Marlissa and Mood Swings: What Users Say

• kay...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 18, 2019

For Birth Control "I’ve been on Marlissa for about 5 months. Before that, I was on Levora, which is the same dosage and all, but I noticed after I stopped taking Levora and switched, I stopped getting acne! I’d get major pimples every month like clockwork, and I had no idea it was from Levora, but since I switched to Marlissa, I haven’t had a single pimple over these past few months. The only thing I have noticed is recurring yeast infections. I’m not sure if this is from the pill or maybe just the dosage of all these similar pills, as I think I started getting them before I switched. I also had a new partner, so I’m still trying to figure out what’s giving me the yeast infections. I do have pretty bad mood swings around PMS, but once again, I can’t say for sure it’s from this pill, as I was the same on Levora."

• 20...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 7, 2017

For Birth Control "I started taking Marlissa about 5 months ago, and when I first started taking it, it took about a month for me to adjust. I had mood swings, worsened anxiety and depression, and I was tired all the time. The pros of this pill were decreased acne, and my boobs got bigger! My period is also now 3 days instead of 7, and I have basically no cramps. The reason I started taking the pill was because of my extremely painful cramps, and it did its job of taking them away, which I am grateful for. I have recently realized I have been getting panic attacks a week before my period, and I am not sure if it is because of the birth control or just me."

• Lyd...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 19, 2020

For Birth Control "I was on Levora, but my pharmacy didn't have that, so they gave me Marlissa. It should have been exactly the same, but I noticed with Marlissa I had mood changes and was in a bad mood constantly. When I switched back to Levora, I felt normal again. Everyone reacts to birth control differently. What works for some doesn't work for others. Do not be afraid to switch if it isn't right for you."

• Jay...
• October 16, 2017

For Birth Control "I was on Marlissa for 6 months. I originally started taking it because I had very heavy periods, and I also became sexually active. Overall, it did its job. My periods became super light, and it did protect me against pregnancy. However, the side effects were terrible. I was sick to my stomach for the first couple of days of a new pack every month, my cramps got worse instead of better, my mood would constantly change, and there would be random months where my face would totally break out. I just changed to Apri, and so far, it's been better."

• Man...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 16, 2019

For Birth Control "I haven’t been feeling myself, so I decided to look up reviews of Marlissa. I have migraines from the week before my cycle, continuing throughout my cycle on and off. I’ve become extremely depressed, anxious, emotional, and gained weight. I started having vaginal discharge that I’ve never experienced before. I usually don’t have acne problems, maybe a pimple before my cycle usually. I’ve been breaking out like crazy, and I wasn’t sure why until reading some reviews. I’m stopping this birth control. Even my husband has seen a tremendous change in me. The worst."

• Cap...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 18, 2020

For Birth Control "I was prescribed Marlissa when I was 18, so I’ve been on it for almost two years now. It has worked absolutely perfectly for me with almost no negative side effects. (There was no noticeable weight gain, but I do still notice obvious signs of PMS before my period (mood swings, etc.)) I take it at the same time every night, give or take a few hours. Before starting Marlissa, I had very irregular and painful periods. Since taking it, I get my period on the same week at the same time and have very minimal cramps. If I accidentally miss one pill, I take it when I remember the next day and there are never any side effects. I’m confused why so many reviews are negative, because I would 100% recommend this to anyone starting or switching birth control."

• hel...
• April 1, 2020

For Birth Control "It was recommended I take Marlissa after the BC shot I was getting, leading to constant spotting (6 mo). My doctor said it would take 3 months to regulate. Worked after 2 months. My side effects have been minimal - I gained 2 pounds over 2 years, a mood swing the day or 2 leading up, acne breakouts the week of (dad had terrible acne, no way I can contribute it to one cause), and my periods have decreased in heaviness to normal (used to be heavy) as long as I stick to PA every day. I’ve accepted the mood swings and give myself a day of self-care. SO, all of that was until 2 months ago. The new side effect is a diminished period. My period isn’t starting until 5 days off of BC pills - usually start on day 2. That comes with an insane amount of anxiety of missing a period. Previously, my doctor recommended this is not a BC to stay on, as it has a complication of the possibility of losing a period entirely. I hope to schedule an appointment to switch to a different BC in the summer."

• Tay...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 30, 2020

For Birth Control "I began taking Marlissa birth control about a year and a half ago as a contraceptive and for my extremely heavy periods. I noticed a huge change in myself compared to the birth control brand I used before switching to this. I had never had acne before, and I began breaking out pretty badly on my cheeks. I also had mood swings and felt paranoid/anxious a lot. I feel like I lost who I was for a bit, and it affected my relationships. I also got sick every time I ate and always had a small appetite, which is unlike me. I have stopped taking it and feel so much better."

• Kis...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 21, 2021

For Birth Control "I’ve been on Marlissa for almost a month now. It’s 50/50 in my opinion. Not even two weeks after I started taking this pill, I got a really BAD yeast infection. Currently did not heal from it, I’m pretty sure I'm waiting for the test results to come back about that. Honestly, I was very surprised my boobs grew a size bigger literally overnight. I do have bloating and mood swings since I’ve started Marlissa. I still have not gotten my period, and I’m halfway through my cycle pills. I switched honestly because my doctor made me. Low-key thinking about switching again because of the really bad yeast infection I’ve had since I started taking this pill. My acne has been HORRIBLE since starting this too. This pill also makes me very nauseous."

• Nik...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 7, 2020

For Birth Control "I had a love-hate relationship with Marlissa birth control. I loved that it gave me the lightest and shortest periods ever (I used to have the worst cramps and bleed heavily for 5-7 days). My period was only about 4 days and super light on this pill. However, when I first started this pill, I had horrible mood swings. I was depressed and would lash out at everyone. That settled down after a month, but then I noticed I gained weight, about 10-20 pounds. My hunger got larger, so that’s probably why. The main reason I switched, though, was because of my acne. It made my acne worse than it was before BC."

• Emy...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 17, 2020

For Birth Control "Horrible! I was taking Portia and loved it! My pharmacy stopped carrying Portia and switched my medication to Marlissa without telling me. I noticed I began to get a lot of bad breakouts on my cheeks and back. I never have acne, and these pills made me break out like crazy. I also had horrible mood swings, migraines worsened, and it would make me feel extremely depressed. Absolutely hated it!"