Zarah and Nausea: What Users Say

• kam...
• December 11, 2013

For Birth Control "I've been on Yasmine for over 8 years. Two months ago, my local pharmacist suggested the switch to Zarah. Two months have now passed. I'm nauseous, I've gained 8 pounds, and I'm also tired often. Honestly, I thought I was pregnant (I'm not)... The cheap switch is not worth the side effects. There is something different about this pill."

• Anonymous
• April 1, 2012

For Birth Control "I've been very happy with Zarah. Virtually no side effects and has practically eliminated menstrual cramps. No weight gain, nausea, etc. Has also improved acne, which was another concern of mine. Highly recommend Zarah."

• Kat...
• June 13, 2014

For Birth Control "I started taking the pill 11 years ago to help with dysmenorrhea (really painful periods), and after trying a few different pills to find one that worked for me, I started using Yasmin. I used Yasmin for many years, and it worked very well for me. Recently, my insurance company decided that they would cover Zarah but not Yasmin, so my pharmacy switched me and told me that they were the same pill. When you look at the monograph included with the pills, the only noticeable difference is with the non-medicinal ingredients, so I agreed to the switch. I wish I hadn't. When I first started Zarah, I was nauseated on and off for about a month. Then I noticed that I was getting quite bloated. My weight has gone up 2 or 3 pounds."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 11, 2015

For Birth Control "I never write reviews, but had to share my terrible experience so that others don't make the same mistake that I've made. I had been on Yasmin for years, my doctor suggested I switch to a generic since it's free (as opposed to $50), so I gave it a shot for a month. I have one more day on Zarah, and here are the side effects I've experienced in that time: nausea, severe moodiness, dizziness, yeast infection, swollen tongue (?!), cystic acne, loss of appetite, yet weight gain. I'm a healthy, active 31-year-old woman without any other medical issues. Avoid this pill!!"

• Bc ...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 3, 2013

For Birth Control "I started taking Zarah 2 months ago. Before that, I was on Ortho Tri-Cyclen (which made me very nauseous, so I switched). When I started Zarah, I was nauseous all the time. My sense of smell was heightened tenfold to the point where I couldn't even be around my dog or the trash can without feeling sick. I couldn't and still can't eat meat, salad, or any of the healthy foods I loved eating. I feel weak and lazy all the time and like I am carrying bricks on my shoulders. I originally got on Zarah and off the IUD because my doctor said it would help my acne, but it didn't. The IUD was amazing besides not helping or even causing my acne. I also have constant headaches and eat junk food constantly and have gained 5 lbs."

• ben...
• May 24, 2017

For Birth Control "I've only been on Zarah for almost 2 weeks. I know that is not long enough, but I have noticed I become nauseous here and there. My mood changes frequently too. I never had these problems with other birth controls."

• Ang...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 1, 2016

For Birth Control "I began Zarah when I kept having spotting while taking Zovia. This pill might as well be called demonic possession. It was a living nightmare. My boobs got bigger but could barely be touched because they were so swollen and painful. The week I was on my period, they stopped hurting, and that was really the only time I was happy in my life. On. My. Period. But besides the breast tenderness, I felt nauseous, tired, I would randomly vomit after meals, and I had no control over my bladder. I once had to pee outside of a gas station because I couldn't wait to walk inside and get the restroom key. I was the most moody, irritable, grumpy person I have ever been in my life. I almost dropped my sorority, ruined my relationship with my boyfriend. I once got angry because my boyfriend was trying to give me a back massage and I 'didn't understand why he had to be touching me all the time.' I also couldn't have sex for longer than 5 minutes because I would get dry. Low libido, low tolerance for any person in my life. Even the people I liked started becoming the people I hated. At a Buffalo Wild Wings, I practically threw a fit at the waiter because 'the mild wings were too spicy.' He timidly came back to let me try a new sauce before they made a new batch. I ended up not eating the wings, I was so pissed off. I haven't been to a Buffalo Wild Wings since. Today is my first day on a new pill, and I'm hoping this time it will be a different experience."

• Cas...
• June 3, 2015

For Birth Control "I'm 19 and have been on Zarah for 2 years due to endometriosis. I don't notice my periods being much lighter while on it, but that's probably due to my condition. I have had zero weight gain on this medication, and my skin is always clear. It made me a little nauseous in the beginning, but nothing like what other BC pills did to me. This is by far my favorite!"

• Hil...
• August 8, 2015

For Birth Control "I usually never give reviews on any products, but this is something women need to know of before even going on this pill! I have been on a lot of different birth controls in the past, I have never in my life experienced such a horrid birth control in all my life. The pharmacy ended up giving me Zarrah 21 instead last time I filled my prescription, and for the first month, I thought 100% I was pregnant! I was getting 'morning sickness' and gained probably about 5-10 pounds just in the first month, and I am completely exhausted and lethargic almost 24/7 now. Honestly, I can deal with the sickness and the little weight gain, but the acne! I have never had acne in my life, but this is unreal... it's painful and horrible all over my face! Don't go on this pill!!"

• ITi...
• February 13, 2015

For Birth Control "I've been using Zarah for a year now. It works just as great as Yasmin. It didn't cause any weight gain or mood changes. Those are the only things I'm scared of, apart from the adverse effect of DVT. I had nausea only during the first 4 months of taking it. It reduced my headaches and dysmenorrhea, but I'm not sure if the former is just psychosomatic. I've never been pregnant during the course of taking it, so it's an effective BCP! Another bonus is 'glowing' skin. My skin was already in perfect condition, but Zarah (and Yasmin, which I took before it) made it 'ethereal,' as what people would say to me... and this is no joke. I'm giving the credit to Zarah (and Yasmin). Apparently, I'm switching back to Yasmin because of insurance coverage changes."

• 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."

• EB8...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 26, 2015

For Birth Control "My biggest concern was weight gain. I've just finished my first month of Zarah, and have actually lost a pound or two, but I'm pretty sure it's just water weight. The good stuff about Zarah: reduced/no water retention. No increased appetite. My breasts haven't been swollen/tender. PMDD symptoms are much milder. The neutral/bleh stuff about Zarah: still have some moodiness while the hormones adjust. Definitely having bouts of nausea. But I'll take nausea over no weight gain/slight weight loss any day."

• Bat...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 22, 2017

For Birth Control "After a lot of failed birth control for various reasons, I was put on Zarah. I had a huge nausea and vomiting problem with the last one and also made me horribly ill before my period. (I forgot the name.) So this is the day of my last active pill, my first month on it. This has been a wonder pill for me...until now. No nausea and vomiting, only had two really nauseous days in this last week of active pills. But last night, when I took my second to last pill, my husband tried to cuddle up to me and accidentally lightly pressed across my boobs with his arm, and it hurt so much. Too much. Worse than when I first found out I was pregnant 5 years ago. It's so bad I haven't slept and pain relievers aren't helping."