Orsythia and Depression: What Users Say

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 20, 2014

For Birth Control "I've been on the pills for 2 months, and I have been so emotional, as in depressed. I've had a little bit of acne, but it's not that bad. No weight gain, in fact, I've lost 5 pounds. Very, very nauseous but can't throw up. Headaches here and there. I'm not sure if I'll switch just yet... I'll probably try it out a little longer."

• Izz...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 14, 2013

For Birth Control "I have been on this birth control for the past 4 months. It's my first time ever being on birth control, and I'm 19 years old. The positives for me about it are that I don't have cramps at all, I have a period for only 3 or 4 days, and my acne cleared up really well. I still get a few little pimples every now and then, but not as bad as I used to. The negative factors about this are the weight gain, I hate it. I went from a size 8 jeans to a size 10-12 in the past 4 months. I'm trying to find ways to control it, though. I also don't have any sex drive, I'm hardly ever in the mood to do anything anymore. The last one is that I get depressed every now and then."

• Dan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 23, 2016

For Birth Control "This birth control made me depressed. It worked to prevent pregnancy, but the side effects were not tolerable. The worst was that I didn't realize it was the birth control and was so confused why I was so unhappy and dull. Once I stopped taking it, my mood improved. Birth control reacts differently in each person's body, but if you are prone to mood problems, I would proceed with caution."

• Dan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 23, 2016

For Birth Control "This birth control made me depressed. It worked to prevent pregnancy, but the side effects were not tolerable. The worst was that I didn't realize it was the birth control and was so confused why I was so unhappy and dull. Once I stopped taking it, my mood improved. Birth control reacts differently in each person's body, but if you are prone to mood problems, I would proceed with caution."

• HS8...
• July 31, 2013

For Birth Control "I have been on Orsythia for about a year (and on various pills over the last 10 years), and it was fine at first. However, in the last 4-6 months, I have noticed a HUGE change. Weight that I just can't seem to shed, hormonal acne on my jawline and neck, no sex drive, and really awful moodiness and depression. Everything else in my life is peachy, so I knew it was my hormones due to this pill."

• Rac...
• July 28, 2015

For Birth Control "This birth control is by far the worst of any other I've taken. I have experienced severe mood swings and temperament, depression, bloating, awful chest, back, and facial acne, and constant food cravings. I would never wish this drug on anybody."

• gra...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 14, 2015

For Birth Control "So this is my first week on any kind of birth control. I'm experiencing a very heavy and painful period, very low mood and depression, and lots of crying and weeping. I didn't think it would affect me so quickly. I'm not sure whether to ride it out for a month or just stop or switch. I really can't afford to be this out of it, given how demanding my work is. If you've had a similar experience, let me know!"

• Hrm...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 12, 2018

For Birth Control "This is by far the absolute worst birth control. It does its job at preventing pregnancy, but everything else is just awful. A week into it, I was ready to stop taking it! I had awful headaches and strong cramping and stayed nauseous. I gained a good bit of weight immediately, my face broke out and I was like, it's just side effects, it will go away when it gets in my system good. So I continued to take it. I stopped after completing the first pack. I had felt like a crazy person, my anxiety was through the roof, I was having mood swings, I didn't care about life, I went into an awful depression, and I was like, nope, can't do this, I knew it was the meds. So I stopped and little by little my stomach pains went away, the headaches were gone, my face started to clear up and I started my period again a week later and all the swelling went down, my mood swings, everything. But I have currently been bleeding nonstop, extremely heavy for 2 weeks now, no pains or anything."

• Enc...
• July 18, 2015

For Birth Control "Was only on it for 4 months to regulate my period. Started out okay and periods were light and on schedule. The last 2 months I was on it I had my period for two weeks!! Also made me very depressed, I gained weight, craved food 24/7, and retained water and felt bloated all the time."

• A...
• July 29, 2016

For Birth Control "From using this pill for a year, I can say my opinion is firmly that Orsythia is not for me. The pharmacy/insurance switched Lutera to Orsythia, and I just went along with it, despite the negative reviews. This past year has been a completely different me. My sex drive was fine, bad cramps only once, and then other time from the white week sticker falling off and accidentally missing some pills. But my mood swings became so frequent and awful. I experienced depression and suicidal thoughts and am glad to have switched out of this birth control. I understand everyone's experience is different, but please don't be afraid to switch out of this birth control. Or keep a mood diary if you experience unusual moods."

• The...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 9, 2016

For Polycystic Ovary Syndrome "As I am not sexually active, I cannot state upon the effectiveness of this as a birth control, however, upon taking this, my anxiety and depression flared to the point that my therapist is suggesting medication for that. I have not experienced any odd weight gain, although my hunger signals are off (I do not get hungry nor full anymore). My acne is the same as usual, with no more or less cystic acne. I am choosing to switch birth control brands to see if it will change, but the emotional symptoms are just too much for me to handle."

• Jor...
• January 12, 2016

For Birth Control "I was on this for 2 years, and at first, it was great! It worked great... BUT a few months into it, I noticed I had no sex drive, heavier periods, minor acne flare-ups (I didn't have acne before), and extreme mood swings. A year into it, everyone started thinking I was crazy, so I went to see a psychologist to help my moodiness. A year and a half in, I realized nothing was helping, I was diagnosed with severe anxiety and depression. That was odd to me, being that when I was in high school, I was happy and outgoing. My family blamed my relationship for my unhappiness, but it was the pill. On top of that, I gained 30 lbs within the two years of taking it. Now I'm off that crap, and happier than ever. I'm normal me again, and my relationships with everyone improved!"

• vic...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 31, 2017

For Birth Control "If you have any history with anxiety and/or depression, stay far away from this pill. I have been on Orsythia for 4 months, and it's been miserable. My anxiety is through the roof, I have panic attacks weekly, and throughout the month, I would go into a depression where I would just hate myself and be completely sad for no reason at all. I also didn't get my period during any of the 'period week' (placebo pills week), instead, I would get a period week 2-3 of my pill pack. It also made my breasts hurt for 2 months and made me have little to no appetite. I lost 20 pounds while taking this. Sharing my experience so other girls don't have to go through the same thing. I am using condoms as contraceptives now, and it is so much better."

• Lan...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 3, 2016

For Birth Control "I've been on and off this pill for about a year, if not two years. It's been one of the better birth controls I've taken up until the most recent time I had a two-month gap in between packets due to my insurance. My symptoms have been so off, it's kind of scary. I've lost weight since taking the pill again, but I've been bleeding for about two weeks. I've been feeling very anxious and depressed, almost. I'm not too sure if it's all to blame on the pill or maybe my new job, but this is the first time I've felt this way. Also a loss of appetite, I'll start eating a meal and lose interest about halfway through or get a nauseous feeling. I've also noticed that my energy levels are very low."

• Kca...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 28, 2019

For Birth Control "I’ve used this pill for 3 years now. I’ve experienced depression, cramping, towards the end of the pack I get extreme nausea prior to my period. Not sure what that is, but you get used to it. This month I noticed my pack changed. I'm 4 days in, and on my 3rd day, my pill tastes disgusting! I thought maybe I had something on my hands, but it happened again tonight! The pill literally tastes like poison!!! I almost threw up. I had to brush my teeth and tongue immediately to get the taste out. Furthermore, I’ve been coughing since Monday and have a taste in my mouth. I think I now owe this to the pill. I am not sure what they did with the change, but the colors of the pills are now 21 white and 7 pink placebo. It used to be pink for 22. Also, the packet is smaller, that’s fine. Except something is different. I’m going to try to take one from a different pack tomorrow and see if it’s my pack or not, but I’m thinking something is up."

• Yuh...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 15, 2018

For Birth Control "I'm currently on Orsythia for PMDD and giving me more time between periods. It has worked great for me as a period lightener and sort of an antidepressant (though I'm currently on one as well), but the beginning was rough. I bled for I think 11 days straight and had horrible pain in my abdomen that I think was an ovarian cyst that went away. My issue is that when I'm on the sugar pills, my depression and mood swings do get worse, and I hate how thick the uterine lining gets. I'm currently looking into getting Nexplanon to treat my PMDD."

• Bri...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 22, 2015

For Birth Control "This is the worst experience I have ever had with a birth control. My acne is worse, and my mood is awful. I've felt depressed for the whole time I've been on it, where I just want to cry for no reason or if something does not go right. I have had calf cramps as well. My normal birth control is Lutera, and I have no complaints about it."

• Lyd...
• August 24, 2016

For Birth Control "I started taking Orsythia about four months ago. This was my first experience on birth control, so I was incredibly apprehensive about the side effects, namely: migraines, birth control, and mood swings. The first two months, everything went so smoothly. These last two months, I have been shocked by the adverse effects I've experienced. I have had issues with water weight gain, which fluctuates between 3 and 5 pounds, and nausea. But the biggest issue I have found with this medication would be the anxiety and depression. At first, I chalked it up to stress. However, people around me noticed that I have not been myself. I've felt edgy, irritable, overwhelmed, confused, and sensitive. I'm finishing this month, then switching to a new pill."

• JM1...
• April 6, 2015

For Birth Control "I guess it did the job and did serve as a birth control. But other than that, this pill did make me depressed. I was on it for about 8 months or so. It didn't really help with my acne, I think the first week of the pack (after the placebos) my face would be flawless, and the rest of the days it would be breakouts. I was always, always sad and crying. I got off of it mainly because of the depression. I have been off it for a full 2 months now, and I am feeling MUCH better. Much happier... my face is clearer. I don't think this birth control was for me."

• Jil...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 3, 2018

For Endometriosis "I have never felt worse in my life than the three weeks of my taking this pill. I was on Lutera for several years in college and was told after graduating that Orsythia was exactly the same. I can tell you it is not. I became nauseous to the point of being unable to eat, save for small bites of bland foods starting on day one after my first dose, lost 15 pounds (not great for someone with a history of ED), and became more anxious and depressed than ever. As someone with PTSD, GAD, and GDD, it was literally debilitating. I could not stop shaking and panicking until my placebo week, where my pain was minimal, and I felt fine after. Switched back to Lutera and have no problems. Do not take this med!"

• Abs...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 6, 2017

For Birth Control "Do you like feeling like a raging cow? If so, this is the pill for you! Never have I felt so horrible as I did the 6 weeks taking this pill. When I wasn’t furiously angry, I switched between absolute exhaustion and a deep depressive state. I should have listened to the reviews telling those with anxiety to avoid this pill. I also had 3 heavy periods during the time I was on the pill, or maybe it was just one long one that happened to have 2 4-day breaks. I’m switching to another birth control."

• Bre...
• October 14, 2017

For Birth Control "I love hate this birth control, it’s not all bad, but it’s not all that great. I have been on Orsythia for a year. I used to get pimples every month before this pill, now I rarely get them. (I don’t break out normally.) So anyway, it definitely kept my skin clear. I have gained about 20 pounds since starting, and I naturally am thin, I weighed 94 lbs before, so yeah, do the math. It definitely prevents pregnancy, I’ve taken it later on some days and still kept me protected. Definitely does give you anxiety-HIGH anxiety-and depression. You choose though, other than that, I’d stay on it, but I’m switching."

• Jo1...
• November 25, 2017

For Birth Control "I started taking Orsythia about a month ago. Since then, I’ve been depressed and I have no clue why; I have also had more anxiety in the past month than I have had in the past 3. I read that others have had some anxiety and depression problems while on Orsythia. However, I am not as overly emotional as I was on the birth control that I was taking before this one. I’d honestly be overly emotional 24/7 than depressed often. I don’t have very noticeable cramps, but Tylenol helps take them away. I also have gained a couple pounds while on Orsythia. I would not recommend this to someone that has a history of anxiety or depression because it will drain you. Many others have also had this problem while on Orsythia."

• Sam...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 27, 2015

"I've been on this birth control for about 2 weeks now (I know it's early), but I've had a horrible experience so far! I've had constant headaches, constant vaginal discharge (a lot at that), deep severe stomach pains, and my sex drive is not there. I have been very depressed, and I cry all the time over nothing. Some nights, with the pain of nausea and headaches, I've wanted to go get checked out. I'm acne prone, so I break out anyway, but I have noticed recently more acne starting to pop up. When this pack is done, I'm definitely going to ask to switch because constant pain is not worth it."

• Jus...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 3, 2019

For Birth Control "This birth control is awful! I had my insurance switched when I changed jobs... After 3 weeks of taking this pill, my life changed! I am in a deep, deep depression like never before, and I've tried thinking about what could possibly be making me feel this way! Well, I figured it out. I'm never taking these again. Not only have I been super depressed, but I've also lost 5 lbs, and I've been nonstop bleeding since starting it!"