Nikki and Cramps: What Users Say

• Nat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 7, 2019

For Birth Control "At first, I was really scared to start with Nikki because I’m a first-time birth control user, and I saw so many bad reviews here. But I tried it anyway, and I’m so glad I did. I’ve been on it for a full month now, and I didn’t experience any spotting or extreme nausea or things like that. Three days after I first started taking the pill, I had a bit of cramping, but nothing intolerable. I just have a lot of discharge (which is probably caused by the pill), so I have to wear pantiliners frequently. However, the withdrawal period came just in time (three days after I took my last active pill). My skin was already clear before I took Nikki, and it still remains clear until now. No weight gain, no acne whatsoever. It also didn’t affect my sex drive at all, in fact, it gave me peace of mind. All I can say is that everyone has different reactions to this pill, and it’s worth trying!"

• Cel...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 20, 2021

For Birth Control "I began Nikki after my Paragard IUD had to be removed because it shifted positions. I wasn't comfortable going back to an IUD after that. I also wanted something to help my moderate acne. Once I started Nikki, my acne cleared up within the first pack. I took the pill religiously at the same time, and my doctor thinks that this helped with the benefits. I noticed my body hair grew less thick. My periods last a day and a half with moderate bleeding at worst. I've also had minimal cramping. I did gain ~7 lbs around my butt and lower tummy, which hasn't gone away. I also noticed that my sex drive is decreased. The reason that I'm changing is because my IBS symptoms became severe. I looked into it, and research suggests that Drospirenone can cause/worsen IBS. I think overall Nikki was great but wasn't the perfect fit for me."

• Kva...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 20, 2020

For Birth Control "I liked how clear this pill, Nikki, made my skin, but that was really the only positive. I experienced headaches, very heavy periods with bad cramping, and bleeding between periods (at times as heavy as a normal period!). I thought maybe my body needed time to adjust, but after 8 months of feeling like I was bleeding all the time and always in pain, I switched birth control. I love how clear my skin was, but it's not worth it."

• mad...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 1, 2020

For Acne "I have been on Nikki for a month and just finished the first pack. My acne has gone to how it was last summer, but I think my body is still getting used to it. I am a teenager, and the only thing it did for me was give me a slight stomach ache in the first week a couple of times. Also, I haven't had my period for two months! When I was supposed to have it, I had bad cramps, but no blood. I will post an update when I finish the second pack."

• Ell...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 16, 2019

For Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder "1st time using birth control, and I’m taking it for PMDD & heavy/painful periods. About to finish my 1st pack. I was scared when I first started the pill - lack of emotions, no focus, irritability, a bit of stomach upset. Mood was the worst - I was swinging high and low & felt like I was on a roller coaster. I already struggle with depression/anxiety, so the birth control was worsening my mental health. HOWEVER - I think my body has adjusted to it now & I’m feeling a lot better. My mood is stable & I feel like my focus is back. Been spotting brown & it’s beginning to turn into blood now, but pretty light. I’ve had minor cramping, but it’s nothing compared to before. It’s crazy to have my period so light & not painful. Giving the 3-month trial period a chance to make sure this is a good med for me. All I can recommend for other people is to give it a chance. You can always get off it if you need to...don’t judge the pill based on negative symptoms you have in the first few weeks."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 23, 2021

For Birth Control "I’ve been on this pill for about 2 months now, and my period has been going for 15 days and counting. It’s been a constant heavy flow with cramps out of this world! This medication is very concerning because I am overall a very happy person, but I have gotten severely depressed within the past month to the point where my mind is uncontrollable with bad thoughts. I do not recommend this product to anyone."

• Pie...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 19, 2023

For Birth Control "I took Nikki for 2 years between 2017-2019. I bled randomly during sex all the time, and I was always on the verge of crying, but Nikki helped me lose weight and made my periods less heavy (I used to have to wear an adult diaper during my periods because it was so heavy). I stopped using it at the beginning of 2020, and my psoriasis came back with a fury, and my periods were so random (sometimes heavy, sometimes light, sometimes only lasted one day). I started taking generic Yaz, which was okay, but my psoriasis wasn’t going away. Now I have been taking Nikki again (it’s April 2023) for a little over a month, and my acne is going away, my psoriasis has subsided, and no weight loss or weight gain has occurred. However, I have random cramping all the time, and again, every little thing makes me cry. I take the bad with the good with this medication. It might work for you, it might not. DO NOT TAKE THIS WITH WELLBUTRIN. I went crazy when I took both."

• Str...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 17, 2019

For Birth Control "I was scared to use birth control pills because my period has never been regular, but decided to give it a try. I haven't had any bad experience with it yet. I did have a difference in my cramps, but it was only one day of intense cramps rather than my usual few days of cramping for a few hours each day."

• Chr...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 16, 2022

For Birth Control "I have been bleeding for 103 days straight. Not just spotting. Bleeding. I have zero desire, so my relationship has suffered. I was prescribed this medication to no longer have periods and to help with cramps. This has helped with nothing."

• Meg...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 3, 2021

For Birth Control "I did not like this birth control at all. For me, it helped me not get pregnant, but that was the only positive. It made me very hormonal, depressed, cramping 3/4 weeks of the month, and I experienced my first migraine I’ve ever had in my life, and it was insanely painful and agonizing. I stopped taking it after having that migraine, and I had only been taking it for 2 months. I finally decided all the negative side effects were outweighing the pros, and it wasn’t worth it anymore. I’m 28 and have taken birth control since I was 17 on and off. This was, by far, the one with the worst side effects for me, personally."

• Lan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 10, 2021

For Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder "So I am ending my 3rd month of Nikki, and unfortunately I have gained about 10 pounds in the last 2 months. I’m very sensitive to hormone shifts, having PMDD for years, but really, since taking Nikki, I don’t feel any better. I know it can take months for the body to adjust, but I don’t know if I can stick this out any longer. The first 2 months I was nauseous almost every day, now my bloating is out of control, my stomach is always distended and worse right before my period starts. For the past two days I’ve had 2 people ask me if I was pregnant :(( I’m really over it. The only positive is my period went from 6-7 days to 3/4 with moderate bleeding. I still cramp 1-2 weeks before my period starts. It could work for you, but it just isn’t worth it for me at this point. I’m sad about it."

• KCa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 14, 2018

For Birth Control "My pharmacy switched me over from Gianvi to Nikki. Since taking Nikki, which has been for about 4 months now, my once clear skin has become a playground for acne. Not only is my skin a problem, but my periods, my horrible cramps have come back, and I never know when it's coming. One of the main reasons for being on birth control is to regulate my cycle and also help with my PMDD. I plan things around when my cycle will be, and with this I have had to miss wax appointments because my period just shows up randomly. Can't forget to add the headaches, nausea, weight gain, blurred vision, and the biggest problem being mood swings and aggression it has caused me. I have found myself becoming increasingly aggressive, and that's not me. Thank goodness I went and saw my doctor last week, and I have now been switched back to Gianvi. I can't wait to feel back to normal again."

• Ali...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• April 23, 2018

For Acne "I was on Gianvi for years, and my skin was like glass. I was thin, no mental issues, etc., and had no problems until my pharmacy randomly switched me to Nikki. I've since gained 10 pounds on my 5'5" frame. None of my pants fit. My super thick hair has been falling out like crazy. My cystic acne is back. My mood swings are back. My cramps are back, and my periods are heavy. What is this pill? Stay away!"

• Sam...
• October 13, 2017

For Birth Control "I was taking Gianvi for five years, maybe longer. My pharmacy switched me to Nikki about four months ago, and I have noticed a major change with my body ever since. I have started cramping and spotting two weeks before I am supposed to start. I've also noticed more acne and some major mood swings. I'm glad to see that others are having the same problem as me. Once my current pack is finished, I will be finding another pharmacy that sells Gianvi and switch back to it."

• bgg...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 11, 2018

For Birth Control "I’ve been using this birth control for over a year and a half, and I literally love it! It works so well for regulating my period and clearing my acne. I literally used to have pizza face acne and on my back, and I gave it about 2 months, and it just all went away. My skin is so clear now, every now and then I’ll get a bump, but it’s not bad. Also, I used to have 7-10 day periods, and it regulated my period to 4-6 days, and my cramps really aren’t bad. I have a bad period maybe once every 5 months, and it’s just bad cramps. I love this birth control, and I totally recommend it."

• DAn...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 20, 2019

For Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder "This Nikki contraceptive pill is horrible! I had been taking Gianvi or Loryna for years, and suddenly my pharmacy gave me this stuff instead. I have been tired, moody, cramping, and bleeding since I started this stuff 2 weeks ago! Unfortunately, my insurance will only authorize refills from their online pharmacy, and this is all they claim they have right now. Stay away from this stuff if at all possible."

• 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."

• Mad...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 4, 2023

For Birth Control "Nikki was great for my acne. My skin was super clear after struggling with cystic acne for years! My period, however, was constantly late and irregular, and my cramps were the worst they’ve ever been. I gained a lot of weight on it too. Didn’t get pregnant, though, so that’s good! Overall, you just have to try it and see if it works for you. I am choosing to move on to a different pill, but am happy with the cleared acne it gave me."

• Sar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 17, 2019

For Birth Control "I just wanted to post this for the ladies who are taking Loryna, and your pharmacy now keeps giving you Nikki. Switch pharmacies and save yourself the time and heartache. I took Nikki for two months and just switched to Walgreens to get Loryna back. My hormonal acne came back, cramps, and I gained weight! I was using it for birth control, but if it’s going to make me a chunky, acne-covered psycho, I don’t think having sex will be an issue. Stick with your Yaz/Loryna, girl!"

• han...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 6, 2021

For Acne "Originally was put on Nikki for acne. I had breakouts the first month or two, but by month five, my skin was clearer than it had been in years, with only breakouts before my period. However, I did experience a lot of headaches and really intense mood swings to the point I was crying pretty much every day. I have a history of depression and anxiety, and they both went sky-high while on Nikki. I also was nauseous and had stomach issues while on it, along with period-like cramping throughout the month. I liked how my skin reacted, but with the increased risk of clots and all the side effects, it wasn’t worth it for me."

• CJa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 13, 2018

For Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder "I'd been taking Gianvi for 4 years, and I loved it. But I was forced to switch to Nikki last year since all of the pharmacies where I live stopped carrying Gianvi, and I'm not happy. It does fine at regulating my cycle but does not help with my cramps (I have endometriosis, though, so take that into consideration). It also does a pretty good job keeping my PMDD under control, but I'm also taking an antidepressant, so that works against my depressive mood swings as well. It's not great with preventing acne, I've been getting a lot of hormonal cystic acne. However, my big complaint is that I have been getting frequent intense headaches and menstrual migraines since I started Nikki. I can live with cramps, mood swings, and acne, but these headaches put me out of commission, and it's interrupting my life. However, because of my PMDD, I have to be on this specific pill, and I can't afford name brand. My advice is to avoid this pill if you can, especially if you're switching from another BC."

• Mad...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 21, 2018

For Birth Control "I was switched over to Nikki because my insurance covered all of it, and I’m here for free birth control. But I would rather pay the $30 for my old birth control than get this for free. After switching, my mood swings became noticeably worse, and my acne started acting up. I’m currently on my period on this brand, and NOTHING is better. Birth control typically makes my period lighter and a lot easier to deal with, but my cramps are as bad as they are without the pill, and I’m throwing up and have diarrhea, which is normal for me when I’m not even on the pill. So all in all, I’m just disappointed that I don’t feel any better, my acne came back, I’m way more emotional, and my period is horrible."

• Lis...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 26, 2018

For Birth Control "Terrible. I’ve been on this pill for 3 months. I’ve only had about 1 week cumulative in those three months where I wasn’t spotting or bleeding. Terrible mood swings and depression. Extremely painful periods. I did not get pregnant, which means it did its job, but honestly, there weren’t many occasions where there was a risk of getting pregnant, lol. With constant heavy periods and cramping, there was hardly any desire to have sex. Worst birth control I’ve ever tried."

• Lis...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 26, 2018

For Birth Control "Terrible. I’ve been on this pill for 3 months. I’ve only had about 1 week cumulative in those three months where I wasn’t spotting or bleeding. Terrible mood swings and depression. Extremely painful periods. I did not get pregnant, which means it did its job, but honestly, there weren’t many occasions where there was a risk of getting pregnant, lol. With constant heavy periods and cramping, there was hardly any desire to have sex. Worst birth control I’ve ever tried."

• Anonymous
• November 29, 2017

For Birth Control "I was originally put on TriSprintec to help with acne, and it made it severely worse, so my doctor switched me to Nikki almost a month ago. I had slight nausea when on TriSprintec, but now it's terrible, and I can barely eat. I also get cramping and headaches."