Diane35, your experiences please

missmelanie23 · 06-26-2003, 09:15 PM

Hi all,

I am looking for information on Diane 35. I have heard so many different reviews about this BCP that I am not sure if I should let go of the Alesse for it.

Could you please tell me what you've experienced while on Diane 35? The good and the bad. Generally, I am looking for moodswings, headaches, cramping information... also if its helped with excess facial and body hair...

Please let me know anything you can think of.. The alesse is great for me as far as moodswings and other little things but when it comes to pcos symptoms, its only benefit is that while on it i get my period and that's about it.

Thanks all
Mel

Chancy · 06-27-2003, 12:43 AM

Hi Mel,

When I was on Diane 35, almost all of my symptoms disappeared. Facial hair was still present...but minimized, obviously, periods were regular, acne was gone, and finally, some relief from all the weight gain.

There is quite a debate as to whether BCP are suitable for treating PCOS. However, this is my experience and once I am done ttc, I plan to go back on Diane.

Good luck
Chancy

Cathy75 · 06-27-2003, 06:45 AM

Hi

I've just started taking this BCP this cycle- it's known as Dianette in the UK. So far I've experienced near continuos heavy bleeding for all of the cycle (bar two days between the end of my period and the start of the bleeding). I've also experienced a couple of days of unexplainable depression (the only thing bugging me at the moment is the bleeding caused by this pill!), nausea and dizziness. I've been advised to continue the pill as usual until my next appointment with the gynocologist on the 30th July.

It's still early days for me on this pill, so I can't say for certain whether I will love it in the end, or whether it will continue to be a nightmare! I think the effects (or side effects) of this pill may depend on the exact levels of hormones you present....?

Good luck

Cathy

jannie_b · 06-27-2003, 09:46 AM

I was on Diane for a couple of years before I moved to the US and could no longer get it here. I loved that pill, the only problems being headaches during my week off, but I get that with every pill (I am prone to headaches regardless of whether I'm on the pill or not.)

I had fairly light periods, no real PMS symptoms, and it really helped with acne. My facial hair improved, but I added spironolactone to my meds to clear up more hair.

There is controversy in Canada right now about this pill, and so you should probably read about it at the Health Canada website. I think that they are being overly cautious, but you should be made aware of what they are saying. It is ludicrous to think that you can go on this pill for a few months until the acne and hair improve and then go off it. The symptoms will return of course. Anyway, you should discuss this with your doctor.

Health Canada Public Advisory on Diane-35

Kerri · 06-30-2003, 12:18 AM

I'm on it and really like it. It does help with body and facial hair, but like anything else, you have to be on it longterm to see results. I just feel more balanced when I'm on it.

On the week I go off it, to get my period, I am a raving crazy woman who cries and yells. The evening after I take my first one to start a new cycle, I'm calm and nice again. I guess it could be imagined, but my husband can tell whether I tell him or not.

I'm aware of the risks of this pill. But I am not concerned for myself. This pill is meant for people who need it, not just as an across-the-board contraceptive. If your Dr. and you are aware of the risks and are happy to keep an eye out and monitor your body, there is nothing to worry about. All drugs have risks and side-effects, and I feel that the slight increase in risk is strongly worth the benefits.

Kerri

Echobelly · 07-03-2003, 03:53 PM

I'm from Toronto, and I've been on Diane for the last 3 years.

My excess hairgrowth has really improved, I was able to lose almost 60 lbs, and noticed a drastic improvement in darkened skin.

I've gained most of the weight back (through very careless dieting), but am confident that without Diane, I wouldn't be able to lose it again.

It has different effects on everyone - but it's made a HUGE difference in my life. As for the Health Canada alert - the percentage of population that it could impact is nearly negligable, and there are similar risks with other pills...

ak82 · 07-23-2003, 11:39 PM

*bump*

How would diane help with weight loss? It doesn't make sense to me; bcp's suppress ovary function, which lowers progesterone and a function of progesterone is to use fat as energy.

How does it work? And why do "normal" people gain weight on bcp's? I'm debating whether or not I should go back on it.

missmelanie23 · 07-28-2003, 07:54 PM

Now on second week of Diane 35 and I see that I have gotten back the sex drive that I totally lost while on Alesse. Though this is really good, the other things aren't... so far.

Always in a bad mood, never feel like doing anything, not even going to the gym or continuing my photography.. I only want to take baths and be locked in my bedroom.... I also noticed that my face is breaking out.. A LOT. which is probably normal for the time being since it is a hormone change after all... I don't know.. I'm starting not to like this decision at all.

Can someone please tell me if they've lived through this and how long it will take before all these effects subside? I much prefer to have no sex drive at all and be in a good mood than getting everyone around me miserable.

Help!!

Thanks
Mel

moonandtheriver · 08-03-2003, 05:21 PM

I went on Diane35 a few years back for the acne and oily skin i had. within a month the acne and oily skin was gone and i loved this pill. by month 2 i had much improved excess hair. 3 months into it my scalp hair started coming out in handfuls. i freaked. i switched pills and that helped a small amount, and then stopped all pills and have been off for 3 years now with little good results. to this day my hair is still shedding at a quick pace and has thinned way out. i am afraid my hair will never be like it used to be, or even close. i guess i reacted badly to that particular pill tho ive never had a problem like that with other pills. i wish i would not have tried it. i can live with bad skin, it can be worked with and covered up to some degree with makeup....but losing hair has been the most traumatic thing i have encountered yet. i hear alot of great things about Diane, which is why i tried it myself. but apparently it did something to make my hair fall out and i cant seem to reverse it no matter what i do. the 3 months of clear skin i had isnt worth this. i think its an individual thing, some women do great on it, others do very bad.

Diablita · 08-04-2003, 01:52 AM

I went to see a Dr. Mariampillai (here in Toronto) on referral of my gp, who spoke to me very briefly before prescribing Diane35 to me, along with provera since I had not had a period for a year and ahalf until june 21st.

I got my period symptoms as usual this month, at the end of July, but did not actually menstruate, like I did in June. This time, I only got the proverbial huge zit, the severe PMS mood swings and the fatigue and cramps I always get.

I thought until today, when i went to get my diane35 prescription that it was like Alesse - just another bcp but for pcos'ers.... I didn't find out until I got home that I am supposed to take it on the first day of my menstruation, and not on the 1st sunday following, like i did with alesse and other bcp's before that. Now I guess I have to wait until I actually physically menstruate before I can start these???? I haven't taken the provera since I spotted for one day ( a few days ago)very lightly. I'm not sure if I have to wait and take the provera before I can take the diane, take it today, or just wait another month and see what happens???

In reading all of your reviews along w/ the inserts which came w/ my prescription, i am terrified to try this. Should I be? Please provide further insight!! I don't want my scalp hair to fall out and i don't want to fall into depression (worse than now)... I don't want blood clots!!

HELP!!

moonandtheriver · 08-04-2003, 04:14 AM

i think any bcp can cause scalp hair loss. all the other inserts list it too im almost positive. some woman do terrible on other pills. i happened to have a very bad reaction to the Diane35 tho. i think it just depends on how your body reacts to it. i am however seriously thinking of avoiding all bcps from now on, tho my endo is trying to get me to go on them because of the pcos. i am not sure it would help.

Diablita · 08-04-2003, 01:23 PM

Thanks for your reply MoonRiver!

Actually, come to think of it, while I was on the Alesse, after I'd been taking it a good year and a half or so, I began to experience hair loss in the shower like never before! I've always had thinn-ish hair anyhow, so it began to worry me a bit, but I was assured it was normal.

Anyhow, aside from even that, i am petrified to take the diane35 now after reading all the reviews in this forum. I'm not even sure if I'm supposed to take it the first day of my menstruation, or the first sunday, or if it makes a difference. With all my other BCPs in the past i was told first sunday, but I can't remember what the actual insert for the product ever said.

I am worried about getting cystic acne as ar esult of starting this, of gaining more weight (I've gone from a size 3/4 canadian/american to a 13, in 4.5 years!!!) and of an even LOWER sex drive (I don't feel I have much of one sometimes anyhow), or even worse mood swings (my PMS is out of control much of the time, although I don't actually menstruate), or depression. I am scared of experiencing all that the ppl here are talking about... not to mention that CBC broadcast from January of this year, where they talked about a girl who supposedly died from taking diane!! I'm not even sure if my obgyn wants me on it for more than 3 months or not-- she prescribed 3 mos and asked me to come back and see her in 3 mos for a review/check up i guess.

SIGH.... This feels so overwhelming, but I'm trying to take things one step at a time and tell myself things could always be much worse.

Thanks again for your reply moonriver.

:-)

Diablita · 08-04-2003, 08:16 PM

Ok ladies - So i visited the pharmacy again today, this time to pick up the Medroxyprogesterone (generic provera) 10mg tablets i'm supposed to take for 5 days to induce a period. I kinda had a period this month, but not really... had all the symptoms, acne, mood swings, pms, cravings, cramps and bloating but no bleeding, other than a little very slight pinkish color on the paper when i went to the bathroom the other day.

My questions:

Do I have to wait a month before I can take the provera to induce period so I can get on the Diane35, or do I just take it now, and get on with it?

What can I expect from the provera? Regular period symptoms, or severity of symptoms? What are your experiences?

Will I need to take provera every month to induce periods while I'm on BCPs, following this experience? In the past BCPs always gave me a regular cycle of menstruation w/out problems. The problem now is that I almost never get a period and need to start back on bcp's.

Looking forward to your responses!

Thanks as always ladies!

helen8785 · 08-04-2003, 08:20 PM

I'm reading all this advice as I have just gone onto this BCP and I want to lose weight.

Has anyone lost weight on it? Or does it just get rid of PCOS symptons?

Thanks

Diablita · 08-04-2003, 09:49 PM

I wonder that myself... although, weight gain IS a pcos symptom...

It's confusing. if you read one of the earlier posts in this thread, one girl asks how it can help you lose weight, since progesterone helps burn fat for energy, and on diane progesterone levels are lowered significantly. She makes a good point.

On the other hand, quite a few ladies claim to have lost weight while on Diane, (a bonus if that really was the reason they lost weight and not due to other factors) and on the contrary, some women claim to have gained weight while on it.

My conclusion is that it depends on the individual, and how your body responds to the hormones/chemicals present in diane35. Depends on many other factors in your life as well as what other meds you are on, what your natural hormone levels are, stress levels, etc.

Any other input would be greatly appreciated by all.