Vienva and Depression: What Users Say (Page 3)

• jma...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 6, 2018

For Birth Control "BEWARE OF INCREASING HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE!! Like many others here, Walgreens switched me to Vienva from another BC with the same active ingredients. I was reluctant, but my PA and the pharmacist both insisted that it would not make a difference. Now looking back, I can attribute my slight depressive episode and anxiety attack to Vienva within the first month of starting. At the time, I didn't even think of it as a contributing factor as I was told there would be no difference. This side effect was nothing in comparison to the high blood pressure I experienced. At my annual visit (4/17/2018), my BP was 106/64. Thankfully, I had a visit with my OBGYN for other reasons, and my BP was found to be 146/94. This is a terrifyingly high increase within the 3 months. As someone who works out 5 days a week, this made me really unsettled, and my OBGYN made me switch that same day to a new brand as she was scared of me stroking out. So many other brands of BC out there. Please stay away from Vienva."

• Ann...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 29, 2017

For Birth Control "I have been on the active ingredients of this birth control for over 10 years, however, over the years, my pharmacy has switched me from Aviane to Alesse to Sronyx and now to Vienva. I have never had much of an issue with the switch until now. Since being on Vienva, I have been depressed and agitated every single day. I don’t feel happy ever, which is not like me. I feel like I have permanent PMS! I also have no appetite or interest in anything for that matter and have lost 8 lbs. I can’t take it anymore and will be stopping it once the second pack is over with and asking my pharmacist for brand name Aviane instead. It’s worth the extra cost to me."

• Mel...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 1, 2022

For Birth Control "Just started week three and completely devastated. My face has broken out into a complete mess and is so painful. I was treated for a UTI at week two and now appear to have a yeast infection. Huge decrease in sex drive and increase in vaginal discomfort and dryness. A lot of mention has been made to mood swings/depression, but I cannot say if that is a side effect of the medication or because all the other side effects have made me so miserable. I would not recommend this pill."

• Jac...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 11, 2021

For Birth Control "I started Vienva about a year ago, and it was great until around 3 months ago. Out of nowhere, I went from being asymptomatic to having the worst mood swings, depression, and anxiety attacks. For the last 3 months, the week before my period has been unbearable. One, I’m extremely tired, to the point where I’m falling asleep on my lunch break and calling in to work. I’m foggy. And what’s worse is the anxiety attacks. I have literally hidden away from my husband and two young children in our closet and cried uncontrollably. My husband found me in the middle of a full-blown panic attack and began urging me to go to the hospital. I have never had suicidal thoughts before (and don’t outside of week 3 on this pill), but this pill throws me into a horrible, dark place. I’ve consulted with my doctor to have this changed immediately. I refuse to keep putting this into my body. I’m giving it a 3, only because it serves its intended purpose."

• AGa...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 26, 2021

For Birth Control "Horrible pill. Gained 25 pounds over a year-nothing I did made me lose the weight. My hair fell out, my skin got dry, I battled depression for the first time in my life. A few weeks after getting off this pill, my life has finally started to feel normal again."

• Viv...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 17, 2021

For Birth Control "If you have pre-existing mental health issues (anxiety, depression, etc.), please consider looking into trying a different birth control. I got Vienva and I’m on my 3rd pack. My gynecologist wants me to finish this one up, then stop taking it. I’m switching to Yaz, hoping it works out for me. Lo Loestrin worked fine for me in the past. My first week on Vienva, I started developing horrible symptoms - body aches, constipation, brain fog, disturbed sleep, horrible anxiety, and consistently the worst depression I’ve ever had in my life for almost 3 months now. I’m not a crier, but I cry daily, and over silly stuff. I’ve been so sleepy and irritable. It’s put a big strain on my relationship, all I do is cry, and it got rid of my once high libido. I will say it made my period lighter and more manageable, and it cleared my acne. Also, I’m not pregnant."

• kyl...
• March 8, 2021

For Birth Control "It's my first time on birth control, and I never had irregular periods, acne, or any problems other than typical PMS I’d get a week before my period (anxiety, depression, and major food cravings). I’m 22, 5’1”, and my weight stays about 115 lbs. I started taking this pill a month and a half ago and noticed zero side effects in the first month. I started spotting earlier, but I heard it is normal. Starting my new pack this month, the main issue was my diet didn’t change, yet my stomach looks bloated all the time. No matter what I eat, I look and feel huge. I definitely feel bigger in all parts of my body. It is causing me to be depressed, and it is not the pills making me feel that way - it is the weight gain causing me to feel insecure. I can't eat the way I used to or drink alcohol anymore because no matter what I do, even if I'm eating healthy, I look bloated. Other than that, the pill does what it’s supposed to. Everyone’s different, but I think it's definitely for a person who's ready to make some lifestyle changes with a lot of self-control."

• Ano...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 21, 2020

For Birth Control "I took this pill for 2 weeks (transitioned from another pill), and I literally experienced the worst bloating of my life 2 weeks into the pill. I looked pregnant. I went to the ER due to the bloating and constipation. I experienced nausea, bloating, constipation, a depressive mood, and I felt super tired and weak, almost as if I had the flu. I couldn't even finish the pack. Now that it's been 2-3 days since I've been off the pill, I feel like a normal person again. I was finally able to pass stool and pass gas. DO NOT TAKE THIS PILL IF YOU HAVE INDIGESTION OR CONSTIPATION because it will make it worse."

• bee...
• August 9, 2019

For Birth Control "I was showing two symptoms of PCOS (weight gain and hair shedding), so a gyn prescribed me Vienva. I took it for six months, stopped when the six months was over because I thought I would just be regulated permanently (I was 18 and didn’t know much about the pill). I gained a lot of weight while on it and got nauseous at the start of each pack. The only benefit on it was my really clear skin, even though I already had somewhat good skin. Once I came off, I developed acne for the first time. Three months after stopping, I got bad anxiety, intrusive thoughts, and depression. It’s been one year since those symptoms started, and I’m much better, but I still get very anxious during and after my period, and I never was like this before BC. I’ve read many stories, and most women take months to years to recover. I went on it to “regulate” my period, but now I know that that’s not true. Doctors should be cautious and should explain to women that we don’t have a cycle on the pill."

• Car...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 22, 2018

For Birth Control "If I could give this pill zero stars, I would. Costco unexpectedly switched me to Vienva from Orsythia. I took it for two months before I just couldn't take it anymore. The constant fatigue, weight gain, and acne are all things I could have managed. But the effects these pills have on your mood are awful. I already struggle with depression and anxiety, and these pills just amplified that tenfold. Within four days, I was constantly crying, lost all interest in any activity, and became very hopeless, even suicidal. Nobody should have to feel this way."

• Car...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 22, 2018

For Birth Control "If I could give this pill zero stars, I would. Costco unexpectedly switched me to Vienva from Orsythia. I took it for two months before I just couldn't take it anymore. The constant fatigue, weight gain, and acne are all things I could have managed. But the effects these pills have on your mood are awful. I already struggle with depression and anxiety, and these pills just amplified that tenfold. Within four days, I was constantly crying, lost all interest in any activity, and became very hopeless, even suicidal. Nobody should have to feel this way."

• pop...
• June 30, 2018

For Birth Control "I have had anxiety and depression for years. I started taking Vienva, and it was the worst two weeks of my life, emotionally. I had multiple panic attacks, I was so depressed. I couldn’t even talk to people. All I did was cry. It was all I could do to get through work so that I could come home and cry. Terrible experience, and I would not recommend this birth control to anyone who has preexisting anxiety and/or depression!"

• Anonymous
• February 27, 2018

For Birth Control "I experienced nausea, sadness, and anxiety. I stuck with it, and the intensity subsided. However, depression and anxiety remained like a low-grade fever. It became my norm, but I wasn't the same me. I started experiencing severe muscle cramps, heart palpitations, tingling in hands and feet. It wasn't until I forgot two days of pills and ended up taking four that I experienced all these side effects so intensely I thought I'd lost my mind. I felt extreme rage, sadness, panic, and the muscles in my legs twitched visibly. My hands were shaking. I was terrified and considered checking myself into a hospital. I called a pharmacist, and he told me my body couldn't absorb it at once, and he had received calls like this before. That I would feel better after a day or so, as the hormone levels returned to normal. I realized the overdose was just a more extreme version of what I've been feeling on it. By the way, birth control is the only prescription I've ever been on other than antibiotics."

• Anonymous
• February 27, 2018

For Birth Control "I experienced nausea, sadness, and anxiety. I stuck with it, and the intensity subsided. However, depression and anxiety remained like a low-grade fever. It became my norm, but I wasn't the same me. I started experiencing severe muscle cramps, heart palpitations, tingling in hands and feet. It wasn't until I forgot two days of pills and ended up taking four that I experienced all these side effects so intensely I thought I'd lost my mind. I felt extreme rage, sadness, panic, and the muscles in my legs twitched visibly. My hands were shaking. I was terrified and considered checking myself into a hospital. I called a pharmacist, and he told me my body couldn't absorb it at once, and he had received calls like this before. That I would feel better after a day or so, as the hormone levels returned to normal. I realized the overdose was just a more extreme version of what I've been feeling on it. By the way, birth control is the only prescription I've ever been on other than antibiotics."

• TAa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 28, 2020

For Birth Control "I’ve been taking this birth control for almost 3 months. The first few weeks of taking the pill, my face broke out really bad with acne. That went away after about 3-4 weeks, and now I don’t have any breakouts. However, I noticed that my mood has been extremely low, I’ve been irritable and feeling depressed since I started this pill. Yesterday was my last day taking it. I am going to try a new birth control, I can’t deal with the mood swings or feeling down all the time for no reason. As far as periods, I didn’t experience cramps on this pill. My flow was the same, but no cramps. I used to experience extreme menstrual cramps off the pill. So it helped with that. Also, I notice I do feel nauseous randomly sometimes since starting this pill."

• Anonymous
• September 6, 2022

For Birth Control "Save yourself the trouble, friends, and don’t take this drug. It has made me so depressed, and my anxiety has never been worse. I cry a lot more often than I used to, and I'm not my bubbly self. I have had to go on antidepressants to deal with it. I’ve never felt worse mentally in my life. I'll be getting an IUD in 2 weeks, and I’m so excited to get off of the pill. I didn't get pregnant, but it's not worth the mental side effects."

• She...
• May 10, 2021

For Birth Control "I have been on birth control for about 15 years straight. I have never had a problem. Suddenly, my Loestrin was changed out of nowhere to Vienva. I went along. Recently, I noticed after almost two years, on the placebo week, my face cleared up and I just generally felt better than usual, which is weird for a period week. It took me a long time to realize Vienva was the cause of two years of anxiety, depression, horrible acne, and who knows what else. I am so grateful for these reviews, so I thought I’d leave one. Please keep track of your symptoms when switching brands. I am no longer taking this and hope to get better. I will say it is effective in preventing pregnancy."

• Kat...
• December 4, 2017

For Birth Control "It's definitely not for me. I switched from Camila to Vienva because I was worried that I had to take Camila at exactly the same time. If you have a history of depression, don't try Vienva or similar ones. On the tenth day, I was completely out of control of my own thoughts. Very irritated and depressed. I stopped immediately and got better. I don't think it's a coincidence. If you do not have a history of depression, it may work for you, though."

• Mar...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 8, 2024

For Birth Control "This was my first birth control pill. I started shortly after turning 18. At first, it was fine, slight weight gain (but nothing for me to freak out over), no acne trouble, my periods were pretty much the same, my boobs hurt all the time after a while, etc. But after the first couple of months, though, I got super depressed. I shut down socially, academically, and emotionally. I had never been so worried about myself since I've never been someone who struggles with mental health daily or to the extremes that I was dealing with on this pill. I almost transferred out of my college just to go back home and deal with it because I thought that was the issue. It got so bad I decided just to stop taking it altogether, and almost immediately, within those first few weeks, I was feeling better. Once I got back home, I switched prescriptions, but I will definitely not be going back to Vienva in the future."

• liz...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 9, 2021

For Birth Control "The only thing good that I’ve gotten out of taking this birth control was not getting pregnant. The first two weeks of taking it, I was the most depressed I’ve ever been in my life, and I cried constantly for days and had extreme mood changes throughout the day. I took this pill for 9 months, and I bled for 7 of those months straight. Constantly had stomach pain, constantly sad. I finally went to the doctor (I was prescribed this from the Pill Club, and they said I could skip my period by skipping the placebo week and starting a new pack), and she said she couldn’t believe I wasn’t pregnant based on the way they told me to take the medication. I stopped taking birth control altogether, and now I finally have a will to live again, no more extreme depression, no more bleeding, no more outrageous mood swings. I would not recommend this medication to anyone."

• Cyn...
• April 26, 2018

For Birth Control "I've always struggled with anxiety and depression, but reached a point where I could self-regulate through meditation, yoga, etc. I was on Lutera, which I responded well to. The company switched the brand to Aviane in June 2017. I began having more difficulties with depression, but it was still fairly manageable, so I attributed it to stress at work. Three months ago, they switched me to Vienva, and I mentally went down the rabbit hole. I was constantly depressed, would wake up in tears, had difficulties leaving the house, couldn't concentrate at work, and the slightest thing would stress me out to the point where I couldn't handle it, which is very out of character for me. I was having angry outbursts towards my boyfriend, irrational feelings of isolation from my friends, I would come home from work and just crash out asleep and constantly lethargic. I'm glad I read the reviews on here, it has normalized this for me, and I am going to quit these pills this month!"

• Lan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 1, 2021

For Birth Control "I have been on Vienva for a month and a half. It’s made me more gassy, given me minor rashes on my wrists, caused acne, and possibly made me depressed because I haven’t been myself lately at all. I already had no pain during periods before, so I don’t know if it helps with that. It’s nice to have the added protection against pregnancy, but it doesn’t seem worth it, I will probably switch methods soon."

• Anonymous
• June 12, 2018

For Birth Control "I was on Aviane for a little over a year, and two weeks ago, I received Vienva instead (at Walgreens). I looked online to see what was up, and apparently, it was supposed to be the exact same as Aviane, just a different name brand. Within the first two days, I had every form of PMS you can think of-REALLY bad. My breasts only hurt when my hormones are extremely bad, and I felt like the nipples were going to fall off. Besides that, acne, weight gain, bloating, extremely moody, depressed, spotting for about a week, anything and everything. I wish I had come on here and saw the similar reviews before I tried it."

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 9, 2022

For Birth Control "I took Vienva for almost 2 years now. I’ve always had nausea, bad migraines, and recently really bad panic attacks. At first, I didn’t know why, I thought it was just me in general, but I just stopped taking this birth control, and I feel so much relief. I don’t have bad panic attacks or anxiety anymore. I’ve always had anxiety, but not to this extent. I feel like I can actually breathe and do things I love again. It had also caused me some depression, but it’s all gone away now that I stopped taking it."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 6, 2022

For Birth Control "I switched to Vienva after being on the same birth control for years because my doctor thought it might help with my migraines. I read a lot of negative reviews on it, but I think most pills have that. I’ve been on it for around 3 months now, and it’s been an awful experience! It’s made me feel absolutely crazy and a lot more emotional than I’m used to. I don’t usually go long periods of time feeling depressed, but this definitely changed that. I’ve never felt so less in control of my emotions ever. It’s had me rethinking my entire life and crying at everything. I’ve tried waiting it out, but I’m switching back to my original pack! Birth control pills have a different effect on everyone, but this did not work for me. My therapist said I sound like a woman experiencing postpartum depression… except I have no kids!"