Balcoltra and Anxiety: What Users Say

• hel...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 13, 2020

For Birth Control "I’m on my second month of taking this BC. My gyno put me on it to help shrink an ovarian cyst I have that’s close to rupturing. So far, I have noticed somewhat of a decrease in cramps. Thank goodness because those cramps were the worst pains I’ve ever felt, and I would consider myself a person who has a very high pain tolerance :/ But on the other hand, I have been bleeding/spotting for about 3 1/2 weeks now after I had my full 6-day period. I’ve experienced abnormal mood swings, increased anxiety, worsened depression, and insane random crying sprees over the smallest things or just nothing really at all. At this point, I think the pain is a better option than how crazy this pill has made me feel."

• Yaz...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 8, 2020

For Birth Control "Horrible. Experienced terrible mood swings and increased depression and anxiety, plus cystic acne that I never experienced before this pill. I’ve also been constantly bleeding for the past 4 weeks because of it, wouldn’t recommend at all."

• Rac...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 27, 2022

For Birth Control "I don't know how I feel about this pill. It has stopped my period in its tracks and helped to get rid of some pain I was having, but I have this new depression that has turned me into a completely different person. It is really like what they say on the commercials, doing things that used to make me so happy, now I'll leave early because I feel blah. I have anxiety and did have my first anxiety attack in a while about a week into the pill. I don't know if that is related, though. No big changes in weight or diet, though."

• Oan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 29, 2020

For Birth Control "WORST PILL OUT THERE! I have never been on birth control but recently diagnosed with PCOS, so this was recommended by my GYN. I was on it for 1 week and had THE worst anxiety ever!! Also, I bloated up so bad it looked like I was pregnant all over again. I had random dizzy spells. After consulting with the doctor, I stopped taking it 2 days ago, and my chest is still in pain! I would never recommend it to anyone who is new to BC!"

• Nik...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 23, 2023

For Birth Control "Not worth the stress. I’m in my second month of taking this birth control. I was put on this to help shrink an ovarian cyst. So far, I’ve had nonstop bleeding. I’ve been bleeding/spotting for a month straight, literally. I normally have a cycle of 4 to 6 days, so going from 4 to 6 days to a whole 30 days nonstop is insane. I’ve experienced abnormal mood swings, weight gain, increased anxiety, depression, random crying, and acne for no reason. I get off work, shower, and get right in the bed because I’m so depressed, and I have no reason to be. My life is great, I’m a mother, wife, and business owner, but taking this birth control just has me feeling depressed. Having acne as a side effect makes depression even worse. Now I’m depressed and feel ugly. Ughhhh."

• All...
• May 9, 2020

For Birth Control "Switched from Lo Lo to Balcoltra, and the first 3-4 months were great. Then I started to have horrible depression and anxiety. Went to a therapist, and it didn’t help, so she prescribed me an antidepressant. I’ve also gained lots of weight and lost weight on Lo Lo. Recently, I’ve started having the worst headaches and migraines. It’s almost every night. It seriously just prevented pregnancy. Do yourself a favor... don’t take this!!! Anyway, I’m switching to an IUD because they aren’t systemic. Wish me luck://"

• KLa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 1, 2020

For Birth Control "I experienced the worst anxiety/depression within days of starting this Balcoltra. I thought I was going insane, and thank goodness I put the pieces together at the end of the first pack and stopped taking it. The first day after stopping, I felt like myself again."

• Mel...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 20, 2021

For Birth Control "I switched to this BC pill because I wasn't getting my period and was starting to have a low sex drive. I took this for 3 months, and I experienced the worst side effects ever. I started having cramps while on the pill, off the pill, and while being intimate with my boyfriend. I got headaches every time I was on my period, and I completely blew up like a balloon (went up 2 jean sizes). To top it off, I completely lost my sex drive (which was initially one of the reasons my doctor switched me to this BC pill). I also experienced my very first anxiety attack ever. I know everyone's body is different, but I had horrible side effects to this pill."

• mar...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 19, 2022

For Birth Control "This is truly the worst possible birth control ever. I started this when I was 15, and I immediately noticed poor acne on my face that I never got before. It made me really depressed, anxious, and angry at small things. I had terrible period cramps on this pill, I even had an ovarian cyst, which was extremely painful. This pill was awful for me, and it's different for everyone, but it did not help me at all."

• Jes...
• July 27, 2021

For Birth Control "At first, I felt that it definitely helped, light to normal bleeding, minor cramping, and my period start day was always on the same day of my pill pack and lasted 3-4 days max. I did have a week-long panic attack when I started it. Recently, I’ve been noticing some changes in myself mentally and physically. For instance, I’ve always been a bit paranoid, a big hypochondriac, moody, and short-fused, but for the past 2 years, I want to say it’s been pretty excessive, my stress level is horrid. I have never had anxiety, and I’ve recently been so anxious. I have noticed that I have been getting recurrent yeast infections since starting this. Another thing I have noticed is my start day has changed from the first placebo pill, now it’s the fourth. Along with this, it’s starting to last longer, about 5-7 days, with bad cramps and heavier bleeding. My skin has been having cystic breakouts. Lastly, I feel like this prescription has made my lower abdomen extremely bloated, not just during my period."

• Ann...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 16, 2022

For Birth Control "I’ve been on this for a month, and it really works for me! I was very nervous about depression/anxiety side effects since I struggled with both as a teen, however, I haven’t had any major mood side effects. I also used to have a really heavy period, and this lightened it up. My cramps were a bit worse than usual, but honestly, considering all the other PMS symptoms it alleviated, I don’t think it’s an issue. No weight gain or other side effects either."