Desogestrel / ethinyl estradiol and Headaches: What Users Say (Page 4)

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 4, 2012

For Birth Control "I have been on for 1 month and a half. My period lasted for 10 days, then I came on again in the same month for another 10 days. That was all new to me. Sex drive has increased. My period is still irregular, so I'm waiting on my next period. Slight headaches, and I feel sick sometimes. This is my first birth control, and I haven't been on it long. Things may change. Not sure."

• Dis...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 6, 2021

"I started taking this about 3 years ago. At first, it was great. For about a year, things were wonderful. No headaches, anxiety, or moodiness. I take it continuously due to headaches and fatigue. I am a very active person, walking and weightlifting 7 days a week. I weighed 131 when I started on the pills, now up to 166, and no matter what I do, I seem to just keep gaining. My moods, anxiety, fatigue, and headaches are worse now than before starting the pills. We have bounced around with doses, and nothing helps. I CONSTANTLY spot. Acne is horrible on my face, chest, and back. My skin on my cheeks down to my neck has changed colors, gotten darker. I know a lot of people have great reactions with this med, but it seems when you get side effects from it - you get them ALL."

• Tae...
• March 2, 2018

For Birth Control "I only took Enskyce for 3 days, so I know my body probably wouldn't have gotten used to it. But after the third day, I was extremely nauseous, dizzy, and had a terrible headache. I had to call out of work I felt so sick. After about 12 hours after taking it, I felt much better. And the next day (after not taking it for 36 hours) I felt completely fine. I also was irritable while I was taking it. I did have some positive effects, like increased sex drive. But I did not want to suffer through that awful feeling for 3 months while my body got used to the hormone. I know it will be different for everyone, but this is my personal experience. Keep in mind, I have a very sensitive stomach and anxiety."

• Anonymous
• March 18, 2012

For Birth Control "I have been experiencing headaches, and before using Ortho-Cept, I rarely got headaches. I've also experienced dark spotting for two weeks leading up to my period. I'm very moody now and am very easily frustrated. I get tired as early as 8 at night now (before the pill, I could stay up until 2 a.m. if I even went to sleep) and am no longer a morning person. I'm hungry more and am gaining weight, but luckily in the right places. My breasts are noticeably growing. My libido has also increased, and I'm not pregnant, so it's working okay."

• Kel...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 18, 2015

For Birth Control "I have been taking Desogen for almost a month and a half. I get dizzy, have severe headaches, cystic acne, extreme cramps, and the worst part of it all is my moods are awful. I get so angry and emotional at the drop of a hat. So I stopped taking it because I was tired of getting angry all the time and taking it out on my boyfriend. Luckily, he's very understanding. My moods and acne have now practically vanished once I stopped taking it."

• Anonymous
• June 6, 2012

For Birth Control "I was on Ocella in the past for years until they took it off the market. I tried several different birth control pills, and none worked for me. Someone recommended I try Apri, it has worked great for me, cleared my horrible acne up, which I was spending a lot of money on trying to correct, doesn't change my mood or sex drive, weight stayed the same, no headaches, no depression, light predictable periods last three days! Let's just say I love Apri, and it's cheap."

• Ica...
• June 20, 2017

For Birth Control "The first month was absolutely horrible. This is my first birth control pill. The nausea seemed to occur 2 hours after taking the pill (I take it at 3 pm every day). I was also unmotivated and felt like my back ached all the time. Then it got better. I don't get headaches anymore. But looking back, I definitely gained weight, like a lot. I didn't lose my sex drive. Anyway, I'm okay now."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 5, 2017

For Birth Control "Pro: I recommend Azurette. I started on birth control after I would get nauseous for two weeks out of every month. That has been fixed. I've been on other birth controls and say this birth control worked best for me. I've been on it for one year. I haven't had headaches. My sex drive has been great. I haven't lost or gained weight. Con: Occasionally, sex will be uncomfortable. It's not bad enough to switch, because I've had too many problems with other meds."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 2, 2017

For Birth Control "Worst experience was given as generic for Viorele. Headache, nausea, vomiting, lightheadedness in 2nd week. First week increased acne, like acne I've never had before in my life. Had to stop. Also increased my mood swings. Must have been an inactive ingredient because I had no problem with Viorele except wearing contacts, and they have the same active ingredients. Worst experience to date with birth control."

• New...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 1, 2016

For Birth Control "This is my first month on Apri, and I haven't been on any other forms of the pill since I was 18. I was prescribed Loestrin in 2009 for bad cramping and PMS but got off that due to huge mood swings, bloating, weight gain, and breast tenderness. It is now 7 years since then, and I am using the pill mainly for birth control. I am on my third week and am feeling awful! I have had headaches several times per week, extreme nausea, cramping, and tiredness. I have also felt anxiety and will wake up in the middle of the night. I take the pill in the morning but will be switching to a nighttime routine to see if my symptoms decrease or if I tolerate it better. My mood has been pretty normal, and my sex drive is good. The worst thing has been the nausea."

• Mic...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 3, 2023

"I was put on this birth control for my IVF process. I have been on it for a week, and I am not a fan! I have felt nauseous, have had headaches, and heart palpitations. I am hoping I can deal with this for a few weeks for my fertility, then get off of it."

• And...
• August 12, 2016

For Birth Control "I've been on this bc for 4 months. Since then, I've experienced nausea every single day. I have no appetite and barely eat anything, but I still haven't lost weight. I have no sex drive (and TMI, but very dry) and I'm a raging bitch most days! I have headaches every single day, 24/7, and I'm tired constantly. My dr told me this bc is good for those with acne, but I have had horrible breakouts that I can't stop! I forgot to take my pill today and just realized that I haven't experienced any of these symptoms at all! I am the type of person who will experience every possible side effect of a medication, though, so do consider that. I still wouldn't recommend it!!"

• Anonymous
• May 30, 2012

For Birth Control "I was on Kariva for 3 months, and then I decided to stop taking it altogether. I'd experience dizziness to the point where I'd have to sit down and also had an increase in constant headaches. The day that I decided to stop taking it, I had an extreme mood swing/panic attack. Some days while taking the pill, I didn't feel like myself emotionally. I originally got on the pill to help reduce my cramps because they were so painful. The pain of my cramps did lessen, but occasionally it was still as intense as it was before I was on the pill. I bled/spotted on the third week and had my actual period the fourth. So I ended up bleeding well over a week, which is more than my normal. I did not gain any weight, but my appetite increased."

• Mqa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 17, 2019

For Birth Control "Apri has been terrible to me. I’ve experienced painful cramping (not on period), bloating, nausea, loss of appetite, headaches, and I’ve even fallen into depression. I was all happy and energetic before the pill, but once I got on it, I’ve had no energy, and I’m always sleeping."

• Rae...
• June 2, 2016

For Birth Control "I have been taking this BC for about 4 months, it was great until the last month when I started getting headaches, quick heartbeats, loss of sleep. I gained weight in all the right areas, so that was a plus. But I can't put up with the headaches, I'm tired all the time and total loss in sex drive (which is weird because I think about sex all the time). Made me cry here and there but no serious emotional outbreaks. I switched to Azurette, so we will see."

• rai...
• January 7, 2012

For Birth Control "I have been on Reclipsen for 2 months, going on my third pack tomorrow. I do not like this pill, the first month was bad. I had so many bad headaches every week. And the second month, around the time I am supposed to have my period, was so bad."

• Apr...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 30, 2015

For Birth Control "I have been on a bunch of different pills, trying to find one that actually worked for me. Previous to this, my experiences were heavy periods, terrible cramps, headaches, weight gain, constant spotting, two-week-long periods, anxiety, which I never had before going on the pill. I did some research and found that Apri contained a different type of estrogen and asked my doctor if I could try it. I'm so glad I did, it's been two years, and all I get is a headache around the time my period is due. I have pretty normal periods, and they actually stop when they are supposed to. I get a little spotting the week after, but I can deal with it. It normally lasts an hour and goes away."

• Fle...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 12, 2019

For Birth Control "Once I started Apri, I had headaches at first, but after adjusting, they went away. My primary concern was that it completely erased my sex drive. Not just decreased, but totally eliminated. No desire and totally dry. This pill has driven me to try an IUD (which I never thought I’d do) just for the sake of avoiding trying another pill. I’m giving it such a low rating because completely eliminating my sex drive was ridiculous, and when I got off of it, it took a very long time to come back. Don’t take this unless you want to throw away an entire year of your dating life."

• mel...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 23, 2015

For Birth Control "I began taking Reclipsen during February of 2015. Developed cystic acne. I've always had a few spots here and there, but nothing like this. I even switched to all-organic skin products, which helped a little. I developed insane headaches. I became extremely emotional and began crying at the drop of a hat, where in the past, I could count on two hands how many times I would cry per year. Worst of all, I gained 20 lbs from Feb-Oct 2015. I exercise, have a plant-based diet, and I'm 22, so my metabolism hasn't quite slowed yet. No excuse for that, and not flattering on a 5'4" frame. It prevented pregnancy (thus 2/10), but the side effects aren't worth enduring this pill. Switching to ParaGard in a week and a half. No more hormones for me."

• Big...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 28, 2023

For Birth Control "I started taking Apri birth control about three months ago. At first, it was okay. Now, three months in, and I can’t handle it anymore. I’ve gained 15 pounds, my mood swings are horrendous, I’m severely depressed and literally crying every day, which is unusual because I don’t cry. I got a job promotion and was sad… I just couldn’t be the happy self I knew I was. Cramping is constant. About a month in, I would randomly get sick. My last period lasted two weeks. Massive headaches every single day. I just stopped taking this pill as of today because even my family members were concerned for my mental health. Such a horrible birth control."

• Nae...
• July 7, 2019

For Birth Control "Worst experience on a birth control. I have given it a very fair chance, was on it for 2 months, had some headaches not severe enough for me to stop since the pill made my period so short. And I honestly didn't want to go through the effort of making the change. The placebo week of my 2nd month has been HORRIBLE. I’ve had a daily headache for 5 days and feeling nauseous, dizzy (almost as if I’m drunk) and as if I’m about to faint. I was advised not to continue the pill and see a doctor. I have an appointment coming up, but honestly, this is the worst. Meds don’t even relieve these side effects."

• Mis...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 4, 2015

For Birth Control "Took brand Mircette for 2 months. Great for skin & body adjusted quickly to brand only. Had no immediate side effects, but the manufacturer never made enough. Was forced to generic. Estrogen placebos did nothing to help menstrual migraine/estrogen withdrawals, debilitating headaches. It was actually worse on this pill. Many trips to the ER. On brand, I didn't have the daily headaches. Sex was ridiculously painful on both, and the 3rd month on brand was unbearably dry in my vagina. Took Kariva & had the most debilitating migraine/daily headaches ever. All doctors denied the correlation. Had breakthrough bleeding/spotting, tampon amounts for 3 months & then anemic. Demanded to be removed off this! Get rid of your gyno if she doesn't believe you."

• Dee...
• September 30, 2019

For Birth Control "I started taking Isibloom to help with my PCOS. Before birth control, I had horrible, uncontrollable acne and bled randomly 3 out of 4 weeks a month. Note: In addition to birth control, I started working out 3-4 times a week, engaged in a healthier diet, and drastically reduced my caffeine intake. Month 1: still irregular bleeding; continuation of PCOS symptoms. Month 2: bled for 3 weeks heavily, extreme back pain, cramps, headaches, vomiting, diarrhea, insomnia. Month 3: my first normal month in YEARS! 3 weeks period free. Mild back pain, cramping, sleeplessness. Month 4: irregular bleeding again, repeat of Month 2. Month 5: COMPLETELY NORMAL! No cramps, zero breakthrough bleeding. SKIN SO CLEAR! Drastically improving my quality of life. Highly recommend, just stick with it and make sure you make other life changes to your exercise and diet."

• Not...
• June 12, 2016

For Birth Control "I've been on Reclipsen for a month for regular birth control, period regulation, and period cramps. The first few days, I had overall body weakness and a bad headache, both of which subsided after those days. I had unprotected sex a week and a half after starting and did not get pregnant, so it's good for that, but when my period came around, the first day was awful, the worst it had been in a while. I heard you have to take it for more than a month for the cramps to ease up, so maybe next month will be better. I'll obviously also have to wait until next month to see if my period comes around the same time, but overall I'd probably recommend it to a friend."

• Kat...
• August 12, 2018

For Birth Control "I've been on Reclipsen for 7 months so far, and I believe this will be my last. I started tracking how I feel every single day up to my cycle day. I started to realize recurring symptoms on the same cycle days of the medication! I'm finally throwing in the hat. Last month, my neck became sore, and my shoulders and back pain have escalated! Well, now I can't even move my neck side to side on the same cycle day. I believe this medicine has not helped my IBS (irritable bowel syndrome), has made me have heart palpitations, a few days before my period I get really deeply depressed on the same day every month and have extreme dark thoughts. I've had toothaches, headaches, strong cramps, black blood, bladder pain, extreme weight loss, no appetite, dizziness, seizures, constant anxiety, extreme fatigue, and weakness, and all these weird things over the course of the last few months. My periods wouldn't come till 4 days into the sugar pills, and I would suffer the last week of the pills, and 3 days into my period."