Should I use a birth control pill or anti-depressant to help with bad PMS?
September 3rd, 2010 | 
Author: Hi. I have always felt really different around the time of my menstrual period. I become much less tolerant of things and my moods change frequently.
Today, though, which I think is one or two days before my menstruation, I’ve been feeling a strong sense of sadness for no reason at all and it frustrates me. I also find myself not caring about anything and wanting to do anything to get rid of this illogical pain. This frustrates me because even if I try to do something that makes me happy, I have no care for it and just become frustrated.
It’s strange. Once my period is done, I slowly feel better and back to my normal self, like my emotional turns have never happened.
Would it be a good choice if I started using an anti-depressant, or a birth control pill such as Yaz to help with this? Or is it simply me exaggerating the need for PMS relief? I am really not sure if I have PMDD, but I do feel really different around the time of my period. If you do think I have PMDD, what is the best brand to use?
NOTE: I am only seventeen, but I will turn eighteen next year. If I’m not allowed to take any anti-depressants because of my age then I am ok with waiting until next year to start using it. I would just like to ask you if I actually have PMDD and what I should do about it later on.
Thank you.
Posted in Women's Health FAQs | 
Tags: anti depressant, anti depressants, birth control, birth control pill, menstrual period, moods, pmdd, sadness, yaz
i can’t believe what Harper said.
Anti-depressents change your mood, not in a good way if your not depressed, trust me i tried them…i got so moody
i’ve been on the pill for the last 3 years because of heavy periods, the pill they would put you on would be one with less estrogen …for the first 4 months (packet) nothing really changes.
when i started the next packet my periods were in a constant cycle, i knew when i was getting them, and they were so much less painful, i’m so happy i went on it…
and unless your wanting children anytime soon, the pill doesn’t ruin anything..
EDIT:
those symptoms she mentioned about the pill are not true, it depends on what pill you go on, and how your body reacts..
but due to technology hardly any of those side effects exist anymore
–BASICALLY, THE BIRTH CONTROL PILL IS AWFUL FOR YOUR HEALTH.
I have been on anti-depressants for about 5 years and have little side effects. You could also get uppers, or stimulant drugs, that you take around your period. Examples of these would be xanax or valium. I have taken both of these, and if take one once a month for a few days, they have little to none side effects.
Hope you are well.
Side effects of birth control pills can include:
• Increased risk of breast and cervical cancers
• Increased risk of blood clotting, heart attack and stroke
• Migraines and headaches
• Gall bladder disease
• Increased blood pressure
• Weight gain
• Mood changes
• Acne and/or oily skin
• Nausea/Vomiting (especially at the beginning)
• Nausea
• Irregular bleeding or spotting
• Benign liver tumors
• Breast tenderness
• Yeast overgrowth and infection
Progestin-Only Methods
• Common Side-Effects (not comprehensive)
o Untimely bleeding or spotting between periods
o Prolonged menstrual bleeding (8 days or more)
o No bleeding at all (amenorrhea) for several months or over a year
o Headache (very common)
o Nervousness/anxiety
o Lower abdominal pain
o Dizziness
o Loss of sex drive (libido)
o Depression
o Acne and/or oily skin
o Change of appetite
o Weight gain
o Breast tenderness (mastalgia)
o Increased facial or body hair growth (hirsutism) or hair loss
o Whitish vaginal discharge (leukorrhea)
o Excessive growth of body/facial hair or hair loss
o Infection the implants site for Norplant
o A brief period of pain or itching
o Enlarged ovarian follicles
o Bone density loss
• Less Common Serious Health Hazards
o Ectopic pregnancy
o Cancer
The most important thing to remember about hormonal birth control methods such as the pill is that they are synthetic hormones. It isn’t healthy for a woman to be exposed to them.
In fact, their long-term use will invariably increase a woman’s risk of developing serious chronic illness. In addition to increasing health risks as dangerous as cancer and blood clots, birth control pills also deplete important nutrients, including vitamins B2, B6 and B12.
The use of birth control pills or synthetic hormones is actually rarely justified. If you’re using birth control pills to control menstrual cycles, irregular bleeding, cysts or endometriosis, you are not treating the underlying dysfunction. Instead, you are simply increasing the risks to your health.
LOOK UP ALL THE FACTS ON HOW INCREASINGLY AWARE WE ARE BECOMING ON HOW BIRTH CONTROL PILLS ARE A HORRIBLE HEALTH RISK FOR WOMEN!!!!!
FIRST, check symptoms of PMS and PMDD carefully (see below chapter DYSFUNCTIONS);
SECOND, try some home remedies for PMS (see chapter NATURAL REMEDIES)
i’ve always had really bad period pain mood swings and all the rest of it when i had my period, the only thing that kind of helped it was the pill and apparently the only thing, it does help