Ethinyl estradiol / levonorgestrel and Headaches: What Users Say (Page 4)

• kri...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 9, 2022

For Birth Control "I was on Lo Loestrin Fe before, and that was my first birth control. It did help with some pain but not all of it, and it did aid my ovarian cyst, however, the depressive cycles I went through were far too intense to stay on. So being switched to Daysee, I was hesitant because I didn't know what to anticipate. By far the worst experience I've had in a long time. The cramps and pain are every single day, 24/7, excruciating pain in my pelvic area, constant headaches that were aided by no headache medicine. Bloating and weight gain despite being on a diet and exercising, and a completely non-existent sex drive. Eight weeks of taking it, and I have decided to stop taking it, as I can't deal with the side effects and how it only worsens my pain instead of helping it. So frustrating trying to find a birth control that helps and doesn't ruin me in the process."

• Sar...
• August 20, 2013

For Birth Control "I was so scared to go on birth control again after my horrendous experience with Loestrin Fe. I had mad rage, couldn't think clearly, an emotional mess, and worst of all, acne, something I never experienced before. I knew after a week I liked it. Mostly because my moods since I've been on it have been fabulous. My breasts got huge too! I did feel slight nausea and a loss of appetite, but I'm not complaining. Slight headache and light spotting. This doesn't bother me because I was mostly concerned with my moods shifting. I haven't noticed my skin look any better, but I've only been on it for 2 weeks."

• Anonymous
• March 22, 2016

For Birth Control "I was skeptical after reading the many negative views, but now I'm on month three, and here's what I have to say (every body is different, ps): The first month was hard. I broke out and got back acne. I was exhausted to the point of fatigue (and a real weird eye twitch). I had a few moments of intense nauseousness and a couple headaches. My first period week was rough - my energy levels depleted immensely, and I was an emotional crybaby. My boobs grew a lot, which was fabulous. And I even noticed my nails and skin (I have really dry, dry skin) and hair all strengthen and become healthier. By month three, everything subsided, and I feel back to normal, with healthier nails even ;) Give it time - at least three months to see if it works!"

• Unh...
• December 5, 2011

For Birth Control "Orsythia was also given to me in place of my usual Lutera. I have never experienced side effects of any kind with Lutera, but Orsythia has caused me to have frequent headaches, moodiness, and full-blown menstruation in the second week of active pills."

• Yvo...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 27, 2015

For Birth Control "I've used this for 2 years and have had no problems whatsoever. I previously had an arm implant and experienced spotting and weight gain that wouldn't stop. After taking Quasense, I've lost weight, no spotting, light and short periods. I use Retin-A for acne, so my skin has been unaffected. I'm not sure about water retention because I believe that has a lot to do with diet, and I'm athletic, so I stay hydrated on a daily basis. I experienced no nausea, headaches, or psychological side effects. And most importantly, no pregnancy."

• Fan...
• January 27, 2014

For Birth Control "So far, I have been using this birth control for 1 month, 2 weeks now. This is my first birth control. I'm 21, and ever since my period (before birth control), I've had bad cramping, vomiting sometimes, and nausea. Also, I had irregular periods that lasted 10 days, sometimes more. Now, with this birth control, I have regular periods (along with the help of iron pills prescribed by my OB-GYN). I have no breakouts. No throwing up, nothing. Did have slight headaches in the first week of use, but it's gone now and NO BABIES. (Don't drink or smoke)."

• Ktg...
• September 26, 2016

For Birth Control "I've been on this pill for 2 1/2 months now. It's been downhill since 3 days after I started taking it. I've experienced headaches more often, weight gain (10 lbs), water retention and bloating, my mood has changed radically. I snap all the time for no good reason, irrational agitation, irritability. My anxiety has spiked, I've had multiple anxiety attacks since starting this pill (I am also on an anxiety medication and have been for a year and a half, and it's helped with my anxiety levels wonderfully until I started Orsythia). I'm almost at my breaking point with it. I'm going to finish out this month and switch to something else. The only positive thing I can say about Orsythia is that it has prevented pregnancy. Would not recommend."

• Aan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 3, 2020

For Birth Control "Can honestly say this has ruined my life, and I wish I never took it. I was only on it for 4 months, and I'm still affected by it almost 4 years later: headaches, lightheadedness, irritation, weight gain, and most dramatically, inability to orgasm. This has made my life an emotional roller coaster, I have so little hope of ever being taken seriously or recovering from."

• Sad...
• January 29, 2013

For Birth Control "I have been on this pill for about 3 1/2 months. I only had breakthrough bleeding the first month, and I never experienced nausea. I had small headaches, but those didn't bother me. However, over the past 2 1/2 months, I have been the most depressed, fatigued, and angry I have ever been in my entire life. I don't want to do anything or see friends or family, and it only lessens when I'm on my placebo week, so I know this isn't a coincidence anymore."

• 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."

• Anonymous
• March 15, 2012

For Birth Control "I have been taking this birth control for just over 6 months now. I am so ready to find a different one. I never had headaches until I started taking this pill. I experience them at least three times a week now. This pill has made me constantly crave sweet junk food. Hello, weight gain! I also have been extremely emotional. I feel depressed about everything, and I feel like crying more often than not. Not the pill for me!"

• no...
• October 23, 2011

For Birth Control "I'm not the type of person to write reviews, but I had such a bad experience with this pill I felt like I should write about it. I have been on it for a year, and about a week ago I quit it. I started getting headaches every day. I felt weird, like not like myself. I'm generally a really happy person. Being on this birth control, I actually felt really sad a lot. I cried often for no reason, like really cried nonstop for hours at a time. I'm an active person, I go to the gym about three times a week and always have a lot of energy, but on the pill, I felt so tired. It's also expensive. I quit in the beginning of a new pack. I don't care, I had to get off of that. Now that I am off of it, I honestly feel amazing."

• Anonymous
• October 14, 2011

For Endometriosis "I've been on this pill for about 3 or 4 years. Up until about 6 months ago, this pill was a blessing. I have been on everything else (Depo, a laundry list of other pills), and nothing worked as well as Seasonique. A few months ago, I gained about 30 pounds out of nowhere, and I lost about 20 pounds with a lot of hard work, but no matter what I do, I can't get under 130. I have severe headaches, and recently I've been bleeding through and not just spotting, like full-on period. On top of that, I was cramping severely and having stomach problems. My husband and I just decided to quit the pill and see what happens, and let me tell you I feel much better. I would say yes to this pill except for the side effects I started having."

• chl...
• January 3, 2019

For Birth Control "Please do not take this contraceptive. It made me gain 25 pounds in 3 short months. I did not change my eating habits and had actually been burning more calories than before I started it. I constantly had a migraine and was stressed out and depressed. I knew I immediately needed to do something. At first, I thought that it was just my hormones not adjusting, but I have had more acne with this, headaches, and so much unbelievable weight gain. I do not recommend!"

• car...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 31, 2018

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I am rating this birth control (BC) an 8/10 because it truly has helped me control my horrible bleeding and bad cramping with my periods. The reason I took 2 points off is due to the bad headaches I got for 2 weeks and the spotting I had for the first few months. This has seemed to stop now. I have not gained any weight, and my skin has cleared up from my former hormonal acne. I am so happy I was prescribed this pill. I am no longer worried about getting pregnant, and I finally have a light and manageable menstrual cycle. My period lasted 2 days as compared to off the pill it was 7-8! My sex drive is better due to my ability to not be worried about unwanted pregnancy. Thank you, Cam Lo, for making me feel normal again! :)"

• dio...
• August 31, 2015

For Birth Control "Before taking Aubra, my doctor had me on Gildess Fe 1/20, and that was probably the worst pill I could have ever taken. At first, Gildess cleared my acne, but it gave me severe mood swings along with constant headaches. I also had some spotting in between periods, and I gained some weight as well. After the 2nd month, my acne got worse, and that was the last straw for me to go and switch pills. I've been taking Aubra for about a little over a month, and I absolutely love it. The constant headaches are gone, my period lasts about 4 days, no mood swings whatsoever, and my acne is fairly mild. Plus, in addition to all that, I haven't gained weight since I've been on it!"

• Pri...
• November 2, 2019

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I started taking Jolessa to alleviate perimenopausal symptoms, i.e., inability to sleep, weight gain, fatigue, unpredictable periods, thinning hair, and new facial hair. The first month on it, my facial hair lightened up and my face became smooth again. My mood lifted, and I felt great, but that was the only beneficial thing about it. I started bleeding for months-heavily. Using tampons and pads at the same time did not protect me from accidents. The minute I stood up in the morning, it would be flowing all over the place. I started getting bouts of sciatic nerve pain, and severe pain in my knees. I'd be unable to go from a sitting to standing position. I had headaches and more weight gain. I immediately stopped taking it and opted to try natural herbs and vitamins: hemp oil, kohosh, omegas, and magnesium/zinc. Plus, I just started taking the cherry juice concentrate. I wouldn't recommend it. Try to go natural, you'll see the benefits like I did."

• Mel...
• February 7, 2017

For Birth Control "I was given Orsythia because my pharmacy had told me that Aviane was being discontinued. I was also told they were the same thing and made by the same manufacturer. I contacted Teva and was told that the information I was given was wrong, that Aviane is not discontinued and not under the same manufacturer. Aviane was perfect for me: no acne, perfect moods, energy, and a good appetite (I need weight gain). The first week of Orsythia consisted of meltdowns, frequent headaches, dizziness, slight nausea, and acne-lots of acne. Into the second week, my nausea became a little bit worse and my temper would easily be disturbed, I also experienced very bothersome breast soreness. Stick to what works for you and do your research!"

• Jen...
• April 11, 2011

For Birth Control "Great hormone balance. I've had issues before with other pills (Microgestin, Aviane, Kariva)...you name it...breakthrough bleeding, depression, headaches, low drive, etc. I thought I was just not someone who the pill worked for without major side effects...but Levora is great. No issues whatsoever, higher drive, absolutely no weight/depression/spotting/tenderness issues. Amazing pill - highly recommend it if you've had problems with other pills before."

• Man...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 16, 2019

For Birth Control "Do not take this birth control!!! I had been put on this birth control a couple of years ago, absolutely hated it, went to Planned Parenthood to change back to my other birth control, and Rite Aid lost my prescription for the good birth control and now I’ve been stuck with Lessina again for almost a year. I’ve had my period for about a month straight on Lessina, it does nothing for cramps, causes headaches, mood swings, terrible anxiety, please do not take Lessina, I couldn’t think of a worse birth control."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 31, 2014

For Birth Control "I started on Alesse when I was 15, and it was the first birth control pill I had ever used. The first night, I got awful headaches, and they carried on for the rest of the week. After that, I became very moody, and just about anything could make me cry. Honestly, that was the worst part, I've never been more moody and sad in my life. After about four months, I began getting two periods a month, and I finally got fed up and switched pills."

• Anonymous
• March 8, 2011

For Birth Control "I've only been using this for a little while now, and I've already been having some side effects. One day, I'll be so mad, and then the next day, I just want to cry over everything. Also, I've been getting random painful headaches."

• Can...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 18, 2016

For Birth Control "Alesse 28 is the first birth control pill my doctor prescribed and the only pill I have ever taken and am still currently taking. I chose to go on the pill because I believe it is the best option and the most convenient for me to prevent pregnancy while regulating my period. My average period cycle is 36-39 days and tends to be more irregular than most. I have been on the pill for almost 2 weeks now, and so far, so good. My body seems to have adjusted well to Alesse 28. The only side effects I experienced were very mild headaches and nausea during the first 2 days of starting the pill. I also experienced a little breast tenderness during the first week. But no mood swings or weight gain/loss. Overall, a great birth control pill."

• Sam...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 29, 2014

For Birth Control "I have been on this birth control regularly for almost a year now. I am very sensitive to the hormones and experienced extreme sickness, I mean to the point I was throwing up every morning and on the verge of passing out, no matter what I tried to prevent it. I learned that taking it in the morning solved this problem. Negative side effects are that I have a huge appetite (thankfully a high metabolism), constant headaches, worse PMS, no motivation, tiredness, irrational mood swings, and last week I noticed breakthrough bleeding and cramps halfway through the pack. But all in all, my periods are short and I'm not pregnant yet! Remember, every woman is different."

• Jen...
• September 27, 2015

For Birth Control "I've been on this pill for a month and a half since Planned Parenthood switched me from Reclipsen. I've never had any side effects from my pills that I've used, I started with Diane when I was 18 because I had severe acne, and it went away with the pills like two weeks after I started! So happy I did that. After that, they switched me to Jasmine, which was fine, then Reclipsen, which was fine, and then Chateal. I've had two side effects with this pill so far: nausea and headaches. It hasn't been that bad, though, and I hope they go away. I feel like if you have a lot of side effects with pills, you will have them with all pills, and you should choose another method. This is the birth control that is for me but not for everyone!"