Nikki and Mood Swings: 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."

• Suz...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 8, 2020

For Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder "I'm 3 months in on Nikki after switching from an IUD. Acne is about the same, but that's never really been a huge issue. I still have spots here and there, but nothing crazy. I didn't spot, and my periods (which I didn't have on IUD) are light, regular, and only last 3-4 days. What I really wanted was to clear up my mood swings. Once a month, I broke up with my poor boyfriend. I literally went crazy and couldn't think straight. But since I've started this pill, I've had no issues."

• Hap...
• January 14, 2020

For Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder "So far, it has been good for me. Please understand that everyone will respond differently to any type of birth control. I had severe PMDD. I'm talking about suicidal thoughts and actions during the week of my period. When my period ended, my PMDD symptoms would just disappear (this is different for any woman with PMDD). While on Nikki, I have no PMDD symptoms, I just had regular PMS. Be aware that this state can change from month to month because PMDD is very complex. There was no EXTREME amount of emotional instability for me. This is one of the reasons why I'm ranking it so high. My last birth control gave me acne, and Nikki cleared that up for me within a month. My sex drive is perfectly fine as well. The only thing that I see as a drawback is that I've been having a few migraines with it. But I have chronic migraines, and when I switch, this typically happens for a few months, but then it slows down. Side note: Nikki is generic for Yaz. They're the same birth control."

• 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."

• Cja...
• April 9, 2021

For Acne "I’ve been on Nikki for 6 1/2 months now. Don’t get discouraged if you read about someone having bad side effects after being on the pill for a week, give the pill time to adjust to your body first. I’ve always been acne-prone, but in Fall of 2020, I started getting severe cystic acne along my neck, jawline, and cheeks. The cysts on my neck were new, so I knew something was wrong internally and did some research and tried Nikki. I didn’t experience any nausea, mood swings, or weight gain :) The first 2 months, I saw no change in my skin. By the end of month 3, I started seeing improvements, and the cysts on my neck were gone. The amount I was breaking out was less, but I was nowhere near clear in month 3 like a lot of people reported. Now I’m 1 week into month 7 and I don’t have 1 bump on my face! I still don’t feel I can say I have CLEAR skin yet because I have a lot of work that needs to be done with scarring and hyperpigmentation, however, I feel healthier, and my face is smooth!"

• Kat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 30, 2021

For Acne "Nikki birth control has been the only thing that has actually cleared my acne, and I have gone through so much to try to cure my acne. It is the only birth control that has worked for me as well, since years ago my favorite was discontinued. It makes my periods shorter, I only spot when I skip my period by taking the next pack, and like I said, it immediately cleared up my skin. It makes me so happy, I feel so good about myself. I have no mood swings and, get this, it actually increased my sex drive! Every other pill I have been on has made me dry, this one literally does the opposite. I am 21, and I am finally comfortable with my birth control!"

• 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."

• BNA...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 31, 2018

For Acne "I got back on birth control to treat my acne, and it has cleared my skin up 100%. I am on my third month now, and by the second month, my skin really cleared up, which I never thought would happen. The dermatologist recommended I get on the pill and said by month 3 my skin will be clear, and she was right. I will say the first month I was extremely moody and emotional, but that is normal when your body is getting adjusted, but by the second month, I was normal. This birth control keeps my skin clear, gives me light periods, and I didn't gain a pound on it. I'd recommend this to anyone who wants to get on the pill."

• 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."

• kat...
• October 24, 2018

For Acne "I went on this pill to help alleviate severe cramps, lighten periods, and improve acne. I originally was on Aviane, but found that its progestin hormone caused acne, so I switched to Nikki. While on this pill, my periods were worse than when I was on Aviane. They were heavier, and my cramps were worse-they barely responded to Advil. My acne, however, was totally fine. Honestly, this pill is great for skin, and I've noticed a huge positive change; however, I've decided to switch pills due to the other side effects. I've become severely depressed on this pill, irritable all the time, horrible mood swings, and EXTREME fatigue, not to mention loss of sex drive (I NEVER want to have sex anymore-my libido is at 0%). I didn't experience any weight gain or breakthrough bleeding, though. I would honestly say it just depends on the person. I thought the side effects would disappear, but I've tried this pill for 8 months, and there is no sign of them going away."

• Cou...
• November 24, 2020

For Acne "I just quit Nikki after being on it for two months. In that time, it had severely worsened my depression, gave me extreme fatigue, and caused mood swings. I didn't want to get out of bed most days, and I ended up missing a lot of my classes because of how tired I was. It even caused me to develop a yeast overgrowth in my digestive system. I first went on birth control two years ago, my doctor prescribed me Junel, and it cleared up my acne with little side effects. I stopped birth control for a year and just recently went back on because of an acne flare and was prescribed Nikki. I quit a few days ago after I realized the pill was causing all of my symptoms, and I already feel better. Of course, birth control affects everyone differently, but please don't try to push past the negative symptoms. Honestly, this experience has made me quite cynical of the pill. I've decided to heal my acne holistically and plan to get a non-hormonal IUD. Good luck to anybody going on this pill! I hope it works for you."

• 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!"

• 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."

• Cin...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 10, 2019

For Birth Control "I had been on Nikki for over a year, and all of a sudden got changed to YAZ. It made me so grateful for Nikki. While Nikki makes me tired and minor mood swings, it doesn’t compare to other birth controls. It kept my acne under control. My periods are short and on time every month. I was switched to YAZ, and I was a mess, huge mood swings, period started a week earlier. I wasn’t myself. Trying to get Nikki back!"

• 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!"

• Ste...
• July 23, 2021

For Birth Control "I’m 41 and have suffered since my first child with cystic acne and PMD. I’m on my 6th month and am feeling amazing. My cystic acne is gone. I have no PMS symptoms, and my period is literally nothing where it was previously heavy clotting and severe cramping. I do take Bupropion for anxiety, and maybe that had something to do with not having the mood swings and emotional side effects others described? I’m so pleased with how these hormones have balanced my body. I won’t change or alter this medication!"

• 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."

• 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."

• Lan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 2, 2019

"I read these reviews after getting Nikki, and they’re terrifying. I asked for Yaz and received this one, and I’m on day 4 with none of the issues everyone has mentioned so far. I haven’t been on birth control in 8-10 years, so I’m starting fresh. My reasoning is to control my heavy flow, bloating, and PMS. I’ve never had acne, so the only thing I’m worried about is potentially having severe mood swings. I will come back in a month or so with more findings."

• 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."

• Ste...
• November 11, 2017

For Birth Control "I’d been taking Gianvi for years without any issues, then my pharmacy randomly switched me to Nikki. I’ve been using it for the last 2 months, and since I’ve started using it, I’ve had frequent migraines, mood swings, acne, and weight gain. None of these occurred while taking Gianvi."

• 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."