so depressed that I had to start taking them again and I feel like a totally different (in a very good way) person. You may find that although you don't like the idea of being on meds, that they will help you as you transition into being a mom and student. Hopefully you will be one of the lucky ones and only have to take them for a little while. I would give them a shot, it doesn't have to be forever, but if they help, then it's totally worth it if you ask me! I wish you the best and hope you start feeling better soon. If you are still concerned after a week or two, you should talk to your doc again. Hope this helps at least a little!

I have an IUD in I don't know if it is that one. It is the 10 year one. I didn't feel any of those symptoms. I don't think that you should feel depressed from the IUD because there are no Hormones in that birth control.
Unfortunately I have never taken Lexapro, but in my medical book it says that it should have the opposite effect on you regarding sleeping. You should have insomina, but we are not all the same. I think you need to go back to your OB-GYN or even your primary care doctor and tell them what this medicine is doing to you and what they think you should do. If you were wondering why you had to take it in the first place you should of asked. That is what you doctor is there for. Your both need to come out of the exam room confident with the decision that she/he has just made.

OMG....I am a mom of 6month old twins who had the Mirena put in when they were 3 months old..Thats when the craziness started.First I was diagnosed Hypothyroid 3 weeks after it was inserted. I was feeling depressed, gaining weight, extremely tired..ect. I then went on meds and now my thyroid has been normal for over 2 months. My doctor thinks I am loony because I kept having all these crazy symptoms that I thought must be thyroid related but my levels were fine...I was depressed, extreme fatigued, massive hair loss, blurry vision, foggy brain, NO patience (not like me) and always felt like my blood was boiling, and not to mention 30 lbs in 2 1/2 months. But I work out 5-6 times a week. I am very active...I finally thought it may be the Mirena after I googled it and read similar stories that others have had including causing Hypothyroid...I had it removed 3 weeks ago and I am on top of the world. I can't believe how a drug can do that much to your personality....I'm glad you had it removed...Everything has changed except the weight loss but I know that will come in time..They say it takes at least a month to get the hormones out of your system. I also heard you can have a Mirena crash a couple weeks after removal do to withdrawls..I didn't have it. But know someone who had a tough time. Stick with it and get off any meds. I think they will make you think less clearer. Good luck...

E.,

I don't know about the Mirena causing depression, but, if your are an anxious person anyway with a fear of medications, having the Mirena there can cause obsessive worry which creates the very same depression you think is caused by the Mirena. In other words you probably are already "wired" for anxiety and depression so the use of a medication which you fear trips these mental health issues.

Unfortuneatly, you feel the same way about the about the Lexapro so you are obsessing about this medication as well. It sounds like you have a bit of a obsessive/compulsive (OCD)tendency as well as anxiety and depression. The first step toward good mental health is awareness and insight into ourselves. I would suggest psychotherapy with a good therapist. Medication can also be beneficial, especially if your symptoms are disabling.

Mood is not static, it is dynamic and however bad you feel now, you will eventually feel better. Psychotherapy and/or medication can bring relief sooner. Prozac (though notorious because of media reports) is one of the most widely prescribed antidepressants in the "SSRI" (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) group, and helps significantly wih OCD symptoms. SSRI's work by allowing more of our available serotonin to stay circulating in the blood stream (serontonin is the "feel good" hormone which can be depleted with constant stress) (new school, worry) They are generally very effective and safe to use. If you do not choose to take them, there are some herbs (St. Johns Wort) which can be found in health food stores which are also helpful. Also vitamin B6 defieciency can worsen symptoms of depression. A good vitamin B6 supplement can also improve mental alertness.

You need to make sure you are getting enough sleep at night and taking a walk everyday (even when you don't want to) Just do it, don't think about it; it will help. A one mile walk will take just 15-20 minutes and although a 2 mile walk would be ideal, one mile will be a good start. Preferably have your walk outside and alone, breathe in the fresh air and just let your mind go where it wants, but don't let it make you stop. You will feel better after the walk even if it's just that you didn't let your depression control you. After a week or two you should see overall improvement in symptoms of anxiety and depression. Remember, when we walk our blood is circulated to the heart, lungs, and most importantly to the brain, so it will clear some of those "cobwebs".

Back to the SSRI's, if you do take them, make sure you take them at bedtime, so the sedating effects are most prominent when you are sleeping anyway. After regular use the sedating effects generally disappear.

Another option well worth persuing is "The Midwest Center for Stress and Anxiety". You have probably seen their ads on television, (especially at night when many folks with stress and anxiety are wide awake!) They use a very effective, non-medication, method of cognitive thinking which helps to change the way those of us with anxiety and depression tend to view things with pessimism and worry. The CD's are worth the cost.

Sorry you are suffering with this, you are not alone and help is available. Don't give up!

Best Wishes,
J. L.

Hi. I understand depression and I have taken lexapro with positive results. I didnt feel groggy- no side effects at all. It is a mild anti depressant. It took the edge off so that I could take some action. Having said that I would consider going off of it as you are having side effects AND it would be impossible to determine why this started so suddently if you dont allow some time for you body to adjust to the removal of the IUD.

And from this experience, on the other end of it you will have been given the gift of compassion to the many others who suffer from depression.
Good luck to you.

Hi E.,
My husband & sister-in-law both used to take Lexapro, but had similar side effects that you described such as feeling tired all of the time. If you are indeed depressed, please get the help that you need & try not to feel guilty about being on medication. The sign of a strong woman is a person that takes charge of her life & makes changes when necessary. Don't allow yourself to stay depressed because you're too stubborn to take the meds. Depression runs in families & it's nothing to be ashamed of. Would you be ashamed to tell someone you had high blood pressure? Of course not, & similar to depresion, it runs in families & often times needs to be treated with medication.
I've been on Wellbutrin for many years & have had very good luck with it. Plus, very few people's sex drives are adversely affected, the way they are w/ many other medications.
Best of luck to you & I hope you feel better soon!
-R.

Hi E., just read your mail and felt compelled to respond. I too had the Mirena and had it removed a year and a half later after hearing from another friend how it had effected her sister... basically I was so down in the dumps tearful my moods were all over the place I would end up shouting at my son for no reason who at the time was 4and a half. I got depressed tired all the time and I to told my doctor she put me on Lexapro. She never mentioned any link to the Mirena. It was only through talking with anyone who would listen that I finally got an answer. I had it removed and felt half my problems had disappeared, but it did take some time on Lexpro after eventually I came off those to and 3 years later am feeling pretty much back to normal don't be to hard on your self and maybe look into more alternative medicine that is less likely to have a long term effect on you. You are going through something that you have no control over your body needs to adapt to the changes and it will in time but at least your on the right path all of your symtems sound exactly like what I went through and that of my friends sister your not alone have your bloods checked also and your hormone levels see where they are atit may help the best of luck my heart goes out to you I hjope it sorts itself out quicker than mine....

Oh honey, I'm sorry for what you're going through! I have a friend who was feeling the same way after the Mirena. The dr.'s said it was all in her head, and offered the meds too. She eventually found a nurse and a website that validated her issues and she got it taken out, and off the meds. It took a little while, but now she is back to her old self, and so much happier that she wasn't just "crazy". Trust yourself E., you know better than anyone. Good luck sweetie!

Hi, E.--
After my 3rd child I decided give birth control another whirl. (I have terrible luck with it emotionally.) Anyways, the doc. convinced me that Mirena was my best option. After 3 days, I started feeling depressed, etc (everything you described). I lasted 2 weeks and almost had to demand that it be taken out. They made me feel like I was an idiot for feeling like this... it COULDN'T be the Mirena. After a few days I felt like myself again. I suffered from depression about ten yrs. ago, so I know the feeling (pre-kids.) I did take an anti-depressent then that worked for me (celexa). Sounds like the Mirena jump-started this bout of depression for you. Many forms of birth control can really mess with the hormones! Good luck. I really hope you feel better. It is such an awful state to be in.

Hi, I am a nurse who has a lot of experience with depression and counseling.
I haven't heard about depression/anxiety being a side effect
of the Mirena, but I chose to get the copper IUD because I didn't want the IUD with hormones. The last time I took the birth control pill, I was emotional and depressed like you describe.

I think you should give yourself a little time, like another week or two, and then if you are still feeling depressed, get a referral to see a psychologist.
A psychologist is a good place to start, because they will really talk to you to try to get at the root of your problem. They are not licensed to prescribe meds, but will not hesitate to set you up with a psychiatrist or psychopharmacologist who can prescribe meds if it seems that you could benefit from them.
I would not use your OB/GYN as a psychiatrist/psychologist, although it is good that you talked to yours about your feelings. It would have been more responsible of her to set you up w/a counselor than throw pills at you.
I believe that only mental health docs should prescribe antidepressant meds- doctors are so quick to throw pills at us when that is what we don't necessarily want or need.

Hi E.,
I don't know anything about the Mirena, or Lexapro, but one thing really stuck out to me in your post -- the fact that you said you felt a big relief as soon as your Dr. removed the Mirena, which leads me to ask whether you had mixed feelings about having it in in the first place? That, combined with any physical effects of the Mirena could certainly contribute to feelings of depression. But there's one way you could tell if it was that and not something else, and that would be to go off the Lexapro, and see what happens. If your depression eases, it probably did have something to do with the Mirena, and if not, maybe there are other issues. If the issue was the Mirena, and you're looking for an alternative, try Naprotechnology (the Creighton Model of Natural Family Planning). It is promoted by the Catholic Church, but you don't have to be Catholic. It's an amazing learning experience that allows you to take control of your fertility in a way that works with and respects your body, and helps you realize just how amazing our bodies are as women. I found it very empowering, and very attractive, as it has no physical side effects. And learning it could be a great way to get your mind focused in a positive vein. Hang in there -- you're not alone. I'll be praying for a resolution to this for you. I know how hard it can be to suffer from depression.

E.. i can feel 4 you . when i started the change of life. my whole body changet. i got real bad panic attacks. and the sweats. i could not sleep at night at all. it got so bad that i past out. and then i had to go to the hospital i could not catch my breath . this was very scary to me . this went on 4 about 3 years . i could not take it any moore. i thing you neet meds when you can feel that attack coming on. so my doctor but me on zanax. you take it onley if you cant get to sleepp or you feel like a attack coming on . i dont thing your on the right meds ask your doctor.
B.

I've not had any experience with Miena, but reading your story, it saddens me to think your OBGYN would think it was all in your head and imediately prescribe the anti-depressants.
I found this on their offical site:

SIDE EFFECTS AT 3 MONTHS AT 5 YEARS
Lower abdominal pain (cramping) 10.5% 2.0%
Acne or other skin problems 3.5% 1.8%
Back pain 3.1% 1.0%
Breast tenderness 3.1% 1.0%
Headache 2.8% 1.6%
Mood changes 2.5% Less than 1.0%

And when I googled Mirena side effects, I came up with bullitens filled with women complaining of some horrible ones, including depressive feelings. You should google, it and print out some of the comments to take to your dr. so she can see for herself what others are saying.

Good luck to you!
L.

Hi E.~
So sorry to hear that you're having such a rough time. You're right, depression sucks. I wouldn't be surprised if the IUD triggered it. I am surprised though that the doctor still has you taking the medication with it removed. I certainly think the medication is causing some exaggerated symptoms and maybe you should stop taking it. Especially if you've never had anything like this happen to you before. A friend of mine started taking medication after a really bad break up and the change in her saddened me. Her speach was slurred, her demeanor was slow and she seemed to be competely unaware when her children were behaving badly. If I hadn't known better I would have sworn she'd been drinking.

Bottom line, if YOU feel the medication is making you feel worse then by all means stop taking it. Doctors aren't always right and we know our bodies better than anyone else. Don't be afraid to stand up for yourself even if everyone else seems to think you're wrong.

Good luck. Things really will be better....promise.

I haven't had Mirena, but I've had the same symptoms from the Progesterone in birth control pills (the same thing that's in the Mirena). I felt it instantly when I started the pills and it went away really fast once I stopped.

If you still want an IUD, the Copper 7 can be an option as it has no harmones. The disadvantage is you can have heavier periods and cramping (unlike the Mirena that reduces or stops periods).

Hi,
I'm not sure if my response will be helpful but I"ll let you know about my experience w/ Mirena. I had it put in a week before Christmas (2007). I went back to the doctor after two months and was pretty sure that I wanted it removed. I had horrible physical side effects (lots of bleeding, lots of pain) and what I described as constant PMS. I wouldn't say that it was a feeling of sadness or depression, but I was very irritable and very moody. It was terrible - especially because I knew that my family were the ones who were suffering from my moods. The doctor told me to give it time - 3 months - and then she'd remove it if I felt the same, so I agreed. Well, the physical symptoms have mostly subsided. The "PMS" issues are better, but not completely gone. They come and go. Certain days I feel very irritable and moody. I really do think that this is from the Mirena because it all started when I had it put in. I hope that helps you - good luck :)