Levlen and Depression: What Users Say

• 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."

• Cro...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 4, 2019

For Birth Control "The worst birth control pill I have tried. I have tried around 10-12, and this one caused me to spiral into a dark and horrible mindset. I was borderline depressed pretty much every single day I was on this for around 6-8 months. Another friend experienced the same thing on this pill. Please, please talk to your doctor and come off of this if you notice your moods changing. Awful pill."

• 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."

• Cas...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 13, 2019

For Endometriosis "Within 2 days of starting this, I started having really dark thoughts about life, not wanting to be here, everything was boring. I went on sugar pills, felt great, positive, happy, thought it might have been coming off the last pill, Chelsea 35, that was making my mood change. Then, on the 2nd day back on Levlen, same thing with the depression and really dark thoughts. I stopped after day 6 and have returned to my happy self again. Don't follow Dr.'s instructions if you know it's not good for you, then stop it - there is always another option."

• Lol...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 5, 2017

For Birth Control "Moodiness increased, sex drive lowered to the point where I didn't want anything to do with my partner, extremely emotional, painful periods, and depressed. I've been off for about a month and feel so much better."

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 8, 2020

For Endometriosis "Levlen is the worst thing that ever happened to me! I was on Norimin-1, but as a result of COVID, they were unable to import the ingredients for it. My doctor then switched me to Levlen... worst thing ever. After 3 weeks of use, I had severe hormonal acne all along my jawline. The pressure from the acne hurts my face (I’ve never ever had any issues with my skin). I thought this may be just because of a hormonal change from trying a new pill. After 3 months, it became worse and worse. Never have I had severe headaches, but daily I now have severe headaches that come out of nowhere. I have severe depression now from this pill, my mood swings are absolutely insane."

• Pai...
• March 25, 2021

For Birth Control "Trigger warning: suicide ideation. I've had painful periods all my life and decided to go on the pill after meeting my partner for birth control reasons. The pain did reduce, but I gained a lot of weight, and it affected my mood and gave me depression. After experiencing ongoing suicide ideation, I quit my job at a pharmacy I worked at due to fear of stealing medication and overdosing on it. After stopping the pill, my mental health returned to better levels almost immediately (3 days)."

• Mar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 13, 2019

For Birth Control "I’ve been using Levlan for the last 4 months. I don’t recommend this pill at all. Previously, I was on Estelle with no problems. Dr. changed me. I know everyone is different and their hormones and bodies act differently, but I’ve never had any problems with any medication before. I’ve always had relatively great skin, especially on my face! A few weeks after on Levlan, my cheeks, chin, and forehead have been covered in tiny lumps and almost cyst-like pimples since! I’m 24 years old and have never had acne. I’ve also been having crazy mood swings or been upset/depressed, and I don’t even know why. I’ve never been like this before, and I’ll never use Levlan again. I’ve been back on Estelle for 1 week, and my face is already 3x better. Hope this helps!!"

• You...
• March 27, 2019

For Birth Control "I started this when I was 16. I was terrified hearing all the side effects. The doctor I had said I could skip my first period. (But after going to another doctor, it is highly not recommended to do that, apparently). The second month I had breakthrough bleeding that turned into a 21-day period. This time I was the angriest, nastiest person. I went to the doctors at 12 days and said to wait longer to see if it would stop. Then on the 20th day, I went back as it hadn't stopped, and he put me on 30 ED. This stopped my period almost immediately. Throughout this month that I stayed on Levlen 30, I had severe depression. It was very, very bad. I changed back to 20 ED. I haven’t skipped a period yet as I’m too scared to, but I would 100% recommend. I have been very sexually active in this time, and I have not had a pregnancy scare. I don’t use condoms as I trust my pill. I have had no side effects on this one other than slight mood swings and a little bit more emotional. No weight gain. This pill is very, very good towards me."

• 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!"

• 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."

• Hor...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 18, 2023

For Endometriosis "Started taking Levlen about 6 weeks ago, horrendous experience with it, immediate weight gain, depressed, and where I would have a heavy period for 1 week a month, I've had a constant period for the past 6 weeks with sore boobs. I spoke to the doctor who changed around the dose, and the bleeding seemed to get lighter, but I still have it. I've zero sex drive with it and moody all of the time. I will be stopping this pill, especially after reading all the other experiences with it also."

• 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."

• 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."

• Ana...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 6, 2019

For Polycystic Ovary Syndrome "I have been on this pill for a month. So far, I have experienced severe depression and some acne. However, I have not put on any weight while being on this pill. As I have read in the comments below, some girls have experienced profound weight gain. I would not recommend this pill. I will be going back on a pill called Femme Tab, which had controlled my hormones and stopped my acne. I had only gone on this particular pill because I started to have breakthrough bleeding. This pill is horrible and has been a complete disaster for not only myself but for other women too."

• ram...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 15, 2018

For Birth Control "I have been on Levlen for 2 months now. Months ago, I was on Yaz, and it went terribly after 2 weeks, with painful breakouts, mood swings, feelings of depression, panic attacks, and random bouts of anger. Levlen has been amazing. None of the side effects I once experienced, and my skin has cleared up! Plus, I'm not pregnant! I would recommend Levlen if you're unsure which pill to try, as it's a good price."

• 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 :("

• Lev...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 14, 2022

For Ovarian Cysts "Positives: no period and bigger boobs for a month. Negatives: severe depression, mood swings, panic attacks, cystic acne, fatigue, weight gain leading to an eating disorder. VERY BAD."

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

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