Apri and Mood Swings: What Users Say (Page 3)

• Anonymous
• November 19, 2010

For Birth Control "I like the simplicity of the package and use, so there are high marks there. Bad thing is that after two months of use, I have gained 3-4 pounds. My breasts have increased in size, as well as my butt. This is the first time I have ever taken birth control, and I am 28 years old. Another bad side effect is the mood swings, which happen frequently. I may try to use another type of birth control soon."

• Hol...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 15, 2020

For Birth Control "I have been taking Apri for 4 months now. I first went on the pill to regulate my hormones and treat acne. After reading the reviews, I was hesitant. The first month was a little rough (slight breakouts and mood swings), but it did get better with time. I have really liked the pill, and my experience has been good."

• Ano...
• July 22, 2017

For Birth Control "So far, I haven't had any problems with Apri. At first, my feet swelled a little bit, and I was kind of bloated, but that all went away after the first pack. I've had Nexplanon, which was the WORST birth control I could've ever gotten. It caused SO many health problems for me, mostly stomach problems. It made me lose a ton of weight, which wasn't very healthy for a 15-year-old. I was on the Depo shot, and that made my moods CRAZY. I have pretty bad anxiety already, and the shot pretty much made it worse. I don't take any medications for my anxiety because I don't believe I need to, but I had to with the Depo shot. It made me gain about 15 pounds, so I'm basically back to where I was 3 years ago before Nexplanon. Apri has been the best for me yet."

• Kid...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 26, 2016

For Birth Control "Although this is the first brand I've tried, it's horrible. I take birth control because I'm lacking iron, and my period has become irregular (comes, gone for a week, and is back). It's my second month on it, and so far, I hate it. This past month, I've gained around 10 pounds, reaching the 120s. I've never even reached 115 in the past, and it makes me self-conscious. On top of that, I've been extremely emotional recently. I cry over small things, and sometimes I start crying all by myself for no reason. My stomach also hurts A LOT a week before my period starts and when I'm on it. I have more complaints, but those were the major ones. I'm supposed to take it for 6 months or more, but I can't handle it, and I need to get another ASAP."

• get...
• July 16, 2016

For Birth Control "I switched from Lo Loestrin Fe to Apri because I was getting married and wanted to ensure I was having a monthly period (no pregnancy scares for me, thanks). I didn't experience many side effects at first, but with my first period on the new pill came painful cramping and heavy bleeding. Mind you, I hadn't had a real period in about a year thanks to Lo Lo Fe, but that sort of pain was why I started birth control in the first place. I've been on it about four months now and have seen a significant decrease in my sex drive, which, hello, sucks (newlywed, remember?). I've also seen mood swings and nausea the last couple months as my body has been adjusting, and I'm just not about that life. Switching as soon as I can."

• 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."

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

For Birth Control "I am 18. This is my 3rd birth control I tried in a year. Did the job, but I definitely noticed a lower sex drive and feeling super emotional. Crying at the thought of things and became super sensitive. I'm hoping to switch to one that suits me better, as it is emotionally draining being so emotional and sensitive, which has affected my relationship from time to time because everything bothers me. I can become very irritable as well. Overall, not great, not horrible."

• Anonymous
• May 5, 2011

For Birth Control "I have been on Apri for almost 2 years now, and I am finally getting off of it next week and starting Ocella. I lost my sex drive, wanted to eat everything in sight, and was very emotional. No change in breast size, and never had trouble with acne. I dealt with Apri for this long because it helped with my ovarian cysts and kept my periods light and regular. Four months ago, I started eating healthy and working out consistently to lose weight, and yet no successful results. I am so sick of having to eat minimal calories and work out 4+ days a week just to MAINTAIN my weight. I really hope Ocella works!"

• Anonymous
• December 22, 2009

For Birth Control "This pill hasn't worked out for me. I started gaining weight almost immediately and suffered through some pretty wild mood swings. Now that I've switched back to Marvelon, my head feels much clearer and the weight is quickly coming off."

• sam...
• March 1, 2010

For Birth Control "I am on my fourth month of Apri, and my boyfriend and I have never had protected sex, and I have not gotten pregnant. The downfalls to Apri are that I have crazy mood swings, and it's taking a big toll on our relationship. We fight constantly, and I have horrible mood swings, and I always have nausea."

• kel...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 19, 2021

For Birth Control "I started this pill more than 2 years ago, and I have only had mild psychological symptoms. No physical changes, such as weight or acne. I would sometimes get mood swings and seep into depression and anxiety from time to time (for only a week or so). However, I’ve never gotten pregnant from consistently taking the pill. I love this pill, and I would switch back to this if I end up not liking the implant (I’m switching over soon). Everyone’s body is different. Fortunately, I reacted pretty well."

• 30F...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 28, 2017

For Birth Control "Taking this to move my cycle over. My periods are typically 4 supersoaker days with some cramping - 2 days. My first month on this hellbent pill was constant cramping + nausea, 25 days of bleeding, and horrid mood swings, dark thoughts, déjà vu, and dizzy spells. Doc had me double up for the rest of this packet, now the bleeding is just sparse spots. BF is relieved to finally have sex, though it's painful because now I have low estrogen. Begged the doc to switch me to a different pill brand."

• M91...
• February 6, 2018

For Birth Control "Switched from Enskyce to Apri after a manufacturer change. I liked Enskyce, it did its job without affecting my body or hormones. I don't like Apri. My libido is way down, I am more emotional, and my period this month is 10 days early. I have an appointment with my doctor and will be telling them to take me off of Apri."

• lje...
• December 19, 2009

For Birth Control "I've just started my second month on Apri, and so far I am definitely not satisfied! I get extremely bad cramps, my hair is literally falling out, I have mood swings like crazy. I've completely lost my appetite, and somehow I've gained weight. However, my periods have started back up again (which is what I started them for). This is the only good thing I can say about Apri. I'm not sure that my side effects are worth it at all."

• 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)"

• Dey...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 2, 2018

For Birth Control "I do not recommend this birth control to anybody. I experienced anxiety, depression. I couldn’t control my eagerness, had bad mood swings ever since I started taking these pills. I had abdominal pain, weight gain, increased appetite, hungry all the time, crave weird things, etc. Do not take it!"

• Dil...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 18, 2018

For Birth Control "I had blood work done, and my doctor said my levels are fine. Went to my gynecologist, and she said I needed birth control to regulate my periods (I don't care if they’re regular or not, and they don’t hurt), but I went on Apri for my relationship. My sex drive lowered, I was an emotional wreck, weird cravings, and didn’t feel well overall (everything triggered some kind of emotion). She said it was normal, and I was just imagining things. I stopped the pills because my period started smelling like ammonia, and that’s never happened. Day 16 of this period, and it still smells like it. It’s like I took a Windex bath."

• 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."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 30, 2012

"I've been on this birth control for a little more than a year. At first, I had great experiences, as I had no breakthrough bleeding, and my period came at the same time each month. A few months in, though, I started having major mood swings and bad PMS. I've also gained some weight. Both my boyfriend and I are pretty sick of it. If you aren't nervous about mood swings, I would say try this birth control."

• 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."

• BCA...
• March 7, 2012

For Birth Control "This is the worst birth control experience I've ever had. I was on Quasense for three years but stopped when breakthrough started to occur. I am on these medications for birth control but also to manage excessively heavy and painful periods. I started Apri on the first day of my period. I then bled for 12 days, followed by five days of horrible discharge. I stopped Apri 12 days into the pack after experiencing ridiculous weight gain (my diet did not change), headaches, outrageous mood swings, anxiety, full body pain, cramping, muscle spasms in my neck, and severe fatigue. It is now day 18 (five days off the pill), and I'm still bleeding and dealing with tremendous mood swings. I have gained what looks like 20 or so pounds."

• Kay...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 29, 2018

For Birth Control "Been taking since January 2018. I have intense headaches, my mood swings are awful, and I am angry or get frustrated so easily. This pill raised my blood pressure when I’ve never had issues with blood pressure. I’ve gained 25 pounds. I’m always hungry and have cravings for the most random things. The first few weeks on the pill, I was nauseous, and even after being on it for 7 months, I spot a lot, and I have NO sex drive! I’m going to have my tubes removed soon so I can get off this mess! I’ve taken many birth control pills, and this is by far the worst!"

• Anonymous
• February 20, 2011

For Birth Control "My wife has been on Apri for about 3 years now, and right away I noticed something was wrong. After much talking, I think I finally have talked her into trying something else. Her mood swings are unpredictable and unexpected. We have been married for 4 years, and it has been really trying on me and us. I really hope she is back to herself soon."

• Amb...
• July 7, 2013

For Birth Control "It cleared my oily skin and acne, but my hunger was out of control, and my mood swings were awful. I had no desire at all for sex anymore, and that can really put a damper on a new marriage."

• Mrs...
• January 10, 2016

For Birth Control "Pretty sure this is causing me to be an emotional wreck. I've never in my life experienced depression or emotions like this."