Apri and Weight Gain: What Users Say (Page 2)

• jur...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 14, 2013

For Birth Control "I guess it does what it's supposed to, prevents pregnancy! I have been on it for 2 months, and the weight gain in my belly is ridiculous! I've gained 5 pounds. My mood is all whacked out. I plan on quitting."

• dec...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• July 30, 2013

For Birth Control "I have been on Apri for about 12 years now. I have nothing but good things to say about it. I have gained weight in the last year, I wasn't sure if it was caused by the birth control, so I went off of it for about 6 months. Nothing changed, it's obviously just my diet and lack of exercise. My OBGYN said that being on this pill has significantly reduced my risk of breast cancer, and I have much more regular periods and less cramping."

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 2, 2013

For Birth Control "Apri was the very first birth control pill prescribed to me. My skin cleared up to the point of being a little dry, and my periods were light and regular. However, I started passing large clots during the placebo week, which were very painful. I also gained about 5-7 pounds, and I could have been imagining it, but I thought my legs started feeling funny at night. I stopped taking this pill after 4 months and am now on a different brand I am very happy with."

• Anonymous
• July 16, 2012

For Birth Control "I have only been on Apri for about a month now, and I love it. I have not gained any weight, my sex drive is the same as it was before I started taking the pill, and my insurance covers it. I get it for no cost at all. I don't know why everyone thinks that one pill is going to give everyone that takes it the same side effects. Every person is going to have different side effects, and some will have the same, but the pill is going to react differently to every woman who takes it. This pill overall is my favorite. I absolutely love this pill. It's effective and affordable."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 11, 2021

For Birth Control "This is the 3rd bc pill I’ve tried, and it’s by far the worst. There’s barely any time during the month where I feel okay. The week before my period, the week during, and the week after, I feel super gross and have low energy. I have gained 15 pounds in the past 2 1/2 months, and it’s been super detrimental to my mental health. My depression and anxiety are the same as on any other pill, but I have depressive episodes where I cry for no reason every so often on this. Do not recommend."

• Run...
• May 30, 2015

For Birth Control "At first, I had no problems on Apri. Then, about a month in, I gained over 10 pounds even though I didn't change my diet or exercise. I also noticed that I became very moody and had random crying spells around my period, which has never happened before. My breasts are also very tender and itchy, and my acne has gotten worse. I never had bad period cramps before I started taking this pill, and now they are extremely painful. Hopefully, my doctor switches me to a different pill."

• nao...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 16, 2019

For Birth Control "So I've taken Apri for about four years now, let me say, I love it. I started taking it for terrible cramps-to the point where I'd puke from the pain and have to pull the car over with each wave. Not only did Apri help calm my cramps 98%, my period only lasts like 2-3 days. I used to have terrible, I mean really bad, skin breakouts. After taking Apri for a couple of months, my skin has been completely clear since. It's like killing two birds with one stone. I never gained weight or felt weird. I'm a college student, so I have enough stress on my plate already, Apri really helps."

• Sta...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 20, 2019

For Birth Control "I was on Apri for about 3 years. Originally started birth control as I have irregular, painful menstrual cycles, and that's apparently all they could do for a teenager with such “irregularities.” I loved it for a while because my period symptoms and pain were basically nonexistent, and my period was only ever 4-5 days long. No acne, and didn’t gain any weight or anything. Before I got on Apri, I was diagnosed with anxiety and depressive disorder. This pill played a huge role in what was an ongoing depressive episode for years. I stopped taking it in February, and I still have my struggles, but nowhere near as bad as I did before. So basically, if you have a mental illness, I suggest not taking Apri. There is a great chance it will worsen your symptoms."

• Anonymous
• October 27, 2009

For Birth Control "I, my boobs got huge on this pill, but as well as them, I also gained extra weight on my hips. I completely lost my sex drive as well, so it is hurting my relationship. As well, it has been making me so moody. I give this drug a 5 because I never got pregnant. However, the side effects were bad."

• raf...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 12, 2017

For Birth Control "Was put on this because of PCOS, did exactly what it was supposed to do. Got my period exactly every 28 days, no major side effects except for weight gain (part of which I blame for starting college at the same time). Didn't gain weight at first, then I gained 10-15 lbs, and overall I gained 35-40 lbs. It wasn't easy to lose the weight on this either, even with diet and regular exercise."

• lyd...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 19, 2017

For Birth Control "I have been on Apri for 4 months. I'm 20 years old. This is my 5th overall birth control, but the best yet. I have had some overemotional moments, or as I call them 'birth control' cries, but nothing terrible. My appetite isn't out of control, on my period, though, is another story. On this particular pill, my period is much longer, around 8-10 days. Sex drive is pretty normal, and weight gain has not been out of control, as long as I watch my diet and get my steps in every day, I stay in the 120-130 range."

• Hop...
• August 25, 2020

For Birth Control "I do not take any other meds, just Apri. I don’t take vitamins, nothing. Let me tell you what has changed. I have been on Apri for 2 months. I gained 11 pounds the first month. Mainly my fault because I had cravings. I have broken out so bad on my forehead and sometimes on my chin. I thought it was due to stress because lately I have had EXTREME anxiety and depression. Never been so stressed in my life, and I couldn’t figure out why I was stressed. I have no reason to be. I am terrified to go to work, I have missed so much work the past month and a half due to anxiety. I’m up all night stressing, so I call in. Then I’m stressed about calling in, so I shut down and sleep all day. I can’t get out of bed, I’m so depressed, and I have no reason to be. I started doing research on why I would be depressed and saw that BC can cause it. So I will definitely be stopping this pill so I can go back to normal."

• Anonymous
• January 6, 2011

For Birth Control "I have been on Apri for 6 months now. My acne has come back, I have horrible and frequent mood swings. I've gained at least 8 pounds around my hips. I completely lost my sex drive, which is ruining my relationship with my boyfriend. I have horrible cramps the whole week before and during my period, and I get it for at least 5 days. The kicker is, it was the perfect pill for the first couple of months, so watch out. I'm going to the doctor this week to switch."

• Ron...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 25, 2018

For Birth Control "I would not recommend this medication to anyone. Apri caused me to gain 60 lbs in the course of only 1 year. If you have ever struggled with weight loss or are trying to keep from gaining weight, absolutely do not take this medication."

• D32...
• June 15, 2015

For Birth Control "I have endometriosis, and my doctor wants me to continuously use this with 3-4 breaks per year to minimize the endometrial growth. I had terrible nausea and bad acne in the beginning, not to mention I spotted for a month straight and then bled a period flow for another month. Taking this pill before bedtime helped with the nausea. I've been taking this pill for 4 months now and have gained 5-10 lbs, the acne is still bad (I'm 34 and no longer had it before Apri). Oh, and my libido is nonexistent since taking this medication. I figured it wouldn't happen to me since I had a very strong libido, but it is now gone. I'm going to ask my doctor to change this medication."

• Anonymous
• December 9, 2012

For Birth Control "This birth control was not good. I gained weight all in my stomach and had horrible, horrible bloating before my period for about 3 days. It was as if I was 4 months pregnant-none of my clothes fit, and I'd feel too uncomfortable to sit in a chair. Acne was worse than it has ever been."

• Kay...
• January 27, 2015

For Polycystic Ovary Syndrome "I got severe lower back pain very soon after starting this, which continued the entire time I was taking it. Frequent (at least 3x a week) migraines, increased appetite and weight gain, and a mysterious breast lump."

• cyb...
• May 16, 2013

For Birth Control "I'm glad to have read these reviews because now I know why I'm hungry all the time! I think about food all the time. I have never been that way. I'm a healthy eater and gym junkie. So, I have gained weight, lost any sex drive (but I'm not active anyway), and am a little irritable. But besides that, I have no other problems. I'm using it for surrogacy, so they have me on my second pack in a row to skip my period, which worked perfectly. The last pill did not stop it. Why can't I be one of the people who have lost weight on it?"

• Anonymous
• August 5, 2009

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I have been taking Apri for about 2 years now. At first, it was great. My periods were manageable, extremely predictable, and only lasted a few days. I gained about 10 pounds in the first 5 months, and shortly after, completely lost my sex drive. Recently, my periods have been getting longer, as they used to be, and cramps are coming back as well."

• lil...
• June 9, 2010

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "This might sound weird, but apparently this isn't uncommon for this specific birth control. I have been on it for about 72 hours. Have gained 4 lbs (which is good because I'm 30 lbs underweight) and have almost increased a full cup size with my breasts. I had horrible period problems. When I got the Apri a few days ago, I was going on a 3.5-week period. After about 3 hours since taking my first pill, the period fully stopped. Very big fan of Apri!"

• Ann...
• June 30, 2015

For Birth Control "Over 6 months ago, I switched to this from a more traditional BC pill because of nausea. I was taking it for acne and pregnancy protection. Cons: My acne got way worse initially and then leveled off to kind of bad. Gained about five pounds, but I'm not sure if it's due to Apri. My periods went from unnoticeable (3-5 days, no cramps) to intolerable, lasting over a week and bleeding like crazy with initial cramping. I have also had frequent yeast infections right before my period since starting this drug. Pros: Boobs got way bigger. Nausea went away."

• gia...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 26, 2021

For Birth Control "I have been taking this birth control for a few years now. I was prescribed this for long heavy periods and bad cramps. I was fine for the first 2 years until my anxiety had spiked, making me unsocial and nervous constantly. It had cleared my skin in the beginning, but I now suffer from breakouts before every period. I am a generally anxious person, but my anxiety and depression have gone through the roof! I gained at least 20 pounds since starting this and have so much trouble losing weight despite exercise and a good diet. I also have been experiencing swelling in my feet and ankles and couldn't figure out the source. I finally found out from research that it was this BC. I am so disappointed in Apri."

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

For Birth Control "I had normal, easy, regular periods before starting Apri. Over the course of 2.5 years of taking it, I gained 50 pounds, even with regular exercise and dieting, even though I struggled to gain even 5 pounds before starting Apri. I did not feel like myself emotionally. I finally had enough and decided to stop taking it, and the weight never went away, even with continued diet and exercise. Most importantly: my periods never came back. I started growing dark, thick hairs on my neck, chest, and stomach that also never went away."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 14, 2012

For Birth Control "I love Apri! I took it for a year, then I got selfish and switched to Jolessa because I wanted to have fewer periods. On Jolessa, I had week-long or longer, super irregular periods. I would get breakthrough bleeding at the most random times and gained about 15 pounds. It almost destroyed my relationship, I was so moody and depressed. I switched back to Apri in January, and already my periods are back to regular, predictable, and short. I have had almost no breakthrough bleeding, no weight gain, and no problem with weight gain. It's an incredibly effective and beneficial pill."

• Anonymous
• June 11, 2011

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I have been on Apri for about 6 months now, I have gained only around 5 pounds, but it was not noticeable. My breast size has not changed, and neither has my sex drive. I use this pill for my awful periods. I used to cry and vomit from cramps, now I do not have them at all. I have been using it as birth control as well and have never been pregnant. I strongly, strongly recommend this pill."