Ethinyl estradiol / levonorgestrel and Depression: What Users Say (Page 2)

• Sha...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 13, 2014

For Birth Control "I've been on Alesse twice, this time for 2 months so far. I've had no problems at all. I have polycystic ovarian syndrome, and it's fixed my period so far. My complexion is getting better, I've had no unusual depression or anxiety, and I haven't gained additional weight."

• Anonymous
• February 18, 2021

For Birth Control "I’ve been using this pill for only a week and a half and already experiencing bad anxiety, depression, and I never experienced this before. I’m always a joyful person. I thought it was just me, and now reading what the other girls have been through, I’ve just stopped taking it and hoping to feel like myself again soon. I've been crying over the smallest things, so random. Don’t recommend this pill at all. I will be going back on Yasmin."

• Mon...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 16, 2019

For Birth Control "I wish I would have read the reviews on this a lot sooner. I have been taking this contraceptive pill, Marlissa, for about a year now and am not happy with the side effects at all. Sure, the 3-day period and no pregnancies are great, but it’s not worth what it does to you physically and mentally. Everyone reacts differently to certain types of medication, but this was the absolute worst birth control I have ever been on. Throughout my entire time being on this drug, I have gained a tremendous amount of weight (30 lbs), have been severely depressed, very moody, anxious all the time, huge increase in appetite, fatigue and wanting to sleep all the time, and it feels like I am constantly bloated every single day. Please, stay away from this one."

• Ano...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 10, 2019

For Birth Control "I hate Aviane. I can't even bear taking it any longer than I have been because it’s just making me feel incredibly depressed. I am in such a dark, dark place. My period has been going on strong for 11 days, coupled with nausea and tiredness. My body has changed in ways I did not want it to. If you are somebody who already struggles with mental health issues and body confidence, then I don’t recommend this unless you want to feel like a completely different, 100% worse version of yourself."

• Anonymous
• October 25, 2009

For Birth Control "It does the job, obviously, I haven't been pregnant. But I have mood swings like I've never had before. I get anxious and/or depressed. Most depressingly, my sex drive has all but disappeared. Sex is uncomfortable, sometimes painful, and I seem incapable of naturally lubricating. I used to be able to have sex every day if I wanted to and orgasm almost every time-not now."

• Kay...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 28, 2020

For Birth Control "I’m reading the comments, and everybody is different. I highly recommend. I was on Tri-Cyclen before, it made me super depressed. I could never gain any weight. Then my doctor switched me to Lo Seasonique. Everything went fine with that BC. Then my pharmacist/insurance changed it to Ashlyna. I gained the healthy weight I needed. No breakthrough bleeding unless I skip multiple pills. No depression, but slight mood swings, but hey, we’re girls, that happens every once in a while. Don’t let this comment discourage you. Try it for yourself! I LOVE THIS BC!"

• pen...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 13, 2019

For Birth Control "I took this pill for three months and experienced some of the worst depression of my life. I experienced 3 panic attacks within the first two weeks of starting this drug, as well as worsened, really dark thoughts. I was constantly depressed and seemed to have lost my ability to be happy. I stopped taking it once I realized that it was probably causing my mood issues, and afterward returned to a normal mood cycle, although some symptoms still linger (like the occasional suicidal thoughts). I've never had such dark, dark thoughts as much as I did when on this drug, so if you have preexisting mental disorders, stay far away from this drug."

• kan...
• May 22, 2020

For Birth Control "I was initially put on Chateal (which I loved), the next month, they gave me Levora. I went from 130 to 135 lbs on Levora in less than a week. It kept climbing despite me barely eating since I was working, going to school full-time, and taking care of my ill family member. Also, more depressed. The next month, it was Altavera, and everything got significantly worse than I could have imagined. I was explosively angry, depressed, having complete mental/emotional breakdowns, no sex drive at all, and in a constant state of existential crisis. By the end of it, I was 142 lbs despite my coffee and yogurt diet (not a diet of choice, but just convenience with limited time). By the time I was off the pill, I dropped to 125 lbs in less than a month with no change in my hectic lifestyle or diet. It was the worst month of my life. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone who already suffers from depressive states and anxiety. I haven't been on BC since because I'm scared of going through that again."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 24, 2013

For Birth Control "I was on this birth control for 6 months and started noticing a lot of side effects. I was losing more hair, my skin was getting drier, and I was also so sad and cried and got mad over anything. I went to my doctor, and he ran me for some blood tests and came back to find out that my estrogen levels dropped immensely. I have switched to the NuvaRing - a low-dose birth control. Other than that, I had no problems. If you have these symptoms, I urge you to get tested for estrogen levels."

• Mim...
• August 31, 2019

For Birth Control "I honestly don't know how to review this Amethia pack, this is my first time on a 3-monthly pack without periods. I've been on other pills before, but I've never, ever experienced anything like this. I got greedy, and I thought that maybe only having 4 periods a year would have been awesome. I should have just gone with the monthly. This is my first pack that I'm on, and I have been on my period for 3 weeks now! When it's not supposed to happen on the 3 pack/month. I have been moody, I have been depressed, I've been snapping at everybody, my heart has been doing all kinds of crazy somersaults, getting some wicked cramps, feeling dizzy at times. I have gone through a pack and a half of pads. I'm going to give it the benefit of the doubt, but if this does not stop by the third pack when I'm SUPPOSED TO GET MY PERIOD, I will stop completely, and I will let nature take its course on its own and not alter it anymore."

• San...
• July 11, 2019

For Birth Control "On Amethyst birth control, I spotted kinda a lot for the first 3 months. I have been on it for about 6 months now. I still have some spotting, but very minimal, hardly noticeable and only for a few days. Sometimes before, it would be over a week, but not more than 2. I haven't had any other physical symptoms, though, and no noticeable mental health changes (wasn't perfect before, but if anything has slightly improved because previously my periods caused bad mood swings and self-loathing). Honestly, I've had some positive physical changes - my butt and boobs have gotten bigger, but I haven't really gained any weight in my stomach or elsewhere, and my metabolism seems about the same so far."

• Cro...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 4, 2019

For Birth Control "The worst birth control pill I have tried. I have tried around 10-12, and this one caused me to spiral into a dark and horrible mindset. I was borderline depressed pretty much every single day I was on this for around 6-8 months. Another friend experienced the same thing on this pill. Please, please talk to your doctor and come off of this if you notice your moods changing. Awful pill."

• Sep...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 21, 2020

For Birth Control "I was on Levlen for about a year and a half. After the first few months, my hair started thinning, I started to bruise ridiculously easily, and I started to get tired all the time. Went to the doctor, mentioned the pill, and she completely disregarded it and told me to eat more red meat. Over a year later, my symptoms got worse, my hair thinned more, my mood was terrible before my period, and I had started to experience panic attacks and anxiety, which ultimately led me to get depression. I went back to my doctor about a month ago, she once again disregarded the pill and told me to get all these tests done. I took it upon myself to stop taking it, and I feel 1000% better. I’m not moody, I’m happy, and my hair isn’t falling out at the rate it was. I’m giving my body a break from any contraception right now."

• Can...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 23, 2021

For Birth Control "I have never been as miserable as I was on Vienva. I bled non-stop (which really defeated the purpose of being on it), I got acne, and my mental health took a beating. I could not stop crying, which not only made it impossible to get college work done, but was also an occupational hazard since I work with large unpredictable animals. I gave up on it after a month or so, but it’s messed up my hormones pretty good. My periods are less regular than they were before, and since I started it, I’ve gotten 2 yeast infections (which I had never gotten before). I strongly recommend against Vienva, especially if you have struggled with an eating disorder or depression. It caused a resurgence of body dysmorphia and made me so deeply depressed. I cannot stress how awful it was."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 4, 2019

For Birth Control "Planned Parenthood also switched me to Aubra EQ, and I'm so sad about it. I LOVED Aubra. I had no symptoms whatsoever, and I felt like myself. I’ve been on Aubra EQ now for 2 months, and I literally have the WORST migraine every other day. I have no sex drive, and I always feel depressed. I don’t even feel like myself. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it."

• Ric...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 31, 2019

For Birth Control "Do not take this birth control. A week into it, I got horrible anxiety and depression. I cried terribly for no reason, and I always felt like I was going to throw up when really it was a burp. I go to the gym almost every day and I eat super healthy, and I noticed weight gain. Nausea, headaches, sweating all the time. Do not, I repeat, do not take this birth control. It will ruin you. I’ve been the most social person my entire life, and this past week has been terrible, and all I want to do is sleep and ignore my friends. Sure, it helps with pregnancy, but it is 0% worth the intense side effects. Don’t even bother getting it, trust me."

• jvu...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 14, 2020

For Birth Control "I have been on this birth control for about 3 months now. The first month was fine. Last month, I started developing horrible boob pain and veins coursing all over them. Then I noticed spider veins on my hips and then on my butt. I have occasional leg pains. I’m wondering if anyone else has experienced this? I also have headaches, occasional nausea, lacking motivation, really bad appetite changes (one day super hungry, the next day don’t want to eat), starting to feel depressed, and anxiety increasing by a ton. I just feel generally tired and am thinking of switching pills."

• Gir...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 24, 2021

For Birth Control "First of all, I don’t recommend this if you have anxiety. This birth control caused my anxiety to spike, and it’s only been three weeks. I started getting depressive episodes, lower abdominal pain, nausea, big pimples that I have NEVER gotten before, and now I’m having breakthrough bleeding. Listen, take this pill at your own risk. Starting today, I’m done with it."

• bnh...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 10, 2018

For Birth Control "I was on Marlissa for a year until my pharmacy switched me over to Lillow. All I can say is PLEASE do not take this, especially if you have anxiety and depression. This heightened it so bad for me that I was crying and then having extreme panic attacks. I stopped taking it 9 days ago, and I already feel so much better. Please don’t take this."

• hel...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 13, 2020

For Birth Control "I’m on my second month of taking this BC. My gyno put me on it to help shrink an ovarian cyst I have that’s close to rupturing. So far, I have noticed somewhat of a decrease in cramps. Thank goodness because those cramps were the worst pains I’ve ever felt, and I would consider myself a person who has a very high pain tolerance :/ But on the other hand, I have been bleeding/spotting for about 3 1/2 weeks now after I had my full 6-day period. I’ve experienced abnormal mood swings, increased anxiety, worsened depression, and insane random crying sprees over the smallest things or just nothing really at all. At this point, I think the pain is a better option than how crazy this pill has made me feel."

• Van...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 17, 2020

For Birth Control "I have been on Alysena (100 µg of levonorgestrel and 20 µg of ethinyl estradiol) for almost 3 months now, and I have really noticed a significant change in my mood. I used to be really happy and have lots of energy, and lately, I've been feeling depressed and get anxiety at least 1-2 times every week. I easily get annoyed and irritated, and I just don't feel like myself. Everyone will react differently to this birth control, but it's just not a great experience for me."

• Ris...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 16, 2019

For Birth Control "I was on Levora. I struggled with weight gain, anxiety, and depression regularly, but I didn’t think to connect it to my birth control. Then I was switched to Portia due to Kaiser discontinuing Levora, and the first month seemed okay. I thought my body just needed time to adjust. Then at the second month, I started getting migraines, then it was the serious weight gain, and my anxiety and depression went through the roof. I was extremely suicidal and dangerous not only to myself but anyone close to me as well. I was unable to function as a person anymore, and I decided to stop taking it. Within the first week, I felt like a new person, and my weight dropped dramatically as every week passed. It honestly scared me, and I will never use hormonal birth control again. Never again."

• Amo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 27, 2019

For Birth Control "Read these reviews before going on Vienva and didn't believe it one bit... until it happened to me. WORST BC EVER. Save yourself, please. I never got cramps from my period, and now this pill makes it worse and increased my migraines. It makes me extremely sensitive and emotional, which is not me at all, and has given me the worst 2 months of depression and overthinking and insecurities. Please do not take this pill and save your mental health because this pill made me feel like I was a crybaby and crazy."

• ale...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 17, 2023

For Birth Control "I have been taking Aviane for a little more than a year, and I’ve had no anxiety or depression that I keep hearing about. Honestly, it did make me a bit more emotional, but nothing too severe. Periods are very light and come on time. No mood swings, and I gained no weight. Pro: my boobs grew a lot. I do recommend this pill, but I think it’s different for everyone."

• Cas...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 13, 2019

For Endometriosis "Within 2 days of starting this, I started having really dark thoughts about life, not wanting to be here, everything was boring. I went on sugar pills, felt great, positive, happy, thought it might have been coming off the last pill, Chelsea 35, that was making my mood change. Then, on the 2nd day back on Levlen, same thing with the depression and really dark thoughts. I stopped after day 6 and have returned to my happy self again. Don't follow Dr.'s instructions if you know it's not good for you, then stop it - there is always another option."