Symptoms from Depo-Provera shot

Posted by meowrightmeow @meowrightmeow, Aug 11, 2018

I have been suffering from anxiety for quite some time. I went in to see a dr for it July 18 and they were more interested in giving me birth control than controlling the anxiety. I was put on the depo shot and now I feel like I’m losing my mind! Constant anxiety no matter what, random panic attacks. I got some help recently and was put on Clonazepam .25 twice a day and Prozac. I am taking the clonazepam twice a day and I don’t think it’s strong enough. The anxiety tends to break though. I have Ativan as well and that’s what I was using before for the panic attacks. 1mg I often cut in half. The dr did say I could use them together if I really needed to but I’m afraid to. Anyone else have similar troubles?

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I received the depo provera shot for the first time, 4 days into my period on Wednesday February 6th.
When i received the shot my period stopped immediately.
My doctor said i should be covered since i was already on my period.

Saturday February 9th i had sexual intercourse with my boyfriend.
An hour after the intercourse i got a stomach ache. It went away after i went to sleep.
(We suspected it was because i hadn’t eaten that day)

Feburary 17th i started to spotting. I have continued to spot since. It is currently march 1st and i am still spotting.
My spotting was a darker red than my usual period so i assumed it was blood from when my period initially stopped finally being let out.

My period was set to start February 27th. It started. Menstrual blood the usual brighter red color. It was light and then it stopped. And i went back to spotting.

I noticed today (march 1st) ive gained a bit of stomach weight. No where else. Im unsure if its because one of the side effects of the depo provera was weight gain or if i may be pregnant. However shouldnt the shot have stopped pregnancy.

I have no pregnancy symptoms other than i look bloated

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@ohkaney

I received the depo provera shot for the first time, 4 days into my period on Wednesday February 6th.
When i received the shot my period stopped immediately.
My doctor said i should be covered since i was already on my period.

Saturday February 9th i had sexual intercourse with my boyfriend.
An hour after the intercourse i got a stomach ache. It went away after i went to sleep.
(We suspected it was because i hadn’t eaten that day)

Feburary 17th i started to spotting. I have continued to spot since. It is currently march 1st and i am still spotting.
My spotting was a darker red than my usual period so i assumed it was blood from when my period initially stopped finally being let out.

My period was set to start February 27th. It started. Menstrual blood the usual brighter red color. It was light and then it stopped. And i went back to spotting.

I noticed today (march 1st) ive gained a bit of stomach weight. No where else. Im unsure if its because one of the side effects of the depo provera was weight gain or if i may be pregnant. However shouldnt the shot have stopped pregnancy.

I have no pregnancy symptoms other than i look bloated

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Welcome to Connect, @ohkaney. You'll notice that I moved your message about symptoms from the Depo shot and your concern about being pregnant to this existing discussion. I did this so you could more easily meet other members who have experience with depo-provera.

According to this website from Planned Parenthood, spotting and weight gain are common side effects of depo-provera. It states,
"Most women have some change in their periods, including bleeding more days than usual, spotting between periods, or no periods. This is most common during the first year."
- https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/birth-control/birth-control-shot/what-are-the-disadvantages-of-the-birth-control-shot

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@svazquez_13

@sabrinaperez08 I too have been experiencing these symptoms, I have been on depo for a little over a year and although I do no take medicine for my anxiety I do feel super nervous and shaky. I wish there was something that could stop these feelings because they make me feel super anxious and scared and confused, my doctor just said if I feel worse to go see my regular doctor to get medicine, just know you are not alone, I was going to stop being on the shot but iwent back on because my partner and I were not really good at practicing safe sex so I decided to just go back.

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I took the depa shot over 17 years ago and I have such severe anxiety that I can’t even leave my home,, first I got the hives off of it then terrible anxiety to where I started losing a pound a day because my anxiety was eating my food! I went to Mayo Clinic And they did every test that could be done, finally the last test was a written test, after I finished the test the doctor threw the paper across the room because she was so upset that my primary doctor couldn’t figure this out, I was put on Xanax after that and they were bars and I was taking up to 25 a day and my anxiety had me still flying out of control, they also put me on remron to help me put weight back on, however I still needed something else besides Xanax because it wasn’t working and I was so tired of popping pills, then my doctor put me on Clonazepam 2 mg a day and I started feeling normal again as almost reborn!!! No highs I just felt like I did before I took that horrible shot, now after 15 years later my doctor took me off of them and I had to ween off but ended up right back where I started!!!! I don’t know what to do now!! Losing my weight and afraid of everything this anxiety is over taking my life and no Dr wants to help!!!! What do I do???

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@londysue

I took the depa shot over 17 years ago and I have such severe anxiety that I can’t even leave my home,, first I got the hives off of it then terrible anxiety to where I started losing a pound a day because my anxiety was eating my food! I went to Mayo Clinic And they did every test that could be done, finally the last test was a written test, after I finished the test the doctor threw the paper across the room because she was so upset that my primary doctor couldn’t figure this out, I was put on Xanax after that and they were bars and I was taking up to 25 a day and my anxiety had me still flying out of control, they also put me on remron to help me put weight back on, however I still needed something else besides Xanax because it wasn’t working and I was so tired of popping pills, then my doctor put me on Clonazepam 2 mg a day and I started feeling normal again as almost reborn!!! No highs I just felt like I did before I took that horrible shot, now after 15 years later my doctor took me off of them and I had to ween off but ended up right back where I started!!!! I don’t know what to do now!! Losing my weight and afraid of everything this anxiety is over taking my life and no Dr wants to help!!!! What do I do???

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My name is Yolonda Reczek and I live in Illinois maybe you can find my records, I am the one who reported the post above

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Hi, @londysue - Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I can hear the deep concern in your posts. Anxiety so severe that you can’t even leave your home would be extremely hard.

Here is some Mayo Clinic information that may be helpful on the Depo-Provera shot https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/depo-provera/about/pac-20392204.

These pages provide information for how you may obtain your medical records:

From Mayo Clinic in MN https://www.mayoclinic.org/patient-visitor-guide/minnesota/becoming-a-patient/medical-records

From Mayo Clinic in FL https://www.mayoclinic.org/patient-visitor-guide/florida/becoming-a-patient/medical-records

From Mayo Clinic in AZ https://www.mayoclinic.org/patient-visitor-guide/arizona/becoming-a-patient/medical-records

Have you had the chance to report to your current doctor in Illinois who oversaw your taper off the clonazepam about your current status with anxiety? If so, what did he or she say about next steps?

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I received my very first depo provera shot in January during my menstrual cycle. My period immediately stopped that day. Two weeks later my period comes again and has not stopped since then. Although it isn’t as heavy as it was in the beginning. Now its continuous spotting.

I received my second depo provera shot around a month ago. I was given a higher dose and was told that it would help with break through bleeding however it still has not stopped

Is there any reason this might still be happening or anything I can do that will help it stop.

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@ohkaney

I received my very first depo provera shot in January during my menstrual cycle. My period immediately stopped that day. Two weeks later my period comes again and has not stopped since then. Although it isn’t as heavy as it was in the beginning. Now its continuous spotting.

I received my second depo provera shot around a month ago. I was given a higher dose and was told that it would help with break through bleeding however it still has not stopped

Is there any reason this might still be happening or anything I can do that will help it stop.

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Hi, @ohkaney - I wanted to let you know I moved your post here where others are discussing symptoms after the medroxyprogesterone acetate (Depo-Provera) shot and where you've posted before so that you can connect with others who may have some experiences or thoughts to share, like @svazquez_13 @londysue @meowrightmeow @sunandmoon1 @sabrinaperez08. @becsbuddy and @lioness may also have some input for you.

How is it going? Are you still spotting?

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@ohkaney I want to add my welcome to you as Lisa did . Have you done research on Depo-Provera As a retired nurse I can tell you that this med interferes with your regular cycle the ovaries and uterus lining . I would suggest you read up on it . Way back when they first started with birth control pills I worked in I.C..U at the time and we had several women who had major problems with this but since then the birth control pills are different now. Always do your own research and advocate for yourself you know your body better then Dr.s do .

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Since from last year March I get my periods like often and also am using depo but I tested to be pragnat,is it possible?

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@belong

Since from last year March I get my periods like often and also am using depo but I tested to be pragnat,is it possible?

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@belong Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect, a place to give and get support.

I moved your question to an already existing discussion on the depo shot.

The only way to know if you are pregnant is to take a pregnancy test. Are you able to get a test from the store or go to your provider?

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