Alesse and Anxiety: What Users Say

• Sha...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 13, 2014

For Birth Control "I've been on Alesse twice, this time for 2 months so far. I've had no problems at all. I have polycystic ovarian syndrome, and it's fixed my period so far. My complexion is getting better, I've had no unusual depression or anxiety, and I haven't gained additional weight."

• Hot...
• March 12, 2019

For Birth Control "Since Alesse was my first birth control I was put on, I was super nervous and anxious about how it would affect me. Now being on it for 3 months, I can happily say I’ve not been negatively impacted. The first week was rough, with nausea and increased anxiety. But after the first week, any symptoms went away! I feel like myself, and I’m super happy I’m not pregnant!"

• Ale...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 29, 2016

For Birth Control "Just quit Alesse after 4 months. I tried to tough it out, but it just wasn't working. I was always hungry, then I would eat and feel constantly nauseous and bloated. I had no energy and felt tired, always wanting to eat sweet stuff. Didn't really gain much weight, just water weight around my hips and boobs (those were constantly sore as well), such bad mood swings and depressed and anxious often. Got lots of headaches, acne got worse (cystic acne on my chin, back, and chest), and lower sex drive. This is my first day without birth control (period will start in a few days), and I can honestly say that I feel so much better, which is weird because Alesse is 'ultra low dose hormones.'"

• Mel...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 10, 2019

For Birth Control "Avoid this birth control if you can. This was my first time going on birth control, and my doctor prescribed it because it apparently was a good 'starter birth control.' But the side effects were terrible. I had the common ones, headaches, nausea, etc. But the worst of all was that it gave me TERRIBLE anxiety, on top of depression. I got into a really dark place and was getting around 1-3 anxiety attacks per week. I also experienced terrible leg cramping, to the extent that I paid the hospital a visit because it was so bad, and there was the fear that it may be a blood clot. There are so many better birth control options out there."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 11, 2014

For Birth Control "Almost done with my first pack of Alesse. This is the first birth control that I've been on, and the experience hasn't been too great. I had extreme nausea the first three days, extreme anxiety for three days after that, and painful breasts that followed and have not stopped. My breasts have also grown a bit (but that's more of a good thing). I'm hoping that the side effects will eventually go away, but so far it has been a negative experience. I'm scared to switch to other pills in fear of the symptoms being worse."

• wit...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 15, 2022

For Birth Control "I began taking this medication after being on Diane35 for about 9 years, originally being put on it for acne. Diane was a perfect birth control pill for me, however, due to the higher risk of blood clots, my doctor and I decided I should try a new pill. I didn't experience spotting, and my period was light on this medication, which was a plus. However, it wreaked absolute havoc on my body. I haven't had acne for about 2-3 years now, and going on Alesse caused me to break out horrifically all over my face, on my shoulders, and on my chest. The acne would start to go away only when I was on my week of sugar pills and then come back a few days after starting the next pack. It also caused the worst mental health and mood issues I have ever experienced. I have never struggled with depression and only have mild anxiety. After going on this pill, my anxiety has become unmanageable, and any inconvenience makes me want to cry and sink into a hole. I am almost in a state of being nonfunctional now."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 18, 2014

For Birth Control "Up until this past fall, I hadn't experienced any negative side effects while taking the pill. Then I started having anxiety attacks, feeling depressed about everything, rapid weight gain (25 lbs in 2 months despite living at the gym), extreme irritability, heavy bleeding (3-4 super tampons every 2 hours) halfway through a pack, intense cramping, new and powerful migraines, and horrible skin. I've been off of it for 2 months now, and I feel worlds better. I still have bad skin, and although my anxiety is manageable, it's still there, but at least I can get out of bed, and the headaches have slackened. I'm looking at other options now because abstinence is difficult."

• Kat...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 16, 2020

For Birth Control "At the beginning on Alesse, I had no side effects! My acne was clearing, and my periods were light and short. After being on this for 2 years, I have noticed my anxiety and stress get really bad. I never really stressed about anything that bad or cried that much, but I feel like the slightest thing will cause me to cry. I also started to experience a lot of bloating and stomach aches."

• Kat...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 16, 2020

For Birth Control "At the beginning on Alesse, I had no side effects! My acne was clearing, and my periods were light and short. After being on this for 2 years, I have noticed my anxiety and stress get really bad. I never really stressed about anything that bad or cried that much, but I feel like the slightest thing will cause me to cry. I also started to experience a lot of bloating and stomach aches."

• Anonymous
• August 1, 2016

For Birth Control "I've been on Alesse a month now, and it's been absolute hell. I'm not an emotional person by any means, and I eat like a full-grown man usually, but since starting this, I haven't been able to eat at all because of the nausea and have had random uncontrollable mood swings. I've lost 10 lbs, and every time I take one of these pills, I get an instant headache. My period was hell as well, I got bad cramps for a week before and all during. This is not normal for me. My period also went from 4 days to 7, which really ticked me off. It caused my acne to get far worse and scar like I've never had before. Not only this, but my anxiety levels went through the roof, and my depression did the same, causing me suicidal thoughts, and I had ABSOLUTELY no energy."

• Lou...
• October 8, 2019

For Birth Control "I think I've been on Alesse now for 3 or 4 years... can't really remember now. Prior to that, I was on a couple of other higher dose hormone pills since I was 19; 31 years old now! I started this pill because of the lower dose of hormones. I was struggling with depression and anxiety at that point and thought the pill may be affecting that. I still have periods of depression and anxiety, but I can control it better. My skin has changed though... I have super sensitive skin with painful cystic acne. It's not a lot of spots, but they are painful and stay for a really long time. I've had weight gain, but I don't know if that's more me or the pill. I've decided to come off the pill, which I'm kind of nervous to do! It's more about the fact that I've been on it for almost 13 years and I want to see what I'm like off of it. Right now, I would say that I would go back on it, because I don't find the side effects that bad, but we'll see in the future after I've been off it for a while."

• Tif...
• August 17, 2017

For Birth Control "This is the first pill I've tried as my doctor recommended it as being the safest. My experience was so terrible that I had to discontinue Alesse after day 6. I got bad chest pains, racing heart, anxiety, and GERD. The sharp chest pain in particular freaked me out the most as the medication carried a black box warning for DVT and pulmonary embolism. Please be very cautious before trying any hormonal birth control. I know stats say that the chances to get clots are small, but I feel that reality is different. Threw the rest of the box in the garbage where it belongs and would never recommend it to anyone. This piece of trash could seriously sabotage your health, please be cautious."

• Bdo...
• December 17, 2015

For Birth Control "I've been on Alesse for 2 months, and my experience with it has been absolutely horrible. Cramps every day, breakthrough bleeding, acne, sore breasts, frequent urination, back pain, nausea, bloating, anxiety, and depression. Probably the worst birth control someone could possibly go on!!"

• Ale...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 4, 2018

For Birth Control "Took Alesse for 2 years because I never bothered to get a new pill, and I’d always hope the side effects would stop. Became an emotional wreck, gained a lot of weight, however, the little acne I have cleared up. Had insane nausea, vomiting at work, home, school... gave me a lot of anxiety, etc. I’m sure that there are better options out there. Do not take this birth control."

• Pup...
• September 4, 2019

For Birth Control "I started Alesse 28 in December of 2018. I was put on it by my doctor to help regulate my excruciating periods (so bad I'm on prescription painkillers). The first 3 months, they were still just as bad as ever, causing me to miss classes, my acne, however, cleared up. Since then, they have caused me mood swings, depression, worsened anxiety, and countless baby scares. My periods are light and short, but still very, very painful. I would not recommend unless you enjoy scaring both yourself and your boyfriend every few months with random and confusing unwarranted pregnancy scares. Side effects also consist of sleepless nights, leg cramping, migraines, a non-existent sex drive, and nausea, which is great. I've been lucky not to have weight gain, but the bloating is absolutely terrible, it starts early and lasts all day. Definitely going to ask my doctor about switching pills or just going to tough it out, I would recommend painful heavy periods over this any day."

• mad...
• October 13, 2016

For Birth Control "20 yr old female here. I was put on Alesse for acne & contraceptive purposes. Acne runs in my family. My mom had it really badly until she was about 21. I was on Tri-Cyclen Lo, but it made me feel sick in the mornings. So Alesse was pretty bad. I was on it for just under a year. I didn't get pregnant even though I never used a condom with my boyfriend. It helped my acne somewhat, except I got cystic flare-ups on my chin & small dots on my forehead during my period. I gained about 10 lbs. Period cramps were still bad and lasted for days sometimes. MADE ME AN EMOTIONAL WRECK. I'd cry so easily and felt unusually depressed/anxious. I believe I have too much testosterone in my blood, so Alesse might not have been strong enough."

• mad...
• October 13, 2016

For Birth Control "20 yr old female here. I was put on Alesse for acne & contraceptive purposes. Acne runs in my family. My mom had it really badly until she was about 21. I was on Tri-Cyclen Lo, but it made me feel sick in the mornings. So Alesse was pretty bad. I was on it for just under a year. I didn't get pregnant even though I never used a condom with my boyfriend. It helped my acne somewhat, except I got cystic flare-ups on my chin & small dots on my forehead during my period. I gained about 10 lbs. Period cramps were still bad and lasted for days sometimes. MADE ME AN EMOTIONAL WRECK. I'd cry so easily and felt unusually depressed/anxious. I believe I have too much testosterone in my blood, so Alesse might not have been strong enough."

• uah...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 27, 2017

For Birth Control "I was taking this as a contraceptive and to prevent ovarian cysts, which I am prone to. This pill worked great for those two things, and I had no problems with this BCP for the first year of taking it. However, after around a year and a half on it, I developed extreme anxiety, panic attacks, severe moodiness and change of temperament, as well as nausea every single day. I am about to go off of it, hopefully, I can find a BCP without these side effects."

• m09...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 29, 2017

For Birth Control "I'm a 27 yo woman who has only used the pill as birth control. I started birth control at 24 yo. I was on Microgestin 1/20 FE that worked pretty well for me for a couple of years. No weight gain, no migraines, no anxiety or depression, decreased PMS. The only thing was that if I was a little off on my timing, I'd spot. So I switched. Thought maybe there's a better pill out there for me? I was on Alesse for 10 months. I went from 112 lbs to 122 lbs. Which I didn't mind, really. What I endured with this birth control was horrifying. I was constantly bloated. Pregnant belly bloated the entire month, had severe cramps that would immobilize me completely, I suffered from panic and anxiety attacks and slight depression. I had a foggy mind and would sob at least 2 times a week."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 10, 2018

For Ovarian Cysts "Nonstop bleeding for 3 months after having a regular period for 30+ years. Anxiety, depression. Headache, nausea. Increased facial hair, breast size, and retained water. Would NEVER recommend. 3 days after I stopped taking it, my mental health immediately stabilized, but the 'breakthrough bleeding' continues. Glad I survived this preposterous experiment. Should be a class action suit!"

• Ale...
• April 7, 2016

For Birth Control "I've been on the generic of Alesse called Alesyna for about 3 years. I put on over 20 pounds with this BC, going from 107-130. I have terrible anxiety and extreme exhaustion. For preventing pregnancy, it worked, but I did NOT enjoy gaining so much weight."

• Ale...
• March 28, 2016

For Ovarian Cysts "I was on Alesse for two full months. I had breakthrough bleeding for the entire first month. Throughout the two months, I was nauseous, had stomach cramps, and had terrible headaches two to three times a week. I have never had a problem with headaches before, and these were unbearable. I had night sweats, and worst of all, my depression and anxiety became the worst that I have ever seen them. Whenever I went on the 7 days of sugar pills, my mood would improve. It worked wonders as a contraceptive, and it got rid of my hormonal acne, which is the reason I went on it. However, I'll deal with the acne because it's better than me wanting to die. This won't happen to everyone because I do have other mental health issues."

• Sha...
• October 25, 2018

For Ovarian Cysts "I've been taking this birth control for over a year now. I have experienced breaking out, having major anxiety that I can't even go out in public anymore because it's that bad! Major depression and having a lack of confidence because of anxiety. This birth control is no good, it feels like it's wrecking my life!"

• kay...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 12, 2016

For Birth Control "It is only my fifth day on this medication, and I have only had a tiny bit of nausea. No headaches or anything like that. But I have a long list of mental health problems, and I don't know if I am just having an episode or if this medication is causing the depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts to be so strong. I am stuck. Prior to this medication, I was taking seasonal, and it was my favorite birth control. You only got your period every three months (which I would even skip sometimes), but I ended up constantly having breakthrough bleeding after being on it for over a year. I've tried others. But now I'm trying Alesse. And so far, it's not going well even the slightest bit. I can't handle the intensity of this emotional breakdown, lol."

• SJa...
• September 3, 2019

For Birth Control "I've been on birth control for just under 10 years and am still taking Alesse. The first 3-5 years were TriCyclen Lo, but then I got my period for over a month straight, and my doctor recommended switching to Alesse. The first day I took it, I felt incredibly nauseous. This went away after a day or two. During my time on this medication, I rarely experienced spotting, my periods were very light (about 2-3 days long, never required more than a regular-sized tampon), and while I didn't have bad acne in high school, I did get fewer zits while on both TriCyclen Lo and Alesse than I did in high school. I am about to try getting a copper IUD, though, because I've been experiencing some depression, anxiety, and low libido, and think they could be caused by birth control. I may also have gained some weight, but not sure what that's attributable to."