Apri and Acne: What Users Say (Page 3)

• Ann...
• November 5, 2015

For Birth Control "I have been on Apri for a month now, and I can NOT wait until Sunday to switch back to my brand name birth control. This month has been a nightmare for my body. Yes, I know, usually if you switch birth control, things may change for your body, but I was told that this was the EXACT same thing as my other brand name birth control and that the only difference is that I wouldn't have to pay out of pocket. Which is weird because I didn't pay out of pocket for my brand name birth control. Anyways, within the first week, I had acne all over my face, and right now, I have hundreds of little red bumps on my forehead. I honestly have not broken out this bad since freshman year of high school... I'm 22 now. Each to their own, but for me, Apri is a no no."

• Isu...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 11, 2016

For Birth Control "My main reason for using this type of birth control was solely for pregnancy prevention. I've never had any problems with my periods or acne. I've experienced the worst side effects possible. I'm constantly moody and sad, I have heavy long-term periods, a face covered in acne, low sex drive, hair loss, spots on my skin, and sensitivity to most soaps and lotions. I'm overall disappointed with this pill and can't wait to start a new type of contraceptive. Granted, I haven't gotten pregnant, but we use condoms, so it's hard to judge anyway."

• Sie...
• December 12, 2015

For Birth Control "Reading these reviews is so disheartening. I've been taking Apri for over 5 years now. Suddenly, over the past 6 months, my acne is terrible, and I get menstrual migraines. Clearly, I haven't done my research. I am stopping tomorrow. Do not take this pill."

• Rac...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 13, 2015

For Birth Control "Had not taken birth control for about 2 years and decided to get back on it. Started out with Apri and I would not recommend it to my worst enemy. I normally have very clear skin, but it made my face break out like crazy and made me gain 10+ lbs. I am very athletic and eat healthy, so I don't believe it could be contributed to my diet. The weight is also seeming impossible to get off while still on the birth control. It also made my breasts constantly tender. I do not recommend this."

• Ama...
• November 29, 2015

For Birth Control "I had stopped taking birth control altogether for about a month and lost a ton of weight, and my breasts got smaller. Then my doctor put me on Apri. Easily one of the worst things to happen to me. I've never had such bad acne in my life, and it seems like it never stops. I've also gained at least 10 pounds in addition to my normal weight, and that's being modest. I feel bloated all the time, and I can't tell if I look fat because I'm bloated or because it's the weight being distributed right into my stomach. I'm switching back to my old birth control. Apri sucks."

• Syd...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 4, 2021

For Birth Control "I LOVE this pill. I have taken pills that have made me gain insane amounts of weight, this pill, in combination with diet and exercise, has not only increased my weight, I've lost 80 pounds! I've used it for contraception for over a year and have never had any scares, missed periods, or any problems at all with my period. It even helped with my hormonal acne. AND it is not too expensive!"

• Rio...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 5, 2021

For Birth Control "I was on Apri for about 4.5 years, and everything was fine. I had a little acne here and there, but nothing bad at all. Then, all of a sudden, my boobs started hurting immensely for months, and I had no sex drive. I literally thought I was pregnant sometimes because of my symptoms. I switched off Apri, and I have now been on Giavani for a little over a month and have had no significant symptoms, but my sex drive is definitely back and no more boob pain!!"

• Ses...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 16, 2015

For Birth Control "Absolute worst birth control I've ever been on. Made me moody and have random crying spells, and made me break out SO bad. I've never had a problem with acne, but as soon as I was put on this, it was just pimple after pimple after pimple. I changed it as soon as I could. I would NOT recommend."

• Ses...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 16, 2015

For Birth Control "Absolute worst birth control I've ever been on. Made me moody and have random crying spells, and made me break out SO bad. I've never had a problem with acne, but as soon as I was put on this, it was just pimple after pimple after pimple. I changed it as soon as I could. I would NOT recommend."

• Nat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 7, 2015

For Birth Control "I just finished my third pack of the pills, and overall, I have gained weight, my acne got worse. But in all honesty, I have been eating pure sh*t while on the pill and even before, so I can't really say if the acne and weight gain came from taking the pill. I also got migraines and felt nauseous sometimes. I did not get the pill to prevent pregnancy because I'm not having sex at all, lol. I just got on the pill to regulate my period, and so far, it is doing that."

• Sid...
• May 22, 2015

For Birth Control "I was on Cyclessa, no problems, until my doctor switched me, saying that they no longer carry it. Apri is awful, I'm breaking out like a middle school boy, and I'm itchy all the time. Just want to know how many people had the same symptoms because my doctor is telling me in order to switch birth control, I have to completely buy a new prescription because breaking out and being itchy 'are not side effects.'"

• mpl...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 9, 2018

For Birth Control "I have been taking Apri for a few years and generally have no concerns at all. Periods are managed perfectly - last 4 days and are always the same. The only downside is that I have more anxiety with this pill, and it doesn’t control my acne very well. I am switching soon just to see if those symptoms will improve — but if they don’t, I’m definitely going back to Apri."

• Mar...
• December 2, 2018

For Birth Control "I was put on this birth control after I was on Tri-Previfem for a couple of years. After taking a lower dose BC, my periods started to be irregular, so they put me on a higher dose (Apri/Desogen) to regulate my periods. So, now about Apri... It did, in fact, make my periods regular. As far as everything else... awful. I have anxiety, definitely get depressed for no reason. Mood swings every week for no reason, like crazy. Zero sex drive. Doesn’t do anything for acne, it makes it worse, in my opinion. I always break out when I’m taking it. It made me gain a lot of weight in the beginning and messed with my moods. During my cycle, I have a terrible crampy ovulation-like symptoms, I have awful period cramps and terrible mood swings, pimples, it’s just terrible. Periods are long. I’ve never been worried about pregnancy because this stuff is so strong I missed multiple days and never got pregnant when I probably should have. But other than that, this birth control is terrible."

• Mar...
• December 2, 2018

For Birth Control "I was put on this birth control after I was on Tri-Previfem for a couple of years. After taking a lower dose BC, my periods started to be irregular, so they put me on a higher dose (Apri/Desogen) to regulate my periods. So, now about Apri... It did, in fact, make my periods regular. As far as everything else... awful. I have anxiety, definitely get depressed for no reason. Mood swings every week for no reason, like crazy. Zero sex drive. Doesn’t do anything for acne, it makes it worse, in my opinion. I always break out when I’m taking it. It made me gain a lot of weight in the beginning and messed with my moods. During my cycle, I have a terrible crampy ovulation-like symptoms, I have awful period cramps and terrible mood swings, pimples, it’s just terrible. Periods are long. I’ve never been worried about pregnancy because this stuff is so strong I missed multiple days and never got pregnant when I probably should have. But other than that, this birth control is terrible."

• eve...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 8, 2017

For Birth Control "I had been on this pill in my 20s and did fine, but restarted in my 30s and have had a totally negative experience. I felt nauseous the first few days. My breasts are so sore and painful. I have two emotions: either very angry or crying. I have 0 sex drive, and I had spotting and acne. I'm also very bloated. I’m basically trying to finish this month and stop this pill so as not to mess with my period schedule. I got on it to try and stop mid-cycle spotting I was having, and it made it worse (though I know, to be fair, you need to give a pill 3 months). I was way better off off of it. Every day on it has been a challenge."

• Anonymous
• November 28, 2011

For Birth Control "I switched to this pill from Necon 1/35 to try and improve my acne in addition to birth control. I tried it for 2 months. Side effects I noticed: tired and it felt hard to get out of bed (very unlike me!), faint tension headaches across my forehead, acne breakouts on my chest and face, ravenously hungry at times, and then no appetite (haven't gained any weight, may have lost a pound or two), slightly sore but much larger breasts, decreased sex drive but not as low as while on Necon 1/35. I have decided to try a new pill because of these side effects. This pill was meant to help my acne but it seems to have made it worse, and feeling tired all the time with headaches isn't tolerable for me since I am very active."

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 11, 2017

For Birth Control "Been taking Apri for 3 months; first 2 periods were fine, no cramps, pretty normal. My last period I had was the worst period I ever had. Was extremely heavy, no cramps, but the heaviest period I've ever had. My boyfriend says he's noticed changes in my mood; I'm very irritable and sad all the time. I feel bloated all the time; I've gained weight in my face and stomach. My acne seems to be the same, a few breakouts here and there. Some days I have a very low sex drive; some days very high. Overall, it works, just makes you feel super insecure. Was doing fine for years without birth control; I think I'll be fine for another few years without it."

• jes...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 1, 2017

For Birth Control "I'm halfway through my third pack, and my face has been continuously breaking out so bad since I started taking Apri. My complexion is literally better off it, rather than on it. However, it has helped my periods, but if my skin is still bad after I finish this pack, I'm switching to a different pill."

• Jil...
• September 1, 2015

For Birth Control "All I have to say is UGH. I haven't taken birth control in about 4 years, and I decided it was smart for me to go back on it. I've been on Apri for about 2 weeks now, and I am totally not myself. I feel so sad and depressed. I have also had random crying spells. Appetite hasn't increased at all, but my skin has broken out. My skin has been super itchy all over since I've been on it, and I've been getting stomach pains and headaches. Birth control does work differently for everyone, but I definitely plan on switching to a new birth control when this pack finishes."

• Mar...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• August 23, 2021

For Birth Control "I have been on the pill (continuous pill) from the age of 22 until 37 for very bad endometriosis. The pill was a miracle for me, but then at 37, because I was scared of having phlebitis/thrombosis because of someone telling me horror stories, I stopped taking it. It was the worst decision of my life. A few weeks after stopping the pill, I started having a nervous breakdown, was having panic attacks like never before, my anxiety was crippling, I started to get depressed, I started to have real bad acne, my skin was greasy, my periods were back in full force, heavy and painful as anything. I was a mess, but thank God no phlebitis. Doctors tell you about the risk of taking the pill, but they do not tell you the risk to stop taking it after a long time. I went back on it after I had a talk with my doctor who told me that some girls/women can experience very bad depression, anxiety, and bad mood swings when they STOP taking it. I wish I knew about that. Anyone else experienced that? (Like if yes)"

• Anonymous
• March 3, 2011

For Birth Control "I've taken Apri for about 2 years, and I loved it at first! I was on Yaz before, but it was getting way too expensive, so I switched. My face has cleared up, but I still break out often, and on Yaz, I was completely acne-free. My sex drive has vanished, along with when I am in the mood, I have horrid vaginal dryness, and I've gained weight in my lower parts. However, my cup size is now much bigger."

• Anonymous
• July 22, 2011

For Birth Control "I am on my second month of taking Apri. My periods are much better, but I have noticed that I have gained a bit more weight. Also, more acne than with my previous birth control pill. But on the good side, my periods are much shorter, and my cramps are less awful. When it comes to periods, it helps, but self-esteem, not so much."

• oce...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 24, 2018

For Birth Control "I am stopping Apri after one month of use. I have struggled with cystic acne for years and took minocycline for about a year and a half. I achieved the best skin of my life, which stayed that way even after I stopped the antibiotic six months ago. I have been naturally clear with no breakouts until I started Apri. I started Apri in hopes that it would help continue to keep my skin clear. Within the first two weeks, I broke out again, and now I am continuing to break out. I am stopping this medication now and returning to my derm to see what I can do to get my clear skin back."

• Bub...
• March 17, 2017

For Birth Control "I've been on Apri for about six months now, and it's been a rollercoaster. This is the first birth control that I have experience with, so I decided to give it 5 stars because it's done some good for me and some not so good. I have had bad acne for the past 10+ years, so when I first started taking Apri and the acne subsided, I was thrilled. I like having regular, trackable periods, but I suppose you'd have that with any birth control. The downside is the absolutely awful mood swings, and I mean awful. I'm typically a very happy, jokey person, but while on this medication I've noticed that I can get into funks of terrible irritability and sadness for no reason. I will be discussing different options with my doctor next time I see her."

• Mad...
• February 22, 2017

For Birth Control "I have been on this pill for 3 months and am now switching. I didn't get pregnant, so that's the only advantage. My mood swings were out of whack when I first started the pill. I have headaches, am tired all the time, tender boobs, severe cramping, bad acne, and heavy periods. I ended up with a cyst in my left boob too. My sex drive increased, and I was more wet during intercourse than my last pill. Everyone's body is different, this one wasn't right for me."