Posted by anita on January 10, 2001, at 20:03:28
In reply to Re: acne and anti depressants, posted by Noa on January 8, 2001, at 17:17:22
Noa,
Alesse wouldn't be my first choice of birth control for depression and acne (I don't know about POS). Alesse has a relatively high amount of progestins, which has been linked to depression and also acne. The newer birth control pills like Alesse have a new form of progestin that is supposed to help acne by decreasing the type of testosterone that can cause it, but a suprisingly high number of people find that it worsens acne.
My sister, who's never been seriously depressed before, had depression and mood swings on Alesse. I too am looking into birth control pills for acne that won't exacerbate depression, and have decided to go with either estrogen only or a birth control pill called Ovcon35, which is monocyclic (tri-phasial pills are implicated in depression) and has the least progestin. You can read more about hormones and mood in a great book called _Screaming to be Heard_.
Have you gotten _all_ your hormones checked out? I just found out I'm a little high in testosterone and a little low in estrogen.
anita
> I have acne, and cannot tell if it is due to my ADs or to other medical issues--insulin resistance, and possible polycystic ovaries. In any event, I just saw a new gyno, who prescribed alesse, a low dose birth control pill. She said she has read reports that it helps with insulin resistance, irregular periods, and acne. We'll see. I've only taken two doses.
>
> I also have a question for Rach and any others on birth control pills: Today I was totally grumpy. It could have been not enough sleep, etc., but I also wonder if I should be looking out for reactions to the b.c. pills. Any insight?
poster:anita
thread:51013
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20001231/msgs/51413.html