I've been to many doctors who find it hard to believe I am still suffering from extreme side effects from Depo Provera, the birth control injection. I got the shot mid December, and since then my life has been reduced to the confines of my own home. I used to exercise 6-7 days a week and lived on my own. I had a personal trainer and a strict diet. My symptoms such as fatigue, dizziness, tight, knotted and stiff muscles, constipation, etc. have taken away my freedom, independence, and will to live. I have been on the brink of suicide from the hopelessness. No doctor can help me in alleviating symptoms or determining when I will feel normal again. Does anyone, from personal experience or knowledge have any advice or answers? I desperately want my old life back, when I had all the energy and confidence in the world. I am 18, feel like I'm 80, and have not been able to enjoy life. I am 100% sure the symptoms are solely from the shot, as I had no side effects or health problems, not the slightest complaint prior to getting the injection.
How long do Depo side effects last?
Question posted by Sarabn123 on 2 April 2011
Last updated on 25 June 2022
38 Answers Page 3
I have been off Provera for four months and I am still experiencing very similar side effects, I noticed this was posted a few years ago and I was wondering when you started to feel better and notice the symptoms reduce.
Thanks,
Sadie
How many mg of provera were you on? Im very worried. Im on a high dose of 50mg. What symptoms are you having after you stopped taking provera?
Wait... I thought everyone got the basic 150mg of progesterone once every 3 months???
I have taken my first shot in September 2017 and because of my effects I didn't take any more I'm having muscles pain mind grains I feel as if I'm pregnant haven't seeing my period in 3 months I felt like it's my last days I have to live I go to a lot of doctors no help I really need held I'm only 32 I'm feeling like 80 I can't even look after my children I need help
hey... I have been off depo for 5 months now (missed my last shot 5 months ago-on purpose) and have been going thru this hell right now. This drug is poison and should be illegal!! I can barely take care of my 2 yr old Im so physically ill. Just wondering how long your withdrawals lasted... I'm at the end of my rope. My doctor doesnt believe me, she feels after just one shot this is impossible to feel such intense and prolonged withdrawals. I feel like death... im isolated, depressed, sick... both mentally and phyically. If u could plz let me know a little more about your horrible experience I'd be SO grateful. I just feel so alone..
Reading all the negative side effects from this drug has me really scared . My girlfriend just got it last week and has constantly been tired. She is only doing it this one time before she gets her IUD . When will she not be tired anymore?
I am going thru the exact same drama, child and all. If anyone else is having this issue I will write their stupid doctor a note. :) I have been dizzy upon standing, vomiting, constipation followed by severe diarrhea to the point where I am vomitting at the same time. Headaches in the back of my head. and front temporal areas. blurred vision, nausea. Trouble breathing, loss of appetite. muscle pain, and weakness, and malaise. I have been having soup and liquids only for the last month. I am pretty much starving most of the day because anything I put up to my mouth makes me want to vomit.I had my depo shot in November. Did not go back in Feb for obvious reasons. I have been taking prenatal vitamins, additional iron and vitamin c for anemia, and energy. Never been so bad. The doctor definitely did not counsel me properly on the effects of this drug before injecting me. Otherwise I would have told her to shove it! I will be trying some phytoestrogenic herbs in addition to soy. The vitamins and minerals from the prenatals and Ensure has been a godsend.
OMG,and the cramps. The back aches and that weird internal stabbing feeling. With all the blood!! SMH!! Cant' forget about the weeks and months of bleeding.
I know how you feel. It just shock me to see how all these doctors are trained seem like to tell everyone the same old lie and to act the same way like they cant believe the shot can do so much damage smh.. it is way too many women complaining about this shot so something is Obviously wrong with this shot, Not the women, and I believe a law suite needs to be active about this situation like ASAP.
Can i just say. Stop taking any vitamins or suppliments. While on provera 50 mg tablets i noticed taking any suppliments or vitamins made me bleed heavy and clot non stop. Taking only the iron pill, nothing else has stopped the bleeding.
I’ve been on depo for years and never had a problem until this injection - I did start taking a vitamin c tablet and funnily enough that’s when I started spotting I stopped taking it and the spotting stop, I took some more the following month not thinking anything of it and I am now spotting again! Strange?!
So I got the shot a few weeks ago. And I have been feeling like complete crap. I have been feeling sick to my stomach, have some headaches mostly just a really weird feeling in the back of my head and my temples hurt when I rub them, my back hurts, my legs start cramping, and I'm cramping like I'm on my period but I'm not bleeding only a little bit. But I honestly don't feel normal... And its making me have bad anxiety and depression. I don't know if anyone else is feeling this way but I really need some help and advice on how to get through this for the next 2 months...
So I got the shot a few weeks ago. And I have been feeling like complete crap. I have been feeling sick to my stomach, have some headaches mostly just a really weird feeling in the back of my head and my temples hurt when I rub them, my back hurts, my legs start cramping, and I'm cramping like I'm on my period but I'm not bleeding only a little bit. But I honestly don't feel normal... And its making me have bad anxiety and depression. I don't know if anyone else is feeling this way but I really need some help and advice on how to get through this for the next 2 months...
I had the depo about 5 weeks ago and I will never have it again I have never visited A&E so much over the last few weeks I have been told it can take up to a year for the side effects ware off I won't be getting it again that's for shore I've had chest pain anxiety blurred vision headache my mood has been awful I feel so sorry for my partner I hope who ever reads this never has it I won't my life back
I was on the depo for 4 years im 21 now and I feel horrible I am going through all of the symptoms and its ruining my relationship please help I dont want to lose him but I cant control my moods im tired all the time cant eat even though I want too but the sight of food makes me sick my back always hurts I had a 4 month period now im not bleeding but I still feel like im majorly pmsing im never happy I cant get myself out of this depression I desperately need help... :/
I feelyour pain!! are your feeling better now? I'm going through the worst experienc of my life... months of hell. My temper is awful and I'm so sick I can barely function.
I warn everyone now, Don't walk, RUN from DEPO!
I feel your pain, literally. It was almost 3 years ago that I had my run in with Depo & I am only now feeling normal again.
Biggest mistake and nightmare of my life. Felt so much like I was pregnant in the beginning that I nearly panicked thinking the depo didn't work. Had the nausea/extreme fatigue every morning.
Before Depo, I weighed 105 lbs, ran 4 times a week between 4 - 5 miles. Healthy as a horse. Gained 7 lbs in one week with NO change to my diet or exercise. Then 3 lbs and then 4 more. 14 lbs in 3 weeks, this is insane!
Started spotting immediately and never stopped for 13 months. I took 2 shots. One they gave me 7 days later saying that the first shot didn't take (did bloodwork, you trust a dr, right?). So yeah, I got two 3 months shots, one on top of another & then instead of it stopping anything, I bled for over a year straight. I never took another shot. I gained 20 lbs total in all of this.
Then, finally taking herbal supplements to get my estrogen/progestin back in balance, I finally got my first period around a year and a half later. Then, for another six months nothing was regular. I would bleed heavy and black for 3 wks, then stop and then start 2 wks later. It was fully over 2.5 years before I would say things STARTED to get back to what I remember as normal and before my body once again started responding to diet and exercise.
Be warned, depo can cause you to develop insulin resistance, which is what I am now. I never had this before. I'm glycemic sensitive now. AND they say if you stay on it for more than 2 years there is risk of diabetes, liver problems, kidney failure... I mean, why is this stuff on the market??I thought I did my research, but apparently not good enough. Never knew the complications until it was too late.
I will never put another hormone into my body again!
This was a LONG drawn out process that basically stole two years of my life. Did I mention that I took this 3 weeks before I got married? Yeah, so wanna talk about a real drag, try spotting for over a year as a newlywed.
I've had the same terrible reaction. It's because God never intended our bodies to handle that much progesterone hormone. It's very hard on the body in all kinds of ways. I've had all the bad side effects listed . Here is what has helped me cope and what has lessened the terrible side effects for me-
Estradiol , it's Rx form of estrogen that absorbs a lot of that extra progesterone( it's the only thing that will), also, I'm taking Celexa, an SSRI to help with the nervousness, anxiety, and depression it has caused me, Visteril, a non-benzo drug that helps for sleep, because sleeplessness is another bad side effect. I also have been drinking a lot of soy milk, probably because it has a lot of phytoestrogens.
Please know this isn't you but the hormone and even though it's hell right now it will pass in time. I'm still waiting too. Though know also the things I listed have helped me a whole lot with the symptoms.
I hope this gives you hope. Blessings.
H
Hey there. How long did your side effect last? I'm 18 years old and my life has become a nightmare. i can't sleep either and i get terrible migraines and i feel dizzy constantly. i took the provera pills and i have had many side effects and ended up in the hospital three times and i seen many doctors too.
I'm sorry to say after only one shot and no more my side effects from A year and a half ago still haven't completely gone away. I had the same side effects as you- no sleeping , migraines, terrible worry and anxiety. I'm taking Celexa to help with the depression and anxiety. What helped the most right after I had the Depo Shot was to take prescription Estrogen called Estrodiol. The reason being- the estrogen absorbed a lot of that tremendous amount of progesterone hormone from the Depo shot. That gave me a lot of relief from the symptoms and I highly recommend!
Hi am know going though this i will check into the prescription estrogen I just wanted to check in and see last I heard you were experiencing this for a year-and-a-half wanted to know if you had any love pushing it yet I hope so because this is been the longest two months of my life thank you for your responses it has definitely gave me some hope I feel like I'm going crazy I have never been to so many doctors and hospitals convinced something was wrong and tell eyepiece the pieces together and realize it was from the Depo I am never taking it again
I'm sorry that you have to deal with the issues you're having. Especially being as young as you are. I personally have never gotten the depo shot because of the issues a friend of mine had but my daughter just got her 1st one and has had a headache and stomach cramps for going on 2 days now. Dr's don't know EVERYTHING. I would stop getting the shot and switch BC. I'm sure it'll take time to get out of your system. I have taken so many different birth controls (except depo) and think the Mirena IUD is the way to go. My "bitch switch" has been deactivated. ;) I would suggest taking it a day at a time and treat the symptoms you have each day. I'm positive that the more time that passes the better you'll feel. If you haven't gotten better in another couple of weeks, go to the Dr and make them HEAR you. Not listen, but HEAR. Drs are very busy people and deal with a lot of patients every day.
Make sure the Dr is spending time looking over YOUR info and ask lots of questions. Do you take any other medications/vitamins? Legal or illegal drugs? If so, don't be afraid to tell your Dr. They have to keep it confidential, by law. The Dr may be overlooking something due to just not knowin the "specifics" of your life. I pray all is well soon for you. Keep me posted on your progress please. I'd like to know how you're health is progressing. Thx (my Facebook is Celeste Townley Devall) like I said earlier though, if I were you... I'd get off of the shot and change BC. This just may not be the 1 for you.
I have been o depo for 12yrs and love it, i never had any side effects. Do u need to be on depo? The symptoms should have gone away the first month. There is something wrong your body cant handle it. I would look into changing BC
I stopped it four months ago. One and only one shot did I get. Thank god you're doing great on it.
my daughter is 18 years of she had the shot one time she is like you she is a total different person it happened right after the shot and it has been a long time since she had it.she feels the same way she wants her old life back.i have ask about hormone test to be done to see if it missed them up.before she was so sweet and loved everyone.she has changed the first week after the shot we are like you wanting to know what to do to fix this get her old life back
I just got the depo shot last week i have never been on any bc before then... i started feeling extrem nauseated 5days afta the shot&hve had dizzy spells&fatigue i dnt like the way i feel i pray that the systoms get better but i will never get the depo shot again I'll just rather get my tubes tied.
I only took 1 shot of depo. the first month was ok, mood swings. laziness. but my sex drive was really down. the second month was worst. I had a very much higher level of mood swings. sadness and depression. and that resulted i believed why my boyfriend and i broke up. and till now i still get spotting. it has been 4 months that I'm off of it. but still get spotting. red-brown. mostly when I pee. will never ever take depo again. ever.
I've been on depo before and just got back on it and my oh my the moodiness and hot flashes are crazy. But I love depo and normally these only happen when I stop it for long periods of time and start up again. Just waiting on the month to end, haha! Good Luck!
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depo-provera, provera, birth control, side effect, injection, doctor
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