Ethinyl estradiol / norelgestromin and Mood Swings: What Users Say (Page 2)

• Kel...
• May 29, 2013

For Birth Control "I've been on the patch for 3 weeks now. I am now on my patch-free week, and I think it's great. There's no itching or reddening at the placement site, and I alternate between placements each week, which helps. I feel nauseous every once in a while, but that may be contributed to other things, and it subsides relatively quickly. I had a slight headache the first day of application, but none since. I've had a few mood swings, but once again, it could be contributed to other things. Oh, and my breasts have grown, which is a plus for some. Slight tenderness but only to touch. Sex drive has increased. And it's so easy to remember! I'm 98 lbs and 5'1'."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 29, 2018

For Birth Control "Ok, so I have used the Xulane patch for 5 years. I have had some issues over the years, such as having the patch rolling up or getting stuck to my clothing. I usually fixed it or replaced it when this happens. I have also had a small rash from one batch that I believe was just a bad batch. I have had some acne, tender breasts, and mood swings. Overall, it worked great though, doing its job of keeping me from having more kids. That is until recently. I am so upset this month when I removed my patch and no period came. I waited, and nothing. It's come time to start the new patch, but before I refilled, I took a test. I am pregnant and used the damn thing exactly as recommended. I am so upset right now, I don't know what to do."

• mol...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 24, 2014

For Birth Control "Overall, the patch is easy and convenient-especially for a college freshman. I was on the patch for about 4 months, and my only complaints are that I struggled placing it somewhere that it didn't get wrinkled and gross from fabric. I was more emotional (could also be stress from college), and I did gain about 10 pounds within those four months. I'm also a runner and swim occasionally, so I have to limit my time in the pool and can't sweat too much because I'm scared the patch will fall off. Otherwise, it cleared up my acne, lessened my symptoms from my period, and my period is perfectly regulated and only lasts about 4 days. Definitely recommend. I found the best place to put the patch is on the upper arm."

• Zir...
• March 9, 2017

For Birth Control "I switched from the pill because I was having trouble taking it at the same time every day. I loved the patch and how convenient it was. I wore it for two years and I will admit my boobs grew a cup size and I gained about 10 lbs over time, but my bf likes a little chub, so it was fine, lol. I NEVER had nausea problems (kinda shocked by some reviews here). I'll admit I would have PMS-like mood swings each time I changed the patch, but I never had shakes or sweating. I actually really love this birth control and rarely notice side effects. My periods became lighter (I had heavy bleeding pain before the patch), it lasted 3 days and was on a regular schedule. I highly recommend."

• for...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 18, 2019

For Birth Control "I LOVE the Xulane patch! I wish I could keep taking it, but a combination of family history and slightly elevated blood pressure has led to my doctor insisting that I switch. In the two years that I took Xulane, my period was the most regular it had ever been since I first hit puberty. I only had ONE irregular period (and it was because of a yeast infection, unrelated to my birth control). No pregnancy scares. No really noticeable symptoms after the first month - (which I did have some spotting and severe mood swings during, but that passed after the first patch cycle). $0 prescription with insurance. This birth control was so perfect. I recommend Xulane to EVERYONE!"

• Gir...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 15, 2019

For Birth Control "Love the Xulane patch! Pills make me have crazy mood swings and Depo and me gain weight! The patch has been amazing, the only side effect I have had is extreme fatigue, but it has been manageable enough I can deal with it!"

• Dam...
• February 11, 2016

For Birth Control "The pill gave me aura migraines and mood swings, and my period wasn't any better. In fact, my cramps got worse, bleeding was still the same. I wanted to try the IUD, but my doctor is an airhead and couldn't get it in, so I settled with the patch. I honestly couldn't tell if it was working the first couple of months because I had no side effects like nausea or headaches. I was a little leery about hormones coming from a sticker you put on your skin, but 7 months later, no baby, so it must be working. I went off it for a month because my prescription refill got messed up, and I went back on as soon as I got another box, and I seriously could not tell the difference between having these on and not using any birth control at all. Loving it!"

• Anonymous
• December 14, 2012

For Birth Control "I had been on the patch for about 3 months. I had noticed a bit of mood swings, and my breasts grew as well (bonus). Unfortunately, for any of you women who have sensitive skin or are allergic to certain chemicals, I was allergic to the sticky glue on the back of the patch. Whenever it was on, I would be extremely itchy and have a terrible rash. It became so bad that I still have scars in the shape of the patch all over my body. So if you have sensitive skin, then be wary that the patch may cause a reaction!"

• Sto...
• October 16, 2019

For Birth Control "I'm 33 years old. I have been using the patch on and off since 2016 when I first heard about it. It is the only birth control I've ever agreed to take, I had very heavy and very painful periods for years, and it's helped a lot. When I first started using it, I had really terrible mood swings, rage, extremely emotional reactions, and temper problems. After 2 months, that disappeared. The upside: my boobs grew, and they are super perky, but when they started growing, they hurt a lot. Besides all of that, it's worked pretty well. I took it off for the whole of 2017 because I wanted to feel normal. In 2018, I had fibroids removed and unfortunately had to go back on the patch to get my cycle back on track. The most annoying thing about using the patch is the fact that no doctor will prescribe it for more than 6 months, and you can't get it over the counter, which works out more expensive in the long run because of the consultation cost to get the prescription every 6 months and the wasted time."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 28, 2015

For Birth Control "I've been on the patch for about 4 months now, and I can honestly say that I love it. This is my first time being on BC, and I did a lot of research before picking one out. The first 3 months, I experienced some of the side effects: headaches, nausea, sore breasts, emotional as hell. But all that stopped in the 3rd month. I still get a little emotional, but that's just regular PMSing. Do not buy the generic brand, it sucks ass. It doesn't stick as well as the name brand, so I spend the $5 to get it. My skin gets a little irritated around the patch, but I have seriously dry skin, so that can play a factor. Overall, I'm loving it! My BF can relax a little because he doesn't have to worry about condoms anymore because this is more cost-efficient."

• Sun...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 10, 2019

For Birth Control "I really didn't pay too much attention to the side effect, so I don't know if my mood swings or acne are caused by the patch. I am 32, and I don't normally get acne, but I do notice the increase of acne on my face. Meanwhile, I don't get enough sleep too, so I wasn't sure if I should blame the patch. However, I am concerned about my period. My period is so light it looks like spotting. I have been using the patch for three months, and each month my period is lighter than the previous one. I want my normal period back. Anyone else has a light period? I really hate pills and want to keep the patch if I can get my period back to normal."

• bab...
• October 2, 2019

For Birth Control "I got the patch about 3 months ago, and I've been on it since then. I don't take the week off, so I do wear it for 4 weeks instead of 3. At first, I did get super nauseous, but it went away. Mood swings a little, but not crazy like how I was when I was on the pill. I've been spotting and bleeding on and off for the second month of using it. I do not know why, but I would like to know from any girl why I have been."

• Bri...
• May 29, 2017

For Birth Control "I started using Depo-Provera as my birth control, and I was on it for 2 years plus. I had no side effects until I gained so much weight the last year, I was 120 lbs, and now I'm at 150 lbs. I will never go back to it. So I switched to the patch, and same, I have no bad side effects yet. I've been on it for over a year, my weight has gone down, I'm down to 140 lbs, which is hard to lose weight for us girls. My breast size increased, my thighs and butt increased, good plus :) I've never had a problem with acne with either birth control. My mood swings are bad here and there. I love how my period is regular now, and I know when it's coming."

• Amy...
• December 2, 2016

For Birth Control "I have been using Xulane for around 10 months. For the first seven months, the birth control worked great! I noticed that I was much easier to get along with, periods were on a schedule, and my breasts appeared bigger! I didn't experience the weight gain or hardly any negative side effects. The most annoying thing was that the patch would sometimes fall off. Fast forward to three months, I am bloated all the time and experienced a weight gain of about 15 pounds. I literally cannot stop crying and tend to bust out in tears at even a sad thought. The worst part is the mood swings. I finally decided enough was enough and threw them away. I will be requesting the birth control pill next time I am at the doctor."

• Myr...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 19, 2023

For Birth Control "This patch drove me crazy during the almost 2 months I was on it. Initially, I had to change it every couple of days due to minor discomfort like itching or sliding. However, right from the start, I began experiencing pregnancy-like symptoms such as tender nipples, nausea, and bloating. I'm not exactly sure when it began, but I used it for a whole month, had my period, which allowed me to take it off for a week, and then continued using it for another week or two before realizing the impact it was having on me. It caused me to vomit unexpectedly. It was strange because I would randomly feel nauseous and throw up whatever I had eaten or drunk, or sometimes just foam or bile due to an empty stomach. The migraines were absolutely unbearable! I could hardly tolerate light in my eyes or loud sounds without my ears ringing and my head throbbing. I also experienced severe mood swings, loss of appetite, sadness, and a feeling of being disconnected from myself. Finally, one day I removed it before taking a shower and forgot to put it back on. Surprisingly, I immediately felt different the next day. I would never use this patch again. I feel like a completely new person now."

• p20...
• April 18, 2021

For Birth Control "I have had a difficult relationship with contraceptives in the past - on both the implant and the pill, I had consistent bleeding, in one case every single day for four months. I have been on the patch for over a month now and have just missed a period (hopefully meaning it's stopped permanently), had no mood swings, no acne, my hair has stopped shedding so much, and I've gone up a full cup size from 32C to 32D. I'd honestly say my breasts looked so much bigger within the first week. I'm a very cynical person as well and I can't even deny any of these pros. Got this on the NHS in the UK where contraceptives are completely free."

• JTE...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 9, 2019

For Birth Control "I have three things to recommend Xulane, and they do not outweigh the cons of this birth control. First, the positives: it did a good job preventing pregnancy, I loved not having to remember a pill every day, and I had the most beautiful skin of my life on this drug. But the negative side effects far outweighed the positive. First, I started wearing this patch on my back and it gave me terrible dry skin and rashes (this went away when I switched to my arm). Second, the mood swings are so bad. I felt everything SO STRONGLY, and it usually manifested with tears. I'd swing from sad to happy to angry all day long. Third, this medication made me very hungry all the time, and I gained weight during the four months I used it."

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

For Birth Control "I started Xulane about a year ago, and while it did its job for the birth control aspect of it, it made me suffer in my relationship, as I NEVER wanted to have sex. My libido was shot, and my body's natural lubrication system was gone. The thought of sex to me was appalling, which is a complete 180 of what I was like. If I wasn’t in a relationship, then I guess that would be okay, but I am, and we suffered because of that. I have been off Xulane for 2 weeks and feel so much better. It caused me to have constant mood swings and just never feel “right.” I am switching back to the pill, as it has less hormones, and hopefully, things will get better from here on out. I gave it a decent rating as it does prevent pregnancy (if you ever want to have sex lol)."

• kja...
• June 30, 2015

For Birth Control "I have been on Ortho Evra for 3 years now, previously, I was on the pill. I gained an additional 5 or so lbs when I switched over, but I think it's way worth it. My period is now regular, and my usual heavy flow significantly decreased. Recently, my pharmacy has started giving me the generic, don't do it. I have spotting all the time, pretty heavy. It's like having a regular period in between periods. For the first time last week, the spotting was really heavy, I'm switching back to the brand name. Other than that, no mood swings, no decrease in sex drive, no nausea/headaches/breast pain/etc. Great birth control!"

• Hou...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 30, 2015

For Birth Control "I know everyone has different reactions to different birth control, this does not work for me! I switched from the pill to this patch because I hate taking pills every day, and it's so much of a hassle. So I found that as soon as I started the patch, the first 3 days were extremely nauseous. Within the first week, my face and chest broke out crazy in deep cystic acne. I didn't have any acne before, and it caused libido (a major decrease in sex drive), as well as made me super emotional and just angry all the time. Therefore, I immediately switched back off of it due to too many unwanted side effects. I just bought the Nuvaring, I hear good things about it and that it's a very low dosage... Hopefully, not as many side effects involved."

• hap...
• June 9, 2011

For Birth Control "I've been on Ortho Evra for 2 months now. I love it. The first night I wore it, I had a panic attack. I ripped it off during the night, then started wearing a new patch the next day. Since then, no panic attacks, so I'm guessing it wasn't caused by the patch. My breasts were tender, but I got used to it, and I love how light my cramping and periods are. I get a pimple or two during the third week, and I am a lot more emotional, but that does not interfere with my personal life. It took some time getting used to wearing the patch, it fell off like three times. Overall, it's amazing."

• Anonymous
• June 21, 2011

For Birth Control "I've had really bad experiences with birth control in the past - the pill made me throw up on a daily basis, and the shot was just a nightmare. After the crazy mood swings, lethargy, two-month period, social anxiety, and weight gain I experienced with the shot, I was nervous about trying birth control again. But so far, I've had a good experience with the patch. The first month, I didn't have much of an appetite and often felt nauseous, but now that my body has adjusted, I only have a few minimal side effects. I crave junk food more, but that's easily managed with a bit of willpower or chocolate. My breasts have grown a bit, but after the shot shrunk them, that's not a bad thing. Thank goodness I found something that works."

• Lay...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 8, 2017

For Birth Control "At first, like most people say, the symptoms were terrible. Abdominal and back pain, slight nausea, mood swings, general foggy feeling in my brain. After a couple of days, the symptoms decreased, and now all I experience is some mood instability the day I replace my patch. I've never had a problem with it falling off, though it does tend to get fuzzy around the edges from your clothes. It does kind of kill your sex drive at first, but I feel like I'm back to normal now. Hooray for regular periods and no babies!"

• Lay...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 8, 2017

For Birth Control "At first, like most people say, the symptoms were terrible. Abdominal and back pain, slight nausea, mood swings, general foggy feeling in my brain. After a couple of days, the symptoms decreased, and now all I experience is some mood instability the day I replace my patch. I've never had a problem with it falling off, though it does tend to get fuzzy around the edges from your clothes. It does kind of kill your sex drive at first, but I feel like I'm back to normal now. Hooray for regular periods and no babies!"

• Jul...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 17, 2018

For Birth Control "I used to take Ortho Evra when I was younger and was completely fine on it. I thought I would have a similar experience on Xulane. I ended up with severe mood swings, depression, and anxiety, to the point of crying every day for weeks. I had low libido, was tired all the time, my vision became blurry, I lost my appetite, I had severe headaches, and loss of balance. I’d wake up in the middle of the night from sweating so much. I tried to let my body get used to the high amount of hormones in this product, but I couldn’t take it anymore. I didn’t feel like myself, and it was affecting my marriage. I am now making an appointment with my doctor to see what other options are out there. I’m happy this drug has worked for some of you ladies, but I would be careful if it starts affecting your mental health like it did mine. I feel relieved not being on it anymore."