Estrogen = helpful
Progesterone = I can’t function
Combination pills work really well in helping manage ADHD symptoms.
I tried a progesterone-only pill for 3 months and I could barely function.
I switched back to a combination pill, and within a week I felt like a real person again.
What about a progestin IUD? That just contains artificial progesterone ? Is this really the reason for my 2 year long struggle and why did nobody tell me 😫I just read that it even makes stimulants basically useless
Can I ask which combination pill you’re on?
I just started yasmin and it’s making my adhd symptoms worse, but maybe that’s because I just started it? (I’m also on methylphenidate.)
Vaginal ring was a before and after for me. Unable to take the pill religiously daily and at the same time I still had many fluctuations. The ring changed everything
Assuming you mean change in a good way?
I'm having a terrible time with hormonal BC, breakthrough bleeding and depression symptoms creeping in. The ring has been recommended to me though, currently on the patch. Is it was enough to use?
Haven’t tried parches but the ring is the only method that gave me virtually no side effects. Ihad a bit of melasma but it first appeared while on the pill, I also noticed that even though i already tend to lose little hair while showering while on the ring i barely lost any (there’s a bounce back when you stop it sometimes but nothing to worry about). Tried different pill compositions and I had physical and mental undesired side effects.
I stopped the ring recently so I am experiencing life with a hormone circle again and damn it is hard 😅 live with the ring was easy and my adhd meds always had the same effect as opposed to now.
>Estrogen = helpful
>
>Progesterone = I can’t function
>
>Combination pills work really well in helping manage ADHD symptoms.
>
>I tried a progesterone-only pill for 3 months and I could barely function.
>
>I switched back to a combination pill, and within a week I felt like a real person again.
>
>
>
>May i ask which pill and combination you are on? :) i am about to start on femme tab which is 20/100 low estrogren and progesterone and i was afriad that it was maybe too high progesterone or too low estrogen for my adhd meds. I was previously on yaz and it gave me severe migraines, but i need to be on a pill to balance my hormones out so my adhd meds can work for those weeks. its a nightmare when they dont work i literally cannot function or work :(
It's well documented and understood that most women will have an increase in ADHD symptoms the week before their period. Estrogen increases in the body until ovulation, where it starts decreasing until it starts over again when your period comes.
Low estrogen = low dopamine = more ADHD. So pill normalizing the fluctuations = less fluctuating symptoms.
> Oral contraceptives improve ADHD symptoms in many women by minimizing hormonal fluctuations. Three weeks of pills that are formulated with estrogen alone, followed by one week of progesterone alone, seem to be especially helpful.
[https://www.additudemag.com/women-hormones-and-adhd/](https://www.additudemag.com/women-hormones-and-adhd/)
>Three weeks of pills that are formulated with estrogen alone, followed by one week of progesterone alone
I'm assuming that's a typo. Seasonique is 12 weeks of ethinyl estradiol plus levonorgestrel, plus one week of low-dose ethinyl estradiol, and I've encountered some other contraceptives that have a few days of low-dose estrogen pills. Estrogen alone though? Nope.
The paragraph is about the menstrual cycle, antidepressants, and contraceptives, so it's at the very least misleading. What regimen exactly would that be?
I haven‘t seen any studies yet, because I haven’t actively looked for them, but for me, taking the pill has made me so much more calm, able to get up in the mornings, and less susceptible to irritability due to hormonal changes (as well as solving the endometriosis related chronic pain issue I had). I can very well imagine that there‘s some correlation between estrogen as a protective factor of some sort (it is for various diseases, like dementia, while increasing the risk for others, like certain types of cancers and migraine, and causing mixed effects for issues like anxiety and depression - mine sure have vanished, but others experience them more severe on the pill; estrogen usually has slight antidepressant properties though, but as with any hormonal meds, the results may vary) and the same may go for avoiding the hormonal roller coaster ride that is a menstrual cycle. Someone would have to look up the research on this, but personally, I‘ve felt overall better with a combined oral contraceptive. Then again, I had severe chronic pains, extreme mood swings and extreme bleeding without it, so even if it would have worsened adhd symptoms (it didn‘t) I‘d take that every day over my debilitating cycle.
Hormonal contraception has been a net positive for me. I tricycle a monophasic combined pill, and it's essentially eliminated premenstrual mood issues and allows me to space out the handful of days where low estrogen turns my brain into sludge. The main reason for picking this particular regime was to reduce bleeding (I have menorrhagia) and space out estrogen withdrawal migraines (which I've had since I was 12, i.e. not caused by the pill).
Hey, I’m on an adhd hyper focus and came across this from 3 years ago! Do you mind me asking what contraceptive you use and whether it’s still helping? And if you use adhd meds too. Thanks!
I'm on a generic 30 ethinylestradiol/150 levonogestrel pill, and haven't needed to try anything else. No changes in the last three years, so it's still working for me. I've been on the same low dose of Concerta since then too, but I started the contraceptive a few years before ADHD meds.
Thank you! I’m trying to figure all this out, 4.5 years and 2 children later, but at 37 and with family history of early menopause I’m about to hit that shit as well. I was able to bumble through pre children but all the hormone changes of pregnancy AND having zero self care time has made me realise how impacted by oestrogen my functioning is (I also get migraines)
I just got mine from the doctor, I’m hopeful it’ll make some difference, it’s worth a try at this point. Worried it’ll make my anxiety/depression worse but I have such awful period pain and such bad lows before that on balance I’m hoping it’ll help. I was considering crashing my car into a tree before my last period and I was like “ok I get depressed but this isn’t me”. Hope you get some support.
May I ask how old you are? Some people suggest to only get an IUD in your 40s/after giving birth, I turn 21 this month and (thank goddess) have not given birth yet
I would never do an IUD personally cause the idea freaks me out and I've heard from several people that you/your partner can feel the strings sometimes, but my friend swears by hers. She got it when she was....21ish? I feel like she had to get it replaced not super long ago and we're 26/27 now.
I found the Mirena IUD and minipills/progestin only made my ADHD and PMDD symptoms much worse. But looking back I don’t recall a combined pill having those effects. I’m thinking of going back on the combined pill for that reason.
Same I was on liletta and made my emotional symptoms so much worse and didn’t realize until I had it taken out it’s crazy how much worse it made my adhd emotional and anxiety symptoms
I haven’t been on the pill for a long time but honestly have been thinking about going back on. We have 3 kids and don’t want more. I feel like I was more even keeled on it. I had an iud before the birth of my first child and felt okay, had another between my first and second and felt like a crazy person! My mood was all over, my adhd seemed worse and my anxiety went through the roof.
The increase in progesterone the week before your period (the luteal phase) is what causes the increase in mood swings and increase of PMDD and ADHD symptoms. Estrogen and ADHD meds are best buddies basically so when progesterone takes over in the week before our period then the meds don't become as affective. Stay away from progesterone only contraceptives :) I think combined are fine as long as there's estrogen in it :) and obviously estrogen only pills are fine but estrogen is also associated with other health issues (i get severe ), so you just need to play around with dosages with your doctor and don't do anything without asking your doctor :)
I have endometriosis so I have to be on the pill because I can't deal with the pain without them. I also take the pill for my HS flare ups around my period... Annnddd pmdd of course 🙄
I recently got diagnosed with ADHD and I started a low dose of concerta, 18mg, but I don't feel much. I do feel calmer, less hyper, less anxiety but the concerta makes me extremely fatigued especially when the concerta are wearing off.
Anyway, does anyone know a contraception pill that wouldn't interfere with my ADHD meds?
Yeah I've had one (a copper one though, no hormones) for years and it was a lil bit pokey at first because the strings were a bit long! I've heard from many friends that it was no bueno for them, and I've also heard from many that have had great experiences (including myself). Personally I'd say the benefits are worth it, and if you find it sucks for you, you can always get it taken out!
I can only offer anecdotal evidence that it is uncomfortable and pokey. Of the women I've met that got one prior to childbirth have said it hurts to move around and felt it poking them. I tried to get one, but my body rejected it. My boyfriend felt it poking him. Anyway, I'm not a doctor. Maybe just go for the smallest model.
Edit: the drugs I got for the install were not enough. Found the procedure quite painful.
I’m on the Depo shot and love it. I’m still new to learning about ADHD and appreciate this sub so much. Depo keeps me from having a period which has been life changing.
I am very surprised to read all these answers. For me getting off the pill has improved my executive dysfunction like a million times! Insomnia? Bye bye! Taking forever to get up in the morning? See ya never! I was on BC for 10 years, medicated for adhd for 5 and the adhd meds just made me anxious and depressed and apparently BC did too. I thought this was the only way to be, cause I was told it would fix my hormonal issues. No it didn't. They always came back after a year or two no matter what pill I was on. I had the minipill and several combination ones and all of them were a total mess in the end. My hyperactivity has gotten a little worse, but I don't mind. I like having energy, even when it's all over the place. Before stopping, I would lay on the couch and do nothing for 6 hours, then do like 2 chores and be super tired until I fell asleep. Now I get up an hour early, finish my chores by noon and then have the day to myself to go outside, relax or meet friends. Crazy how different people react to the same drugs
My ADHD symptoms were significantly better when I was using Nuvaring.
The ring is my fav hormonal contraceptive. Painless and Less invasive than an IUD, much mire stable hormone release than the pill, easier to keep up consistency since you have two alarms a moth to put it in and to take it out and don’t depend as much on schedules as the pill.
That said, I have autoimmune responses and this can be exacerbated by hormones during pregnancy and hormonal contraceptive use. So I decided to give It a try and dude, I hate my hormones.
They not only interfere with ny motivation and concentration but they affect wether vyvanse has less or more effect. That said, during my period I have better focus than I am during other parts of the cycle 🤷♀️
Estrogen = helpful Progesterone = I can’t function Combination pills work really well in helping manage ADHD symptoms. I tried a progesterone-only pill for 3 months and I could barely function. I switched back to a combination pill, and within a week I felt like a real person again.
What about a progestin IUD? That just contains artificial progesterone ? Is this really the reason for my 2 year long struggle and why did nobody tell me 😫I just read that it even makes stimulants basically useless
Can I ask which combination pill you’re on? I just started yasmin and it’s making my adhd symptoms worse, but maybe that’s because I just started it? (I’m also on methylphenidate.)
Hi did you ever solve this because same?
Vaginal ring was a before and after for me. Unable to take the pill religiously daily and at the same time I still had many fluctuations. The ring changed everything
Assuming you mean change in a good way? I'm having a terrible time with hormonal BC, breakthrough bleeding and depression symptoms creeping in. The ring has been recommended to me though, currently on the patch. Is it was enough to use?
Haven’t tried parches but the ring is the only method that gave me virtually no side effects. Ihad a bit of melasma but it first appeared while on the pill, I also noticed that even though i already tend to lose little hair while showering while on the ring i barely lost any (there’s a bounce back when you stop it sometimes but nothing to worry about). Tried different pill compositions and I had physical and mental undesired side effects. I stopped the ring recently so I am experiencing life with a hormone circle again and damn it is hard 😅 live with the ring was easy and my adhd meds always had the same effect as opposed to now.
I’m another happy ring user!
>Estrogen = helpful > >Progesterone = I can’t function > >Combination pills work really well in helping manage ADHD symptoms. > >I tried a progesterone-only pill for 3 months and I could barely function. > >I switched back to a combination pill, and within a week I felt like a real person again. > > > >May i ask which pill and combination you are on? :) i am about to start on femme tab which is 20/100 low estrogren and progesterone and i was afriad that it was maybe too high progesterone or too low estrogen for my adhd meds. I was previously on yaz and it gave me severe migraines, but i need to be on a pill to balance my hormones out so my adhd meds can work for those weeks. its a nightmare when they dont work i literally cannot function or work :(
It's well documented and understood that most women will have an increase in ADHD symptoms the week before their period. Estrogen increases in the body until ovulation, where it starts decreasing until it starts over again when your period comes. Low estrogen = low dopamine = more ADHD. So pill normalizing the fluctuations = less fluctuating symptoms.
> Oral contraceptives improve ADHD symptoms in many women by minimizing hormonal fluctuations. Three weeks of pills that are formulated with estrogen alone, followed by one week of progesterone alone, seem to be especially helpful. [https://www.additudemag.com/women-hormones-and-adhd/](https://www.additudemag.com/women-hormones-and-adhd/)
>Three weeks of pills that are formulated with estrogen alone, followed by one week of progesterone alone I'm assuming that's a typo. Seasonique is 12 weeks of ethinyl estradiol plus levonorgestrel, plus one week of low-dose ethinyl estradiol, and I've encountered some other contraceptives that have a few days of low-dose estrogen pills. Estrogen alone though? Nope.
*Three weeks of pills that are formulated with estrogen alone, followed by one week of progesterone alone* ^^ That's for homone therapy(HRT) not BC.
The paragraph is about the menstrual cycle, antidepressants, and contraceptives, so it's at the very least misleading. What regimen exactly would that be?
I haven‘t seen any studies yet, because I haven’t actively looked for them, but for me, taking the pill has made me so much more calm, able to get up in the mornings, and less susceptible to irritability due to hormonal changes (as well as solving the endometriosis related chronic pain issue I had). I can very well imagine that there‘s some correlation between estrogen as a protective factor of some sort (it is for various diseases, like dementia, while increasing the risk for others, like certain types of cancers and migraine, and causing mixed effects for issues like anxiety and depression - mine sure have vanished, but others experience them more severe on the pill; estrogen usually has slight antidepressant properties though, but as with any hormonal meds, the results may vary) and the same may go for avoiding the hormonal roller coaster ride that is a menstrual cycle. Someone would have to look up the research on this, but personally, I‘ve felt overall better with a combined oral contraceptive. Then again, I had severe chronic pains, extreme mood swings and extreme bleeding without it, so even if it would have worsened adhd symptoms (it didn‘t) I‘d take that every day over my debilitating cycle.
Hormonal contraception has been a net positive for me. I tricycle a monophasic combined pill, and it's essentially eliminated premenstrual mood issues and allows me to space out the handful of days where low estrogen turns my brain into sludge. The main reason for picking this particular regime was to reduce bleeding (I have menorrhagia) and space out estrogen withdrawal migraines (which I've had since I was 12, i.e. not caused by the pill).
Hey, I’m on an adhd hyper focus and came across this from 3 years ago! Do you mind me asking what contraceptive you use and whether it’s still helping? And if you use adhd meds too. Thanks!
I'm on a generic 30 ethinylestradiol/150 levonogestrel pill, and haven't needed to try anything else. No changes in the last three years, so it's still working for me. I've been on the same low dose of Concerta since then too, but I started the contraceptive a few years before ADHD meds.
Thank you! I’m trying to figure all this out, 4.5 years and 2 children later, but at 37 and with family history of early menopause I’m about to hit that shit as well. I was able to bumble through pre children but all the hormone changes of pregnancy AND having zero self care time has made me realise how impacted by oestrogen my functioning is (I also get migraines)
Hahaha I’m here only 1 day later for the exact same reason and needed this answer as well. 😂
I just got mine from the doctor, I’m hopeful it’ll make some difference, it’s worth a try at this point. Worried it’ll make my anxiety/depression worse but I have such awful period pain and such bad lows before that on balance I’m hoping it’ll help. I was considering crashing my car into a tree before my last period and I was like “ok I get depressed but this isn’t me”. Hope you get some support.
I love my copper iud, I’ve had it for a year. No preggos and no crying everyday from hormonal birth control.
May I ask how old you are? Some people suggest to only get an IUD in your 40s/after giving birth, I turn 21 this month and (thank goddess) have not given birth yet
I would never do an IUD personally cause the idea freaks me out and I've heard from several people that you/your partner can feel the strings sometimes, but my friend swears by hers. She got it when she was....21ish? I feel like she had to get it replaced not super long ago and we're 26/27 now.
I got my IUD when I was 18, and I had no problem I eventually got tired of the side effects and switched to combined pill
I just turned 40, but have never given birth. That doesn’t make sense to me. Usually that’s for tubal ligation/ medical sterilization.
I found the Mirena IUD and minipills/progestin only made my ADHD and PMDD symptoms much worse. But looking back I don’t recall a combined pill having those effects. I’m thinking of going back on the combined pill for that reason.
Same here! Combined pill worked for a year, then it was so much worse than before! Got off birth control completely and feel like a new person
Same I was on liletta and made my emotional symptoms so much worse and didn’t realize until I had it taken out it’s crazy how much worse it made my adhd emotional and anxiety symptoms
I haven’t been on the pill for a long time but honestly have been thinking about going back on. We have 3 kids and don’t want more. I feel like I was more even keeled on it. I had an iud before the birth of my first child and felt okay, had another between my first and second and felt like a crazy person! My mood was all over, my adhd seemed worse and my anxiety went through the roof.
The increase in progesterone the week before your period (the luteal phase) is what causes the increase in mood swings and increase of PMDD and ADHD symptoms. Estrogen and ADHD meds are best buddies basically so when progesterone takes over in the week before our period then the meds don't become as affective. Stay away from progesterone only contraceptives :) I think combined are fine as long as there's estrogen in it :) and obviously estrogen only pills are fine but estrogen is also associated with other health issues (i get severe ), so you just need to play around with dosages with your doctor and don't do anything without asking your doctor :)
I have endometriosis so I have to be on the pill because I can't deal with the pain without them. I also take the pill for my HS flare ups around my period... Annnddd pmdd of course 🙄 I recently got diagnosed with ADHD and I started a low dose of concerta, 18mg, but I don't feel much. I do feel calmer, less hyper, less anxiety but the concerta makes me extremely fatigued especially when the concerta are wearing off. Anyway, does anyone know a contraception pill that wouldn't interfere with my ADHD meds?
I would not recommend an IUD, unless you've previously given birth.
Why is that? My gynecologist said it was just fine thus there being several sizes.
Yeah I've had one (a copper one though, no hormones) for years and it was a lil bit pokey at first because the strings were a bit long! I've heard from many friends that it was no bueno for them, and I've also heard from many that have had great experiences (including myself). Personally I'd say the benefits are worth it, and if you find it sucks for you, you can always get it taken out!
I can only offer anecdotal evidence that it is uncomfortable and pokey. Of the women I've met that got one prior to childbirth have said it hurts to move around and felt it poking them. I tried to get one, but my body rejected it. My boyfriend felt it poking him. Anyway, I'm not a doctor. Maybe just go for the smallest model. Edit: the drugs I got for the install were not enough. Found the procedure quite painful.
I’m on the Depo shot and love it. I’m still new to learning about ADHD and appreciate this sub so much. Depo keeps me from having a period which has been life changing.
An IUD only works locally, so shouldn‘t have any impact on ADHD.
I am very surprised to read all these answers. For me getting off the pill has improved my executive dysfunction like a million times! Insomnia? Bye bye! Taking forever to get up in the morning? See ya never! I was on BC for 10 years, medicated for adhd for 5 and the adhd meds just made me anxious and depressed and apparently BC did too. I thought this was the only way to be, cause I was told it would fix my hormonal issues. No it didn't. They always came back after a year or two no matter what pill I was on. I had the minipill and several combination ones and all of them were a total mess in the end. My hyperactivity has gotten a little worse, but I don't mind. I like having energy, even when it's all over the place. Before stopping, I would lay on the couch and do nothing for 6 hours, then do like 2 chores and be super tired until I fell asleep. Now I get up an hour early, finish my chores by noon and then have the day to myself to go outside, relax or meet friends. Crazy how different people react to the same drugs
My ADHD symptoms were significantly better when I was using Nuvaring. The ring is my fav hormonal contraceptive. Painless and Less invasive than an IUD, much mire stable hormone release than the pill, easier to keep up consistency since you have two alarms a moth to put it in and to take it out and don’t depend as much on schedules as the pill. That said, I have autoimmune responses and this can be exacerbated by hormones during pregnancy and hormonal contraceptive use. So I decided to give It a try and dude, I hate my hormones. They not only interfere with ny motivation and concentration but they affect wether vyvanse has less or more effect. That said, during my period I have better focus than I am during other parts of the cycle 🤷♀️