Some user accounts edited from over 150 reports we received
"After having being depressed for 5 years (all the time I was on Dianette) I. Having now been off it for 6 months, I have not sufered from depression since and finally feel like I can function again."
"Uncharacteristically suffered panic attacks and deep anxiety- Recently stopped taking Dianette -after 2 weeks felt almost normal -. I feel a different person..the old me!!!"
"Since starting dianette I had terrible bouts of depression resulting in self harm thoughts of suicide,and I flew into a few rages."
"After 3 months of taking Dianette, I noticed I was very anxious and started to feel depressed(which was very out of character for me). Although my face is clear I don’t feel too happy. Most days I feel like I’ve got a black cloud hanging over my head. I’ve become very moody and tearful, I feel emotionally distant toward my boyfriend."
"Almost within a week of coming off the tablets, I had gone from someone barely able to function because of my depression to actually looking forward to a new day."
Millie Kieve's experience at the inquest for tragic death of a young woman who staggered and fell into the path of a train in a London suburb
I attended the inquest of A who tragically died after falling under a train. A was prescribed Dianette by a private Harley St dermatologist. He informed me he prescribed Dianette as a contraceptive as he had prescribed the Roaccutane for acne. A was concerned that Roaccutane had dried up and ruined her skin which led to her feeling depressed and despairing. No account was taken that Dianette can cause or add to depressed feelings.
When I expressed concern to the Dermatologist at his inappropriate prescription for an already depressed girl - I told him "Dianette is not licenced for contraception and can cause depression", the Dermatologist failed to respond to me. His attitude to his careless prescribing that may have contributed to the girl's demise was dismissive. This man who no longer works in the NHS has appeared on UK TV giving advice in a medically styled popular programme. Producers should take care when employing so called ‘experts’.
A was also prescribed by another doctor, Prozac and Zopiclone. It was apparent at the inquest that none of the 3 or 4 doctors involved in her care had troubled to communicate with each other to discuss how best to protect a vulnerable young woman.
The train driver described how A ‘Staggered and fell’ in front of the train.
The possibility of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) or interactions was not taken on board by the coroner, who seemed intent on quickly ending the jury inquest and in his summing up referred to Angela having ‘jumped’ in front of the train. This inaccurate comment and the fact he referred to Prozac as Fluoxetine, led to the jury returning a verdict of suicide. An opportunity was missed to highlight the incompetence of medical practitioners and their failure to communicate with each other.
The Pill and depression campaign by Vicky Spratt January 2027
My nightmare on the pill
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-38575745 article
http://www.thedebrief.co.uk/news/real-life/side-effects-of-the-pill-20170166182 article
You can follow Vicky on Twitter - Vicky Spratt (@Victoria_Spratt) | Twitter
You can follow APRIL on Twitter https://twitter.com/APRIL_charity