Ethinyl estradiol / levonorgestrel and Anxiety: What Users Say (Page 3)

• Tan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 23, 2019

For Birth Control "I was very excited to start this and get a hold of my endometriosis, but as soon as I started this, I started breaking out, gaining weight, couldn’t sleep anymore, my anxiety became so much worse than it had been, bleeding every day, cramping off and on, and headaches. It has made me feel crazy, and I just stopped taking it. I’m praying this goes away fast. I am highly disappointed."

• Ale...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 29, 2016

For Birth Control "Just quit Alesse after 4 months. I tried to tough it out, but it just wasn't working. I was always hungry, then I would eat and feel constantly nauseous and bloated. I had no energy and felt tired, always wanting to eat sweet stuff. Didn't really gain much weight, just water weight around my hips and boobs (those were constantly sore as well), such bad mood swings and depressed and anxious often. Got lots of headaches, acne got worse (cystic acne on my chin, back, and chest), and lower sex drive. This is my first day without birth control (period will start in a few days), and I can honestly say that I feel so much better, which is weird because Alesse is 'ultra low dose hormones.'"

• Jil...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 21, 2019

For Birth Control "Honestly, the first week was the worst. I was irritable and stressed, and started to break out along my jawline a little bit. After the first week or so was over, I haven't really noticed anything. I don't feel any different from when I wasn't on it. Just found out the website I normally get it from no longer supplies it, and I am a little bit upset because Aubra EQ was working just fine for me."

• M02...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 12, 2017

For Birth Control "DO NOT EVER TAKE THIS MEDICATION! I've been on this for two weeks, and it's been two weeks of HELL! My anxiety is through the roof, I'm overly emotional and cry all the time. (No suicidal thoughts though.) This pill will make you feel like you have food poisoning or the stomach flu or something. I have headaches, dizziness, an indigestion/heartburn-type feeling -- I just have this bizarre feeling near my upper stomach/diaphragm, I can't even describe it. I'm constantly gassy, whether it's through burping or passing gas, stomach cramps and pain, back pain down in and near my pelvis, pain in my lower right abdomen. No appetite. The side effects are worse when I'm at work, which makes it very hard to stay at work. Wicked nausea!"

• bbn...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 3, 2018

For Birth Control "Oh my goodness! Worst birth control ever taken. I was taking Orsthyia for the past 3 years, and CVS switched me to Larissa. I've had heart palpitations, anxiety, and my stomach constantly stays tore up. I've had the worst stomach indigestion of my life. Every time I eat, I feel nauseous. My body also feels like I'm constantly swollen. I DO NOT recommend this birth control for anybody!"

• Jac...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 26, 2019

For Birth Control "I have been taking Aubra for about 2 years now. I got prescribed this birth control in Planned Parenthood. The nurse never told me the side effects about this pill, and let me tell you, it gave me really bad side effects. I have anxiety, gained weight, really bad mood swings, I feel nauseous. Most of the time, I am crying. I never thought this pill would make me lose myself. I have really bad depression where it has gotten to the point where I don't want to get out of bed and not even go out. I haven't gotten my period for the past 2 months. I don't recommend using Aubra."

• War...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 9, 2022

For Birth Control "Ashlyna was prescribed to me by my GYN for the treatment of PCOS. I took it about a week and felt okay before I started feeling faint, shaky, fatigue, rapid heart rate, intense anxiety, and panic attacks. It has been a month now of me trying to control the anxiety this birth control has caused me. I haven't been able to go to work or drive. I really do not recommend this medicine."

• Kat...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 26, 2020

For Birth Control "I was on the Seasonale pill for three or four days when I had one of the most horrendous breakdowns ever. I couldn’t stop crying and screaming - my poor fiancé! My anxiety was out of this world. I would wake up in the middle of the night for a few hours with raging anxiety. I finally couldn’t take it anymore and stopped taking it. Two days later, I felt like myself again. Guess it’s going to be no glove, no love!? Lol"

• exa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 17, 2020

For Birth Control "Larissa is by far the worst birth control I have ever used. The mood swings, depression, and anxiety were through the roof. I was constantly emotional and anxious about nothing. I didn’t feel like I was in my own body. My head was always foggy. My appetite changed, and so did my sleeping. A week before my period, I would always get unbearable uterus pain. Do not use this birth control whatsoever. Always do your research!"

• Mel...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 10, 2019

For Birth Control "Avoid this birth control if you can. This was my first time going on birth control, and my doctor prescribed it because it apparently was a good 'starter birth control.' But the side effects were terrible. I had the common ones, headaches, nausea, etc. But the worst of all was that it gave me TERRIBLE anxiety, on top of depression. I got into a really dark place and was getting around 1-3 anxiety attacks per week. I also experienced terrible leg cramping, to the extent that I paid the hospital a visit because it was so bad, and there was the fear that it may be a blood clot. There are so many better birth control options out there."

• kek...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 28, 2020

For Birth Control "I switched from Microgestin FE to Larissia. Microgestin FE gave me terrible anxiety and depression and made me feel like I was an alien in my own body. Switching to Larissia, I definitely had some cramping, breakthrough bleeding, mood swings, and acne during my first 2-3 packs of this pill, but after a couple months, all of those symptoms went away. My first pack, I could tell that my boobs were bigger, but that went away as well over time. I haven’t gained any weight on this pill (I was actually hoping that I would) and have less acne than I did while on other pills. I would recommend this to a friend."

• Don...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 31, 2022

For Birth Control "So I started taking Vienva some months back and experienced some of the side effects mentioned in the reviews, like an irregular cycle, but the side effect that stuck out the most was anxiety. Severe anxiety and night sweats. I’m already an overthinker, so this destroyed me. I got off of it and started taking another BC, felt fine, and started thinking more clearly. Because I received Vienva through the pill club, I had extra packs. Long story short, I ran out of my other BC and couldn’t get my new prescription due to the pharmacy being closed on the weekend, and a holiday fell on the Monday after the weekend, so I started taking Vienva again. Worst mistake ever. My anxiety is back through the roof, very emotional, can’t stay off of Google trying to self-diagnose my sore throat for everything under the sun except allergies. I can’t sleep due to the constant anxiety, and I honestly would not recommend this to my worst enemy."

• Anonymous
• August 4, 2010

For Birth Control "I am on my fourth week of taking Aviane, and the past 3 weeks have been miserable. The first week had little side effects, but my mood swings have been getting progressively worse throughout this month. In the past week, I have started noticing extreme anxiety and cramping (even though I'm not on my period). Now that I am PMSing as well, I cannot stop eating, and I feel extremely bloated all the time. Also, my breasts have enlarged, but they feel as if they are covered in bruises. I am going to give this pill one more trial month, but so far it has not been good."

• Cry...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 19, 2019

For Birth Control "Honestly, I remember taking this a long time ago and forgot why I stopped taking it because I switched and tried an IUD back then. When I first got back on the pill, I took Chateal, which was great, was a little moody but otherwise fine. Still had periods, which is fine with me because it let me know I'm still fertile and all (peace of mind). As soon as I was switched to Levora, my anxiety exploded, gastrointestinal issues like bloating, which was painful, acne, missed periods, fatigue, nausea. After 2 months of seeing if things would settle, I've stopped taking it and made an appointment to get rid of it and replace it. I'd rather be pregnant than be on Levora."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 17, 2012

For Birth Control "I was going through postpartum depression really bad. I was on this pill for seven years before I got pregnant. I went back on the pill for postpartum depression, and it's calmed my anxiety. It has done wonders for me. I did not get pregnant on this pill."

• Han...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 24, 2019

For Birth Control "I started Aubra because I had severe cramps. The first few months had been really great and pain-free. My period became gradually more painful as I continued to take it. I had also gained over 35 pounds even though I worked out and ate well. My sex drive disappeared completely, and my period was so light it was barely there, but it was still really painful. My depression and anxiety had gotten so bad I had to leave my job because I was so anxious I could not work efficiently anymore. I felt like I wasn’t myself anymore, and it got to the point where I could no longer look in the mirror at my body anymore because of the weight gain. I’ve been off of it for two days, and I hope my life returns to normal."

• Jai...
• September 18, 2014

For Birth Control "This birth control seemed like it had no side effects for me until I realized it was literally making me crazy. I've always been a social person, but since I started the pill, I've had the worst anxiety and paranoia. It's different for everyone, I guess, but make sure you realize that that definitely could be a side effect."

• kta...
• April 10, 2019

For Birth Control "My doctor prescribed Lutera for acne, which I was on for 3 months. My periods were lighter, but there was no improvement with my skin. What prompted me to write this review is how I believe it affected my mood. I started Lutera right before I moved overseas (stressful enough as it is). For these past 3 months, I've been more anxious than I've ever been in my life. Constant tightness in my chest, nervous for no reason, overwhelmed, irritable, etc. The smallest things felt unmanageable and crushing. I assumed this was just the stress of moving, so I tried to meditate and exercise, but the anxiety was still there. About 2 weeks ago, I ran out of pills. A few days after finishing the inactive pills, I noticed the anxiety was gone. Nothing has changed in my life, but I feel lighter and completely normal, without constant stage fright nervousness. I'd urge anyone who's feeling unlike their usual self to consider that the hormones may be hurting, not helping, their mood."

• kta...
• April 10, 2019

For Birth Control "My doctor prescribed Lutera for acne, which I was on for 3 months. My periods were lighter, but there was no improvement with my skin. What prompted me to write this review is how I believe it affected my mood. I started Lutera right before I moved overseas (stressful enough as it is). For these past 3 months, I've been more anxious than I've ever been in my life. Constant tightness in my chest, nervous for no reason, overwhelmed, irritable, etc. The smallest things felt unmanageable and crushing. I assumed this was just the stress of moving, so I tried to meditate and exercise, but the anxiety was still there. About 2 weeks ago, I ran out of pills. A few days after finishing the inactive pills, I noticed the anxiety was gone. Nothing has changed in my life, but I feel lighter and completely normal, without constant stage fright nervousness. I'd urge anyone who's feeling unlike their usual self to consider that the hormones may be hurting, not helping, their mood."

• May...
• March 8, 2020

For Birth Control "The worst birth control pill ever. Was on IUD before and decided to switch because I felt it was better for me in the long run. Been on it for 2 months and noticed that switching was the worst decision I have ever made. The IUD worked great for me. No side effects and no weight gain. When I switched to Larissia, I gained 10 lbs in 2 months, and I can’t seem to get the weight off. The less I eat, the more I gain, and I was never like that. My anxiety level has been out of control as well. I’m always fatigued and groggy. Though it was all in my head, but after I saw all the reviews, I’m definitely stopping it."

• Meg...
• February 8, 2019

For Birth Control "I started getting migraines behind my right eye, almost every day. My anxiety was off the charts, which is something I haven't struggled with in years. Then I became really sluggish and tired, but still anxious all the time. I went to see my doctor because I thought something was seriously wrong with me. She reviewed my medications, and the first thing she said was get off the birth control. I called my gynecologist, and she said the same thing - go off it for a month and let me know if you feel differently. Two weeks off of it, and I feel great. I haven't had a headache in a week. I'm not exhausted, and I have zero anxiety. It was crazy. I thought I was losing my mind. If you start to have any of these symptoms, you are not crazy, consider taking a break from this birth control. It's marketed as low dose, so it will have fewer side effects, this means nothing. Listen to your body."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 11, 2020

For Birth Control "Oh my goodness. This drug has been awful for me. The only good side is that my acne has cleared up. I am going to be switching to something else, as this pill has made me gain 20 pounds, have migraines (never had before), be super fatigued and groggy, mood swings, extreme back pain and chest pain, breast tenderness all the time, and extreme anxiety (which I am diagnosed with panic disorder and have been on something to help me deal/cope, and this drug has made me fall into the same bad anxiety spells). Maybe it works for others, but oh boy, I am excited to stop taking this pill."

• 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!"

• 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!"

• Fdu...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 2, 2019

For Birth Control "I've been on Chateal for around 4 months and have been having a terrible experience. Not until I had read some of these other reviews today did I realize that my horrible mood swings, depression, and anxiety were completely exacerbated by Chateal. I honestly thought I was losing my mind and have had some suicidal thoughts from time to time. I'm a college student, and these emotional episodes are taking a huge toll on my academic life. In addition, I have gained a significant amount of weight and feel bloated a good amount of the time, and also, I'm always breaking out with acne on my face, back, and arms. I'm so glad that I was able to see some of these reviews, which validated what I was going through. I'm going to stop taking Chateal today!!!"