Nikki and Anxiety: What Users Say

• Ban...
• April 1, 2020

For Acne "I was prescribed two different birth control pills since I first chose to go on it, and my experience with both was not great. I would experience spotting, severe anxiety and mood swings, and then very severe cystic acne. This past October, I switched to Nikki for the sake of my skin and anxiety, and I have never been so happy. My skin has been PERFECT since starting this pill, my hormones feel so balanced, and I could not be happier. I HIGHLY recommend Nikki for anyone experiencing difficulties with emotions, anxiety, or cystic acne."

• Man...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 9, 2021

For Birth Control "Personally, it gave me huge amounts of anxiety and depression. Before starting the pill, I was a super happy 'normal' person. After taking this birth control, it was like my daily life was a struggle with anxiety, and I was lucky to have a day without any symptoms. Absolutely horrible experience for me. I was taking it to control my PMS and severe cramping I get during my period, and it did an amazing job with that, but not worth the anxiety."

• Ang...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 6, 2020

For Birth Control "I had the worst mood swings with this pill, always felt on edge and depressed. As well, it kept me bloated, no weight gain, but I couldn’t lose weight with diet and exercise. I lost 5 lbs within the first week of switching pills."

• Wic...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 7, 2019

For Birth Control "I was switched from Gianvi birth control to Nikki (generics of each other, same hormones, same dose) by my prescription plan. I wish I had done research prior to taking it. Nikki was the worst birth control experience I've ever had. Only two weeks in, I experienced severe IBS and stomach pain. My anxiety went through the roof, and I became extremely depressed with no appetite, fatigue, poor focus, and no motivation. My breaking point was when the medication began inducing panic attacks, which I had never experienced before. Ultimately, I made the decision to stop taking this birth control, and after a week, I'm beginning to feel like my old self. I would not recommend this birth control to anyone. Please be cautious when switching to generic medications. Just because it has the same active ingredients does not mean the formula will work the same for everybody."

• Abc...
• September 19, 2020

For Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder "I decided to take birth control to help with my PMDD; my anxiety and OCD would get much worse, and my depression would flare up, starting about 11 days before my period. I dreaded whenever I had a special event or work deadline due around that time of the month. So I decided to try birth control recently. My anxiety increased for a couple of weeks upon taking it, but this anxiety has leveled off and now I don’t notice it affecting my mood in a negative way at all. I have noticed no hair loss, weight gain, or acne, thankfully. I have been taking Nikki (generic) for about two months now, and I’m amazed by how I don’t have PMS anymore! (I decided, upon the doctor's recommendation, to take the pill continuously-skipping placebo pills-so I don’t have periods anymore; so this may be why I don’t have the PMS). Only negative side effect: breakthrough bleeding about 10 days during the first month, but it’s been much lighter and less time this month."

• Lal...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 31, 2020

For Birth Control "Nikki is the worst birth control I have ever used. Mood swings, anxiety, stress, and I cry for no reason. My period was 18 days late, my breast was hurting, and it felt like I was pregnant. I stopped taking Nikki, and 4 days later I got my period. Wouldn’t recommend."

• Lal...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 31, 2020

For Birth Control "Nikki is the worst birth control I have ever used. Mood swings, anxiety, stress, and I cry for no reason. My period was 18 days late, my breast was hurting, and it felt like I was pregnant. I stopped taking Nikki, and 4 days later I got my period. Wouldn’t recommend."

• Eri...
• June 18, 2020

For Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder "I'm affected by PMDD and really wanted Nikki to work. The first couple of weeks were okay, minor side effects like breast tenderness, but I was okay. Then gradually, little things started bothering me more to the point I was seething from them. I'd suddenly start crying out of nowhere. Then I'd be sad or triggered by something else. I lost interest in activities that brought me happiness and I just sat around in a miserable heap. I couldn't focus on things and sometimes I'd forget about something I had just done. I also had anxiety over the increased risk of blood clots, like there was an invisible guillotine just hanging over my head that could drop any second, and I'd be maimed or dead from it. I really wanted to get to three months hoping side effects would subside and everything would suddenly be okay, but I only made it into my seventh week before I got so depressed it scared not only me but my husband as well. When something makes PMDD sound tolerable, you know it's bad."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 4, 2022

For Birth Control "I’m giving this a two only because it was prescribed to me for my debilitating cramps that caused me to call out of work because I was unable to move from my pain (my boyfriend had to carry me to the bathroom type unable to move), and the pain was almost gone aside from an occasional cramp that would leave me winded. For me, however, the side effects of this birth control were not worth it. While Nikki is supposed to make your period light/stop completely (stop completely was the goal for me), Nikki made my periods LONGER, my last month using it, my period lasted for 9 days, along with spotting, which I never experienced before using Nikki. I also became a lot more depressed and anxious, and the weight gain was horrible as I gained about 20 more pounds. If any of this is relatable, PLEASE reach out to your doctor rather than just waiting it out like I did."

• col...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 6, 2018

For Birth Control "I would not recommend this pill to anyone. It straight up tried to ruin my life. I've only been on this pill for a month and I had normal side effects for the first week (moodiness, nausea, etc.), but as time went on it just got worse and worse. I started to have major anxiety issues, which is something I haven’t dealt with in years, and it also caused me to have depression that’s gotten so bad in such a short time that my doctor had to put me on antidepressants. I’ve been angry ALL the time for absolutely no reason, it almost ruined my relationship because I would get mad at my boyfriend every single day over the most stupid things, but it was absolutely uncontrollable. This past month I’ve felt like I was going insane. My acne did get better and my period has been a lot lighter, but it’s not worth it. I’d rather bleed for the rest of my days than have to go through that again. Just don’t do it. Spare yourself."

• pin...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 11, 2020

For Acne "I was on this birth control for about a year. It definitely cleared up my face to the point where I had no acne whatsoever; however, it made me so emotional, anxious, and angry all the time that I had to stop taking it. I noticed a significant difference in my mood and mental state from before I started taking it till now. I have cried almost every day and am so sad most of the time that I do not leave my bed. My family and friends started to notice my change in behavior as well, which made me worried about if my birth control was a part of it. Everyone has a different experience with certain birth controls, but this was just my experience!"

• kri...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 16, 2022

For Birth Control "I used this very successfully a few years ago to control PMDD symptoms; I tried taking it again a few months ago and had a much different experience. I'm 32, and previous use was 25-27 years old, if that matters. I haven't had kids but do have some childhood trauma. The first time I took it was okay-second time... OH MY GOD, THE MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS. Incredibly anxious, paranoid, depressed, suicidal. I had what felt like several mental breakdowns where I couldn't stop hitting myself, crying, shaking, etc. THIS IS NOT NORMAL BEHAVIOR FOR ME. It almost destroyed my relationship. Everything triggered anxiety and paranoia. Everything. It was a dark pit that I never wanted to go back to. I stopped taking it after 2 months (I figured I just wasn't 'used to it'), but the change in my personality was so obvious my partner noticed immediately that I was no longer taking it. The symptoms I had on Nikki were worse than the PMDD symptoms I used to have. PLEASE BE CAUTIOUS and track your mood if taking this."

• kri...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 16, 2022

For Birth Control "I used this very successfully a few years ago to control PMDD symptoms; I tried taking it again a few months ago and had a much different experience. I'm 32, and previous use was 25-27 years old, if that matters. I haven't had kids but do have some childhood trauma. The first time I took it was okay-second time... OH MY GOD, THE MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS. Incredibly anxious, paranoid, depressed, suicidal. I had what felt like several mental breakdowns where I couldn't stop hitting myself, crying, shaking, etc. THIS IS NOT NORMAL BEHAVIOR FOR ME. It almost destroyed my relationship. Everything triggered anxiety and paranoia. Everything. It was a dark pit that I never wanted to go back to. I stopped taking it after 2 months (I figured I just wasn't 'used to it'), but the change in my personality was so obvious my partner noticed immediately that I was no longer taking it. The symptoms I had on Nikki were worse than the PMDD symptoms I used to have. PLEASE BE CAUTIOUS and track your mood if taking this."

• Fat...
• August 1, 2018

For Birth Control "I have been on Nikki for a year now. This is my first experience with birth control, and unfortunately, I did not know enough to recognize that this pill is the cause of my symptoms. The worst being that I have been incredibly fatigued and exhausted, no matter how easy I take things or how much sleep I get. I have had difficulty focusing, excessive teeth grinding, mood swings, irritation, very low sex drive, constant headaches, emotional distress, crying, and mild depression. I have been to two doctors who can't find anything wrong with me, and I have had multiple blood draws, with no conclusion. This morning, it occurred to me to research my birth control. I can't believe that I have gone an entire year with these symptoms and not figured it out. I am an incredibly healthy woman. I have a great relationship with my body, and I know when something is off. I feel so terrible that I have put my body through this for so long. I will be discontinuing this BC immediately."

• Jen...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 5, 2018

For Birth Control "My anxiety level has risen drastically in the past few days of taking Nikki. I was on Loryna, which was fine, but the pharmacy gave me Nikki instead recently. It's the only thing that's changed in my life in the past few days, and I'm positive I can attribute my increased anxiety to this pill. It's so bad that I've decided to stop taking it. I've never had to do this with a birth control."

• iha...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 7, 2022

For Birth Control "If you are slim and petite, this is not the drug for you. This drug completely ruined the way I see myself; it made me extremely depressed, gain up to seven pounds in one week, anxious, interrupted my ability to focus, and destroyed my self-confidence. The only plus side is that it keeps your skin clear. The nature of Nikki is not a diuretic; therefore, you do not lose any water weight. While still eating the regular amount of food I consume, I still gained weight from the shift from a different drug. I 100% do not recommend this to anyone and wish I never took it."

• Lim...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 13, 2019

For Birth Control "I first started this pill 6 months ago. It cleared up my acne very quickly. However, continuing the pill, I became very moody and anxious about everything. I have also experienced some weight gain and major cravings, and while I am very active, I found it hard to resist cravings and work out more. I have become very tired, pissed off, and unmotivated. I am in high school, and there is no reason for me to feel any of these symptoms, but it has messed with my hormones terribly. Before BC, I would have up to 5-day-long light periods. Now, I bleed up to a week and a half, heavier than before also. I do not recommend; the only positive factor is clear skin (and not getting pregnant, I guess)."

• MCR...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 2, 2022

For Birth Control "This pill was fine at first, but it gave me so much anxiety after about a month. I don’t recommend this to anyone anymore. My depression has become so bad, and the weight gain is out of control. I’ve never had this experience with birth control, so I don’t recommend this to anyone that’s suffering with anxiety already. It is effective in the sense that it will prevent pregnancy, but the effects are ridiculous, so please be safe if you use this!"

• Rem...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 21, 2020

For Birth Control "Absolutely do not like this birth control, Nikki. Was fine at first, but it slowly made me so anxious and so depressed I could barely function. It made me break out worse than I ever had before, and it made me so bloated all the time. Even when doing everything right, I still couldn't lose weight. Would not recommend."

• Mad...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 11, 2020

For Acne "I’m on week two of Nikki. I switched from Sprintec (used for about 7 years), which I had no problems with and had spot-on periods that always came on the same day, around the same hour, and lasted 3 days. I switched to Nikki for acne reasons. These past two weeks, I have been an emotional MESS. I think I’ve cried every single day. I feel hopeless, anxious, angry, and sad about everything. I almost called my doc to put me back on Prozac because I didn’t know what was going on with me. I got a lot of answers coming to this thread, though. I’m going to try and give this a month or two to see if those feelings subside at all, but if it stays how it is now, I will be switching back to Sprintec. I would rate it more than 1/10 if I was on it long enough to see if it helped with acne or the mood swings stopped, but for now, it’s a solid 1/10."

• Kat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 26, 2019

For Acne "I don’t recommend Nikki at all. I had been taking Gianvi since I was 18, and now I am 22. I began taking it because it was prescribed by my dermatologist for acne. After 2 1/2 years, my pharmacy started giving me Nikki. I didn’t think much of it because I thought it was basically the same thing. Wrong. It didn’t make me break out, but it caused horrible mood swings. I felt very depressed and very anxious all the time (I don’t have a prior history of depression or anxiety). I decided to stop taking Nikki, and it has been a HUGE difference. I feel like a different person."

• Lem...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 24, 2019

For Birth Control "I was on Nikki for about 6 months before I switched. If I forgot to take my pill at night and then took it first thing in the morning, my period would start and continue for the rest of my cycle, regardless of where I was in the pack. My periods were incredibly heavy, especially during the last few days. Cramping was worse than usual, and I often bled through at night if I didn’t change every few hours. This pill increased my PMS symptoms and left me VERY anxious and paranoid the week before my period started. On the bright side, my acne went away."

• Ell...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 27, 2019

For Birth Control "I have been on Nikki since January. Throughout my time on Nikki, I’ve had my period 3 weeks out of the month, gained 15 pounds, and have had more anxiety than I’ve ever had. I have to take my birth control within the same hour every day or else I get my period. I’m not sure if this is normal or not. It’s been 5 months and I’ve had no change. On the other hand, my skin has been clearer than ever before."

• Reb...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 13, 2019

For Birth Control "Nikki was the worst experience of my life. I was reluctant to go back on birth control as my experience in the past has been negative. I took Nikki for 13 days. On day 9, I had severe heartburn that turned into vomiting, cold sweats, feeling full when I had nothing in my stomach for almost 24 hours. The next day, I was weak, depressed, and had a raging headache. Initially, I thought I’d gotten food poisoning, but the symptoms persisted. I am nauseous all the time, headaches throughout the day, and completely exhausted. I would have one or two bites of light meals and immediately feel sick. Not only that, but my anxiety is through the roof. I’m not normally a very anxious person, but this medication is making me paranoid, mean, and sad. Don’t let your doctor prescribe it. Find something better."

• Sid...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 22, 2022

For Birth Control "If you don’t want babies, take this. If you want underlying symptoms, do not. I’ve always had anxiety my whole life, but this has made it so much worse. It makes me so unmotivated and slightly more depressed. It feels like a cloud over your head constantly. I was constantly irritable over the smallest things and would have meltdowns and more anxiety attacks. It also made it impossible to lose weight. I would work out for more than an hour every day and consume dangerously low calories and could still not lose any weight. This pill also proceeded to change my body shape— it has made me wider and not able to gain muscle. The only good thing was that my skin was perfect. Honestly, if you’re thinking about getting it, I would say use condoms and Plan B if necessary. If you’re okay with these symptoms, then take the pill, but everybody is different."