Desogestrel / ethinyl estradiol and Anxiety: What Users Say

• R_D...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 4, 2015

Desogestrel / ethinyl estradiol for Birth Control "I hope people aren't deterred by other reviews on this site. Typically, people go online to leave bad reviews. I, on the other hand, have had a GREAT experience with this birth control thus far. I have been on it for about a month and have had no side effects! Before Mircette, I tried EVERYTHING-Sprintec, tri-sprintec, the patch, the ring, Yaz, etc. A lot of pills made me very moody, anxious, depressed, or excessively fatigued. Some pills made me very sick to my stomach. Mircette has been awesome. My hormonal acne has already cleared up, I don't get upset to my stomach at all, and I haven't experienced mood swings. I am thrilled that I finally found a birth control that works for me. I HIGHLY recommend trying it."

• Nat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 24, 2021

Desogestrel / ethinyl estradiol for Birth Control "I started Isibloom last year and just recently finished my 3-month trial period with them. If you have a history with depression or anxiety, I would not recommend taking Isibloom. I felt like I was going crazy, and my anxiety increased dramatically. I also had insomnia and paranoia during the end of the first month and second month. Did not experience weight gain, skin stayed the same (I have hormonal acne), sex drive decreased dramatically."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 11, 2020

Desogestrel / ethinyl estradiol for Birth Control "I took Apri for 5 years. The first 2 years were great - light periods, skin cleared up, etc. However, everything slowly started to change. In 2018, I found myself constantly worried, feeling like walls were caving in on me. My anxiety climbed every day. I fell into a deep depression where I contemplated suicide. I started having violent thoughts - wanting to hurt those around me. Physical changes - gained 30 pounds in 2 years, skin started to get greasy. I would sleep 12+ hours and still not have energy. Mood swings. Crying daily - not able to control my emotions. I decided enough was enough. I stopped taking Apri immediately. It has now been 2 months since then - I no longer cry daily, my mood is significantly improved, and my skin is less greasy. My sleep schedule is learning to regulate itself, and I have more energy. Apri for the first 2 years was great. However, somewhere along the way, that changed. It's possible that in the time I was getting older, my inner body started to change and Apri just no longer worked for me."

• Bik...
• March 6, 2021

Desogestrel / ethinyl estradiol for Birth Control "Should be illegal! Constant bleeding, extreme bloating (look 6 months pregnant), severe mood swings from angry to hysterical, uncontrollably sobbing for days, severe depression, breakthrough bleeding almost the entire cycle, insomnia for days, anxiety and panic attacks, swelling, massive weight gain (8 lbs) despite eating 1,200 calories and biking every day, horrible fatigue! Tried multiple times and gave up after the fourth month."

• BRa...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 25, 2018

Desogestrel / ethinyl estradiol for Birth Control "I started taking this birth control in the fall of 2016 and was fine the first few months. By early 2017, I started to develop anxiety for the first time in my life at age 23. Throughout 2017, my sex drive noticeably decreased to the point of nonexistence, and my anxiety worsened to the point where I was having panic attacks multiple times a week. I decided to stop taking my BC in December 2017, but now, two months later, I’m still dealing with health-related anxiety, which I’m hoping lessens soon (panic attacks usually when I’m alone for no reason, heart palpitations, mood swings). This may not be the effect on everyone, but I wanted to post this to ensure others that if you’re feeling similar symptoms, you’re not alone."

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

Desogestrel / ethinyl estradiol 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!!!"

• Kat...
• November 12, 2017

Desogestrel / ethinyl estradiol for Birth Control "This drug is the absolute worst. Severe mood swings, depression, anxiety, constant gastrointestinal issues, zero sex drive, and the list goes on. Initially, I thought there was something wrong with me, but then realized that my timeline of severe symptoms matched the timeframe of being on this awful pill. I stopped taking it about two months ago and haven’t turned back. Knowing how extreme the depression is, I encourage everyone to talk openly about these side effects and encourage anyone who is on this pill and is feeling a little off to make the switch to something else immediately."

• mhm...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 30, 2020

Desogestrel / ethinyl estradiol for Birth Control "I have been on many types of birth control before, and I have never left a review, no matter how good or bad. But this pill literally was destroying me mentally. I was on this pill, Kariva, a little less than 2 months and had to stop mid-month because I could not handle the anxiety and depression anymore. I'm a sensitive person, but wow, this pill made me not able to function. I cried ALL the time. I didn't want to go anywhere. My anxiety was a level I never experienced before. At first, I was like, cool, this pill doesn't make me hungry. Later, I realized, yeah, I'm not hungry because I'm so anxious all the time I couldn't focus on eating if I tried. It did its job at preventing pregnancy, but the emotional state it put me in was so not worth it! Please be careful taking this pill. I know it affects everyone differently."

• mom...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 26, 2022

Desogestrel / ethinyl estradiol for Birth Control "HORRIBLE. My pharmacy changed the brand of my birth control three weeks ago, and I have been having severe mood swings, panic attacks, depression, and anxiety. Not to mention the lowest sex drive I have ever had, and I'm only 26. The last three weeks have been a nightmare. I have a toddler and a 4-month-old, and quarantining with two kids under two for 10 days while being on these pills caused some VERY bad moments. I threw these out immediately once I figured out what was causing these depressive episodes. Just sharing my experience so that others don't go through what I go through. You are NOT going crazy. These pills are making you crazy. Trust me."

• Sha...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 26, 2017

Desogestrel / ethinyl estradiol for Birth Control "A lot of the reviews on here are scary, but I think it must be personal chemistry that decides if this medicine will work for you or not. I've been on it for 2.5 years, and I didn't really have any physical side effects. I maybe had some breast pain when I started it, but cutting down on caffeine cured that. I do have anxiety, but I don't think I can blame this pill for that, it's kind of just my personality. Overall, this pill has just done its job for me."

• Mar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 18, 2020

Desogestrel / ethinyl estradiol for Birth Control "I've been on Viorele for about three weeks, and I can tell you that this has definitely caused side effects of a big spike in my anxiety, terrible mood swings, and acne. Did not work for me, hopefully, I can find a brand that works for me."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 30, 2019

Desogestrel / ethinyl estradiol for Birth Control "After 10 months of debilitating night sweats and sleep disturbances, my doctor finally pinpointed it to Apri. Apparently, this is a very common side effect of this medication. It also gave me horrible anxiety. There are plenty of other birth controls out there. Steer clear of this one!"

• Bew...
• June 9, 2015

Desogestrel / ethinyl estradiol for Birth Control "Beware this drug! I experienced the most horrendous mood swings and extreme anxiety while on this drug. The side effects took a while to develop, but once they did, it was truly unbearable. I had no idea why my personality was changing so drastically. It was truly terrifying. I wasn't making the connection between this drug and my highly elevated emotions. I told my doctor on a whim about my terrible anxiety/mood swings, and he immediately took me off of Kariva. Within a week, I was feeling back to my normal self. It has now been 4 months off of Kariva, and I have not had one mood swing or case of anxiety. I would never recommend this drug to anyone. As far as I'm concerned, it should be taken off the market permanently."

• Kat...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 4, 2019

Desogestrel / ethinyl estradiol for Birth Control "This pill makes my anxiety spin out of control. I don’t get panic attacks like I do with other pills, but I worry nonstop. I worry about everything from my dogs to getting in a car accident. I will lay awake at night worrying about one thing after another. I always feel a sense of doom. It also makes me feel very tired and almost drugged... it’s hard to get out of bed in the morning. I haven’t gained any weight, I lost a couple pounds but also changed my diet, so not sure if it was the pill or not. My boobs are always extremely sore. It cleared my skin aside from the occasional zit here and there. This isn’t the worst pill I’ve ever taken, but anyone with a predisposition to anxiety should watch it carefully. I get panic attacks on other pills and feel almost on the verge of that with this one."

• hdp...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 3, 2020

Desogestrel / ethinyl estradiol for Birth Control "I took Kariva for about 9 months. The positives include that my period was extremely predictable, and it didn't last too long. It didn't affect my weight, and my acne cleared up. But the negatives outweighed the positives by far. I had experienced the worst mood swings I've ever had, I became anxious, and cried multiple times a week (yet before Kariva, I was not an avid crier and was able to keep my emotions in check). I was more sad and emotionally unstable than I had ever been, and I had absolutely no motivation to work or to push myself to be happy. I noticed a small change in my mental state within the first 2 months of taking it, but thought it would level out. I kept taking it because it kept my period more regular than other pills. I switched birth controls 2 weeks ago, and since I've stopped taking Kariva, even after 2 weeks, I have been the happiest and calmest I have been in months, and am only realizing now just how emotionally and mentally unwell I was."

• moo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 5, 2022

Desogestrel / ethinyl estradiol for Birth Control "The first three months of this pill were not that bad, although I did begin to experience abnormal anxiety (for me) and mood swings. I also began to experience some heart palpitations (which I had chalked up to the anxiety). I am in month 5 now, and I'm beyond done. This BC has made me more moody than I ever have been. I get angry and irritated and snap at things or people, and I am usually a very genial and happy person. This has made me feel like an entirely different person. I have experienced awful anxiety as well, like panic attacks waking me up at night. Also, extremely vivid dreaming that causes me to feel like I'm not sleeping, which I am sure has perpetuated my other symptoms. Everyone's body is different, but my experience has been terrible."

• Gig...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 17, 2016

Desogestrel / ethinyl estradiol for Birth Control "So, I took this birth control for 3 years. Did its job in terms of preventing pregnancy, but at a horrible cost. I gained over 30 lbs, had terrible nausea, mood swings, anxiety, depression, headaches, almost no libido, you name it. It wasn't until I got off the pill completely to give myself a break from the constant stream of hormones that is birth control that I realized all of the issues I was experiencing were all the pill, not me. After 2 months off of the pill, all of the aforementioned issues have disappeared. Consumer beware. Not worth it. When I do decide to go back on birth control, it will not be Viorele."

• Gab...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 24, 2019

Desogestrel / ethinyl estradiol for Birth Control "I have no complaints with this birth control pill Isibloom so far. I tend to be pretty sensitive to medications, but the only symptom I’ve experienced was slightly heightened anxiety for the first week or so. Once I pushed through that, everything went back to normal. My period has also been super light, which is exactly what I wanted since I usually have extremely heavy periods. Don’t let the negative reviews scare you away. This is a pretty good birth control and it’s super affordable."

• Abc...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 1, 2021

Desogestrel / ethinyl estradiol for Birth Control "I was on Kariva for a year and 4 months. I switched to it due to unwanted side effects of an IUD. Some pros of Kariva are that it’s super reliable (never had a pregnancy scare), and it did lighten my period. The negatives far outweighed the positives, though. The cons were: extremely low sex drive, dryness, extreme weight gain, and increased anxiety the week before my period. I love the effectiveness of this pill but can’t stand the side effects. Switching soon and can’t wait."

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

Desogestrel / ethinyl estradiol 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!"

• Mar...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• August 11, 2021

For Endometriosis "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 really 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.)"

• mik...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 2, 2017

Desogestrel / ethinyl estradiol for Birth Control "I started taking this pill about a year ago, and it's been complete hell since I started. The first week and a half, I'm unbearably nauseous and hardly have an appetite. At first, I thought these symptoms would subside, but they never did. The next week and a half, I'm cursed with almost extreme PMS symptoms: ridiculous bloating, awful acne, breast pain; you name it. My periods last an entire week, and I get debilitating cramps, so bad that they make me sick the first few days. I tried to wait it out the year, but it's only gotten worse. This birth control has given me the worst anxiety, migraines, heart palpitations, and I'm dizzy constantly. I wouldn't recommend this to anyone, not even my worst enemies. Please be cautious when using this."

• Kar...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 19, 2022

Desogestrel / ethinyl estradiol for Birth Control "I wrote a review about this birth control when I first got on it. I had a positive experience both then and now and wanted to update. This is the only pill (or birth control method at all) that has worked so well for my body. Everyone is different, of course, but I haven’t had any bad side effects at all! Before I got on any birth control, I would have the worst period cramps that I couldn’t move or perform daily tasks. This pill has helped significantly with my period cramps and hasn’t contributed to any acne or weight gain. I used to be on Azurette and had the worst anxiety and depression ever. It’s crazy to me how just a slight difference in the formulation of a pill can have such a drastic effect. I feel like most of the time people only write about when they had a bad experience, so I feel it is necessary to share when we have good ones, too! Definitely worth the trial and error, and I’m grateful I found one that works for me."

• pic...
• October 14, 2015

Desogestrel / ethinyl estradiol for Birth Control "Holy no. I do NOT recommend this birth control medication. I've been on it for three months now, and I've experienced: bloating, breakthrough bleeding (heavy), headaches, moodiness (anger), crying, increase of Tourette's tics, anxiety, 7/10 lower back pain, weight gain, increase in desire for all things sugar :( And the blister pack itself is terrible! I've never had such a difficult pack to use. I wouldn't recommend this medication whatsoever."

• Lau...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 22, 2018

Desogestrel / ethinyl estradiol for Birth Control "I’ve been on Apri for about 4 years now. For the first 3 months or so, the mood swings and agitation were almost too much for me to be around some people. I did feel as though I gained some water weight, and my boobs went from a B to a D over the course of that time. My acne got a little worse before it got better. Now, with being on it for so long, I think it’s great for me. My skin is incredibly clear, I have control over my weight (at least it seems), and I can skip my periods with no issue. I do have some lingering anxiety and get agitated a little easily sometimes, but it very well may be due to just me as a person in general. Once I go off it later in life, I'm interested to see how the anxiety does. Overall, I really really like this and will continue to stay on it for a while. It’s great once your body gets used to it, but everyone’s different."