Zarah and Anxiety: What Users Say

• JO3...
• December 1, 2015

For Birth Control "I was on this birth control when I was a teenager and felt great. I had since been diagnosed with endometriosis and had to stop birth control for treatment. When I finished the 6-month treatment, I had to start birth control again. I tried a bunch of different birth control pills to try to minimize bleeding and pain. I had issues with acne, depression and anxiety, weight loss, breakthrough bleeding, severe cramping, painful sex, and a million other things. I asked to be put back on Zarah and should have done it years ago. My skin is completely clear, I have no depression and anxiety, it did not change my weight, there is no breakthrough bleeding, severe cramping, or painful sex. I feel 10 times better than being on no birth control. The best!!!"

• NOO...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 19, 2016

For Birth Control "This is the absolute worst birth control you could possibly take. I was on Ocella for one month before I had to switch pharmacies due to my new insurance, and Ocella was fine. Once I started on Zarah, I had constant anxiety/palpitations. It got so bad to the point that I was seeing my doctor and thinking that I had a heart problem (had an echo done, normal). This birth control literally made me feel like I was going crazy and that I had all kinds of health problems. It made my left hand tingle, and I was also constantly exhausted to the point where I was almost sleeping 20 hours a day. Oh, and my blood pressure skyrocketed. Went off this birth control and got the Skyla IUD. I didn't get pregnant on this BC, which is literally the only good thing."

• Cri...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 26, 2016

For Birth Control "Well, I've been on Zarah for about three months. I hate it. I've always been a happy person, but lately, I look in the mirror and cry all the time. I gained 15 pounds, have horrible anxiety about stupid things, and cry at the drop of a dime. It is effective in preventing pregnancy, and I have not had a low sex drive like some others. Overall, I am super displeased, and I can't wait to switch."

• zar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 3, 2017

For Birth Control "I am rating Zarah a 5/10 because I did like some aspects of this med. I did not have any unnecessary bleeding during the month, which was great, my acne cleared up significantly, and my periods were very regular and not that heavy. I did gain some weight on this med, but nothing too serious, and I did have a headache when I first started this medication and on my periods. BUT I have recently stopped this med. I was EXTREMELY anxious during the time I was on this medication. I cried at least 4-5 times a week and would usually have at least one breakdown a day. Crying, chest pain, trouble breathing, couldn't focus. Just writing this so those feeling this way know they are not alone. I am feeling much better and hope I continue to get better."

• Ot1...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 22, 2018

For Birth Control "I usually never write reviews, but I felt the need to share my experience for future users. I was on Ocella for a couple of years before my pharmacy switched me over to Zarah. Ocella was great, I had zero side effects from it, and it even cleared up my skin, so that was a plus. But when I switched to Zarah, the cons outweighed the pros. First off, my acne returned worse than it was before. I also had constant anxiety and moodiness. But the worst side effect seemed to be low sex drive and vaginal dryness. My sex life disappeared for nearly three months, and even if I wanted to have sex, there was zero lubrication to do so. The only thing this birth control did right was preventing me from getting pregnant, and that was basically only because I had no sex drive while on it. Once I got off of it, all my side effects regarding acne, anxiety, moodiness, sex drive, and dryness went away. If you can avoid taking this birth control, you should."

• Ros...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 14, 2018

For Birth Control "I switched to Zarah last year around April/May because my periods had become irregular. I didn't notice any changes in the first few months (I had taken Microgestin Fe 1/20 for about 3 years prior). But, two months ago, I went off Zarah due to terrible depression and anxiety. I've never had many PMS symptoms, but for about the last 5 months of taking Zarah, I noticed that my depression and anxiety got worse and worse every month when I was PMSing. It was getting so bad that I switched my pill to Microgestin Fe 1.5/30, but I just completely went off the pill because my anxiety and depression have never been worse, and I truly believe it was Zarah that messed it up."

• Bri...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 1, 2016

For Birth Control "This is the first birth control I've been on, I mostly used it for acne at first. For the first month, it was fine. Then, after that, I started getting nauseous a few hours after taking the pill. Then, the third month, I would get really nauseous that I would almost throw up, and this was happening a few days a week, and I missed too much school, so I finally stopped taking it. But besides being super nauseous all the time, I had mood swings, it did nothing for my acne, bad cramps, and anxiety. The only good thing was that it regulated my period."

• Lis...
• October 22, 2016

For Birth Control "I absolutely love Zarah. I've been taking it for well over a year now. Never gained weight, cleared up my acne so much, great 3-4 day period. I switched to Ocello for about one month (not by choice), and I absolutely hated it. Ocello made me super moody and anxious. Zarah almost keeps me in check. Personally, every female is different, and I would ask a doctor instead of reading reviews!"

• Mon...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 15, 2015

For Birth Control "I'm 25 and am basically taking birth control for acne. I have tried many different pills, but this was my least favorite, I took it for 2 months. I am small-framed, about 98 lbs and 5'. I feel this was too much hormone for my small body. The first month, I was getting anxiety around my period time, crying spells, very crampy, a heavy flow, and mood swings (my poor boyfriend). This has never happened with any pill I've taken, the anxiousness scared me. I gave it another month and not really much of a change. My acne did not clear up at all! No weight gain, and sex drive was great. Overall, not for me. I switched to Monessa a few weeks ago, a much lower dose BC pill, and so far, so good! Everyone's different, good luck!"

• Cai...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• February 18, 2019

For Birth Control "I started taking this pill as soon as I got my first period (age 12). I can truly say I regret being on it for so long. I was on this pill for 8 years before I decided to stop it to see what would happen. I am a completely different person without the hormones from this pill and every other pill I’ve tried. The pill made me gain 17 lbs, which fell off within 2 months of stopping the pill, gave me anxiety, increased my appetite, affected my digestive system. I could go on and on about the negative effects the pill has on your body. It sucks because I hate risking pregnancy, but it’s really not healthy to put these hormones in your body."

• Mar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 3, 2016

For Birth Control "Zarah was my first form of birth control. I've been on it for about 4 months, and it's been pretty only a bad experience. I've become very depressed and anxious. I am naturally fairly moody, but this has been terrible. It made me think my boyfriend was a monster. I would yell at him, and in my head, I would blame all my depression on him and 'how he treated me,' which was fine. The pill made me think otherwise. It did clear up my skin, and I've actually lost weight, but not worth it because my mental health is so poor. I'm very, very sad and emotional all the time. It's not only sometimes. I need to make a switch soon to a different one. Don't recommend because of how I feel about myself and others. Makes you very depressed, can't stress it."