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Depression and anxiety from norethindrone (Aygestin). When will it go away?
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02-04-2016, 02:52 PM
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HysterSister
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Posts: 3
Hysterectomy: February 22nd, 2016
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Depression and anxiety from norethindrone (Aygestin). When will it go away?
[Just posted this in the introduce myself forum, then saw no one can reply there and I kinda want replies so.... Sorry for the duplicate.]
My story, I'm awaiting my robotic hysterectomy on Feb 22. I had an ablation a few years ago and over the past year have developed painful cycles (unable to be relieved by any pain meds). Diagnosis so far is adenomyosis although I know he can't say for sure until it goes to pathology.
Dr. gave me norethindrone (generic for Aygestin) to skip last one or two cycles before the hysterectomy. While on it (for a month total), I developed severe anxiety and depression. I have a history of anxiety (nothing major), but no depression. I stopped the medication 8 days ago and am now on Xanax and Wellbutrin and am waiting not so patiently to feel better. The symptoms are still so severe (crying all the time is the worst part because that can't be relieved by meds right now).
Has anyone else experienced this? If so, how long did it take to feel like yourself because I am not me? Gyno says it could take a couple weeks, but because of the severity of the symptoms, I'm starting to worry I'll be like this forever. And I can't imagine going into surgery in this state. I have a very supportive family and healthcare team but every day is a huge struggle.
I appreciate any input.
Thanks!
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02-04-2016, 05:09 PM
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Posts: 19,781
Hysterectomy: May 29th, 2013
Surgery Type: TAH
Ovaries: Removed both
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Re: Depression and anxiety from norethindrone (Aygestin). When will it go away?
Norethindrone is a form of progestin. Thus, it's similar in its effects to natural progesterone and to other synthetic progestins such as megestrol (Megace) and medroxyprogesterone (Provera). For some women, these effects include depression.
I'm one of those women. Back when I used to have periods, the week before my period started was like a psychological black hole. This is the week when your system in progesterone dominant. The effects were somewhat ameliorated when I started on an SSRI (citalopram, AKA Celexa) for chronic depression when I was 41.
Fast forward to when I was 56. I'd been diagnosed with a cancer recurrence. My gyn onc prescribed megestrol to me as a back-up for radiation treatment. I was supposed to be on it for seven months. I'd been on it for two *weeks* when I realized that it was pushing me into an active depressive episode. Mind, I was already on anti-depressants, but the megestrol was over-riding them! I knew I couldn't handle the side effects of radiation and a depressive episode at the same time, so I made the decision to stop the megestrol. It may have been the best thing for the remnants of my reproductive system, but it was intolerable for my psyche.
So what you're describing isn't all that unusual. Here's the good news: once I stopped taking the megestrol, the effects were gone in about two weeks. Also, when you start on an anti-depressant, it takes a couple of weeks to begin to have an effect. So your body is doing two things right now:
- Getting rid of the norethindrone; and
- Soaking up the Wellbutrin.
At eight days, I would guess that you're about halfway through the process. I *know* it's hard. I've been there, I've done that, it was *miserable*. But if you can hang on for maybe another week, things should start getting better.
In the meantime, you need to be really, really nice to yourself. Celebrate the small things. Me when I'm having an active episode, if I manage to get myself out of bed, have a shower and change into clean clothes, that's something to celebrate - even if I go right back to bed for the rest of the day! And time outdoors always seems to help me a lot, even if it's just a short walk.
Be nice to yourself and hang on, because things *will* get better.
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02-04-2016, 06:02 PM
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HysterSister
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Posts: 3
Hysterectomy: February 22nd, 2016
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Re: Depression and anxiety from norethindrone (Aygestin). When will it go away?
Thank you so much for your response! Your story and input is so reassuring. I'm sure I will read it again and again over the next several days.
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