Levlen and Anxiety: What Users Say

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 30, 2020

For Birth Control "Like many others, I have been on Norimin for 11 years. Due to COVID, I had to switch to Levlen and had the worst experience. I’ve become super anxious, the worst acne outbreaks on my chest, back, and face. I rarely ever had any pimples, and now have extremely painful ones that don’t seem to heal. I’ve gained close to 4 kg and have started to get bad tummy pains and bloating."

• Bea...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• October 16, 2018

For Birth Control "I have been on Levlen since I was 18 (I am now 24) and have realized how depressed and anxious this tablet has made me in the last 2-3 years, especially the last 6 months. It has gotten so much worse. I literally have no sex drive and feel really lazy and have no energy. I have constant migraines and dizziness, and I honestly think all of these things are related to this pill. I have decided to try and change my pill to a different one and see how I go, and already 3 days after not being on Levlen (period week), I feel amazing!"

• Anonymous
• February 18, 2021

For Birth Control "I’ve been using this pill for only a week and a half and already experiencing bad anxiety, depression, and I never experienced this before. I’m always a joyful person. I thought it was just me, and now reading what the other girls have been through, I’ve just stopped taking it and hoping to feel like myself again soon. I've been crying over the smallest things, so random. Don’t recommend this pill at all. I will be going back on Yasmin."

• Ste...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 12, 2020

For Endometriosis "Started taking this pill, Levlen, continuously (no sugar pills) 3 months ago. I gained 15 pounds, I have no sex drive, leg cramping, higher blood pressure, anxiety, cramps, back pain, and spotting. This pill sucks! Just stopped taking it and hope to feel like myself again soon."

• Sep...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 21, 2020

For Birth Control "I was on Levlen for about a year and a half. After the first few months, my hair started thinning, I started to bruise ridiculously easily, and I started to get tired all the time. Went to the doctor, mentioned the pill, and she completely disregarded it and told me to eat more red meat. Over a year later, my symptoms got worse, my hair thinned more, my mood was terrible before my period, and I had started to experience panic attacks and anxiety, which ultimately led me to get depression. I went back to my doctor about a month ago, she once again disregarded the pill and told me to get all these tests done. I took it upon myself to stop taking it, and I feel 1000% better. I’m not moody, I’m happy, and my hair isn’t falling out at the rate it was. I’m giving my body a break from any contraception right now."

• ell...
• July 22, 2015

For Birth Control "I was on Levlen for around 8 months. I started it a month before my wedding day, and because I'm still quite young, I was really adamant about contraception. After researching about pills, I figured as long as I didn't get acne breakouts, gain weight, or get hairy, it was perfect. Boy, was I wrong! I was completely depressed, anxious, and stressed the entire time, my libido was almost non-existent, and I started to get cystic acne on my face... you can imagine how all of this would affect newlyweds!! It wasn't until I had a major breakdown a month ago that I knew I had to get off Levlen ASAP! I'm now on Femme Tab, and it's working fine, just waiting to see how my hormones will react!"

• ell...
• July 22, 2015

For Birth Control "I was on Levlen for around 8 months. I started it a month before my wedding day, and because I'm still quite young, I was really adamant about contraception. After researching about pills, I figured as long as I didn't get acne breakouts, gain weight, or get hairy, it was perfect. Boy, was I wrong! I was completely depressed, anxious, and stressed the entire time, my libido was almost non-existent, and I started to get cystic acne on my face... you can imagine how all of this would affect newlyweds!! It wasn't until I had a major breakdown a month ago that I knew I had to get off Levlen ASAP! I'm now on Femme Tab, and it's working fine, just waiting to see how my hormones will react!"

• Lul...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 20, 2019

For Birth Control "I took Levlen ED for 1 year and gained 5 kg, was very anxious and moody, but eventually it settled down. I then stopped the pill, and a few months later I am back on it... After 10 days on Levlen ED, my anxiety and moodiness have increased, and I have gotten TERRIBLE acne all over my face. As someone who barely ever gets pimples, I am mortified. I have also completely lost my appetite (although it might be because of stress?). Anyway, I will be stopping the pill tomorrow and asking my doctor for an alternative. Not worth it."

• Dub...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 10, 2017

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "Originally was put on Levlen as a last resort to treat my menorrhagia. After 6 months, it eventually made my cycle normal-ish, which was great after dealing with that for 2 years. Experienced enormous weight gain. Since going on it 3 years ago, I have doubled my weight. Exercise and diet haven't stopped the weight gain, heaviest I've been in my life. It has happened to other members of my family with taking Levlen, so it might not happen to everyone. Had a lot of fainting, passing out 6 months in, my GP didn't really look into it. My mental health got worse on it too. Huge difference in my mood, developed clinical depression and anxiety. When I stopped taking the pill, there was a huge difference in my overall mood."

• Sam...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 25, 2022

For Birth Control "I started Levlen purely to prevent pregnancy, and in that regard, it has worked well. I never had acne before taking this pill, but I’ve been taking it for a year now, and my skin is the worst it has ever been. While adjusting to it, I experienced severe nausea and bloating, but after six months, these symptoms have disappeared. There was no effect on my libido as far as I’ve noticed, but I did notice that my mental health has taken a turn for the worse. Really bad anxiety for a while after taking the pill, and some symptoms such as hot flashes and hyperventilating, that I’ve never experienced before. Yes, in my experience, it works to prevent pregnancy, but it has had some considerable negative impacts on my life too."

• Ano...
• February 14, 2020

For Birth Control "I'm a 29-year-old in New Zealand. Not been on any contraceptive before. I tried Levlen for 6 weeks before I quit. My period normally lasts for 10 days, so my Dr. and I were hoping that by taking the pill, I wouldn't get periods anymore, full stop. And that my mood would be more stable as my periods often made me sad. I took the pills correctly, skipped the sugar pills, and just kept taking a hormone pill every morning. BUT still got my period. The worst thing was that it lasted almost 30 days! And I was very anxious and felt like more of an angry and impatient person. I wasn't sure whether to keep taking it and see if it stabilized after 3-4 months. I had friends say good things about taking the pill, so was half hopeful, half scared/worried. But at this point, after a month of bleeding, I was over it. I went back to my Dr., and she said I had a very unusual response to it, and we decided to stop taking it. It literally did the opposite of what we were aiming for."

• 123...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 11, 2021

For Birth Control "I’ve been on Levlen ED for 3 years, the first pill my friend ever prescribed me. Ever since I started, my mood swings have been horrid, I gained weight and have not been able to get it off regardless of the calorie deficit or training I do. I was able to eat so much beforehand, and I’m consuming less now... I developed symptoms of anxiety and depression, and I recently went back to my doctor after multiple breakdowns in the past year and decided: no, it has to be the pill. I was told that Levlen ED is the worst for mood swings and negative mental health effects... glad I was informed now. Would not recommend, yes, it helped my skin, periods (used to get horrendous 10-day heavy bleeds with cramps that left me lifeless), contraceptive use, and that’s about it."

• uhm...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 29, 2022

For Birth Control "The only thing good that came out of Levlen was not getting pregnant. Other than that, my anxiety and depression got worse (now I have to go on medication), my periods got heavier and more painful, and I continued to get acne, but also, I got severe chronic migraines after being on it. I also completely lost all sex drive, and this caused issues between me and my partner. Now I have a copper IUD and likely cannot ever have any other hormonal birth control when this wouldn't have been an issue before. It also increased issues with my other chronic illnesses, and I became more fatigued and struggled to do anything in the afternoon."

• Hay...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 19, 2022

For Birth Control "I have been on Levlen for around 2 years, and this pill is NO GOOD!! It’s taken me till now to figure it out, but I had side effects from the start. - Weight gain and inability to lose any weight, even with diet and exercise. - Mood swings were relentless, I felt angry all the time. - Low sex drive - Anxiety - Fatigue - Brain fog - Headaches - Bloating"

• Dex...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 26, 2019

For Endometriosis "Changed to the lower dose form of Levlen after experiencing anxiety attacks from Yasmin. Just 2 months into the pill, anxiety has gone out of control, blood pressure was raised tremendously and had to be put on antidepressant to counteract the effects. Think twice before starting a pill."

• dai...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 6, 2022

For Birth Control "Levlen made me a psycho! Felt like years of emotional rollercoasters and anxieties. I am literally so much more chill now that I’ve been off it for over 5 months. If you’re having relationship issues because you’re a moody person with mental health issues, then I recommend trying a different contraceptive option. It works well as a pregnancy deterrent, but so not worth it."

• Lev...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• March 23, 2022

For Birth Control "I had been on Levlen for over 10 years. I started at 67 kg and now weigh 83 kg. I do a lot of weight training and am a PT, so I don’t blame all the weight gain on the pill. The biggest change I noticed was the way I reacted and my emotions with certain things. The past 6 to 9 months, my anxiety has definitely exacerbated to a point where I’ll feel differently every hour, from being super anxious to feeling numb. My mind would be going a hundred miles an hour, and I would be snapping at my mother constantly over the littlest things. The week before my period, I would have intense PMS and would have to constantly tell myself that it’s just PMS week. The week of my period, my moods would lift and the bloat would go away, then, once I’m back on the active tablets, the moods and bloating would come back. I’m trialing a month of the pill. It’s day 6. I’ve had bleeding/withdrawal for 5 days, and I can think properly again without brain fog, nervousness, and all-day tiredness."

• Lev...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• March 23, 2022

For Birth Control "I had been on Levlen for over 10 years. I started at 67 kg and now weigh 83 kg. I do a lot of weight training and am a PT, so I don’t blame all the weight gain on the pill. The biggest change I noticed was the way I reacted and my emotions with certain things. The past 6 to 9 months, my anxiety has definitely exacerbated to a point where I’ll feel differently every hour, from being super anxious to feeling numb. My mind would be going a hundred miles an hour, and I would be snapping at my mother constantly over the littlest things. The week before my period, I would have intense PMS and would have to constantly tell myself that it’s just PMS week. The week of my period, my moods would lift and the bloat would go away, then, once I’m back on the active tablets, the moods and bloating would come back. I’m trialing a month of the pill. It’s day 6. I’ve had bleeding/withdrawal for 5 days, and I can think properly again without brain fog, nervousness, and all-day tiredness."

• Imm...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 1, 2021

For Birth Control "I was on Levlen for 27 days. It made me depressed, caused severe anxiety, horrible acne, and nausea. Absolute worst I have ever felt. Started crying at work for no reason, was sent home by my manager and switched to a different pill that night. After a week, I was back to normal. - Levlen is the worst."

• Ano...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 17, 2021

For Birth Control "My experience has been nothing less than horrible. My anxiety has gotten 10 times worse, with my overthinking being uncontrollable, crying over nothing, and being overwhelmingly anxious. I’ve been gaining weight but consider the fact that I eat healthy and work out 5 days a week. Not only have the side effects taken their toll on me, but I feel like it has affected my relationship as my anxiety has been so much worse. I would not recommend this pill to anyone."

• Sar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 4, 2018

For Endometriosis "I took Levlen for 6 weeks to help my endometriosis. Immediate weight gain and fluid retention. Nausea for 3 weeks. Became out of control anxious and super moody. Have now stopped, and after 1 week, starting to feel more like myself again."

• hol...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• November 10, 2020

"Reading this thread, I'm super confused with what's going on with me. I've been on Levlen for over 10 years with no issues. In fact, I'm generally a very happy person with a normal period - no PMS, pimples, bloating, etc. And I've always been content despite life's usual ups and downs. I've come off Levlen for a cycle now and I have no idea who I am!? I had SEVERE PMS before my period with so many symptoms it was ridiculous that I could barely get out of bed. I'm now a week off my period and I feel like life is so hard. I just feel fat and ugly, demotivated with absolutely everything in my life, I'm always feeling anxious and depressed, and I've been binge drinking to avoid all of this. I can barely function. Why is this happening AFTER coming off Levlen? Everywhere I read only talks about these symptoms ON the pill. What is wrong with me :("

• Pop...
• August 5, 2021

For Birth Control "I was on Ava 30 but got switched to Levlen from my doctor. I had the absolute worst experience. I got extreme stomach pains and had to get internal exams done, with nothing coming back in results. I also experienced chest pain while on Levlen and was sent to get X-rays and exams done on my lungs - again nothing in the results. I didn’t have a clue what was happening to me! I gained about 15 kilograms on this pill, had intense headaches and no libido at all. I was extremely emotional and had intrusive and suicidal thoughts often. For me, this was horrid and once I came off it, the symptoms disappeared within weeks. Worst couple of years of my life."

• Mum...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 30, 2019

For Birth Control "I could not tolerate Levlen at all. Breakthrough bleeding, as well as panic attacks and full-on anxiety. Was not a nice experience at all. Was fine when I changed to a different pill."

• ecr...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 14, 2022

For Birth Control "Complete spiral into depression and unstable moods. Constant dread and anxiety."