Drospirenone / ethinyl estradiol and Mood Swings: What Users Say (Page 2)

• MRG...
• August 17, 2010

For Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder "I suffered with PMDD for over 20 years. This included bad acne, terrible mood swings, recurring infections such as bladder and yeast, having to be bedridden the entire week prior to my period, terrible joint pain, and water retention. I had seen all types of doctors, given tests for diabetes to STDs- as they couldn't figure out what was ailing me. I had doctors recommend Prozac and large amounts of Ibuprofen... none of this helped. It was by luck, my doctor was not available and I saw a different physician that prescribed Yaz. I can honestly say this medicine has CHANGED MY LIFE. I feel like a new person and spent 20 years in pain. Thank you Yaz for giving me my life back- I LOVE THIS MEDICATION AND MY NEW LIFE!"

• 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."

• sam...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 21, 2019

For Acne "I have been on Yasmin a few years back due to my acne, and it really cleared my skin up in a matter of a month, made my boobs big (which I loved as I am a 32A). Never made me pick up any weight, which was amazing! I ended up going off the pill as it made me moody and at times depressed! My face stayed clear after going off it, and I haven't been taking any contraceptive for about 2 years. The last 3 months, my acne has once again shown up, and I have tried every cream out there, spending a small fortune on washes, scrubs, and creams, but nothing works. I have made a decision today that the mood swings and mild depression that Yasmin gives are 10,000 times better than the depression that I have felt over the past 3 months because of painful cystic acne that no amount of makeup can hide. I would recommend this pill to any girl that has oily, acne-prone skin. It will save you so much money on makeup and skincare products as well."

• ana...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 29, 2019

For Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder "I began using Yaz 7 months ago on my mother and sister's recommendation (my sister also suffers from PMDD and has been taking Yaz for years). For the first few months, I saw a drastic improvement: my mood was better, my skin cleared up, my boobs got bigger, etc. However, I have recently decided to come off Yaz as I was starting to experience negative side effects, mainly the worsening of my mood. I was suffering from immense mood swings and a lot of the time feeling very depressed. My periods were becoming irregular (for example, coming before I had begun the sugar pills), and I also started suffering from severe headaches every day. Now, every experience is different as my sister has had no trouble for years, so I think it is worth a try, however, I strongly suggest you keep some sort of record of all the symptoms you are feeling and keep an eye out as it took me a while to realize things were going downhill again."

• Anonymous
• June 24, 2011

For Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder "I had horrible PMDD that lasted 2 weeks every month that translates into half of my life. During PMDD, I suffered from depression, fatigue, and mood swings. I was a completely different person. It interfered with my work, and I was calling in sick at least every other month. I am convinced my boss thought I was faking illness because of the frequency of calling in sick, and I never 'sounded' sick. Anyway, thanks to Yaz, my life has changed so much for the better. Sometimes I will have a little PMS mood swing, but nothing like before. My energy and moods stay consistent through the month now. It is wonderful to feel back in control of my emotions. Thanks, Yaz."

• adh...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 19, 2023

For Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder "Okay, so I’m here for all the people who are terrified and see all these bad reviews. Keep in mind, people are more likely to share bad experiences, so just remember there are good ones too! I used to take Gianvi, and then it sadly was discontinued. CVS started giving me Nikki. It was awful. So the pharmacist looked up other generics of Yaz, and he ordered me Loryna. I figured I’d give it a go. It helps me a lot, I used to have awful cramps, nausea, and migraines before my period. I also would have awful mood swings and would lash out at my husband. I haven’t had that at all with Loryna! I also skip the placebos because my periods are so rough, and that makes my life so much easier. If you’re scared and see all these reviews, just remember, everyone’s different! Give it a try, and if it doesn’t work, it’ll be okay! Just let your ob-gyn or pharmacist know."

• Emz...
• April 29, 2021

For Acne "My doctor put me on Yaz for post-pill acne and said to try it for 3 months and see how I liked it. It made my skin terrible for the first 2 months. Extreme purging of acne on my chin and jaw. It also made me very emotional. I was so close to stopping taking it, but I wanted to remain hopeful after the 3-month period that things would get better, so I suffered through the purging. I’m just about to start month 4, and I have had no acne for the last 2 weeks, and my skin is almost perfect. I’m stuck with some post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation from the purging, but concealer can cover it up while my vitamin C serum does its thing. My face feels so soft and completely clear as of right now, and my period is so light with minimal cramping. My insurance covers almost the entire cost of it, so I’ll stick with it for a while and see if it keeps my skin clear! Definitely worth a try if you’re willing to go through the purging for a while, first month or two."

• Joa...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• October 10, 2014

For Birth Control "I was taking Yaz for almost 7 years, and I loved it! My weight never changed, my skin was beautiful, normal sex drive, no cramps, 3-4 days periods. In 2013, I saw some weird spots on my face, after the consultation with a doc, it turned out to be melasma (nothing dangerous, but it doesn't look good). One of the most common causes is oral birth control. It wasn't the Yaz, just birth control with a higher amount of progestin. I switched to Mirena, and that was the worst decision ever! Acne, mood changes, gained 20 pounds in 3 weeks. I'm going back on the pill this month, and we will see how it goes, I will post about it in about 6 months."

• Gis...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 26, 2020

For Birth Control "I have been taking Yaz for about a year now. My skin has cleared, and my periods often skip for months at a time, and when they do come, they are just spotting (I wanted to take Yaz to regulate my period). Over the past 6 months, near the end of my packet has been something I dread, I become very emotional and depressed. I often have a hard time getting out of bed, feeling unmotivated, and have many self-deprecating thoughts. It honestly scares me. When I am not nearing the end of my pack, I am myself, bubbly and energetic, and constantly moving. I will be looking for a replacement and want anyone thinking about taking Yaz to be aware of any mood changes. While there are some positive replies here, there are many negative ones, and make sure you are using something that is truly benefiting you more than hurting you. Wishing everyone the best!"

• Vic...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• February 19, 2019

For Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder "Best thing ever. Lifesaver. Game changer. I tried other BC but had the worst PMS (PMDD) - heavy, painful periods, depression, anxiety, and acne, which would lead to skin infections/inflamed skin for 2-3 weeks; I was miserable all month. Once I began taking Yaz, it felt like a veil lifted. Horrible PMS became a thing of the past. Physically, my boobs maybe went up a cup, and my skin cleared up. My periods weren’t as heavy or painful. I didn’t have as much of a sex drive, but for me, being sane was worth the trade-off. For me, the brand name worked best. Hands down."

• Anonymous
• June 15, 2009

For Birth Control "I'm 32 and never took any birth control pills. I was on the fence about taking Yaz due to negative responses. I love this birth control and I'm glad I took it. I only experienced light bleeding during the 1st month of taking the pill. When I finished the 1st pack, the bleeding stopped. I noticed I was emotional when I took the first placebo pill, but when I took the 2nd, I was back to normal. My doctor put me on the pill due to irregular periods, and when they came on, they would be extremely heavy. I missed work some days due to this. Well, when I got my period while taking Yaz, it came on when taking the placebo pills and was light, NO CRAMPS, very short. My skin looks great, I wake up happy as can be, no emotional issues, sex drive up."

• acn...
• April 22, 2009

For Acne "I am thankful to Yaz. Within a few days, it cleared up my skin just as I hoped, but I did not expect it to work so fast. My chest has gotten a lot bigger, but other than that, I have not gained any weight. I seem to have lost my appetite as well, which makes it easier to make healthier food choices. Also, I seem to have more mood swings and am a little more depressed."

• 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."

• bmi...
• October 3, 2020

For Acne "Just ended the second pack of Yaz. Starting month 3, hoping to see good results with skin as they say to wait out a full 3 months. Since I got my Mirena IUD taken out 4 months ago, my acne went from nothing at all to everywhere, especially terrible on my chest! It is just so hard on my confidence when it is on the chest. Hoping this month I'll see it start clearing up. The first month on it I was no joke crying every day, so, so emotional. I probably haven't cried in a year until I got on Yaz (Nikki generic). But that subsided, and I felt stable again on month 2. Everything is temporary when hormones are trying to rebalance themselves, remember that. Still a bit emotional, but better for sure. Also had hot flashes for 2 months every day... haven't experienced them in a week though! Other side effects I have are bigger boobs, I'll take it! Also, I've lost 10 lbs on it. Most say they see weight gain with BC pills, but it's crazy how differently birth control affects everyone."

• JOK...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 20, 2019

For Birth Control "This birth control pill Yaz has made me not recognize who I am. I was such a fun, outgoing, lovable person. I've been taking it for two months now, and it has almost ruined my relationship with my boyfriend. These past two months, I have cried, been annoyed (at anything), and lashed out at everyone around me. It has made me feel like I have no control over my body or my personality, I was once so proud of. I started taking it just to regulate my period, and all it has done is make me feel like garbage about my (usually confident) self, deleted my sex drive, made me aggressive, given me two UTIs, and dampened my mood completely."

• Abb...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 3, 2021

For Birth Control "I started taking Loryna about 3 months ago, and I've never felt worse! I feel bloated all the time, get severe headaches (which I normally never get), have gained stomach issues, and to top it off, I have put on a few pounds. Plus, Loryna also makes me feel sad 24/7! And if I'm not sad, then I'm having outrageous mood swings. This oral contraceptive is definitely not the one for me. However, everyone is different, so take my experience as you please."

• cir...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 8, 2020

For Acne "I was prescribed Yasmin to get rid of my acne. Six months ago, I stopped taking the pill, and about four months later, my face had a sudden acne breakout, it was quite severe. I had had acne before, but my skin had recovered from it. My dermatologist advised me to take Yasmin again, as he said my acne was hormonal. I have been taking it for a month and a half, and it has done miracles for my face, I just have three spots and scars left. However, I have noticed that my mood has been changing for the worse, but I prefer this to having acne, as it completely destroyed my self-confidence. Completely worked for me."

• Sha...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 23, 2019

For Birth Control "I've gotten into a serious relationship this past year, and I opted to get birth control. I have had the Xulane birth control patches and the generic Yaz, Gianvi. Xulane gave me every side effect possible-mood swings, nausea, and headache, and Gianvi made me have mood swings. I asked my pharmacist to give me the non-generic version, and I finally got Yaz. I've had zero side effects, no mood swings, no weight gain, and glowing skin! If you're hesitant to try because of previous bad reviews, give it a shot! I am the person who has every possible bad side effect of every drug, and I highly recommend it!"

• spe...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 26, 2016

For Acne "I have struggled with acne since I was fifteen, and nothing I would take or use helped it ever, and I did not want to take Accutane. My doctor suggested I take birth control to help clear my skin, and this has made my skin completely clear, and I'm very glad. I did break out worse for the first three months, but then my skin was completely clear. I did not gain weight, in fact, I lost two pounds at first, and it did make my boobs bigger, and they were sore at first, but nothing terrible. The only problem I have is that it does make me really emotional the week before or the week after my period, but nothing extreme, just irritability, sometimes crying at random things."

• Jas...
• January 2, 2016

For Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder "I started this pill because I was having crazy mood swings and just not feeling like myself at least 3 weeks out of the month. My doctor prescribed me this, hoping it would also treat my acne along with PMDD. Well, the first month was pretty rough as far as my acne was concerned, but it wasn't as bad as I've read in other reviews. I had a few painful cystic pimples within 2 weeks of taking Yaz. I felt really embarrassed because my old pill (Loestrin) gave me clear skin, and I wasn't used to acne anymore. Well, now I'm about to start my 4 inactive pills, and about 3 days ago my skin just cleared up like MAGIC. I read that it takes about 3 months to level out your hormones. But I finally feel like myself again! No more crazy crying fits!!"

• Anonymous
• May 2, 2019

For Acne "All my 40 years, I have struggled with mood swings and severe cystic acne. Birth control only seemed to make these worse, and the dermatologist only prescribed super expensive topical and oral treatments, which barely helped, if at all. My doctor eventually prescribed Yaz to me. The first 3-4 months were terrible. I broke out constantly and had very heavy periods as well. Then, after month 4, everything changed. My skin became clearer than I have seen it in my entire life. Each month afterwards, my periods became lighter, and my mood swings disappeared. I’ve been on Yaz for 14 months now, and I still have amazing skin and stable moods. Sometimes I don’t get my period, and sometimes I do. I have maybe had 2 pimples the entire time, but they are just normal pimples and not the terrible cystic acne I used to get."

• I...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 7, 2020

"It’s been almost 2 years on the pill (Yaz). I started taking Yaz because of my period and acne. I would bleed so heavily I could never control it, horrible back pain and cramps. I also had acne so bad I hated going anywhere. After about 6 months to a year being on the pill, my acne cleared up, and I just was getting small pimples every once in a while. I gained weight in my butt, sides, and thighs. Now, being on the pill for 2 years, I have realized how much it has affected me emotionally. Every month at the end of my pack, I get very depressed and cry for reasons I can’t explain. The depression and crazy mood swings affected me, my parents, and my boyfriend. I’m not myself, and I’m not sure what to do. I feel like if I talk to my doctor about it, I’m gonna have to be taken off the pill, and what if my acne comes back and my period gets bad? At this point, I don’t care. I’m tired of not being me and feeling depressed. Any help?"

• 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."

• esn...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 18, 2019

For Birth Control "I started Yaz a year ago, and all was fine for the first few months, but I started getting so moody, so I decided to stop. Then, after 4 months, I started again, and it’s been the worst decision of my life. The only benefits are no pregnancy and less pain on my period. My mood swings have been crazy and unending, and my anxiety and depression are following me everywhere. I’m losing contact with myself, and I don't know who I am anymore because I feel so numb. I have lost interest in people I know I love, and I’ve become lazy. I have decided that I will stop today."

• Cai...
• September 11, 2019

For Birth Control "It's been 3 weeks now, and I have decided to stop taking it. I was on Blisovi before. The Yaz pill made me EXTREMELY emotional. I have already been diagnosed with anxiety and depression, and this pill made it that much worse. I began having really negative thoughts, along with emotional tantrums and horrible mood swings. My sex drive is at an all-time low. Please do not take this pill if you are prone to anxiety or depression."