Camrese and Weight Gain: What Users Say

• 097...
• February 6, 2016

For Birth Control "I'm currently taking Camrese. I had no complaints. My periods are shorter and bearable, and my face is clear. I thought I was perfectly content until I realized a few things. I have night sweats, my boobs hurt, I've gained like 20 pounds, and I think I am depressed."

• Tan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 23, 2019

For Birth Control "I was very excited to start this and get a hold of my endometriosis, but as soon as I started this, I started breaking out, gaining weight, couldn’t sleep anymore, my anxiety became so much worse than it had been, bleeding every day, cramping off and on, and headaches. It has made me feel crazy, and I just stopped taking it. I’m praying this goes away fast. I am highly disappointed."

• aem...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 23, 2014

For Birth Control "Started taking Camrese to combat PMS-related anxiety, and it totally leveled me out. Now I take it for contraceptive purposes, and it has worked great. I gained 20 lbs the first time on it, went off, lost some of the weight, went back on it, and haven't gained since. No spotting after the first pack, once my body was regulated. The dose of constant hormones really helped me feel in control and normal again."

• L00...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 2, 2017

For Birth Control "I've been on the Camrese three-month birth control for a total of six months now. The first three-month pack did not go too well, which is why I gave it an eight for a rating. After the first month, I spotted heavily enough to ruin underwear, but not enough to use a pad/tampon, up until month three when it was time for my actual period. I would have specific periods of sadness as well, but no weight gain. But I decided to see if it got any better. It did! My second three-month pack, I did not have any spotting, and there is no weight gain with me or mood swings that I have noticed. I have fallen in love with this birth control."

• Mia...
• July 22, 2018

For Birth Control "I love Camrese. Before I started taking it, I had a lot of acne. After being on it for a few weeks, my skin cleared up completely. I get a pimple every now and then, but I think it’s from other reasons. My excruciating pains from my periods have significantly decreased. I’ve been on it for about a year now. I haven’t gained any weight, I’m not emotional anymore, libido is the same, BUT... I have one complaint. I’m STILL having breakthrough bleeding! I thought it was just my body being stupid and forcing periods because of my irregular normal periods without the pill, but I’ve read a lot of the same type of complaints. It’s once a month. It's about 7 days of bleeding, (warning, TMI), and it’s not normal blood, it’s dark brown. It’s very, very irritating, and it stresses me out! I specifically got on this pill to stop my periods, and here I am having them still. It’s a huge deal for me, if this wasn’t happening, I would rate this pill 100/10."

• Flo...
• August 6, 2014

For Birth Control "I've spent 11 months on Camrese, and it's been great. No period, my acne and mood swings were under control. I had occasional spotting, and over the course of the past year, I've gained 10 lbs (with no other lifestyle changes), which are the only reasons I will be discussing changing medication with my doctor."

• Bri...
• October 27, 2015

For Birth Control "This is the generic version of Seasonique. I had been on Seasonique up until I got pregnant, which was about 6 years. After I gave birth, my doctor put me on Camrese. For the longest time, I thought the terrible side effects were because I gave birth. 2 years later, I am realizing it is Camrese. I have been tired nonstop, depressed, super emotional over the most simple things, have gained 15 pounds that I can't seem to shake, headaches, and my appetite has increased. I would not recommend getting this birth control. I will be switching back to Seasonique tomorrow, it never gave me any problems!"

• Bbb...
• June 22, 2018

For Birth Control "I’ve been on Camrese for over 2 years now, and I love it. I enjoy not getting my period every month. I’ve had a little weight gain, but nothing terrible. Maybe 3-5 pounds. Also, my acne has significantly improved. Boobs are the same size, maybe even smaller (which is most likely from working out). Occasional mood swings, but not as bad as I was before BC. No depression. The only kind of pill I’ve ever taken, and I love it."

• J T...
• March 6, 2017

For Birth Control "I have been on Camrese for 2+ years, and I am very happy with it. I ask for this specific brand every time I refill and won't accept anything else. For me, Camrese has not caused any weight gain, whereas other extended cycle brands did cause weight gain, acne, and constant/heavy breakthrough bleeding. I did have to be patient through the first several months for mild spotting to cease being an issue with Camrese. Understand that extending your cycle from the typical 28 days to nearly 90 days does take time for your body to get used to. As I adjusted to Camrese, if mid-cycle spotting lasted for more than a day or two, I would simply take a week off from the pills and allow myself to have a period before picking back up with the pills again."

• dlp...
• November 2, 2015

For Birth Control "I was not a fan of this pill. It was supposed to be three months non-cyclic, and I still had a period every month, longer than normal. And I would bleed in between. It also made me gain 13 pounds in 6 weeks - while I was counting calories and working out. It was impossible to lose weight on it. It made me super emotional. I was constantly weepy and depressed many days. I don't want to take this one ever again."

• Hea...
• July 26, 2017

For Birth Control "I am on the 3rd sheet of pills, so about 3 months in... Before taking, I weighed 120, now I am 130... I feel depressed. Just this week, I started to get brown discharge and thick red blood clots. I try to take the pill every day with my coffee, but I was an hour off a few times. My boobs grew from C to double DD. I don't mind, but I do feel bloated and have had a couple of angry, depressed days. Not sure it's worth these symptoms, but before, I had such bad cramps and migraines, I was in bed every month for at least 2 days. Plus, I thought only being 29 and having early menopause with hot flashes and migraines this would help me... not sure yet. Staying on for another week or so to see what happens, and the weight gain for me is the worst. I don't fit in my pants, plus need new bras."

• Mel...
• June 12, 2015

For Birth Control "My doctor prescribed Camrese to lessen my increasing heavy periods (presumably due to perimenopause). I'm at the end of the sixth month taking this drug and have nothing positive to say about it. I've gained 10 pounds in 5 months and am depressed that it's summer and I can't fit in my size 4 clothes anymore. What's worse is that I've had consistent breakthrough bleeding for the last 2 weeks and expecting the 'forced' period next week. (I'm wondering if I should just DEAL with the uber heavy periods - at least they were predictable and only lasted 5-7 days). There was also 5 weeks of spotting during the first 3 months on this pill. Needless to say I'm consulting my ObGyn next week to try something different. This pill's not for me."

• Ell...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 13, 2015

For Birth Control "I have been taking this medication for a month. No breakthrough bleeding, and my menstrual cycle has been great, but the negative side effects have been miserable. I experienced severe mood swings, depression (and I am usually a happy person), bloating, weight gain, increased appetite, breast tenderness, discomfort and pain in my abdomen, and extreme fatigue. I have been miserable since starting this medication and will discontinue it and try something else."

• Kpr...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 19, 2015

For Birth Control "I have been on this for over a year, and I am sad that it isn't working for certain things. I have a very light 3-4 day period every time, no breakthrough bleeding, no cramps, headaches, or anything else! My skin cleared up immensely. The three biggest problems were the fact that ever since I have been on this, I have absolutely no sex drive at all, I have been so depressed and down, and I gained 20 pounds because of the hormone levels. I would still be on it if the couple side effects I have weren't so large."

• que...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 13, 2016

For Birth Control "I have been on Camrese for 2 years to treat severe cramping/pain due to family history of endometriosis. While the pill was 100% effective in preventing pregnancy and shortening periods/lessening pain, I experienced the following side effects: high heart rate (oftentimes would not slow down enough to sleep at night), severe anxiety as a secondary effect, low mood as a secondary effect of anxiety/lack of sleep, increased sensitivity to sugar and caffeine, bloating (more often than not), weight gain. For TWO years I thought I had undiagnosed generalized anxiety disorder until I went off the pill for a week and realized that I slept every night and was 100% calm and my heart rate finally felt normal. I am switching to Skyla IUD."

• Ann...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 29, 2018

For Birth Control "I hate this birth control. I am now on my 4th pack, which makes a year. The first pack was the brand Amethia, which worked like it was supposed to. Then the pharmacy switched to Camrese, and it has been hell ever since. The first pack of Camrese, I made it through the first 2 months with no period. Then, at the beginning of the 3rd month, I started my period, and I bled the whole month. Picked up the next pack, same thing. I switched from monthly to this because I was tired of having horrible periods, now I have to deal with them for a month. I've gained 20 pounds, migraines non-stop. Don't switch if you don't have to!"

• JM2...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 29, 2017

For Birth Control "I was on this BC for 8 months. I had almost constant spotting. The most I would make it without spotting was three weeks, and then I would spot with no sign of slowing down, so I'd have to skip pills to let myself have a period. I couldn't take it anymore-I was on Camrese to control really heavy periods, and here I was bleeding not as heavy, but all the freaking time. I also gained 6 pounds almost immediately upon taking it, felt constantly bloated, and developed cellulite. I wanted sugar constantly. Within two weeks of stopping this pill, I lost 3 pounds and don't crave sweets nearly as much. I also developed three prominent patches of melasma on my face, including one that looks like a mustache. They have not even lightened yet."

• Kel...
• March 8, 2016

For Birth Control "Been on Camrese for about 3 years, after trying 2 other birth control methods. For the first two months, you will have a lot of spotting, but if you push through those two months, it goes away completely. I haven't had any spotting in months and used to have an extremely heavy period. I have endometriosis, and this pill helps a lot. If I forget a day by accident, I will have endo pain the next day almost immediately. I did used to break out the first few months as well, but not anything anymore. No weight gain or any other side effects."

• mic...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 15, 2018

For Birth Control "I've been on this birth control for 3 months now (just got through my first pack), and honestly, I have very little complaints. I haven't gained weight, no spotting, no nausea or dizziness, no change in libido. However, I did notice that I've become much more emotional since I started Camrese. It used to be kind of hard to make me cry, now I will at the drop of a hat, but for me, the pros outweigh the cons majorly."

• hal...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 6, 2021

For Birth Control "It was not worth it. I had to stop it after two months. I had side effects of severe depression, extreme anxiety (which also affected my sleep - yet I was always exhausted), lethargy, no sex drive whatsoever, irritability... I wanted to eat 24/7 even when I was full to the point of being sick. My hair fell out/shed WAY more than usual. It did not help my acne. The only thing it did was prevent pregnancy, yet it made me more susceptible to yeast infections due to strange discharge. I would dread taking it every day. It made my boobs a lot bigger, but the other fluid retention and weight gain canceled it out. I’m done with birth control for a while... back to heavy, painful periods."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 5, 2018

For Birth Control "After having a baby, I was looking for a birth control pill and excited about the fact that I would only get my period every 3 months. After 5 days, however, I had gained weight, felt bloated, had headaches all the time, very low libido, insomnia, and crazy mood swings. Threw the pills in the trash because I couldn’t stand it anymore. I’m sure this brand works for some, but definitely not for me."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 3, 2016

For Birth Control "I switched to Camrese because my last birth control was giving me consistent, debilitating migraines during the week of my period or if I forgot a pill. It was too unbearable to experience that every month. I'm now on my second pack of Camrese/month 4, and so far it has been great. I enjoy only having to deal with getting my period every 3 months, and I haven't had a migraine yet. Spotting happened for a short while in the beginning, but it went away. No weight gain. I have been feeling more depressed just recently, but it's hard to know if it's the BC or situational. I'll be following up with my doctor."

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

For Birth Control "This is the worst birth control I’ve ever been on. I have ovarian cysts, and they use birth control to regulate them. I have early onset bipolar disorder, depression, and GAD that I am all medicated for, but this has made my anxiety and depression go off the charts, with a bit of mania in there. Also, I’ve always been worried about my weight and my body, and this made me gain back all of the weight I just lost. I really don't like this medication."

• 826...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 6, 2017

For Birth Control "I got on birth control for my horrible cramps and to prevent getting pregnant. I have had mostly ups but some downs using this birth control. You must make sure to take it every day around the same time because it does affect you when you are supposed to get your period. Also, I have major mood swings now, depression, and gained weight with taking this. It does help majorly with my cramps and how much I was bleeding."