I had trouble with mood swings and anger issues and Gyno recommended black cohosh to try first. Didn't have any luck with it, so he gave me a low dose birth control pill to try. I've been through 3 weeks of pills and off a week. Started again Thursday last week. Didn't have a period this month(and last month was just spotting for a week). Yesterday, I blew up!! I was so mad at my husband over nothing. Now this morning, I was about 1 step from completely flipping out and angry over nothing. I also felt like I could run a marathon and never leave my desk. I had so much nervous energy.... (no Xanax with me ) The feeling has subsided, but it is still lurking in the back like it could hit again at any time. Could the birth control pills do this to me this quickly? Over the week end I felt the best I have in a long time both mentally and physically, then boom this hits me this morning. Now I wonder if the BCP's could cause this feeling. Isn't this fun?

So when you first experienced having mood swings and anger issues you were not on anything at all? Then after taking the black cohosh for several weeks found no relief? Now with the BCPs after 3 weeks, would you say the anger issues and mood swings are of the same level as in the beginning?

Sorry to ask so many questions but it sounds as though you are experiencing normal flucations due to peri and the birth control pills haven't kicked in yet. It will typically take 3 months for the BCPs to actually work the way they are intended. Are you still having menses? And are you in need of Birth Control? It may be that you have reached the time when you are beyond the help of BCPs and need BHRT.

My story.... About 11 years ago I was one with the anger issues and would blow up over the smallest things. My GYN put me on BCPs and everything became normal for me again. I have forgotten if there was a delay in them working but I do know they helped... until about 4 years ago. Then I just seem to fall apart. I would try to keep things together while in public and this time I didn't suffer from rage but despair and misery. I went off the BCPs and onto BHRT. It took another year and a half of tweaking them before I could really say I feel better. I don't feel wonderful but I feel good. Life is doable...

Hope this helps,

Carol,
No, I wasn't on anything at the time when I first started with the mood swings and anger. The issues are at the same level. I wasn't sure how long it would take for the BCP to kick in. It just scared the daylights out of me this morning. My periods were normal and exactly on time until December and I hadn't started the pills yet. I should have a a period last week and didn't even spot. I assumed my "PMS time" had already came and went for the month. Maybe it didn't hit me until this morning. Usually a week before my period I turn into the woman from h*ll for a day. I had my tubes tied 9 years ago so I don't need birth control. I go back to the Dr in Feb for a follow up. It could very well be that I do need BHRT. I'll see what tomorrow brings, I can survive (if my husband and co-workers can!) Thanks so much for your help!!

If you take low-dose BCPs during peri, I think that your own hormone production probably isn't so completely suppressed as it would be with a BCP for actual birth control. Therefore your own hormones can still jerk you around. I'm not sure that anything can really be done about this unless you want to take a stronger BCP.

I'm using progesterone and estradiol and I have had great relief from the worst of my peri symptoms but my moods still get the best of me at times ! I feel like it's just a fact of my life and I have to deal with them as best I can until full menopause sets in and my hormones are steadily low.

My doctor explained that it takes 3 cycles for your body to acclimate to the pill. At first when I starting taking a low dose pill years ago I was very irritable the first and partway through the second but it improved by the 3rd month. I have heard that the difference between a lot of the pills is the type of progestin (synthetic progesterone) that they use in the pill. Some types of progestin can make you have increased PMS symptoms. I found the pill to be great in controlling hot flashes and regulating my cycle, but I went off them a while back and have had no problems since. If this pill does not work for you, you may want to try another formulation. If you do a little research you can find pills that are less likely to cause irritability. Good luck.

Maura