Falmina and Depression: What Users Say

• Cys...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 22, 2019

For Polycystic Ovary Syndrome "This medicine is terrible. 3 weeks in, I started having severe depression, anxiety, panic attacks, and hideous dark thoughts. I had zero history of mental illness prior and have never experienced any of this prior to taking this medication. If your doctor suggests it, ask for something else!"

• Anonymous
• April 22, 2015

For Birth Control "I have been on Falmina for about 4 months now, and at first, I was severely hormonal. I went through a little depression period while on it and had anger outbursts, but after the second pack, they subsided. My periods before I was on it were very painful because of severe cramps. But Falmina has stopped the cramping and has made my periods very short. The thing I don't necessarily like is I have spotting around the 3rd row of the pill almost a week before I am supposed to get my period, which is annoying. My appetite has increased a bunch, but a good diet and exercise are a part of my daily life, so I have actually lost weight on the pill. My boyfriend and I have been sexually active and don't use condoms or use the withdrawal method, and I haven't gotten prego!"

• sc8...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 7, 2016

For Birth Control "I have had a large variety of problems with birth control. My first bc, Tri Linyah, depressed me to no extent, gave me mega cramps, heavy periods, and made me feel sick every day. I switched to Falmina after being on that for 6 months, and it was amazing how normal I felt again. My mood swings were under control, and I could fully function through my day without having to feel ill. I recently have been switched to Orsythia, and even though it's only been a month on it, I can tell it's leading right to depression. I'm switching back to Falmina immediately. I wanted to share my experience because Falmina was a godsend for me, and I wanted to give more insight than the negative reviews gave. Everyone responds differently. Find what works for you :)"

• Mak...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 9, 2017

For Birth Control "I was taking another birth control pill for a couple of years and never had any side effects from it. Then, a couple of weeks ago, I went to get a refill, and the pharmacy said that the pill I was taking had been replaced by Falmina. They said it had the same ingredients as the last pill I had been taking. The first week of taking this new pill, I thought everything was normal. Then, within the second week, I started getting really angry and sad, etc. I also started spotting, which I never did between periods before. I've even been extremely tired and haven't had any energy in the past couple of weeks. I was not expecting any of these side effects since I thought there was not a difference in medication, but the crazy mood swings and tiredness were terrible."

• kal...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 15, 2019

For Birth Control "When I came home from college, my pharmacy didn’t carry Aubra and switched me to “generic” Falmina, and I HATE it. It made me gain an incredible amount of weight. My periods are completely out of whack; some months it will come a week early, some will be a few days early, and others will be when it’s supposed to be. When I get my periods, I never know how heavy they are going to be, and some months they still give me awful cramps. My breasts are tender for all weeks of the month other than the week right after the placebo pill. I get worried that I’m pregnant (which Falmina has been good at preventing) because my symptoms, such as breast tenderness and random spotting between placebo pills, are so bad. I get dizzy and nauseous, have had no motivation, have zero sex drive, and have been prescribed an anti-depressant medication since I’ve been on Falmina. I have been on Falmina for 9 months and will be switching."

• A01...
• March 1, 2020

For Birth Control "My OB-GYN doctor prescribed Falmina to me due to my extremely heavy periods and ovarian cysts. I've been taking it for 7 months now, it's done nothing but cause extreme hair loss, depression, and hasn't made my periods lighter. I'm incredibly irritable and have mood swings, constant night sweats, and yeast infections ever since I've taken this!!! I absolutely hate this. The only good thing that's happened is no ovarian cysts and no weight gain. I'm done taking this. I'm switching over to another low-dose birth control and hoping for the best. I'm anemic, and this has made my hair even worse. I'm even more depressed, my hair used to be so thick and beautiful. I have great genes, I dunno what else to do. Good luck to y'all."

• J13...
• June 28, 2017

For Birth Control "First, I have to say this birth control is very effective for what it is intended. My period is very regular; I always know the day it will come. After deciding with my then-boyfriend to have unprotected sex, it also never failed me. However, those are the only two good things I experienced. I was nauseous, anxious, and at times very depressed while on Falmina. Nausea was the worst symptom for me and heightened after drinking or not eating enough. At times, I'd be vomiting for hours straight. I can't be happier to be off this drug after what I've experienced."

• Les...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 19, 2017

For Birth Control "READ THIS PLEASE!! I was taking Falmina for only one month. On my last week of almost being done with the first pack, I started getting panic attacks, depression, and anxiety. I would cry for anything and started getting so much nausea, I couldn't even eat at all, only drink water!! It's the most horrible symptoms I have ever experienced with birth control. I couldn't even be around my kids. I read this site and stories and didn't think it would happen to me because I tried different birth control, and this never happened!!"

• dog...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 18, 2017

For Birth Control "I've literally had the worst experience with this pill. I had been taking another birth control that got replaced by my pharmacy with this pill, however, this one had a lot of side effects I had never experienced. I started experiencing major headaches, getting acne, becoming extremely depressed, having no sex drive at all, increased anxiety, and I was just overall moody and irritated at everything. I wish they would've never switched me to this generic version of the drug because this is way worse. I have never experienced such a terrible medicine. I do not recommend it."

• AS3...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 29, 2016

For Birth Control "Beware of this birth control! I've been on them for the past 3 months. They are effective in preventing pregnancy, but the side effects were so not worth it. For the past 3 months, I had absolutely no energy and no motivation. I fell into depression and actually went to a psychiatrist and was prescribed anti-depression/anti-anxiety meds! I had no idea that the birth control was causing all of these issues until I did my research. I got off them immediately and already feel so much better. Not to mention, I gained 15 pounds (that was probably a combination of hormones and the fact that I didn't feel motivated to actually exercise). There are many other birth control options on the market that are so much better. Pass on this one!"

• AS3...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 29, 2016

For Birth Control "Beware of this birth control! I've been on them for the past 3 months. They are effective in preventing pregnancy, but the side effects were so not worth it. For the past 3 months, I had absolutely no energy and no motivation. I fell into depression and actually went to a psychiatrist and was prescribed anti-depression/anti-anxiety meds! I had no idea that the birth control was causing all of these issues until I did my research. I got off them immediately and already feel so much better. Not to mention, I gained 15 pounds (that was probably a combination of hormones and the fact that I didn't feel motivated to actually exercise). There are many other birth control options on the market that are so much better. Pass on this one!"

• Vlo...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 25, 2018

For Birth Control "I will be extremely blunt with this review. Falmina did the job for birth control very well as I never had any babies, and it did help me semi-get on a better period schedule, although I sometimes would start way early. I gained about ten lbs, which is insane because I was a varsity athlete all through high school, and I only used to gain muscle mass, but the weight gain really happened almost overnight. Lastly, this drug affects you mentally. I would act out and have insane mood swings and crazy panic attacks that didn’t really make sense with me, and my depression/anxiety came back full steam. For example, I took the pill as scheduled last night, and I was crying hysterically and fighting with my boyfriend and saying things I didn’t mean. I don’t recommend it for birth control. I’ve got to try to regain myself back from that because it’s been traumatic."

• v4l...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 24, 2016

For Birth Control "I switched BC because I was worried about being on Depo for 8 years. First, I switched to the arm implant and dealt with the month-long bleeding and hormonal changes for almost a year before finally being put on Falmina. Yes, I did bleed 7+ days the first placebo week, but by the second, I was already seeing improvement. Now, this also happened to correlate with me finally conquering my decade-long opiate addiction, so I'm not sure how much of my mood swings were attributed to that or the BC, but the mood swings were intense. Yes, I got super anxious and depressed, but when I found something that made me happy, it felt as if the happiness permeated my entire being. Sexually active with my man every day for a year with no protection, still no baby."

• Liz...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 22, 2016

For Birth Control "I was on this pill for a little over 3 months, and this pill made my life hell! The only good thing about this pill is I didn't get pregnant, but this pill made me extremely depressed and very irritable. The last month I was on the pill, I had my period for 3 weeks, and it was still continuing when I switched to my new birth control, and the month before, I had my period for 10 days. I would not recommend this birth control to anyone!"

• Bri...
• April 1, 2017

For Birth Control "I started on this birth control 3 months ago, and it has given me awful mood swings and intense mood feelings. It made me feel depressed, and then I'd switch to feeling great. Also, it gave me blood clots in my lungs. Don't take this birth control."

• Ag1...
• June 27, 2018

For Birth Control "So I started Falmina about 2 and a half months ago, and it's worked well for the birth control side of things, but the side effects emotionally are horrible. I've NEVER thought I had depressive dark thoughts until recently on this pill. I take it at night to avoid feeling sick throughout the day, but instead, I am more depressed than I've ever been. I cry at everything when before I would cry only once in a blue moon, and I can't seem to find the motivation to get up and do my regularly easy day-to-day duties as a stay-at-home mom. It hasn't affected my libido, but the depression has. I had a panic attack about a week ago and started crying uncontrollably, thinking about what life is about. This is not me, I lost my older sister 2 years ago and didn't think about suicide and wasn't this depressed. I'm going to the doctor this week to get my medication switched to a different brand. It has been an extremely challenging past 2 or so months. Plus, horrible nightmares every night."

• Anonymous
• April 8, 2018

For Birth Control "I was only on this pill for 2 months before basically forcing my doctor to change my prescription. I was spotting for 2-3 weeks straight both months I was taking it and having horrible mood swings. For a while, I thought I was depressed. They say birth control pills affect everyone differently, but this one was awful for me."

• Cra...
• July 22, 2017

For Birth Control "I was switched to this birth control, and it was the absolute worst experience of my life. This pill had me in and out of the hospital for 2 weeks. It started with headaches, depression, then I started having numbness and tingling on my left side. I thought I was having a stroke. Felt as if a balloon was in my head. Doctors swore that I was on some type of street drug. I went from hospital to hospital for anyone that could help me. I was at the point where I tried to commit suicide. Even now, I still have side effects two years later. I've been on other pills before with no experience like this. The admitting hospital said it was absence seizures. But my OB believed me and knew what it was."

• bel...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 7, 2018

For Birth Control "Okay, so I definitely have found it to be good at what it does if you take the pill correctly, but the thing is, I found it to be awful for my mood. I find that I am always upset at something, but the thing is, my pharmacy gives me a different generic every month. But I’ve been taking birth control for over two years now, and I cry a lot now because of it too. I wish there was a more effective way of birth control without having a shot or something going into me and has to be removed. I don’t think I can handle taking this medication because I’m either angry or depressed now, and I can’t handle that. I finally got out of my depression when I turned 18, and now I’m 20 and back at it again."

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

For Birth Control "I had a terrible experience with Falmina. I moved to a new area where they didn't have the brand of birth control, Aviane, so they switched me to Falmina. I had been taking Aviane for more than two years without any problem. Since starting Falmina, I've had terrible cystic acne all over my chin (I usually have clear skin). I've experienced terrible dryness and itchiness down there, and pain during sex with my husband. Emotionally, I'm usually very stable, but I have been sluggish and feeling down since starting to take this medication. Since I put the pieces together, I've decided to get off this medicine. I don't feel like myself at all!"

• BXL...
• July 1, 2017

For Birth Control "This is effective in terms of keeping me from getting pregnant. I was a little upset my pharmacy gave me something new without telling me, but I tried it anyway. My previous birth control didn't make me lose weight or gain weight. Made it constant unless I worked out. This new birth control I've been taking for three months now made me gain back weight that took me a long time to lose. I'm pretty upset. It makes me act out and feel more depressed than I am at random times. I'm more upset about it making me gain weight. I also break out a little more than usual. I already have bad acne, but I noticed I get it more often now. Other than that, no baby. No other side effects I noticed. I will be asking my pharmacy to change my birth control when I am done with my last one."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 6, 2018

For Birth Control "I had severe cramps and leg pain to the point I had to sit in very hot baths and burn my skin to feel better. With Falmina, the first year not bad, I was up and walking with a super mild cramp. BUT, I started losing hair, gaining weight, depression, mood swings, and panic attacks. In year two, I noticed I started to get pimples (I'll get a pimple once every four months, maybe), and my leg pain came back, and I would get the pain before my period."

• Til...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 1, 2016

For Endometriosis "PROS: What I love about Falmina: I have no cramps, no spotting between periods, no heavy bleeding. Only 3 days of very light bleeding. Last day I only wear a panty liner. CON: As I was reading AS36's experience, I thought I was reading my own. Gained about 20 lbs in less than 6 months while taking the Falmina. From a size 2-4 to 6, bra size 34B to 38D (hubby loves it). I've become very anxious and depressed. I got so crazy and suicidal, I had to see a psych. He put me on depression meds (which maybe contribute to my weight gain). I remember that I experienced the emotional/mental issues while taking Yaz, that's why I checked drugs.com. And bingo..."

• Che...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 20, 2022

For Birth Control "When I first started Falmina in August 2021, I had constant nausea and heavy bleeding for a couple of weeks. I called my doctor, and she told me to stick with it for three months as a trial. I was miserable, but I did it anyway. During the three months, I experienced constant mood swings. I cried easily. I got angry for little to no reason. I became very anxious about everything. The pros of this pill for me are that I never got pregnant and I knew when I was going to have the withdrawal bleed. The cons of this pill for me are the mood swings, anxiety, depression, and weight gain. I have never had so many panic attacks in my life as I have had in these months from August 2021 to January 2022."

• km9...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 2, 2017

For Birth Control "I have been on this birth control for a year. My pharmacy is now switching to Larissia, so I wanted to write a review before the switch. This pill was my first, so I have nothing to compare to. It works great as birth control, I have not gotten pregnant or had any scares-libido unaffected. My periods are MUCH better, I still get cramps, but it is 90% better than it used to be. I used to fill an overnight pad in 2-3 hours, now my periods are lighter and last 5 days rather than 10. The downsides are that I gained 15-20 lbs with no lifestyle change, and I am super moody, depressed, anxious, etc. anymore."