Amethia and Cramps: What Users Say

• Mim...
• August 31, 2019

For Birth Control "I honestly don't know how to review this Amethia pack, this is my first time on a 3-monthly pack without periods. I've been on other pills before, but I've never, ever experienced anything like this. I got greedy, and I thought that maybe only having 4 periods a year would have been awesome. I should have just gone with the monthly. This is my first pack that I'm on, and I have been on my period for 3 weeks now! When it's not supposed to happen on the 3 pack/month. I have been moody, I have been depressed, I've been snapping at everybody, my heart has been doing all kinds of crazy somersaults, getting some wicked cramps, feeling dizzy at times. I have gone through a pack and a half of pads. I'm going to give it the benefit of the doubt, but if this does not stop by the third pack when I'm SUPPOSED TO GET MY PERIOD, I will stop completely, and I will let nature take its course on its own and not alter it anymore."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 1, 2019

"I have been on Amethia contraceptive pill for about a month and a half. At first, everything was going great with no side effects. Now, for the last 2 weeks, I have had nothing but heavy spotting that seems more like a light flow period. The blood is dark brown, almost blackish in color, with a lot of blood clots, and the cramping is terrible. I'm really trying to stick it out, but I don't know how much longer I can take it. I switched from Generess FE to this because that pill was starting to give me month-long periods. I really hope things don't end up being the same with this new one. I'm also super moody and cranky. Has anyone else had any success? Does the spotting last for much longer?"

• Jus...
• August 22, 2016

For Birth Control "I've recently switched from Trinessa (taken for 18 years) to Amethia (taken for 6 months). I discontinued Amethia mostly due to mood change and weight gain. Pros: effective in preventing pregnancy, normal periods lasted 4-5 days once every 3 months. Cons: severe moodiness and impatience in the first 1.5 months, which turned to moderate depression for the remaining months and overall general unhappiness. Increased appetite, which led to increased weight gain in the belly (5-7 lbs in 6 months). Extreme bloating in the belly area in the 2nd and 3rd month in each cycle. Mild monthly cramping during times when periods normally come. Bone and muscle pain - mostly in knees, legs, and teeth. Cost of medication was high (based on my insurance coverage)."

• Moj...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 1, 2018

For Birth Control "My mail prescription pharmacy switched me twice in 6 months from Seasonique to Camresse to this, saying my insurance. But anyways, my side effects started the 1st week in the first pack. Just ended my period the week before - this one was back with a vengeance. Flow was so heavy I went through a pack of pads in less than 5 days, and none of my natural remedies worked. Cramps were unbearable and made my legs go numb. Period goes away after a week. No spotting in week 2. Spotting comes back to the point of a light period in week 3 with cramps. Just finished out week 4, still spotting after attempting some sexual activity, where that got ruined too. Got the night sweats like I have menopause too. DO NOT take this, especially after you originally have been on Seasonique or Camresse - it will ruin everything!!!"

• Ria...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 7, 2021

For Birth Control "So I have been on Amethia for almost a month now, and I absolutely hate it. I was extremely nauseous for the first 3 weeks. I take Zoloft for anxiety, and I had to up my dose because the birth control was making me so anxious. Previous to starting Amethia, my Zoloft made me mostly lose my appetite, but now the birth control is making me so hungry all the time, and it’s horrible. I’m on my fourth week of the first pack, and I’ve had a mostly light period for about 8 days. They’ve stopped for the most part now, but for the first several days, I was having the most painful cramps in the morning and nighttime. I’ve noticed I’ve also become more tired. I realize I need to give it more time for my body to adjust, but right now, the threat of weight gain is really stressing me out, and I’m also worried my period will continue for weeks."

• Meg...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 14, 2018

For Birth Control "I've taken other generic versions of this before. Camrese made me gain weight, and while I was okay in the short term, I began experiencing depression in the long term. I've just finished my first 3-month cycle, and overall I am happy with Amethia. One big pro: it cleared up my skin a lot, more than any acne medication I have ever tried. For that reason alone, I'd probably keep taking it. The first month I had more intense mood swings than I normally do, but by the end of the 2nd month, everything seemed back to normal. I did experience spotting and slight cramping my 3rd month, but not nearly as severely as I usually cramp, and it went away. I'm hoping my next 3-month cycle the spotting and mood swings will go away completely."

• Bee...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 25, 2018

For Birth Control "I was prescribed Amethia when my go-to birth control for at least 5 years wasn’t available (Amethyst). I started taking it as prescribed, and 5 days in I started experiencing menstrual cramps. They slowly started coming on more often, and by day 7, I was rudely awakened by profuse sweating and extreme cramping for 30 or so minutes. I am not one to easily feel nauseated, but this pain drew me to near vomiting. I was miserable and sitting on the floor waiting to throw up into the toilet when I finally, the cramp released, and I was covered in sweat. I admit, I have not tried many BC pills and have not strayed far from Lybrel/Amethyst in all the years I’ve taken the pill, so I have no idea if I was just sensitive or if anyone else experienced this. Needless to say, I quit taking this med and have been off hormonal BC for 4 months."

• Bee...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 25, 2018

For Birth Control "I was prescribed Amethia when my go-to birth control for at least 5 years wasn’t available (Amethyst). I started taking it as prescribed, and 5 days in I started experiencing menstrual cramps. They slowly started coming on more often, and by day 7, I was rudely awakened by profuse sweating and extreme cramping for 30 or so minutes. I am not one to easily feel nauseated, but this pain drew me to near vomiting. I was miserable and sitting on the floor waiting to throw up into the toilet when I finally, the cramp released, and I was covered in sweat. I admit, I have not tried many BC pills and have not strayed far from Lybrel/Amethyst in all the years I’ve taken the pill, so I have no idea if I was just sensitive or if anyone else experienced this. Needless to say, I quit taking this med and have been off hormonal BC for 4 months."

• All...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 10, 2016

For Birth Control "I'm halfway through week nine on this medication and have no complaints at all. I've had absolutely no spotting or cramping. I had bad hormonal acne before starting this pill (I was not on any birth control prior to taking Amethia), but now I rarely break out except for a few stress-related pimples in the past couple of weeks. I haven't had a period on this yet, but so far my body has taken to this medication very well. No weight gain or mood changes either that I have noticed!"

• Bh1...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 3, 2018

For Birth Control "This drug was terrible for me. First time on birth control, and it has taken me months of being off the pill to work up the nerve to try again with a different pill. The first month was great, but around the time that my period normally would have been, Amethia had me cramping and bleeding more heavily than during my normal periods, despite the fact that I shouldn’t have gotten my period at all. Breasts were so tender I couldn’t even touch them. My moods were all over the place. The only reason I gave this review 3 stars is because it did prevent pregnancy."

• Deb...
• May 1, 2017

For Birth Control "I'm on the 10th week of my first 3-month cycle. So far, this pill seems quite good, other than spotting, which stopped once I started taking it within the same 5 minutes every day. I recently had spotting again, which my doctor advised to take 2 pills daily for 3-5 days until it stopped. It now stopped completely. I did have period cramps after 2 months, which should have been my period timing. I also have a huge increase in appetite, but I'm not sure if it's from the pill or just from switching my job to part-time and being home more. I plan to continue using this for a while."

• ano...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 14, 2021

For Birth Control "I’ve been on this birth control for 2-ish years and have no complaints. Since I’ve started this BC, I've had like 1, maybe 2 painful periods, other than that, I have almost no side effects from periods. Sometimes I will begin to spot during the 3rd month of the pill pack, but I understand that it has been roughly 80 days since my last period, and my body knows it’s time for another one. The only thing I really have to say is, if you are really nervous and anxious about pregnancy, I wouldn’t fully recommend this. Waiting 3 months for a period can be stressful, especially if you are sexually active. I’ve had my trouble with scares while waiting for the next placebo week, but it’s all just been in my head. I love this medication!"