Jolessa and Headaches: What Users Say

• Hap...
• August 27, 2020

For Birth Control "39 YO with two kids 6 and under. Not planning to have any more kids. Heavy periods with clotting and anemia. Doctor recommended birth control to lighten periods. I also wanted to stop having monthly periods. First week on Jolessa, I had headaches. Three weeks in, headaches stopped. My skin is clearer. No mood swings. I feel happy but was not prone to depression before. I did feel bloated the first two weeks, but that has gotten better by week three, drinking lots of water, exercising, and watching calories. No spotting at all. Not having a period for three months is improving my quality of life! I had lost nearly 20 lbs before the birth control. I’m not gaining-working out vigorously and counting calories, BUT I do feel like I’m hungrier, craving sweets when I normally don’t, and weight loss is slower than before. Overall, I’m loving this birth control, Jolessa. As far as fitness, it will just motivate me to work harder at working out and monitoring what I eat. I recommend giving it a try. Don’t let negative reviews deter you. I let that stop me for years and suffered."

• Unh...
• March 19, 2021

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "Pluses: clear skin, no mood swings or headaches. BUT, at first, I spotted every day for months. Light enough for a pantyliner. My period stopped for a while, went fine. Then, with no warning, I would have gigantic clots and blood gushing when I stood up. Then later on in the day and the next day... nothing. Happened a few times. Last straw: family goes to Disney World for the first time. Second day I’m walking around the park then stand up, start gushing blood. I spend the whole time afraid to stand because I’m going through a tampon and pad every hour. Next day nothing. Fourth day at Disney, same heavy gushing and clotting. Airport gushing. Arrive home, bleeding lightens. Then I stand up, heaviest bleeding ever! Soaked through a super tampon, pad, my underwear, pants were soaked with blood and it stained my bed. I am 39 years old and this didn’t happen before Jolessa. I had heavy periods but not random hemorrhaging in between cycles. I have stopped this birth control and my provider is trying me on something different!"

• Anonymous
• December 13, 2009

For Birth Control "I've been on Jolessa for 6 months. I decided to try this because I get bad headaches during my period (even though they'd only last 3 days, 4 days at most), and I wanted to avoid it altogether. The first two months, it was great. Then my period arrived a month early, and the bleeding lasted for 25 days, mostly light. I had already picked up my next 90-day pack, so I figured I'd try to get through that, and if I still had the bleeding, I'd talk to my doctor about another birth control. No need to do that because Jolessa is now working perfectly for me. It's been wonderful not having a period for a few months. I'd recommend this birth control to anyone."

• car...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 11, 2018

For Birth Control "This medication is awful. I immediately started with breast tenderness/soreness, then came joint pains and massive headaches. Then there were sharp pains in my lower abdomen that would last about ten seconds, and I would have them throughout the day. I’m barely 19, healthy, and have had regular periods for the past two years. I just wanted something to help cramps, and it sounded like a dream when my gynecologist told me I’d only bleed 4 times a year! I just finished my second month, and I’ve been bleeding for 6 days now! I’m not even supposed to be bleeding! I’m not even talking about spotting, I’m talking about HEAVY bleeding. Before I started this medication, my periods were light/regular and only lasted 5 days MAX. This is one of the worst decisions I’ve ever made, the side effects are not worth it. I’d rather get my period every month than deal with this. Don’t get on this medication."

• Pri...
• November 2, 2019

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I started taking Jolessa to alleviate perimenopausal symptoms, i.e., inability to sleep, weight gain, fatigue, unpredictable periods, thinning hair, and new facial hair. The first month on it, my facial hair lightened up and my face became smooth again. My mood lifted, and I felt great, but that was the only beneficial thing about it. I started bleeding for months-heavily. Using tampons and pads at the same time did not protect me from accidents. The minute I stood up in the morning, it would be flowing all over the place. I started getting bouts of sciatic nerve pain, and severe pain in my knees. I'd be unable to go from a sitting to standing position. I had headaches and more weight gain. I immediately stopped taking it and opted to try natural herbs and vitamins: hemp oil, kohosh, omegas, and magnesium/zinc. Plus, I just started taking the cherry juice concentrate. I wouldn't recommend it. Try to go natural, you'll see the benefits like I did."

• Ak1...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 28, 2017

For Birth Control "I've been on this birth control for over 7 months now, and I don't have much good to say. While it has been 100% effective for me as a contraceptive, the side effects have not been easy to handle. During the first 3-month pack, I gained 7 pounds, had breast tenderness, nausea, headaches every day, acne, spotting, and a never-resting appetite. That was 3 months straight. Now, at 7 months, I have lost all the weight I gained, I only have occasional headaches, no nausea, and no spotting. But the acne is still here and absolutely horrible! I've never had acne before I started using this birth control, and now it's all over my face and not going away with anything! I'll hopefully be switching at my next yearly exam."

• Ali...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 11, 2018

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "Switched from Tri-Sprintec because of side effects. Started Jolessa. The first 7 weeks were great, no side effects, no issues. I'm now ten weeks in. I started spotting at the end of week 7, which was normal, but it kept getting heavier. I've been bleeding heavily for 14 days now, longer than any of my periods before birth control. I've also had cramps so bad that they caused vomiting, which has never happened before. I'm nearly doubled over in pain half the day and constantly nauseous. I saw one doctor, they told me to stick with the pill, so I did, but my symptoms only continued to get worse, so I got a second opinion from a doctor trained in this field. She recommended stopping the pill. So, I did, the bleeding is the same after being pill-free for three days. I've been really sick: nausea and headache. Starting Jolessa was great, and I thought it was helping, but if I knew it would have been such a nightmare, I never would have gone on this pill."

• Ash...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 1, 2021

For Birth Control "Was put on this as a way to help subside PMDD symptoms. Instead of having crushing anxiety and depression 2 weeks out of every month, it would shorten it down to 4 times a year. Sounded great at the time, so I tried it. 7 months later, I have at least 15 pounds I can’t get rid of. I exercise 6 days a week and watch what I eat, but nothing works. Increased appetite, headaches almost daily, my anxiety has gotten to the point where it is every single day instead of just 2 weeks a month. Depressed. Sleep is not good. I would rather go back to my old birth control and just take antidepressants for my anxiety than to deal with these side effects. Already made an appointment to see my gynecologist to make changes."

• tri...
• March 13, 2017

For Birth Control "I am 19 years old and have been on Jolessa for a little over seven months now. I have had no problems with this contraceptive, except for the obvious, when being on an antibiotic, I had spotting. I have always had headaches and migraines growing up, which is also a side effect of this contraceptive, they go away easily if I just drink plenty of water when I take the pill. I get most of the side effects, which are exactly like my usual period symptoms, and they only happen the week before or during my period. Which is exactly how it was before I was on Jolessa. I was put on this because of overheating, severe cramps, heavy bleeding, and shaking from my periods. I have none of these side effects except heavy bleeding, other than that, all good."

• Tee...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 16, 2018

For Birth Control "The first month went smoothly. The second month is when the side effects started. I had a dark brown (not the usually dark post-period blood) but brown brown discharge and terrible headaches. After two weeks of this madness, I stopped taking them! I read on other sites that this has happened to numerous other females. It was gross— I’m never taking this again! I still have the headaches two days off the pill."

• Tee...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 16, 2018

For Birth Control "The first month went smoothly. The second month is when the side effects started. I had a dark brown (not the usually dark post-period blood) but brown brown discharge and terrible headaches. After two weeks of this madness, I stopped taking them! I read on other sites that this has happened to numerous other females. It was gross— I’m never taking this again! I still have the headaches two days off the pill."

• Unh...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 9, 2018

For Birth Control "Reason for medication also includes irregular menstrual cycle, bilateral breast pain (ongoing), menstrual migraines. Years ago; I was on the brand name Seasonelle and had minimal issues. When my insurance changed at 23, I tried Jolessa due to the brand name being $235 (circa 2012). I remember having terrible mood swings, weight gain, acne, so I stopped taking it. Fast forward to 2018, I asked my doctor to try BC again due to irregularity and breast pain. Since the name brand drug now costs $435, I was forced to try Jolessa again. I have bled for 26 days straight and have stopped taking the pill. There has been no “trade-off” as far as my symptoms being reduced. I have had cramping, breast pain, headaches, and excessive bleeding. I do not recommend this generic medication."

• Jus...
• March 20, 2017

For Birth Control "So I'm this person that hates birth control, as in hate them to the core. But since we have one child and wanted to wait to have another, and the latex on the condom was getting me sick all the time, I decided to look into BC. My doc suggested Jolessa because I have painful cramps. The pill was great, no spotting, no periods at all. I mean, I had nothing, and it never killed my sex drive like the depo. I had some bad side effects: nausea, a little headache, but the worst of all was the weight gain, 20 lbs in 3 months. I mean, I work out 5 times a week, eat healthy like I'm told, but the scale keeps going up. I can't do this anymore, I'm going to try another one. Been told Jazmin helps with weight loss, so I may give that a shot, but I can't stand the way I look."

• Mrs...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 24, 2023

For Birth Control "This medication is horrible. I've had really bad anxiety and panic attacks constantly. I've never had this bad anxiety before, and I am definitely not going to take it anymore. I've also had headaches and a lack of appetite. I was restless and couldn't fall asleep. I wish I never would have taken this at all. I also was bleeding constantly. I have read that your body has to get used to the medicine, but with all the other side effects, I just couldn't take it anymore. I also have had a very low sex drive because of it and have mood swings. Hopefully, I can get back to normal soon because I am miserable. Please don't take this medicine, I hate it."

• ver...
• May 31, 2011

For Birth Control "I have been on birth control for over 16 years now. I started with pills at 18, then Depo shot for 5 years, and now back to pills. I was on Seasonique and was okay. I switched gyno, and to help with copay, she recommended Jolessa. I tried it and have been on it for almost 6 months now. I have been PMS'ing since I started. Breasts are constantly sore, severe mood swings, headaches, and not to mention 10 pounds weight gain. I have always exercised and eat right. I am definitely switching!"

• Ano...
• January 19, 2011

For Birth Control "I am halfway through my first pack, and so far I love it. No bleeding or nausea. No weight gain. My gynecologist suggested I take birth control because I'm a wreck when I get my period-terrible cramps that nothing helps, loss of appetite, extreme fatigue. Hopefully, I'll have a lighter period (my period lasts 5-7 days) when I finish the pack and no cramps, fatigue, or headaches."

• Phi...
• December 24, 2015

For Birth Control "I was switched to Jolessa by my OBGYN after 7 years of hormonal migraines the day before or of starting my period while on Spintec. So far, I've had a light to moderate period the first two months and have gained around 6-7 pounds. My skin is fine, can't comment on the headaches because I've had a consistent tension headache the entire time. I'm lazy and just want to sit around and eat ice cream. Something extremely annoying above all, I think, is the constipation. I'm so bloated and uncomfortable. I have a fiber-rich diet, so I'm assuming this is the problem. Not happy so far, but I'm gonna stick with it. Will re-review later after I'm done cleaning out the freezer section at the grocery store."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 7, 2017

For Birth Control "First cycle on these and I've been having breakthrough bleeding for 2 months now. In one week I will go on spacers, not sure if I want to continue, it's so frustrating. I did have headaches when I just started the cycle, but those went away after 3 days. Breast tenderness lasted the entire time."

• Alw...
• July 9, 2019

For Birth Control "Been on Jolessa for 11 days and counting. Had nausea, headache, and stomachache the first three days. That’s done, but now I’m still bleeding even though my period finished almost a week ago. Woke up this morning with brown blood running down my legs and saw big clots on the toilet paper when I wiped myself. That has never happened to me with any of the other contraceptives I’ve taken (Yaz, Tri Sprintec, progestin-only pills, Nexplanon). Doc says to keep at it for the full three months, but I think I’m ready to call it quits with Jolessa."