Gianvi and Mood Swings: What Users Say

• Bib...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 10, 2013

For Birth Control "I LOVE GIANVI! No mood swings, no weight gain, it's helped my acne, it controls my appetite, and my breasts have actually gotten bigger. I have been on and off Gianvi for three years now (I tried different birth controls here and there, but I always come back to Gianvi because it has always been the best for me), and it's absolutely free! I definitely recommend it, but like always, everyone is different."

• Anonymous
• April 15, 2012

For Acne "I was very apprehensive to take this medication because of all the negative reviews on this site and others, but I'm telling you, TRY THIS PILL. I've literally tried every product, been to multiple doctors and dermatologists, have had facials, treatments, etc., etc. NOTHING has worked. Except this. PROS: Started to control my acne (less 'patchiness,' less breakouts), made my breasts grow almost a whole cup size bigger in the first 2 packs, made me more relaxed and chill than I already was, 4 DAY PERIODS. CONS: the first pack I experienced constant spotting and really bad mood swings (only the first month, after the first pack, I am more in control than ever). I can now go to the dermatologist to fix my scarring, and my skin will be perfect! Good luck!"

• Anonymous
• September 30, 2011

For Birth Control "I switched to Gianvi from Yaz because of the price after Yaz stopped that cool $25 program. I wasn't interested in paying over $50 for birth control. I must admit, I was freaking out after I read the reviews on this site. My doctor calmed me down after I called her, and she was right. There is one positive review on this site that I read that gave me courage to try. Therefore, ladies, I have to echo the wise girl that said you have to try it in order to know if it works for you or not. I am on my third pack of Gianvi, and I am okay. I may be a bit more emotional at times, but I was a wreck when I started Yaz, so that's no different. I am not breaking out any different from the past. My libido has not changed, and my weight is not affected."

• ZFa...
• November 12, 2010

For Birth Control "I was on Yaz since I was 16 (now I'm 25). I got switched to Gianvi 3 months ago. The first month was okay, I didn't notice much change, but the last 2 months were horrible. My mood swings are horrible, I go from extra happy to sad in a second. I have no energy whatsoever. I used to not be able to sit in one place for 10 minutes, now I can't drag myself from the couch. I'm extra sleepy and tired, my appetite is off the chart. I feel like I haven't eaten in days after eating a meal. I started having horrible migraines, it gets to the point that I feel like if I open my eyes, my head will explode. I snap at every little thing. The things that never bugged me before drive me up the wall now."

• Anonymous
• January 24, 2012

For Birth Control "I recently switched from Yasmin to Gianvi by accident (I thought I was on Yaz instead of Yasmin and asked my doctor for the wrong pill). After reading reviews of Gianvi, I was really scared to start taking it. Many reviews mentioned increased acne, weight gain, mood swings, and heavy periods. I have been taking Gianvi for 4 months now and have had no negative side effects. I have no acne, I lost 5 pounds, my periods last only 3 days and are very light, and I have had no problems with my mood. I actually feel better than I did on Yasmin. Each pill works differently for each person, and there are people with positive experiences with Gianvi."

• Mic...
• May 1, 2013

For Acne "I have never been on any pill. My acne was getting really severe, so my doctor suggested Tri-Cyclen Lo. The first two months on Tri-Cyclen Lo made me get cystic breakouts, and I was miserable. I finally switched my birth control to Gianvi, this has been the best alternative to cleaning my skin. I haven't had any negative side effects, and my skin is finally clear! The only downside is the increase in appetite. I haven't gained any weight, I live a healthy lifestyle-eat clean and work out regularly. But I'm constantly hungry! Besides that, my skin looks its best that it has in years! Now I only need to get rid of my blemishes. I would highly recommend Gianvi, your period is light, and you don't experience nausea or mood swings."

• Anonymous
• September 1, 2010

For Birth Control "In my third month of taking Gianvi, I have had major mood swings, depression, anxiety, and changes in appetite varying from nausea to overeating. I have not felt like this before with any other birth control. A little with Ortho-Tri-Cyclen, but I don't think it is as bad as this. I feel like I'm at constant war with myself to keep my emotions and my feelings in line. I'm not usually an emotional person, so all these feelings are very overwhelming and frustrating. I have an appointment in a week to go to Planned Parenthood and ask for a different kind of birth control. I've decided to stop taking it today. It does work, however, I have not gotten pregnant."

• eh2...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 14, 2021

For Birth Control "I was on Gianvi for about 2 years and have recently gotten off of it. The first 5 to 7 months, I felt quite emotional/anxious, I also went up about 1 cup size, and my skin was perfect. However, it did prevent pregnancy, so I'm thankful for that. It also decreased the heaviness of my cycle. And it was free with BCBS! About 1.5 years in, I began noticing that I had vaginal dryness and my libido was super low as well. Since I was so dry, sex started becoming very painful, and it seemed like no amount of lube could help. It has been just over 2 years, and I have decided to get off Gianvi for a few months to see if my problems disappear. So far, it has been about 1 week, and I feel really good. To anyone reading this post, I suggest you always listen to your body and find an understanding provider who can help you create a plan that you both agree on. Good luck!"

• sad...
• February 24, 2020

For Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder "This pill was great for the first couple of months. My acne cleared, which was a problem due to my PCOS, and my periods were finally regular. I could feel these mood swings coming on, but I felt like a demon. This all hit me full force after I passed the third month. I was irritated at the smallest things, zero libido, it was an out-of-body experience. My self-esteem plummeted to where I never wanted to even look at myself, severely depressed and anxious, which I have not struggled with in the past, and gained 15 pounds out of nowhere. I couldn’t go an hour without crying. One day I almost had to pull over while driving because I couldn’t breathe. The way these hormones hit me was a nightmare, I am never ever going back to the pill. I’ve done too much trial and error for this, it’s not worth my mental health/state of mind. One week off of it and I feel like myself again, thank goodness. Avoid Gianvi if you want to keep your brain the same!!!!"

• Anonymous
• September 3, 2020

For Birth Control "I was really worried about starting on Gianvi after reading all of these negative reviews. It started out fine, with no major mood shifts. But then I started on my second pack and was in the depths of despair. I have a history of depression and anxiety, so I was not sure whether it was the birth control, but it got to the point where I was in such a dark place. I decided to stop Gianvi and instantly felt better. It was like a cloud lifted off my head. People react differently to this, so I’m not dissuading someone from trying it. But just be vigilant for the side effects."

• sar...
• January 2, 2011

For Birth Control "I began taking Yaz about a year ago, and I love it. While on Yaz, I never noticed any changes in my mood or my body. However, within the last few months, I switched to the generic version, Gianvi, hoping to save some money. At first, I didn't notice any difference, but slowly, I have been getting more and more emotional and anxious... something that I have never had a problem with before. And now, I have been having a breakthrough period for the past 15 days straight while on my active pills. I am not sure if this is because of Gianvi, but I can't think of what else it could be. I will be switching back to Yaz ASAP. It is worth the extra money. I do not recommend Gianvi to anyone."

• geo...
• January 7, 2013

For Acne "I just started on this birth control. I switched from Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo. Unfortunately, I have horrible acne on my back and some on my face, especially during that time of the month. Since I started taking this birth control, I have noticed the acne on my back is starting to clear up. My face is getting better also. I noticed I'm not as hungry either. I haven't experienced crazy mood swings or depression, even if I did, I'd probably stick it out because I've had back acne since I was 16 years old, and I'm 21 now. I'm ready for my back to look normal again. I recommend this pill."

• Tay...
• January 23, 2011

For Birth Control "I had never been on birth control before Gianvi. My boyfriend and I both wanted me to take it, and if there's anything positive I have to say about it, it is it does its job with preventing pregnancy. Other than that, I have incredible mood swings from happy to incredibly depressed. Ever since I started taking it about 5 or 6 months ago, I haven't in the slightest bit been as happy as I used to be. My personality has completely changed, I've lost weight honestly. I get mad over little things, etc. etc. I don't know. It's tearing me apart. I don't recommend it to anyone."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 13, 2012

For Birth Control "I have been on Gianvi for 8 months now. At first, I was an emotional wreck, like almost all the reviews on here, but after your body gets used to the added hormone, it does go away. It took about 3 months for the acne to go away also. After about the 3-month mark, Gianvi was perfect for me. I have no bloating when my period starts, my period is perfectly on schedule, less cramping and bleeding than before, no more migraines, and no mood swings. It's almost like I'm not even on my period anymore. But, as someone said before, you have to try it to know if it'll work for you."

• joj...
• July 29, 2015

For Birth Control "I started taking Gianvi about one month ago. Prior to that, I was on Heather for 2 years. I was prescribed Heather because I was a nursing mother. I had bad breakouts with Heather and inconsistent long periods. After nursing, I wanted to switch to a more effective birth control. I was prescribed Apri and went through an emotional roller coaster. I was only on Apri for 2 weeks, and my breakouts were worse than they have ever been. After Apri, I was switched to Gianvi. Wow, what a difference. I have been on it for just shy of 1 month, and my breakouts have stopped. I have some scarring from my previous breakouts, but they are fading. I have noticed that my mood seems to be 'normal.'"

• She...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 24, 2018

For Birth Control "This birth control made me feel awful! I had terrible back and abdominal pain while taking it and even for some time after it. It took my body a while to adjust and to feel normal again after taking this pill. It caused migraines, fatigue, and mood swings. I also experienced changes in my digestive system and felt bloated most of the time. I felt my personality completely change on this pill. Overall, I would not recommend anyone put this pill into their body."

• Mar...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 25, 2018

For Acne "Can't say I'm a fan. I went on Gianvi for acne and mood swings. The first two months were a really rough adjustment. I leveled out after that and my acne seemed to calm down a bit, but my mood swings were still bad. It's been 6 months now and I'm going to kick this pill to the curb. I've had bad acne flare-ups, menstruating twice a month, and my mood is up and down constantly. If the reason you are taking a medication is to help rectify a problem, and that problem becomes worse, it's not worth it."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 11, 2020

For Birth Control "I took this birth control for about 4 months at first. I have a history of anxiety and depression, and I don’t remember having it be exacerbated when I first started, but after a couple of months on this pill, I started having extreme mood swings, irritability, crying spells, and a lower libido. I went off of it for almost 2 months and felt stable and not depressed. I recently tried to go on it again because I totally had amnesia about how horrible I felt on it towards the end, but I have felt horrible, irritable, anxious, and depressed since I started 3 weeks ago. I stopped taking it a week ago, and I feel like my body and hormones are going haywire, so I am hoping that I feel better soon. I have tried multiple oral contraception pills, and I will probably not be trying another one."

• Nat...
• April 27, 2017

For Birth Control "I've tried several different pills and the NuvaRing. I always had terrible side effects, including bloating, mood swings, and dryness. This pill has been great. I've been on it for about eight months now. The only side effect I had was weight loss. I went from about 128 to 118 in one month."

• Ana...
• July 22, 2014

For Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder "I first started with a low hormone pill called Azurette. I was having heavy periods that lasted for a week and terrible acne, so I decided to try Yaz, and my doctor prescribed me Gianvi. The first month, my face was completely clear, and my period used to last 3 days max, but my anxiety and mood changes got worse, and my sex drive went from 10 to zero because I was very dry. I also noticed my skin got really dry too, and I looked like a 60-year-old lady!"

• Bab...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 12, 2018

For Birth Control "I have been on Gianvi for 5 months. The first month, I had bad mood swings, but that went away. My period is lighter. I still have some PMS symptoms before my period. My moods have been better. The pill has cleared my skin. I have not gained any weight. I really like this birth control."

• cb1...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 30, 2012

For Birth Control "I've been on Gianvi for about three months now. It's been amazing for my period, which was heavy, long, and always a miserable experience. I bled for a whole month when I first started taking it, but my doctor said that was normal... so I loved what it did for my period. What I did not love is that I am so hungry all the time on this pill, and although I haven't gone too overboard with eating, I've gained 10 pounds since starting the pill. It has done nothing to help my acne, it has made me lazy, and my mood swings are out of control... I'll become a sobbing mess out of nowhere."

• Mar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 30, 2013

For Birth Control "My gynecologist put me on Gianvi for my skin. I was so excited to have a pill that would focus mainly on my skin problem that I have been having for years. I didn't see any difference in the change of my skin. And the worst part was my mood swings. It caused major problems with my boyfriend and me fighting all the time and him seeing the change in me. It also made me feel super depressed all the time, with headaches almost every other day. After two months on this pill, I couldn't wait to switch. Now I'm on Generess Fe and couldn't be happier. Stay away!"

• hol...
• January 4, 2016

For Acne "Throughout puberty, I had always had mild blemishes. Usually, nothing too serious, occasionally cysts around the time of my menstrual cycle. However, I've always been very self-conscious about my skin, and I wanted a fix once and for all. I visited the dermatologist and was prescribed topical medications, but they didn't really do anything for the hormonal cysts. So finally, I went on Gianvi, and I am so glad I did. There was an initial breakout, and it was terrible, but after 4 or 5 months, there was evidently a drastic change. I no longer get any blemishes or cysts of any sort. I am a bit more emotional than I previously was, but the clarity and overall radiance of my skin is definitely worth it."

• Anonymous
• August 1, 2011

For Menstrual Disorders "I am not an emotional person, I rarely cry, and I am taking birth control mainly for menstrual cramps. While my cramps have subsided and my period is lighter and shorter, I have had extreme emotional swings and changes in appetite. I have experienced anxiety, and these conditions have worsened with each progressive month."