Apri and Nausea: What Users Say

• ano...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 24, 2020

For Birth Control "I've been on Apri for about 4 years now. I've never had any serious reactions/symptoms. If you're seeing other people's stories about their struggle taking this pill, please remember that everyone is different! Symptoms vary! It's been a long time, but I believe I was slightly nauseous for a few days when I first started Apri, but since then no problems at all."

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 26, 2020

For Birth Control "If you are prone to anxiety or depression, please be very careful while taking this Apri birth control pill. The first couple of months, I felt very nauseous and would have the worst cramps around my period, not to mention it made my flow heavier. I would get awful headaches the days leading up to my periods as well. I had anxiety before I started this pill, but when I started to take it, it escalated very quickly. I have been on this pill for a year now, and it took until now for me to realize that it was making me lose my mind. I felt completely out of control in my thoughts and was making my anxiety spiral. I am now off of it, and I feel like myself again. Be careful!!!"

• lms...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 23, 2013

For Birth Control "I took Apri for over 2 years with no side effects. My periods went from extremely heavy for 6-7 days to very light for 3-4 days. My cramps went away, skin cleared up a little bit. Then I switched to Implanon for a month. During that time, I bled every single day and broke out horribly all over my chest and back. So I got that removed and went back on Apri. Since then, my periods have gone back to normal, I've gone up 2 cup sizes in the last 8 months, but I have been experiencing some very mild nausea and lightheadedness. I love it overall."

• hka...
• April 26, 2016

For Birth Control "I really like this birth control. When I'm not on birth control, I have extremely painful menstrual cramps, very heavy periods, and crazy hormonal acne breakouts. It took about two and a half months to see any improvements, but my face is almost always completely clear, I have much lighter cramps, and a much lighter flow. I did feel a little nauseous for the first couple of days, but I had no weight gain and no other adverse health or psychological complaints. The only other complaint I could state would be that within a week of taking the pill, my sex drive was almost completely gone. The main reason I am staying on the birth control is for the acne treatment! It is something I have been struggling with for years, and I am so happy with the results."

• Chr...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 21, 2013

For Birth Control "I am thrilled with Apri! I decided to try birth control again because of terrible pelvic pain, probably due to my polycystic ovarian syndrome. Since starting Apri, the pain is gone completely! I was to the point where I was going to opt for laparoscopy just to find a reason and hopefully a cure for the pain, but my doctor convinced me to give this a try, and I'm glad I did! Another bonus is that it helps with my depression and daily fatigue, which was something I wasn't expecting. Add in the fact that I can take the active pills for multiple months straight means I'm feeling a thousand times more energetic than I did before Apri. But when I do switch to the white placebo pills, I feel awful again for that week. Light periods too! Works for me."

• SEa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 1, 2019

For Birth Control "I just started this, and right now I am on the period pills. I feel horrible and have felt horrible since the very first pill. Legit nausea all the time to the point where I was waking up once or twice a week around 4 am throwing up (I tried to take it around 12-2 with food every day to maybe avoid this). I also experience uncomfortable bloating really bad when I haven’t even eaten much to be bloated. I haven’t even been eating much period because I’m nauseous all the time. Add mood swings, sadness, anxiety, and headaches to the mix too. I just feel so awful and not myself, so I DO NOT recommend this pill! I hope it gets out of my system ASAP!"

• Bri...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 19, 2017

For Birth Control "When I first started it, I got really emotional and would get irritated easily, but that all subsided after the first month or so. No weight gain, no acne, no pregnancy, lol. But about the only downfall to this medication is that if I don't eat quite a bit right before I take it, I'll wake up in the middle of the night feeling nauseous and not able to go back to sleep. I can't just eat a cracker or some chips and take it, my stomach has to be full. Different medications affect everyone differently, so that might just be me, but I'm kind of curious as to whether anyone else has had this side effect from this medication?"

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 7, 2018

For Birth Control "Going into my inactive pills of my first pack. Although this is only my first pack, it has been the pits. Very nauseous, but no vomiting. Bloated, more depressed, very irritable, overthink everything more than usual, almost no sex drive, horrible cramps, almost no appetite, lost all motivation for things, got bad chest pains, indigestion, heartburn... you literally name it. I’m trying to give this pill a chance, but so far, it doesn’t seem worth it."

• Fre...
• November 18, 2016

For Birth Control "I've been on this pill for about 2 and a half years now. I started taking it when I was 16, and I'm now 19. It's been my first and only birth control, and I was put on it because I had insanely irregular periods. My periods were always super heavy and lasted around 7 days. This made me completely regular, gave me way lighter periods that last at most 5 days, lowered my mood swings, and reduced my cramps. I've never once experienced any nausea or negative side effects from taking the pill. Everyone's gotta find the right pill for them, and this is definitely mine."

• Suf...
• March 5, 2021

For Birth Control "After years of suffering with PCOS symptoms, Apri has saved me! It has eliminated most of my acne. The first month was harsh, but I knew with how out of whack my hormones were, I was going to have side effects adjusting, so I bared down, and now I'm in the last week of my third pack! The first month, I had the worst morning sickness, I didn't know how I was going to handle it. Each month so far, I've thrown up at least once in the first week. I find the more often I eat, the less I feel the sickness. I've gained about 15 lbs. My appetite has started calming down this month. I went from an A cup to a C cup so far, so I stopped wearing a bra. Some nights, the pain is so bad I have to massage my breasts. I don't find I'm holding much water weight anywhere. I have experienced some headaches, but I try to sleep them off. My periods are already lighter, but still adjusting overall. The best thing from all of this is my depression and mood swings have depleted. I'm meeting with my doctor to renew my prescription!"

• Anonymous
• June 23, 2019

For Birth Control "This pill sucks. I was always anxious, but this actually made me depressed. Also, I felt hungry every 5 minutes and nauseous for the rest of the day. I always woke up dizzy, I broke out with acne. And I was always lightheaded and fatigued. Advice to people that don’t want to feel like rubbish: never take this! I’m warning all of you."

• Jul...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 12, 2019

For Birth Control "I’ve been taking Apri for about 3 weeks now. Just after the first few weeks, my boobs have been super sore and have grown to where everyone, including my boyfriend, notices. I have weird cravings and am getting hunger pains, but feeling full quickly. I am nauseous more than usual. This pill has made me feel pregnant just based off of side effects. I did miss one pill, but doubled up the next day with no issues. I do feel tired and get small random headaches, but nothing unmanageable. Not too bad after being on Depo for over a year. Lol"

• Kat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 27, 2019

For Birth Control "I've been on this pill for 3 months. My doctor told me to wait it out for a few months, and I should adjust. The first month wasn't awful, but it seems to be getting worse and worse the more I take it. The only time I feel okay (not nauseous and anxious) is when I'm on my period. I basically feel what I would compare to carsickness 24/7. I have no appetite, I've lost weight, which is nice, but not in a healthy way. I just don't eat due to constant nausea. My sex drive is nonexistent, which is awful for both my husband and me. I have panic attacks regularly, I cry about nothing, and the smell of anything cooking turns my stomach. My acne has cleared up, so that's good, I suppose, but that's the only positive about this pill. Overall, one of the worst I've ever been on. Discontinuing this month."

• Anonymous
• April 19, 2010

For Birth Control "First time on birth control and was nervous that I'd have the horrible side effects that I've heard about online and through friends. Went on Apri and have never had ANY side effects (nausea, weight gain, etc.). I think that the horror stories you hear are the exception, not the rule. My Dr. said that she's prescribed Apri for first-time birth control users for years and has never had any complaints about it. Got it for $15/month at first and am now paying $25 through Wal-Mart. Other than the disappointment in price increase, I think that I will be taking Apri for a long time."

• Apr...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 13, 2017

For Birth Control "I was put on this birth control pill in preparation for IVF. I've been on other birth control brands in the past and have never had an experience like this! It's only been one week and I am miserable. Incredibly depressed, emotional, fatigued, and unmotivated. I've also noticed a huge appetite increase. In the beginning, I was also super nauseous, but that is fairly typical in my experience. I know that different pills have different effects on people and it takes a while to adjust, but as I said, I've been on multiple brands and none has ever been this bad. All I want to do is sleep, eat, and cry. Good times."

• Ano...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• November 25, 2019

For Birth Control "I have been taking Apri since I was 18, and I never had cramps or headaches during my period. Over the last year, I have noticed such a change when taking this birth control. I have nausea and terrible migraines during my period that I cannot even do anything. Also, I get crazy hot flashes as well. I’m in my late 20s, so I am guessing my hormones have changed and this pill just isn’t doing it anymore. I haven’t really ever had issues with the anxiety/depression like others have (thankfully), but I do notice a huge change in my mood when I am on my period and not taking this birth control. I think the fluctuation in hormones just messes me up for a few days. I would recommend it for people, but like any medication, you need to just be self-aware of how it is making you feel."

• Anonymous
• September 23, 2019

For Birth Control "Let me tell you that the first couple of months of Apri were bad. I had trouble sleeping, nausea, very tender breasts, among other things, but the worst part was the depression and anxiety. I would cry pretty much every day for absolutely no reason. I lost a lot of motivation to do anything. It was pretty miserable, but I decided to stick it out for a couple of months hoping that these symptoms would go away, and they did. I’ve now been on this birth control for about 6 months and I am very happy with it. It regulates my period, which is the main reason I went on birth control because my periods were consistently 10 days long and very irregular, sometimes I’d have a 2-week cycle, sometimes 2 months. Now I get a 5-day period, exactly every four weeks, it’s great. I do still get cramps, but they are not as bad as they were before I went on Apri. I would recommend this birth control if you are prepared for a rough first couple of months."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 30, 2015

For Birth Control "I have been taking this birth control for 6 months now, and as far as I'm concerned, it works well. I haven't gotten pregnant, and I don't use condoms with my significant other. The first few months, I may have had a little bit of nausea and bloating, but that's all gone now. My acne has pretty much stayed the same, but my periods are lighter and shorter. They are also very regular. As for changing my weight, I believe Apri has actually helped regulate my weight, so I haven't gained any pounds nor lost any while maintaining the same diet. Mood swings could probably be better, but that comes with all young female adults under stress anyway."

• Anonymous
• March 8, 2019

For Birth Control "Since the time I have been taking Apri, I have been facing various problems like intense chest pain, problems in concentration, nausea, headaches, extreme mood swings, acne, dizziness, fluctuations in the quality of vision."

• apr...
• January 24, 2021

For Birth Control "I like this Apri birth control pill a lot! I was quite surprised running across all these negative reviews. I understand everyone has a different experience with Apri and is affected everyone differently. Personally, I’ve had no problems, although it’s only been a few weeks of being on it. If anything, my mood swings (from when I was BC free) have gone down DRASTICALLY. I feel much more chilled out and content. No cramping, headaches, etc., but slight anxiety. I have noticed a little weight gain, but this is something that isn’t that big of a problem for me or detrimental. I was initially taking Depo, which caused me to bleed every day straight for 3 months (the same amount I normally would at the start of a period, except EVERYDAY) and suffered from cramps from time to time and nausea. My doctor switched me over to Apri, and so far I have little to no complaints. My skin has been consistently clear and I don’t feel fatigued."

• miu...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 9, 2017

For Birth Control "I am taking the second cycle now. In general, I'm happy with my experience so far, and I'll keep taking it. Negative sides. During the first week, I felt sick to my stomach all the time, and I was super tired, but it went away. During the third week, I had mood swings and felt depressed, but I always feel this way a week before my period, so it was normal to me. Also, my boobs became larger, and it's a little painful to touch them, but that's okay. Positive sides. It feels really good not to worry about becoming pregnant. My sex drive is the same or even increased, weight is the same, appetite doesn't seem to increase. Period is less heavy, skin is better, acne is disappearing."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 9, 2012

For Birth Control "Have had a very good experience with Apri! It's the first birth control I've been on, and it's been about 9 months now. It's regulated my periods, so I can predict it down to the hour. They're less painful, I feel less nausea, and they're much shorter and lighter! I haven't gained any weight - just fluxed a bit up and down a few pounds. Overall - really good!"

• Mar...
• December 11, 2016

For Birth Control "I'm 19 and have been on this pill for 4 months now and have realized many changes. Some pros are that my acne has cleared up and excess hair slowed its growth rate, but the cons outweigh the pros. I have terrible mood swings, headaches, and nausea when I never had that before. My sex drive is nearly non-existent. My periods are more controlled, but they are very heavy and leave me very tired. I have gained 15 pounds in 4 months despite getting 2 hours of exercise almost every day. I thought this pill would help my hormones level out and help my depression, but it has made my relapses far between but much more intense when they happen. Overall, it gets the job done, but if you can, try a different pill."

• Jen...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 8, 2018

For Birth Control "I started taking Apri about three weeks ago. It was nothing but a horrible experience for me. From the start, it was nausea, dizziness, throwing up, on-and-off eating habits, some days I could eat, and some days I couldn’t. I had extreme mood changes, I was snappy towards everyone all the time. I had severe cramps that seemed like they would never go away. All of these issues I thought would only last about a week to two weeks, then go away. But they only worsened as I kept taking Apri. I started having pain in my kidney, it started to hurt when I used the bathroom. Then the pain went to both sides and then down my legs. My legs would ache to the point I could barely walk. All I could do was sleep. I’ve never had any other issues with any other birth control until Apri. I do not recommend."

• Ale...
• May 14, 2016

For Birth Control "I've jumped around to many birth control pills through the years - some landed me in the hospital with severe, blinding abdominal pain, some made me suicidal, and some made me nauseous. This is the first one that did not do that, so I was thrilled. It also bettered my severe, cystic hormonal acne to only about a blemish or two a month. However, it absolutely killed every ounce of my sex drive, which used to be high and healthy. That's been very frustrating. Otherwise, okay pill."