Vestura and Anxiety: What Users Say

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 6, 2021

For Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder "I am a 39-year-old woman. I started taking Vestura five weeks ago to help with extreme mood swings during PMS. It's been 10 years since I last used birth control pills. I skipped the placebo pills and went into the next pack of active pills as advised by my doctor, but a week into the new pack I experienced medium-to-heavy breakthrough bleeding, cramps, nausea, and emotional distress, including crying spells and passive suicidal thoughts. I do have a history of anxiety and depression, but I'm concerned about continuing to take this pill if there's a possibility it's bringing on these intense emotions. I've decided to stop taking it rather than 'wait it out' another few months."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 19, 2016

For Birth Control "I have a history of mental illness, but have not been on medication for about a year and had no problems since then. After starting this medication, I started to have symptoms of depression and anxiety, irritability, and mood swings. Hopefully, I will be able to find a new form of birth control."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 16, 2023

For Birth Control "I took Vestura for granted. I started taking Vestura in 2022 after having a not-so-great experience with Nexplanon. During the first two weeks of taking Vestura, my appetite was so-so, and I just felt flat - not sad, not happy - just existing. After those two weeks, I noticed that my anxiety was very minimal, and I felt balanced in every aspect of my life. My libido wasn't affected, I lift weights, so my body has curves and muscle, and my skin was great (not a goal I had, but a nice bonus). I also had light periods but usually started a new pack without the placebo to avoid them altogether. Then, in January 2023, Vestura was discontinued, and I was given a generic version with just the chemical name. I swore I was pregnant because of all the symptoms, stopped taking it, and switched to Yaz for two months. Yaz made me feel better, but it was also very expensive at $166 per pack with insurance (laughs in healthcare system). I then switched to Loryna in April, and I have been miserable ever since."

• Lif...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 16, 2022

For Birth Control "Life-changing in the most negative way possible. Since starting this pill, I have gone on anxiety and antidepressant medications, not knowing my birth control was the culprit. I have had the worst 6 months on this pill. It has affected me not only mentally but physically, my gut health is messed up. I am bloated all the time and was diagnosed with IBS. This is an effective birth control but not worth the consequences."

• aph...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 17, 2022

For Birth Control "I started this pill in August and had horrible nausea the first week or so. After that, things got better, and my periods were like a dream. I typically have really bad period cramps and heavy periods, but this helped. My doctor recommended this to me because he thought I had PMDD based on all the symptoms I had when not on any BC. I will say the pill cleared up the majority of those symptoms. However, I noticed that my emotions were heightened. I cried a lot throughout, would have anger issues, anxiety, depression, and panic attacks that felt unmanageable. Most of the time, I wouldn't take the four-day break because I would have thoughts of hurting myself on day two of the break. But recently, I started to stick it out and go to bed when I started to feel that way and had the happiest days of my life (it felt like) on day three and four of the break. So much so that I told everyone to say goodbye to my happy self. I thought I really didn't like my job and people, but I think it's the pills."

• Mar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 13, 2022

For Birth Control "I’m taking Vestura for 4 months now for endometriosis. The first 3 months of taking it, I started having anxiety, but only once in a while. I was concerned a bit but didn’t want to give up too quickly. In the 4th month, anxiety started to be more intense, so I decided to discontinue BC. Apparently, it doesn’t work for me. Based on other women’s reviews and my own experience, it looks like anxiety is a pretty common side effect of Vestura, even though doctors will say it’s not."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 13, 2018

For Birth Control "I've taken this before for a few months at a time, and it has never affected me this way until now. I have been on it for 3 weeks, and it has truly been the worst 3 weeks of my life, emotionally speaking. I am so emotional that I am crying daily, anxious, and just generally not enjoying life the way I was before starting this medication. I am wanting to be on birth control but am afraid to continue taking this very one due to the emotional impact it has on me. I've taken Yaz before and bled for 6 weeks, but eventually was leveled out."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 14, 2022

For Birth Control "I needed to go back on birth control after taking a break for over a year (was previously on Sprintec). I talked with my doctor about struggling with anxiety/depression, and she specifically recommended Vestura for me. I had been taking it for about 5 months and felt a normal amount of anxiety for me. Last month my pharmacy switched me to Loryna, and I have never felt more anxious/depressed in my life. I honestly felt like I couldn't control my emotions at all. I would cry randomly (even at work) for no apparent reason and started being very irritable around my period, picking fights with friends. As soon as I realized my birth control might be the cause, I called the pharmacy and switched back."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 3, 2017

For Menstrual Disorders "I got switched to this from Yaz. The worst month of my life. Terrible mood swings, anxiety, not to mention I bled through the entire pack. I don't recommend this to anyone."