Viorele and Headaches: What Users Say

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

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."

• Try...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 28, 2017

For Birth Control "I was on this birth control for 4 months and LOVED it. I’ve been through quite a few pills. It cleared my skin completely (I am prone to acne) and made my periods lighter, and PMS was so much better and easier with fewer mood swings that were not even half as bad as they were before I started taking Viorele. I also went up two full cup sizes, which was wonderful for me. Then all of a sudden, I started getting unbelievably painful, pounding headaches. I was walking around work, squeezing my head (since OTC pain meds didn’t help) and saying something is wrong with me. I was so scared. However, the only new change I had made in my life was this pill. So I stopped it. After about 10 more days of horrible, debilitating headaches, they finally stopped."

• Sea...
• May 3, 2016

For Birth Control "This pill is effective as a birth control pill, but the side effects are absolutely miserable! Each month before my period, I get horribly depressed and incredibly emotional and irritable. I also get constant headaches on this pill. Would not recommend if you have anxiety or PMDD, as it only seems to exacerbate these conditions."

• pic...
• October 14, 2015

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."

• 905...
• January 15, 2017

For Birth Control "This birth control changed my life. I suffered through menstrual migraines and headaches for years, for 3 weeks out of the month, I had a headache almost every single day. I started this pill in October 2015 and have had three headaches. Amazing."

• Anonymous
• January 25, 2016

For Birth Control "Absolutely horrible. Been on Viorelle for 4 months now. I get severe headaches for a week, very lightheaded and dizzy. I haven't been able to get out of bed for the past 2 days, my body feels very weak, I can't get my exercise in, I feel very down. I feel this way every 3 weeks. I want to tell the entire world not to take these pills. I'm fine all month until the 3rd and 4th week, and then I experience all this. Awful. I can't wait to let my doctor know on Monday and can't wait to try something else."

• all...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 8, 2018

For Birth Control "I was on this medication for over a year and had an overall great experience with this medication. Before being on the pill, I had 4-5 day-long periods that were EXTREMELY painful. I would have to pop 3-4 Midols to get out of bed! After starting Viorele, I noticed that the length of my period maybe lessened by just a day, but it was not painful! Cramps were still there but bearable. Don't have to take any pain meds for the cramps anymore. Also LOST about ten pounds, have no acne (had minimal beforehand), have a VERY regular period. The only con for this brand of BC is that I experienced regular headaches/migraines that I never used to experience before, but I was able to deal with them for the most part."

• Nen...
• September 13, 2020

For Birth Control "I was prescribed Viorele for ovarian cyst. It's been 10 days since I started taking it, and I've had constant intense headaches, body aches/weakness, and dizziness. My mood is horrible. First time I'm taking contraceptives, and I feel so awful. Ready to drop it at this point."

• Jme...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 23, 2019

For Birth Control "I just started using Viorele about a week ago. I have tried many birth controls in the past, and by far this is the best one. I haven't had any side effects like I have with others: no mood swings, headaches, irritability, and nausea. Hopefully, it is able to control my irregular and painful period. I'll find out in 3 weeks."

• Pam...
• October 18, 2016

For Birth Control "Worst birth control ever, made me sick. I have headaches since day one, mood swings, anxious, was feeling terrible. So I found out that a lot of people taking this birth control are having the same conditions, so I stopped. The next day my headache was gone."

• Bar...
• October 5, 2017

For Birth Control "My daughter was switched from Azurette (no side effects) to Viorelle, by the pharmacy. She's miserable. Periods are still unstable, the breakouts have stopped, but that's the only plus! Her periods last forever, she's always exhausted, looks like a zombie half the time, got sick with a cough and took a month to kick it, has no energy, no strength, gaining weight, horrible headaches and period cramps. After reading the other problems ladies have had with this pill, she will be stopping it! Thanks, ladies, for coming on here to tell your stories!"

• Lil...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 17, 2019

For Birth Control "Started taking Viorele about a week ago because the birth control that I was on before (Kariva) wasn’t in stock at Walgreens. So they just switched me to Viorele. I have been feeling super sick all week. Very bad mood swings, bad neck and head pains, and also was very bloated. Once I figured out that it was the birth control that made me feel this way, I immediately switched back to Kariva."

• Not...
• May 25, 2019

For Birth Control "I was put on Viorele pill, and overall experience wasn't too bad. I did experience bad mood swings, and that just isn't me. Frequent headaches and no sex drive. The worst part of all... losing my hair! After a year, I started to notice my hair thinning and wondering what the heck was going on. I look back at the side effects, and lo and behold, I see loss of scalp hair. Stopped taking it for a few months now, but will have my gyno switch me to something else."

• ary...
• December 6, 2017

For Birth Control "I was switched from Azurette to Viorele by my pharmacy. Took Viorele for almost 3 months because I got 3 packs at a time. It gave me frequent headaches that I didn't experience on the Azurette even though they are supposed to be the same. The biggest issue is I thought I had a UTI because it made me have to pee all the time. I had no other changes in my life except the pill, so after going to the doctor and getting checked for UTI and it being negative, I have switched back. My boobs were always sore, but it made them look bigger, so I didn't mind too much. If you have already big boobs, though, this might be a problem. Skin looks great on both pills. Period is light, but cramps can be horrible sometimes."

• not...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 25, 2017

For Birth Control "This is the only BC that I have been able to tolerate since I had my first child over 10 years ago. I had no problems prior to pregnancy. I had a hard time after my 2nd child. No period, thyroiditis, mood swings, depression... yuck! I have evened out now. I did have headaches, nausea, breast tenderness, and mood swings in the beginning. Currently on the 5th month. I do suffer from insomnia but often wonder if Viorele is making it worse. I had many other symptoms that were way worse than starting on Viorele. It's calmed me and fatigue is trying to leave. My bowels are affected during the yellow pills and first few days of a new pack. Meds affect everyone differently. I was about out of options, glad the side effects are diminishing."

• Mas...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 5, 2015

For Birth Control "Terrible. Suffered with fatigue, nausea, headache, severe depression, and many PMS symptoms. Couldn't even take it for a whole month. Had to stop after almost 2 weeks."

• Reg...
• October 21, 2016

For Birth Control "Been taking this medication for the past 2 weeks, and I've experienced nausea, dizziness, headaches, and feeling depressed. I'm currently seeking to change my b/c."