Orsythia and Weight Gain: What Users Say (Page 2)

• Jul...
• December 3, 2014

For Birth Control "I have had no problems on Orsythia, and have been very happy with it. My periods are much lighter and of shorter duration. I did not experience weight gain, decreased sex drive, and my skin/monthly breakouts did not increase. I have seen a small enhancement in breast size/mass, which was not a dramatic increase, but I was pleased about that. I rate it a 9/10 because this is the only pill I have tried, so I can't fully rate it a 10 without any form of comparison. I also had wished that I would completely prevent my monthly hormone-drop associated breakouts, but those were just high hopes. Overall for me, an effective pill in preventing pregnancy without any adverse side effects to speak of."

• 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."

• Jan...
• September 9, 2013

For Birth Control "Been taking Orsythia for one month. I've noticed breakouts of acne along my jawline and some random ones on my upper lip, some weight gain. I feel a bit swollen at times, my feet and my arms mostly. My mood has not been affected. Although I have been getting a lot of headaches since I started with this pill, every day practically, relieved by Tylenol."

• Rac...
• April 8, 2013

For Birth Control "I don't have insurance but do have a discount at my pharmacy. I've used Lutera for 12 years! Last month, I was switched to Orsythia and did notice my mood changed a bit, was so hungry, therefore gained 10 pounds. I did have a super light period and my breasts didn't hurt at all this past time. I needed to start eating good anyway, and I've lost weight, and I now know what's causing my increased anger, so I'm more mellow (myself again). I like Orsythia and plan on not switching."

• 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!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 13, 2017

For Birth Control "I’ve used Orsythia for two years without any issues. I have a long history of anxiety, and it has not been affected by the pill, nor have I experienced any nausea. I take it precisely at the same time every day, and it has worked great. I’ve put on a few pounds, but I think everyone should evaluate their diet before blaming the pill. It’s pretty much impossible for a pill to make you gain 20+ pounds unless your diet is unhealthy and you’re lacking exercise. It’s a pretty generic birth control, and I would assume that the horrifying side effects listed by previous reviews are probably rare and true for all birth control on the market. So, give it a try, it’s not a miracle pill, but it’s not an anxiety-inducing weight gain supplement either."

• Ver...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 15, 2017

For Birth Control "I have been on Alesse, Aviane, and Sronyx, and they were amazing. No acne, weight gain, or mood swings. I have been on Orsythia for three months. The first month, I noticed I felt strange and high anxiety with many mood swings. The second month, I had all the same symptoms with a five-pound weight gain. This month, I got vertigo so bad I could barely stand and walk. It made me feel so dizzy and so irritated that I was snapping at everybody. I called my insurance carrier and begged them to put me on anything but Orsythia, and they are going to put me back on Aviane. I've been on the pill for over 12 years straight, and I have never had a series of side effects like I did with this pill. I would not recommend this to anyone."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 6, 2013

For Birth Control "I have been on Orsythia for two years now, and after reading these reviews, I am making some connections. I have definitely had very light periods since switching to Orsythia (sometimes to the point of wondering whether I was missing a period!) with no cramping at all. I've never had issues with cramping, though. However, I have had little to no sex drive, some weight gain, and general moodiness here and there. All within the last year and a half, I never thought to relate any of it to my contraceptive and plan to discuss it with my doctor at my upcoming appointment."

• Ash...
• July 4, 2013

For Birth Control "I will say that from experience everyone's response is different, and I've had much worse reactions to different birth control pills before, but I will list all of my side effects that I had from this medication: severe mood changes, I cried ALL the time (but I didn't feel angry, just sad), trouble wearing contacts, swelling of the fingers when working out, weight gain, some water retention, headaches, and NO sex drive. But on a good side, I had light periods, light cramping, no spotting, and I didn't get pregnant."

• Bri...
• March 21, 2017

For Birth Control "I was on this pill for about 7 or 8 months, and I did not have a good experience at all. This was my first time on birth control, so I wasn't really sure what to expect. The first few months were fine, I noticed I was a little high-strung but thought it was due to other things going on. Once life had mellowed out a bit, I was still having these terrible mood swings. I only had high highs or low lows, with no in-between. I'd snap at my husband constantly, and I was extremely depressed. I had frequent headaches, and I gained 15 pounds when I had never had any major weight changes before that. I stopped the pill about two months ago and have noticed my mood swings have stopped, and I feel much better. The only plus was that I didn't get pregnant."

• Mik...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 24, 2016

For Birth Control "I have only been taking this birth control for 3 weeks now. I used to take Cryselle, which I was on for 2 years, and never experienced any problems with it besides weight gain, which was around 20 pounds. I have been off of Cryselle for a year now, but about 2 and a half months ago, I got into a new relationship, so I decided to get back on the pill. I went to Planned Parenthood, where they prescribed me Orsythia, and the doctor mentioned to me that spotting, nausea, and feeling 'funny' were the most common side effects. Let me say that my pill was not covered by my health insurance, so I had to throw a fit at my insurance company, CVS, and the doctor. Orsythia costs me $27 a month. Anyway, about a week and a half after 'rapid starting' the pill on a Friday, I began to notice I was grinding and clenching my teeth. I put this off until I started to realize I was so anxiety-ridden that I couldn't sleep, eat, and I felt as if I was almost in a dream-like state. Not to mention, I do have manic-depressive disorder, and it is clearly stated that Orsythia can worsen symptoms in mentally ill patients. Other than the extremely severe anxiety, the pill itself is not so bad. My first period only lasted about two and a half days, I had no cramping at all and I usually cramp before and during my period. I also had unprotected sex 'exactly' 7 days after beginning the pill, so it's safe to say that it does the job at preventing pregnancy, it's just the side effects that make it so horrible."

• Man...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 7, 2018

For Birth Control "Effectively protected me from pregnancy and made my periods very regular, but that's about all the good things I can say for this birth control. On this birth control, I've gained exactly 65 pounds-no significant lifestyle changes. Also, it gave me terrible mood swings the week before and the week of my period, and before starting this birth control, I hardly ever experienced mood swings. I feel that I've given this birth control plenty of time to stabilize and for my body to get used to it, as I've been on it for about 3 years now. But I can't take the side effects anymore, so I'm switching."

• mkc...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 31, 2015

For Birth Control "My pharmacist switched me to Orsythia after my regular birth control, Aviane, was unavailable. In the first 48 hours on Orsythia, I had terrible mood swings and anxiety. Then came the bloating, weight gain, and acne. I'm now on my placebo week, and my hormone levels have dropped so rapidly that I feel like a crazy person. Can't wait to get off this stuff next week! P.S. I would HIGHLY recommend Aviane to anyone looking for a low-dose birth control pill. I was on it for years and never had any problems."

• Cai...
• October 5, 2017

For Birth Control "This pill has been pretty good for me. It is a lower hormone dose than the many other pills I tried before, which gave me bad side effects. I had mild nausea and headaches with this pill for the first 3 months, but that's it. I have gained about 25 pounds in the 2 years I've used it, but I don't mind it as much as some other people. My sex drive has gone down a tiny bit, but nothing noticeable. I have sex frequently, using this as my only protection method, and I haven't had a pregnancy scare (granted, I am very good at taking it on time). This pill isn't perfect, but it's definitely the best one I've tried!"

• Ale...
• December 27, 2015

For Birth Control "This birth control was completely effective for me when I was sexually active. However, when I was not sexually active for my last two months of taking this pill, my periods were more painful and barely bled at all. But while I was sexually active, I barely had any acne, didn't gain any weight, and had no problems with my sex drive. I took this birth control for almost 2 years."

• Sha...
• August 19, 2018

For Birth Control "Worst birth control by far. It was 100 percent effective at preventing pregnancy, but the side effects were awful. I was switched to it after taking Lutera for 3 years because the health department ran out of Lutera. First off, the first month I took it, I constantly had a yeast infection. I ended up having breakthrough bleeding and periods that lasted at least a week. The other downside. I took it for several months and out of nowhere had such terrible breast pain and nausea I was convinced I was pregnant. It was that bad. They were never sensitive at all, just achy. Then I had chest pains. Also, the weight gain was awful and made me feel like a cow. The worst part was the anxiety and emotional roller coaster. After taking it for several months, I noticed my anxiety was at an all-time high and caused me to become so stressed out."

• 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."

• BDe...
• March 29, 2016

For Birth Control "I was on birth control for about 15 years and decided to stop to give my body a break. I got pregnant during that time, and I started taking this birth control after I had my baby. I've been on it for about 5 months now. So far, the only good thing is it has kept me from getting pregnant and cleared up my skin. The bad things... it has made me gain some weight, I now start to get my period before my pills are done, I feel like I am sweatier, and it has given me large painful cysts under my right armpit. I am debating whether or not to get off of this pill or give it a little bit more time."

• Jaz...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 21, 2015

For Birth Control "For the first few months, everything was fine. My periods were short and light, and I didn't experience any cramps. After about a year or so, I started gaining so much weight and experiencing mood swings, increased sex drive, and tender breasts. I believe the birth control does its job, but the side effects aren't worth it. I got off of them for a while, and my body felt so much better/balanced, but I got back on to regulate my period again because it came on every 2 weeks. I'm switching as soon as I can."

• TL1...
• September 25, 2017

For Birth Control "Orsythia was the first birth control pill I had ever been on, and for the first 2-3 months, I had extreme nausea when taking it, which I was warned by my doctor that could be a side effect in the adjustment period. I would take the pill at night and made sure I ate something before I took it, but I would still get extremely nauseous. My periods were not affected by Orsythia, but I did notice it helped reduce cramping. The main problem I had with Orsythia was the weight gain, which was a substantial amount. I gained about 25 pounds in the year of taking Orsythia, and I have never gained that much weight in that time span ever before. My doctor is switching me to a different birth control."

• Eaw...
• June 7, 2018

For Birth Control "Orsythia is my first birth control and I have been taking it for a year now. I started out with tender and growing boobs for a couple of months, which is fine, and I have gained weight because it makes me crave food. However, my periods are a lot lighter, always on time, and no cramps. My acne slightly subsided, but I break out badly on my chin right before my period. A little more irritable and emotional, but so worth it. I’m too scared to switch because all other BC reviews are horrible. After a while, my boobs went back to normal size."

• Ano...
• January 8, 2015

For Birth Control "I was on this for about six months. I used to have periods that lasted six days at a time, and I would have a long time in between. I've also always been small and have trouble gaining weight. I've never had acne. As soon as I went on this, I broke out and gained eight pounds even though I was eating less and exercising more, and have been emotionally unavailable. In the beginning, my skin broke out, but that changed after three months. My period still lasts as long, but now it's slightly heavier, and I get it nearly twice as often. However, I have to give it a seven because my fiancé and I have unprotected sex, and I am not pregnant. I have had slight breast tenderness, but that has also gone away for the most part."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 7, 2021

For Birth Control "This is my favorite birth control. The only side effect I got from it was being more emotional, but that didn’t really bother me. I didn’t gain weight, get acne, etc. I’m currently researching for a new BC pill because they discontinued this one :( and I’m not sure as to why because it’s popular. I’ve tried Aviane, terrible for me, and they’re trying to make me take Larissa, but I’ve read a million bad reviews on it and am NOT taking it. I wish you could comment on these because I’d definitely take down recommendations you’d give."

• obf...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 23, 2018

For Birth Control "I've been on this birth control for a year now. My doctor switched me to this birth control, mainly because Syronx was no longer being covered by Tricare. At first, I was a little skeptical about the switch and continually asked my doctors to switch me back to the brand I was already familiar with, but nothing was really different other than the packaging. I have the usual PMS symptoms (way lighter than when I wasn't on the pill) a few days before a withdrawal bleed, and I also noticed that my periods were actually timely. I knew exactly when they would happen. My reason for giving it only 9 stars is because I don't like the packing. Truthfully, I gained weight after starting this pill, but I actually think it's helped me gain a lot of muscle. The weight I gained isn't fat or water weight. I lift, and I have never seen my muscles so defined until now. I also used to be underweight, so from 90 lbs to a healthy 120 lbs. That's outstanding."