Portia and Headaches: What Users Say

• Anonymous
• February 6, 2020

For Birth Control "I don’t remember when Kaiser changed from Levora brand of birth control pills to Portia. But I know that since I started these pills, my life has sucked. Awful weight gain, I don’t eat bad at all and exercise 3-4 times a week. I have never had bad acne, now I get it on my forehead and chin all the time?? I feel depressed, not motivated to do anything, just want to sleep. I have really bad headaches, which is another thing I never really had prior to these pills. I am changing ASAP, and please, girl, for your sake, you should too!"

• Sof...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 29, 2018

For Birth Control "I switched from Levora to Portia about two months ago because Levora was discontinued. It is by far the worst two months. I have had a dramatic increase in acne. Levora really helped my acne, but with Portia, I am having constant breakouts everywhere. I have chronic headaches and feel very nauseous in the mornings. I feel an increase in my appetite. I tend to feel very down most of the time-sad for no reason. I am very unhappy being on this birth control."

• Dis...
• October 31, 2019

For Birth Control "I, like many others, was previously on Levora and was switched to Portia (without my consent) by Kaiser. Levora was my first experience with BC, and I took it for a little over a year. My only issue was prolonged spotting if I missed a dose. Once I was given Portia, I gained a little over 30 pounds in less than 4 months, I had frequent headaches, extreme fatigue (had to use my lunch break to nap daily), woke up nauseous every morning, and experienced the only 2 yeast infections I have ever had. Unfortunately, it took me about a year to realize Portia was the culprit. Since they told me it was the same when I switched, I never even suspected. I felt like a failure for gaining weight and not being able to get it off, I was frequently depressed, and my work suffered because I was often too tired to focus. Because of this thread, and my other research, I stopped taking Portia about a week ago and just opted to purchase Levora through an online BC provider NuRx."

• My...
• May 20, 2016

For Birth Control "I've been on Portia for about a month now, my period is extremely heavy, although that's normal for me. I noticed that it makes me very tired, which I really dislike because I'm a very active person. I'm constantly nauseous, and I mean constantly. I'm into fitness, and I gained 6 freaking pounds. I get headaches more than usual as well. I know these are normal side effects, but I am really not liking this birth control so far. I used Lavora until they discontinued it and put me on Portia, I never had problems with it like Portia."

• Iha...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 26, 2018

For Birth Control "Please beware, do not take this like everyone here has said. Levora was discontinued and was given Portia. I’ve been taking it and it has recently affected my daily life. They should really take this off the market permanently! It has made me depressed and bipolar. I don’t want to do anything for myself or my family. I get massive headaches, and I’ve gained so much weight, it sucks. I'm going to get off of it permanently. I hate it so much... please stay away from this birth control!"

• No...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 26, 2016

For Birth Control "I used to be incapacitated during my period due to cramps, and I'd never remember when the blood would start. This almost eliminated my cramps, lightened the flow, and shortened my period. As a plus, the pill packaging makes it super easy to remember when to break out the pads. I don't think I saw any side effects, but that might be because I already had headaches and nausea."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 14, 2013

For Birth Control "I was on Levora, but my pharmacist switched me to this because it's cheaper. I hate it. I have acid reflux, and it's making it unbearable. I'm sick all the time, terrible heartburn making me puke. I've been on the pill for a little over a month. I have a terrible headache almost every day, and now I have this terrible pain in my left hand and going up a little bit. Next month, I'm off this pill. My period was horrible last month, horrible cramps, I couldn't get out of bed!"

• bro...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 31, 2015

For Birth Control "I've been on Portia for a couple of months, and it's the worst. I have terrible headaches, I'm always sleepy and lazy, always nauseous. It does help my period a lot, though, but it always makes me feel like I'm pregnant or something. I'm always hot at night as well."

• Kka...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 29, 2018

For Birth Control "I've been on this birth control for more than a year, and I love it. The first month, I had nausea, headaches, and I was very emotional. Now I'm used to it, no stomach pain or anything. I take the pill at night before bedtime and wake up good."

• Ang...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 16, 2015

For Birth Control "I've only been on this birth control for about a month, and I already don't like it. I've been spotting for about 2 weeks now, I get headaches, vivid nightmares, gained weight, terrible mood swings. The list goes on... The reason why I switched birth controls was because my last one (the Depo shot) was giving me extremely bad headaches and cramps. Also, I bled for 3 whole months while being on it. I just want to find a birth control that fits me and doesn't give me all of these symptoms."

• Lov...
• June 1, 2019

For Birth Control "I would never knowingly recommend Portia to anyone I know to take it. Other than putting on a little bit of weight in the first 2 1/2 months, seemed like everything was going fine. Then that third month was about to hit, and I was nauseous, I had breast tenderness, and was sleeping for 15 hours a day. I figure I must have been pregnant. The fatigue was so horrible, but then I lost my eyesight twice within a week and had migraines so bad that I couldn’t function as a person. Not symptoms of being pregnant, that’s when I finally went to the hospital to get an MRI done. I wasn’t on another medication. I had my blood work checked, everything came back normal. I have now been off Portia for 3 weeks now and still having headaches and migraines from time to time. Sure, I didn’t get pregnant, but I also didn’t have sex because I never saw my other half due to me sleeping so much and the severe migraines that I’d wake up with and go to bed with."

• Rha...
• July 26, 2015

For Birth Control "I switched to Portia after being on Levora (I had no side effects with it) for three years. My first period was extremely heavy, but no cramps. I'm on my second period, and I feel like I've gained 10 pounds from bloating. I look like I'm 3 months pregnant. I've been very irritable and had cramps and headaches during these few days. I hate this birth control. It's effective, but it's not worth severe, uncomfortable bloating and weight gain."

• NCa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 8, 2018

For Birth Control "Was using Levora and Chateal before Portia. Portia has caused random weight gain, swelling in my arms and legs, abdomen area. I eat healthy and exercise regularly, so I know that this was my only change. It has given me so much acne that I have never had before, depression, excruciating headaches that are crippling. It’s terrible. I have used Allese, Chateal, Levora and haven’t had any issues until PORTIA! Portia is the worst. I stopped it after a month and a half because of the crazy side effects, and I am not willing to put myself through the worst I’ve ever felt again. Seek other birth control."

• No ...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 29, 2021

For Birth Control "I’m a bit stunned by all the negative reviews! I recently went out of the country but forgot my birth control (Portia). I was given Yasmin and not a fan (sore breasts, headaches, trouble focusing, fatigue, not as excitable). I can say I honestly don’t have any of these issues at all with Portia. Maybe I’m not the best person for an accurate before and after experience since I’ve been on Portia for years, and before that on different birth controls since I was 16 (32 now). I have clear skin, happy, focused, and don’t really have mood swings. Also, my periods are lighter on this pill compared to others I have taken. Hope this helps!"

• Jul...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 1, 2021

For Birth Control "Awful experience with Portia. I’ve been in a horrible mood lately. I have never felt so anxious and stressed in my life. I cry for absolutely no reason, and I have constant headaches. This is the worst birth control pill experience that I have ever had. It’s been only two weeks, and I already have to switch it because this is unbearable. I feel so bad for my boyfriend because he had to be with me all this time, seeing how crazy this pill made me become. I have become a crazy monster."

• Anonymous
• April 25, 2011

For Birth Control "Portia is the third birth control that I have tried. I have noticed weight gain that I did not have with my other pills. My moods are also terrible and unstable. I get awful cramps and headaches during my period. Overall, these are small prices to pay compared to other issues I have had with other pills."

• So-...
• April 14, 2016

For Birth Control "I've been on this pill for about 2 years now. It really helped straighten out my irregular periods and the heaviness of my flow. However, I didn't get cramps much before I started the pill, and now I get them, and they are horrible. Sometimes I even feel like my legs are going numb. And I get these horrible headaches every day, they worsen when I don't take my pill right on time. Even a few minutes late, and they only get worse on the week I take the sugar pills. I didn't have any issues until about a year and a half after starting this pill."

• C-J...
• March 31, 2014

For Birth Control "I've been on this pill for about a little over a year and a half, I have had a very good experience so far. I never got headaches, pain, or any of those things. It cleared my skin pretty well, but after a while it stopped. I never broke out crazily. My breasts grew a little, and I still PMS and get minor cramps, but my period is still heavy but shorter by 4 days, so I'm not going to complain! I hope this birth control will continue to work for me just as well as the months go on."

• fin...
• October 21, 2015

For Birth Control "I went from Mylan to Portia. Ever since I switched, I've been getting massive headaches, horrible cramping/bloating when on my cycles, and just overall been feeling terrible for the past 2 months of taking it. Still works, but not the type of pill for me."

• Pam...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 8, 2022

For Birth Control "This pill was prescribed to my 16-year-old daughter, who, after being on it for a couple of weeks, started having side effects of nausea, anxiety, huge mood swings, and constant headaches. All of these things are very unlike her. We didn't even realize it was the pill at first. We couldn't figure out what was wrong, even tried cutting out certain foods, all to no avail. When we finally realized it might be the pill, she discontinued it, and all of the side effects stopped within a week. Wish I'd read the reviews first, and after seeing other negative experiences, I wonder why her doctor chose this pill to begin with. Looking for an alternative now."

• Gir...
• October 9, 2017

For Birth Control "I have been on this for one week! No side effects at all. I used to have horrible headaches daily, and this BC has gotten rid of them! Was very nervous to start a hormonal pill because I am prone to nausea and headaches. I don't have one thing to say bad about this pill."

• Mom...
• April 11, 2017

For Birth Control "Obviously by the name I am a mom. After I got off of Portia, I immediately got pregnant a week later. Wasn't our intention at all. When I got back on it after having my kid, everything had changed. I get massive headaches, nausea, dizziness, and it makes my body really tender and sore down there, so sex hurts quite a bit sometimes. With all that being said, I have never had an issue or a pregnancy scare while being on the Portia pill, and it definitely works when it comes to preventing pregnancy. I have been on it for 6 years now, and even though the side effects suck, it's the only one that is truly accurate on its pregnancy prevention. I buy this version of it for $9. It's very cheap."

• tay...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 21, 2016

For Birth Control "Taking Portia landed me in the hospital. After taking it for 4 months, I began having horrible headaches and sensitivity to light. A few days later, I went to the doctor, after a CT, MRI, and MRV, they found a major blood clot in my brain. Two days later, I was admitted to the hospital with blindness in my left eye, resulting in having to have a spinal tap to take the fluid off of my brain. For the next year, I will be on a blood thinner and a brain swelling medication. DO NOT TAKE PORTIA!!!"

• Jen...
• May 22, 2016

For Birth Control "Haven't gotten pregnant, so it's working. I have migraines, but this pill doesn't give me headaches. Short and lighter periods. Great medicine, although my boobs are more sensitive."