Nikki and Headaches: What Users Say

• Two...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• February 12, 2020

For Birth Control "I am going on my fifth year taking this medication. I LOVE this pill. I was prescribed Lorena by a new doctor about three years ago, and I tried that for a short time only to have the worst bleeding, abdominal pain, and headaches of my life. I went back to my doctor, got them to prescribe me Nikki again, and I’ve never looked back. This medicine has helped me so much. It has fixed my irregular cycle and completely cured my acne. When I first started it, I do remember feeling nauseous and having headaches. But I continued on it and those symptoms went away very quickly. Like I said, it’s going to be my fifth year on this pill, and I will never take anything else."

• Sda...
• January 25, 2020

For Acne "I’m 31, and I’ve struggled with moderate acne since I was about 20. I tried everything from retinols, antibiotics, Proactiv, and various face washes and cleansers. I’ve been taking Sprintec for years because it was supposed to be good for acne. It was only until recently I realized that my breakouts coincided with my cycle. A week before my period is when I normally break out. I did some research and switched to Nikki despite the mixed reviews. I just finished the first pack, and I have to say I am amazed. My skin is actually clear, I really hope this isn't a fluke, but I seriously don’t have a zit on my face. While I still have some scarring, I actually left the house today without makeup, something I haven’t done in years. As far as side effects go, I have noticed a few headaches, mostly minor, which I am monitoring. None have persisted and go away with Motrin. But all in all, I could not be happier, I never thought I would see the day my skin was clear ever again."

• LJa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 23, 2018

For Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder "I had previously been taking Gianvi primarily for PMDD, but also for birth control. I decided to make a switch from (my beloved) Gianvi to Nikki due to price reasons. I was a little leery at first because of the seemingly mostly negative bad rap it was getting on this site. But I decided to give it a try. I'm glad I did because it was a completely seamless transition! No changes in mood, weight, headaches, etc. I'm very happy with this medication, and I'm glad I decided to give it a try. My wallet is happy too. Remember that people are more likely to complain than compliment, so there are probably many women satisfied with Nikki who haven't written reviews. I was pleasantly surprised. Remember that nothing is permanent, and you can always switch if you are dissatisfied."

• Saw...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 4, 2020

For Birth Control "I am in my second week of my second month of this BC and have been nauseous every day, along with having terrible headaches. I honestly feel worse now than I ever did during my pregnancies. Wouldn’t recommend."

• Bir...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 18, 2018

For Birth Control "I just started Nikki a month ago. For the first week, I had terrible nausea and headaches. However, now my skin is so, so clear. For the past 2 years, I have been struggling with terrible bloating to the point where I look pregnant. Nikki helped me feel less bloated, and I have lost 10 pounds in one month! I am 120 lbs now, so losing 10 lbs was a big deal for me! I am so happy and thankful for this pill. It really has transformed my life. Best of all, my copay is $0!"

• 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."

• PTa...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 27, 2018

For Birth Control "I have been taking this birth control for years now. About a year ago, I had to come off of it for a month or so. During that month, my moods drastically changed. I felt happier, had tons of energy, and I was less hungry. I thought for a second that this could be attributed to me stopping Nikki, but I convinced myself it was all in my head. Recently, I inadvertently skipped a week of my Nikki because I left my pills at home while I was traveling. Again. My mood was amazing, and I didn't feel the need to nap during the day. I thought nothing of it until now. I started taking Nikki again after returning home. It’s been 2 days. I’ve been in the worst mood all day. Crying, angry, and depressed for absolutely no reason and a horrible headache. This cannot be a coincidence."

• ANA...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 1, 2019

For Birth Control "I've been taking Nikki for a couple of months now, and it helped my acne so well. I have taken Sprintec and Ortho Tri-Cyclen before, and none helped. Also, it has only 4 days of sugar pills, thus shorter, lighter, and painless periods. I love it! I sometimes skip those days to keep my skin clear because I tend to break out during period days. I also had very bad side effects with other pills, such as headaches, weight gain, etc. I haven't had any of these with Nikki."

• squ...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 10, 2018

For Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder "Switched from Lo-Ovral to Nikki about 2 weeks ago without placebo pills in between. The only side effects I've been experiencing are being a lot more thirsty due to the diuretic effect of this pill. The first few days I had minor headaches. I've had mild acne my whole life, but I haven't had a breakout all week. My anxiety/depression symptoms are basically gone, and I haven't had a breakdown yet. When I was on Lo-Ovral, I had about one a month."

• flo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 13, 2020

For Acne "I have been on Nikki for 3 months now. In the first week or two, I felt nauseous and got headaches a lot. I use it for acne, and at first, it made my acne way worse, but when I was finishing up the second pack, it began to clear up my face. Now my face is pretty clear, but I feel tired all the time and have less motivation to do anything, but hopefully, this will go away. Overall though, I think my experience so far hasn't been too bad on Nikki, at least compared to other brands."

• 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."

• Neg...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 30, 2019

For Acne "I never post drug reviews because I am in the medical field, but man, I sure wish I would have read up on this drug before taking it. Within the first two weeks of being on this Nikki birth control, I developed back-to-back headaches and minor mood swings. Now, three weeks in, my face has gone ballistic, and I have cystic acne everywhere. This drug has started interfering with my career since I get self-conscious talking to doctors with a face full of zits. I now have to get back on Accutane to combat the side effects of this horrible drug!"

• 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."

• Zan...
• September 18, 2018

For Birth Control "I've been on Loryna for years, and I fell in love with how well I adjusted with no side effects. THEN CVS switches me to Nikki and promised it was the same exact medicine (yeah right), and that I should have no issues. But what they don't tell you is that the inactive ingredients can fluctuate from brand to brand and have horrid interactions with your body, and let me tell you, Nikki is the pits! The first week I couldn't stop crying, three months in, I'm STILL CRYING! I have broken out in hives, struggle with severe headaches, and constantly endure tender, painful breasts. The straw that broke the camel's back for me was the recent two weeks of nonstop bleeding I experienced while not even being scheduled to start my cycle. This was it! I was done. I switched my pharmacy to Walgreens, and I am back on Loryna, and within four hours of taking the first Loryna pill, my bleeding stopped. I wouldn't give this BC (Nikki) to my worst enemy."

• Ann...
• January 9, 2018

For Birth Control "I’m not sure why there are such bad reviews on this. This is my first time using this product, and so far I haven’t gained any weight. If anything, my appetite has changed in ways that I’m not as hungry as I usually am. I had headaches the first few days, but I’m assuming my body just was not used to it. Don’t have any mood changes and sleep fine. My skin has cleared up quickly."

• lus...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 9, 2018

For Birth Control "This is the first birth control I've tried, and I am a fan of it! However, for the first day or two days of taking it, I was in a terrible and irritable mood. Luckily, since then, I have been completely normal. Additionally, some of my acne has cleared up. I have not noticed any weight gain or loss, change in appetite, headaches, etc. I'm very happy with this med and will continue to use it!"

• Bil...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 2, 2018

For Birth Control "I started taking this pill almost three months ago, and I would say it’s been great other than a few side effects. The first month, I was extremely emotional, and I cried all the time about little things that never would make me cry before. I get headaches more frequently, and I get breast tenderness two weeks before my placebo pills start, which is annoying. I also feel like this pill has made me more exhausted and sore. Other than those little side effects, it’s done its job, my skin looks fabulous, and I haven’t gained any weight on it."

• 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."

• BHa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 7, 2018

For Birth Control "Ever since starting birth control, I have used Gianvi. I recently switched pharmacies, and the new pharmacy gave me Nikki instead of Gianvi (the new pharmacy is not eligible for Gianvi). After the first week of using it, I have already experienced: - headaches throughout the day - depression/mood swings - weight gain - inability to concentrate/focus - fatigue. I am only on day 6 of this and have already called to switch back to my previous pharmacy so I can get Gianvi again."

• 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."

• Can...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 16, 2019

For Birth Control "I am just now into my third week of this medicine. The first week, I was nauseous and had a headache and just felt terrible. This past week, I have been so unbelievably irritable. I have three small children and just can't be the moody single mom. I have to be here for my kids emotionally. I have noticed my patience decreased and my anxiety increased. I've been more down than usual. I have ZERO sex drive with my boyfriend, which is completely unusual. And I've also wanted to EAT everything! The main reason for this medication was to regulate my periods because I have a small fibroid. I've noticed a lot less pain from that and no bleeding so far. But I'd honestly rather have that than all these side effects. I do not recommend this medication. It has been awful."

• Kit...
• January 31, 2019

For Birth Control "Been on this for 2 days, and I’m so nauseous and terrible headaches. The hour after I took it, my headache started, and today (second day), been nauseous all day. I even want to just throw up and get it out of my system. Ugh, not taking it anymore."

• Con...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 31, 2019

For Birth Control "I have been on this birth control, Nikki, for a week and a half. I have already developed cystic acne (from absolutely no acne ever), headaches, and extreme hunger. I switched from Junel Fe, hoping Nikki would help with my cramping and lighten my periods. I am already annoyed with this birth control, I will be switching as soon as possible."

• Hob...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 7, 2019

For Acne "I have just finished my first pack. The first 2 weeks, I had annoying headaches and got really moody. The 3rd week wasn’t too bad. Now I’m starting to get really bad acne. I got on birth control for acne because I’ve been dealing with acne since I was a teenager, but this acne is way worse. Cystic, painful acne all over my cheek/chin area. I’m only a month in, but I wouldn’t recommend this brand. If you could get/afford another... please do."

• Mka...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 6, 2020

For Birth Control "Nikki overall has been good, but has not been the right birth control for me. Benefits: My skin has never been much of an issue (I would only break out around my period), but this birth control completely cleared my skin. I don’t remember the last time I had a painful pimple. My moods have been somewhat consistent. I just get really anxious and irritable the week before my period. The bad side effects that I’ve had are: heavy flow. It’s so heavy, and I’ll go through a super plus tampon in less than two hours. Horrible headaches that last for 2 weeks. They’ve gotten worse the longer I’ve been on this medicine, which is why I’ll be switching! I really don't want to switch because of the benefits to my skin, but it’s just not worth the headaches and heavy flow for me."