EluRyng and Depression: What Users Say

• Cal...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• May 4, 2020

For Birth Control "I was on NuvaRing for 6+ years and had no issues. It was honestly the best birth control I had ever been on! Flash to now. I got switched to the generic version that just came out. I am incredibly moody, anxious, and getting depressed. I am continually gaining weight even though I exercise and eat well. My libido is GONE. Like 100% gone. This is horrible. There is something not right about this generic version. I have decided to just stop BC because of this and switch to condoms. It's not worth it anymore."

• A B...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 24, 2020

For Birth Control "My month on EluRyng has been one of the worst of my life. Week 1: nausea/vomiting, fatigue, burning/irritation, and yeast infection. Week 2: severe anxiety and mood swings -- sobbing out of nowhere, massive unprompted panic attacks, and starting crazy fights with my partner. Week 3: severe, acute depression and constant really dark thoughts. Completely numb, crying 24/7, couldn't decide if life was worth living. Week 4: all of my other symptoms disappeared overnight as soon as the withdrawal/off week started. I started feeling back to normal within a day or two, so now I'm absolutely sure that my wild emotional symptoms were entirely caused by the ring. I would not recommend the generic to anyone. My mental health deteriorated shockingly fast and I've never feared for my safety the way I did during the third week. Given other people's similar experiences, I'm counting down the days until EluRyng is recalled so no one else has to go through this."

• Che...
• May 15, 2020

For Birth Control "I was on the NuvaRing for 4 years, and I only experienced swollen breasts. It went away after 3 months. I had no problems. In March 2020, I was switched to the generic because of my insurance. Within 2 weeks, I was needing antidepressants because I didn’t feel right. I was having yeast infections like crazy, and the fluconazole was not working (this is noted as a side effect). By April, I was having outbursts of anger, feeling alone all the time, anxious, my blood pressure was out of control because of the anxiety, I was arguing with everyone, libido was gone, and I was just flat out upset about everything. Now it is May, I feel so depressed and question life every day. I’m not motivated to do anything. I’m not happy about anything. I will cry about everything. I feel so alone. Today, we figured out it was the generic causing this. I have all the side effects listed on their website. Affect liability is a serious side effect of this ring. My mental health and, quite frankly, life is on the line."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 18, 2020

For Birth Control "I have been on NuvaRing since 2007 and have never had any issues. I was given EluRyng in September of 2020. It has been a horrible experience! I have bled 14 days straight. I also experienced fatigue, headaches, and nausea. I’ve also experienced mental changes. I’ve been unhappy and depressed. I am usually the happiest person in the world. My NP suggested I stay on it for 3 weeks for my body to adjust. I told her that I would never use it again! Worst birth control ever!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 18, 2020

For Birth Control "I have been on NuvaRing since 2007 and have never had any issues. I was given EluRyng in September of 2020. It has been a horrible experience! I have bled 14 days straight. I also experienced fatigue, headaches, and nausea. I’ve also experienced mental changes. I’ve been unhappy and depressed. I am usually the happiest person in the world. My NP suggested I stay on it for 3 weeks for my body to adjust. I told her that I would never use it again! Worst birth control ever!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 18, 2020

For Birth Control "I have been on NuvaRing since 2007 and have never had any issues. I was given EluRyng in September of 2020. It has been a horrible experience! I have bled 14 days straight. I also experienced fatigue, headaches, and nausea. I’ve also experienced mental changes. I’ve been unhappy and depressed. I am usually the happiest person in the world. My NP suggested I stay on it for 3 weeks for my body to adjust. I told her that I would never use it again! Worst birth control ever!"

• Kay...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 9, 2020

For Birth Control "The absolute worst. I was unknowingly switched to the NuvaRing, to the generic by my insurance company in Feb. 2020. I bled the entire 4 months I was on the generic ring and was extremely depressed and very upset all the time. I had no idea why until one day I happened to realize this was not the same ring. It was the absolute worst experience, and my doctor tried to convince me that they were the exact same product and therefore it wasn't my birth control causing this, but the moment I got switched back to the NuvaRing, my period went away. I felt 100 times better. Please don't switch!!"

• Woo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 26, 2020

For Birth Control "I started this EluRyng a month ago. I take it out tomorrow. My doc gave me the NuvaRing, but I went to the place and got an EluRyng instead or whatever. I've never had fatigue like this. I call it beached whale syndrome. I can't get up or do anything, and I feel loopy. I also don't sleep. I have conflicting moods like anxiety and depression and am on edge easily. I can't eat food a lot. I feel prego. I have vertigo and migraines. The migraines feel like I got stung on the head. And I can't walk straight, so I had to call out for work, which I already have anxiety over. These migraines last all day. Sometimes I'll take a glass of hard liquor to help. I've been eating a crazy ton of bananas, though, for it. I don't think I wanna continue this medication. My sex drive is nonexistent. But hey, I do love estrogen. My IUD caused me lots of problems, and this makes me wetter and less uncomfortable. So at least the infections are gone."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 7, 2020

"I was on NuvaRing for years to regulate hormones and skip periods due to iron deficiency anemia. I’ve received iron infusions for years, but was able to regulate blood loss and space out my infusions for longer periods of time than normal while on NuvaRing. A few months ago, I was switched to EluRyng because insurance would no longer cover the brand unless deemed medically necessary. Since the switch to generic, I’ve had constant bleeding and spotting, cramps that feel like contractions, I’ve passed blood clots the size of an orange mid-cycle, had severe mood swings, heart palpitations to the point I had a heart monitor for a week, which showed PVCs, over 100 per day, fatigue to the point of tears, and constant hopelessness. I fight with my husband for no reason, and I’m so on edge my children don’t want to be around me. I don’t blame them. I don’t want to be around me either. This is the worst thing I have ever been on. Don’t do it!!"

• cic...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 24, 2021

For Birth Control "Awful product. My side effects included: yeast infection, vaginal irritation, painful heavy bleeding (6 weeks), acne on my jawline and ears, anxiety/panic attacks, nausea/vomiting, extreme breast tenderness, insomnia, insane mood swings, self-harm, and depression so severe I almost had to check into inpatient psych care. My relationship almost ended because I went fully nuts. I didn't experience a single positive emotion the entire time I was on this BC. The FDA should take this off the market. DON'T put this in your body."

• Ano...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 22, 2022

For Birth Control "I was in tears last week reading all of these comments. I used Nuvaring for 7 years with no issues. In July 2020, I was switched to EluRyng. Never had issues with my period while using it, so didn't connect the issues I've had for over 2 years now to the generic version being different. I shared with a friend last week that I think I'm already in perimenopause at 35 because there's no explanation for all the symptoms I have and all my tests come back normal. I've gained 25 pounds in the last couple of years, and no matter how hard I work out or cut calories, nothing works. I've had the worst extreme fatigue, migraines for days, crazy anxiety, heart palpitations, ZERO libido, leg cramps at night, insomnia, horrible mood swings, depression, dark self-harm thoughts, fogginess, and my vision has changed significantly 3 times in the last year and a half. I took my ring out 8 days ago and already have so much more energy. Getting the hubby snipped and done with this poison!!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 26, 2022

For Birth Control "Worst birth control EVER!! I was on the NuvaRing for years and have had no problems, I loved it! This thing is crap. I’m constantly spotting. My periods were super regular and always lasted 4 days. Now I will be on my period for weeks, then I spot randomly when I’m not. It’s sometimes painful to have sex. I have legit had such bad anxiety and depression! One night I broke down and told my husband I was suicidal!! Horrible headaches, feeling nauseous and tired all the time. I have thought multiple times I’m prego because of the side effects I was having. HORRIBLE birth control, I would rather use condoms than deal with this rubbish. Do NOT use this. It honestly should be recalled."

• Ano...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 7, 2020

For Birth Control "I was using the NuvaRing for several months, and I was very pleased with it, I never had any side effects. One day, my insurance switched me for the generic EluRyng. It causes me vaginal itch during the first couple of days after insertion. I’ve been having morning headaches. My stomach feels bloated. I had mild depression and anxiety in the past, which was under control, but this medication set it off. For the last two cycles, one or two days after I removed the ring, I experienced a terrible headache that will not go away for a day. I’ve never had headaches like those before. At the same time, I’m experiencing weakness, palpitations, cold sweat, and lightheadedness the week the ring is out. I called the insurance, and the doctor needs to request approval to put me back on the NuvaRing. They said it shouldn’t be a problem. Looking forward to getting back on the brand."

• 25 ...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 19, 2021

For Birth Control "I began this early February after a year without the NuvaRing. I used NuvaRing for 5 years before and loved it with my whole heart, used the pill before, and the ring made it so much easier for me with no issues or side effects. The EluRyng has broken me out pretty horribly and decreased my sex drive massively, but worse than that, it’s made my anxiety 10 times worse to the point where I stopped my newer dosage of antidepressants for a week (that had been working very well!) to see if that was the cause, and it was not. This has sent me into a deep depression period. Really wish I’d have read more on this first but thought I would be getting the NuvaRing. It took about 2 months for me to determine this was definitely the EluRyng and I took it out. If you have any issues with mental health, I would not even take a chance on this, and I hope I can get back on the NuvaRing."

• rei...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 7, 2022

For Birth Control "I do not understand how this drug is on the market. It's a shame that health insurance companies feel they have the medical prowess to change medications that have such a negative impact on women's lives, and it seems like it's on a very large scale. And the fact that we live in a world where men can't even handle a birth control study based on these types of symptoms saddens me. Something needs to be done because this simply is not okay! I am currently battling with health insurance to get the name brand after 9 horrible months on generic without knowledge of them changing it. I had severe depression, anxiety, nausea, vomiting, irregular periods, shedding hair, loss of appetite... I could go on, and I went to so many doctors trying to figure out why this was happening. If you recently changed to generic, stop taking it right away! I hope to feel better soon once I change back to name brand soon."

• Sal...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 5, 2021

For Birth Control "I began cramping as soon as I inserted it until the day of my cycle that I was supposed to remove it. I became angry and depressed and anxious and even suicidal. I stopped torturing myself after one month and didn't use EluRyng again. All of these symptoms were relieved after the ring was gone. This medication is a disaster. I weep for my fellow sisters."

• Jen...
• July 13, 2021

For Birth Control "I had been on NuvaRing, but insurance would no longer cover it, so I was switched to EluRyng. I started getting migraines twice a week or more (I used to get them 3-4 times a year). Weight gain and horrible anxiety and depression. I’ve been crying, depressed, and feeling suicidal. I’ve never had depression or these kinds of thoughts before. I’ve been taking my anxiety medicine daily to try and cope. My hair has also started shedding noticeably. Big fistfuls come out in the shower. I just took the ring out yesterday. I really hope my body can get back to normal. I really regret trying this."

• des...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 7, 2021

For Birth Control "Horrible. Be careful using this. After 10 years on NuvaRing, happily loving it, 6 months on EluRyng and I gained 15 pounds, had terrible mood swings, severe depression and suicidal thoughts, anger, overall lack of energy, zero sex drive. My periods were worse than they were off BC. I couldn't figure out what it was that was causing all of this until I figured out it. NuvaRing and EluRyng are not the same and this drug needs to be recalled, it's extremely dangerous. Has anyone had luck getting on NuvaRing again? I saw it was discontinued and my pharmacy no longer has it. I'm so upset."

• LCM...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 22, 2022

For Birth Control "Awful!! Terrible!! I used NuvaRing for an IVF cycle, and since it has gone generic, my insurance doesn’t cover it, so I tried the EluRyng for the latest cycle. I have been feeling very angry with crazy mood swings, depression, and anxiety. I had to take it out because my mental health is severely suffering. I’m also starting to get headaches. I tried to wait it out - after 2 months maybe things would level out, but it just got worse. Big pharma and insurance companies don’t care about women’s health, and unless you do your research and advocate for yourself, they’ll just roll right over you. Would rate 0 if I could. This medication is dangerous."

• Don...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 29, 2022

For Birth Control "Same story as most ladies - switched to this instead of NuvaRing. EluRyng made me anxious, depressed, unmotivated, cold, gave me ALL symptoms of Hashimoto's disease. Wrecked my cycle. Gained 17 pounds after two years on it despite working out 4+ times a week and eating well. Get off IMMEDIATELY. Find a fertility awareness method instead. The one I use (Sensiplan is 99.4% effective). Hormones aren't worth it."

• Anonymous
• December 22, 2022

For Birth Control "I was on EluRyng for 7 months, and I bled 14 to 20 days out of the month. It was absolutely miserable, as I constantly had to use a tampon or pad since it was enough blood to leak through pants but not like a full-blown period. It was usually accompanied by intense itching before the bleeding would start and cramping (usually not too intense but annoying). I was exhausted all the time for basically bleeding 2/3 of the month for 7 months, and found myself having frequent mood swings, including depression and anxiety the first few weeks. I will say that it was convenient to use, as it just remains in the vagina, and my skin and weight didn’t change. I didn’t get pregnant or have any scares, but take that with a grain of salt, as it’s hard to get pregnant when you’re bleeding nonstop. Not the birth control for me."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 12, 2021

For Birth Control "I was previously on NuvaRing with no issues. I was switched to EluRyng and used it for 1.5 months. Those 1.5 months were absolutely horrible. Within days of switching to EluRyng, I noticed major changes to my mental health. I have never felt so emotionally unstable in my life. I was experiencing constant and intense mood swings, increased anxiety, and depression. Emotional regulation became incredibly difficult. I also noticed my ADHD symptoms were exacerbated too, despite staying on the same dosage of medication (Vyvanse). Some other side effects I had were headaches, nausea, random hot flashes, and cramps. This birth control is awful. The good news is you can go back to being on NuvaRing! Tell your doctor your symptoms and request that they file with insurance to be prescribed NuvaRing again. I have Medicaid, and it took my doctor advocating for me and sharing my symptoms, but I am back on NuvaRing, and it is covered by my insurance again!"

• ver...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 9, 2021

For Birth Control "I once used NuvaRing for three months and had never had any problems with it. It was probably because of insurance coverage that they switched me to EluRyng, with which I had a very bad experience, including unexpected spots over several weeks. Additionally, I had mood swings, constantly felt depressed, and sometimes even had unexplained dark thoughts. I exercise regularly and have always been very healthy. I thought that the above symptoms might be caused by the generic ring. So I started searching online and read about other users' experiences. Once I found that other people also experienced similar symptoms, I took out the ring immediately. The worst part is that the effects from the ring would last for up to five months even after you cease using it."

• Q B...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 21, 2021

For Birth Control "I was on the brand name NuvaRing from age 18 to 23, roughly, and had minimal side effects (maybe gained 10 pounds in those 5 years, nothing else) and absolutely loved NuvaRing. I was always thin at 5’10” and between 130-140 pounds max. Fast forward to the EluRyng generic launching and my insurance company switched me automatically. I started taking it, and 6 months in, I was feeling depressed and noticed about 15 pounds of weight gain. I was suspicious it was the generic, but there wasn’t much out there on the internet at the time about side effects of weight gain, and the pharmacist told me it was likely my lifestyle factors changing or something. I started exercising more and being mindful of my eating - and still watched myself gain 40 pounds over the next year to be 180 pounds. My body had so many stretch marks. I got off and am still dealing with depression from it."

• Ail...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 7, 2022

For Birth Control "I’ve used NuvaRing in the past and had 0 issues with it. I recently decided to go back to it because the BC pill I was on was causing extreme fatigue. When I picked up my prescription from the pharmacy, I noticed I was given a generic version of NuvaRing. I’ve been through my fair share of different birth controls and have had bad experiences, so I was worried about trying something else once again. EluRyng by far has taken the #1 spot for worst birth control I have ever used. The first month was phenomenal. I had so much more energy, reduced headaches, and the easiest withdrawal week. The day after inserting the new birth control, I started having cramps nonstop, and at one point could barely walk because of how severe the pain was. I’ve had nausea and headaches every single day, which has been interfering with my job and daily life. My depression and anxiety are through the roof. I had to remove it because I couldn’t take the side effects anymore."