Lessina and Headaches: What Users Say

• jvu...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 14, 2020

For Birth Control "I have been on this birth control for about 3 months now. The first month was fine. Last month, I started developing horrible boob pain and veins coursing all over them. Then I noticed spider veins on my hips and then on my butt. I have occasional leg pains. I’m wondering if anyone else has experienced this? I also have headaches, occasional nausea, lacking motivation, really bad appetite changes (one day super hungry, the next day don’t want to eat), starting to feel depressed, and anxiety increasing by a ton. I just feel generally tired and am thinking of switching pills."

• Bar...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 10, 2019

For Birth Control "I’ve been on this Lessina birth control pill for about a year. At first, I did have slight headaches, but they eventually went away. I do think it has increased my likeliness to get UTIs, though. Overall, I gained about 20 lbs in a year, but it all went to my thighs and butt. I would say this is great and will continue on it."

• Man...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 16, 2019

For Birth Control "Do not take this birth control!!! I had been put on this birth control a couple of years ago, absolutely hated it, went to Planned Parenthood to change back to my other birth control, and Rite Aid lost my prescription for the good birth control and now I’ve been stuck with Lessina again for almost a year. I’ve had my period for about a month straight on Lessina, it does nothing for cramps, causes headaches, mood swings, terrible anxiety, please do not take Lessina, I couldn’t think of a worse birth control."

• Anonymous
• October 18, 2011

For Birth Control "I have previously tried Yaz, which I quit after becoming emotional. My doctor switched me to another brand (which worked fine-no emotional drawbacks) but had to switch me due to my student care card. Then I was switched to Lessina. I had never been so emotional and depressed in my entire life. Additionally, my skin became unmanageable, I started having massive headaches, I couldn't focus because of exhaustion (I slept 15 hours two days in a row and previously had a normal sleeping pattern), and I was so weak that getting out of bed became a task. I am now on a different birth control pill and am experiencing none of these symptoms."

• Rjm...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 7, 2021

For Birth Control "I’ve been on this birth control for about 4 months now. It started okay with almost no side effects, however, since the second month, my anxiety and obsessive thoughts have gotten really bad. I could be considered a very happy person, I’ve never had anxiety or these kinds of thoughts before, and now I’m just an emotional mess that I cannot recognize. I tried working out, eating better, and just putting my things in order to see if maybe that was causing it, but after looking and looking for other reasons to justify my mood, irritability, and anxiety, I came to this pill as my last conclusion. I did not have other side effects, very sore boobs if anything. I didn’t get pregnant, which is positive (?), didn’t get nausea, and had headaches only for a couple of weeks when starting. Don’t get scared if you want or need to try it though, it is birth control, and it works differently for everybody. It might work for you. Good luck out there, ladies!!"

• Mom...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 26, 2020

For Birth Control "I was prescribed Lessina postpartum, and it has been great! Helped regulate my postpartum depression and anxiety. I, however, have an increase in appetite and experienced mild headaches and nausea for the first couple of weeks. I love the fact that it regulates my period, I always know when I'll have it and am prepared! I definitely will continue to take it and love it."

• kan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 12, 2020

For Birth Control "I began taking Lessina last month, and I do not recommend! The first few weeks, I had a consistent headache. Secondly, my appetite largely increased. Then, I was very, very emotional! I am having breakdowns over everything that happened. My anxiety has been way worse, and so have my intrusive thoughts. I thought for sure I at least wouldn't have a bad period. Wrong! This has been the worst period I've had in years! Such heavy bleeding, nausea, which caused me to have a panic attack, chills, headaches, the whole nine yards. Please do not take this medicine."

• kan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 12, 2020

For Birth Control "I began taking Lessina last month, and I do not recommend! The first few weeks, I had a consistent headache. Secondly, my appetite largely increased. Then, I was very, very emotional! I am having breakdowns over everything that happened. My anxiety has been way worse, and so have my intrusive thoughts. I thought for sure I at least wouldn't have a bad period. Wrong! This has been the worst period I've had in years! Such heavy bleeding, nausea, which caused me to have a panic attack, chills, headaches, the whole nine yards. Please do not take this medicine."

• Anonymous
• January 31, 2012

For Birth Control "I had to switch to a new contraceptive after being on Depo for 5 years. Since I was used to having no periods on the Depo, my doctor okayed me to take only active pills and never take the placebos. After 4 months, I started getting breakthrough bleeding on and off for the next 6 weeks. It did its job since I am baby-free, but I couldn't keep taking it from all the random bleeding for almost 6 weeks. While on it, I had headaches for the first few weeks, but they subsided. I was definitely more emotional while on it the first couple of months, but that leveled out mostly. I still would cry easier, though. The good thing is that I did seem to have a little bit higher sex drive."

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

For Birth Control "I was on a birth control that I really liked, with no side effects, and my pharmacist switched me to this brand, saying it was generic. However, I have had headaches, awful headaches since starting this birth control. I’m always bloated, and my anxiety is through the roof!"

• Gho...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 2, 2019

For Birth Control "Loved it at first, but now I'm totally over it. The first few days, I got headaches that went away quickly and didn't bother me much. The first week, I was nauseous, that went away and was bearable. The first month went by smoothly. The second month was absolutely bad. Non-stop bleeding. It's not a heavy flow, just light spotting, but three weeks of light spotting is horrible! I've been PMS'ing for three freaking weeks! Fighting with my boyfriend, paranoid anxiety, acne all over my body, AND A HORRIBLE VAGINAL ODOR, it's not going away and makes my boyfriend not want to have sex. So what's the point of birth control if we're not even having sex?! Right now, I haven't bled in three days, which is a miracle, but the smell still lingers and I'm showering three times a day. My doctor keeps telling me to wait three to four months for my body to adjust, but the stench is unbearable and I'm probably going to switch brands."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 12, 2018

For Birth Control "I was only on this pill for two weeks and immediately discontinued use due to massive weight gain (10 lbs to be exact), mild nausea daily that was similar to morning sickness, that lasted all day, headaches all day, every day, and the kicker, immense chest pain. My friend passed away from a PE directly related to this pill last month (per the coroner). She was 32. Do not take this."

• Use...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 9, 2021

For Birth Control "I started Lessina almost 4 months ago. I have not had a period since. I am not complaining, but I am having a hard time losing weight, retaining water, etc. My head is always hurting and extremely exhausted. I'm worried about the no period. Going to call my doctor Monday to talk with them again, as I don't know anyone else who has had periods completely stop. The only other method of birth control I know that has done that to me is the Depo, but been over a year off of that. I went on another pill, Sprintec, prior to this one but just wanted something that wouldn't make me constantly want to eat. On Sprintec, I had a 2-day period, if that. In my opinion, I feel my body needs to have a period to lose weight."

• Yel...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 23, 2018

For Birth Control "I’ve been on Lessina for quite some time now. I’m currently 18. I work out about 3 days a week and have regular eating habits, etc. From my experience so far, Lessina has been effective for birth control purposes (hopefully). However, I’ve noticed that over the course of taking the pills, I’ve had frequent headaches, bloating, increased sex drive, and I haven’t seen anyone else with this problem. Oh, and my hair is thinning out too. Of course, I can’t be 100% it’s because of Lessina, but since I’ve started taking it, my hair has thinned very much to the point where I have to color in spots with makeup and whatnot. Other than that, my eating habits are completely normal, my period is regular, and I don’t have a significant change in emotional behavior like many others. Good luck."

• Lin...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 26, 2017

For Birth Control "My ob-gyn switched me to this from Sronyx, due to horrible mood swings, constant headaches, and 10-day-long periods. I like this pill, but I don't, and I gave it more than 3 months. I have been having some breakthrough bleeding any week on the active pills that lasts 1-2 days. I have had terrible stomach aches and food repulsions. With these symptoms being bothersome, I might have to switch again. I need a different pill that's not so harsh on my stomach. I do like that it shortened my periods, aside from the breakthrough bleeding, and there is no weight gain."

• Isa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 29, 2021

For Birth Control "The first week, I took BC at 8 am and would feel so nauseous afterward that I had to fall back asleep or I would vomit (I only threw up once because I was unable to get back to sleep after taking it). It made me a little nauseous all day, every day I was taking it. When I started the second week in the pill pack, I suddenly got blurry vision, severe headaches, and dizziness on top of the increased nausea, which lasted all day. I decided to stop taking it after that. From what I experienced, the only good effect it had was that it lessened my acne. I wouldn't ever go back on it, though. I was debilitated for an entire day due to overwhelming side effects. All I could do was lay on my floor or bed and try to sleep."

• Mim...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 26, 2018

For Birth Control "I’ve been on this pill for a good year and a half or so. I started because after having my second daughter, I hadn’t gotten my period for a year. She was exclusively breastfed as was her older sister (got my period back with her at 10 months old). So it’s been very effective in preventing pregnancy, and I have had no bad side effects until recently. Within the past 3 to 4 months, I’ve noticed I’ve been having mood swings, emotional outbursts, and horrible migraines (which historically I’ve never had), decreased libido (hubs works a lot now so no big deal), dizziness, and fogginess. Throughout the course of using, I did notice depressive emotions. I’ve now been off for about 1.5 weeks, and my headaches are lessened, and I’m noticing positive mood changes, however, my uterus and lower back are in mild discomfort and pain. My appetite has also gone back to normal, so no overeating, lol. I want my girls to have a happy mama."

• Non...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 4, 2018

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "My 14-year-old daughter was taking this pill for almost a month, and it sent her to the hospital since her doctor wouldn't see her. She had severe headaches, feeling nauseous, and feeling tired all the time. It wasn't until her dad read the reviews and figured out that her symptoms were for the birth control pills."

• Lys...
• September 7, 2018

For Birth Control "Got my period weeks early. I feel tired all the time. I’m currently experiencing the worst headache I've ever had in my life! I highly advise AGAINST taking this birth control!"