Xulane and Anxiety: What Users Say

• Bre...
• September 13, 2019

For Birth Control "I’ve been on Xulane specifically for over 6 years, and I must say, it’s the best birth control I’ve taken. I’ve taken many different types of birth control pills before - combination, progestin only, about 8-12 different brand names for the pill, as well as the Depo-Provera shots. I was bleeding the whole 3 months I was on the shot, and the pills were OK but I didn’t like having to take something daily, and I felt like they were taking away my sex drive. On Xulane I’ve had either an increase or no difference in libido, I remember in the beginning my sex drive spiked! Now it’s steady and feels like it’s unaffected by the patch, as well as my weight and anxiety. I’ve been reading horror stories of the patch and the implant for some time now; what affects me in a positive way could be your worst nightmare and vice versa. So keep that in mind while reading reviews - each woman’s experience can vary so much - don’t create a confirmation bias!"

• Dra...
• June 9, 2020

For Birth Control "I was on the patch for 3 weeks, and every day I was EXTREMELY nauseous. My breasts were extremely tender and swollen. I already struggle with migraines, and I had a consistent migraine while on this patch. I also was extremely tired and fatigued daily and also had mood swings terribly. Depression and anxiety were also at an all-time high while on this medication. I had no sex drive, and sex was no longer pleasurable. I usually don't write reviews, but honestly, reviews have been helping me navigate the best birth control method. I have literally been off the patch for less than 48 hours and already am feeling better from the side effects. Some might say it was all in my head, but whenever I applied the patch, that area of my body would tingle and itch, so I know the effects can quickly change. Would definitely say it helps with not getting pregnant, but if you are at all sensitive to headaches or medication, I recommend a close watch."

• Emi...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 27, 2018

For Birth Control "This is one of the most dangerous forms of birth control on the market for people with depression, anxiety, or bipolar disorder. The anxiety it causes is unlike anything I’ve ever felt. I took it out of desperation after trying pill after pill. It was a horrible mistake. I was only on it for about 10 days. I ended up spending the next 48 hours alternating between crying and pacing my house, convinced I had become another person, terrified I had lost my mind. This medication should be taken off the market. Please do not risk using this if you have any sort of mental condition or have ever had any sort of anxiety-related issues."

• 007...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 26, 2017

For Birth Control "Xulane was my first experience with birth control. I had been on the patch for a little over 3 months. I experienced many common (and rare) side effects. However, they either dissipated within a couple of weeks or became manageable. This last month, though, I began to heavily battle depression to the point where I was very anxious and having suicidal thoughts. I also used to have flawless, clear skin. Pimples began to cover my face even with a super diligent skincare routine. My depression did not seem to subside either. As soon as I got the okay from my doctor to take the patch off, my skin began to rapidly bounce back, along with my mental health. It's been a week since being off Xulane, and it's such a relief to be rid of it!"

• Can...
• August 10, 2018

For Birth Control "I was on this patch in my twenties and went on it again after my second child was born. I have been back on it for 2 months. I suffer from migraines in general, but being on this makes them last so much longer, especially around the time I’m due for my period. I also have anxiety, and this is also so much worse. I have also put on 5 pounds. I am feeling extremely depressed, and I’m probably taking the patch off and switching."

• Sar...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 5, 2021

For Birth Control "I’ve been on Xulane for about two years. During that time, I’ve had almost constant nausea, extreme fatigue, weight gain, and strange chest and abdominal pain. I actually went to the doctor thinking there was something wrong with my heart, as it runs in my family. Though I am only 23. My sex drive disappeared completely, and I found my anxiety to be worse than normal. I spent every ‘new patch’ day vomiting and would sleep by the toilet. This is even AFTER two years. The symptoms have never gone away. My breasts are always swollen and tender. I’ve gone up to an uncomfortable 32G from a 32DD. I would definitely not recommend this to anyone. My body is very sensitive to medicine, but this was just too much. I’m finally saying enough and trying something new."

• Kat...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 8, 2018

For Birth Control "So I've been on this patch for about 3 1/2 weeks, and I took it off to have my period a couple of days ago, and I've had nothing but horrible anxiety. My body is so shaky, and I thought it might just be my normal anxiety, but this is the only change in my daily schedule, so it's definitely the patch messing with me. And I really like it too, but I cannot deal with how I feel. Any other recommendations would be wonderful."

• 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."

• Hau...
• September 18, 2018

For Birth Control "I have been on Xulane for 3 weeks, and while I have loved the convenience of the patch, I had to take it off yesterday. With the first two patches of the month, I felt fine at first but experienced swollen and sore breasts. That I could handle. However, when I put the third patch of the month on, I started experiencing nausea, anxiety, and dizzying headaches. I threw up everything I ate, and when I wasn’t throwing up, I was crying. I didn’t feel like myself, and I didn’t know how to make myself feel better. I started taking Xulane because I was having a period every other week. I’d rather do that than feel how I felt when I put on the third patch that day. Xulane, while convenient, is not for everyone."

• Hay...
• December 21, 2016

For Birth Control "My first time starting any kind of birth control (just to regulate my period, not really as a contraceptive), and I could only last halfway through my third week. The increase in anxiety, depression, along with the pregnancy-like symptoms, were debilitating. I just took my patch off today because I couldn't take it anymore. I have terrible gastrointestinal problems, feel sore and tender, dizzy, have headaches, and the worst part is the nausea. It's been gradually increasing since I started and has finally gotten to the point where I can't leave my bed. My first patch fell off after three days, so I put a new one on my thigh instead of my side, and that made it not come off anymore, but the mix of mood swings and painful symptoms are too much."

• pen...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 13, 2015

For Birth Control "After reading several other reviews, I've realized that every real major issue I've had over the past 7 weeks (how long I was using it) has been because of this thing. My anxiety and depression have been at an all-time high, the past three days I haven't been able to keep anything down, and I've definitely experienced the low libido several others have mentioned. After lying on the floor in nauseous agony and reading the reviews, I tore it right off. I don't want to say I'm already feeling better, but honestly. This is my first time using BC other than condoms, and I chose the patch because I knew I would have trouble with the pill. But after my experience, I wish I had chosen something different. Would not recommend."

• Jes...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 26, 2018

For Birth Control "I’ve been on Xulane for about 4-5 years, and it was good at first because I didn’t know any better. Helped combat my endometriosis and ovarian cysts, which were horrible. However, this BC is the pits. I literally have every side effect this BC offers minus the stroke and heart attack stuff. The mood swings and anxiety are the absolute worst. High blood pressure, hot flashes, migraines and headaches, breast tenderness and swelling, and major cramping in between and on my period are all bad too. I would advise against this form of BC. I’m in talks now with my doctor about changing this because the side effects are more harmful than helpful for me."

• Coo...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 18, 2018

For Birth Control "This birth control sucked for me. First of all, if you think about going swimming or anything, just say forget the patch, it comes off. Then, while I had been on this patch for almost a month, I get very nauseous and start gagging. It makes me have hot flashes and makes me very uneasy."

• Kat...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 3, 2018

For Birth Control "First thing I would say is that every birth control reacts differently to everyone, so don't let a bad review stop you. I read a lot of negative reviews about Xulane but decided to give it a try. Now this is my first time ever on BC, and bear in mind it's been a whole week. The first side effect I noticed was that my anxiety and depression were like 10,000x worse. The nausea is slight but bearable. I found that if I start to feel nauseated, I eat something light, and it typically goes away. I also experienced a loss of appetite, but I think it's just my body adjusting to the hormones. Oh, and this BC makes me extremely fatigued! But so far, this BC is okay for me. I'll give it the full 3 months to see if the side effects go away."

• Ash...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 19, 2021

For Birth Control "This is the worst birth control ever! I never suffered from anxiety or depression until this birth control was prescribed to me. I would literally feel out of place and disconnected from the world around me. I would sit in bed and bawl my eyes out with my husband. It was affecting my sleep because it caused chills while having it on the 1st week. By the 2nd and 3rd week, I'm drenched in my sweat at night. I'm sick and tired of washing my bed sheets every day during the 2nd and 3rd week. I never suffered from acne but now I'm on long-term medications to treat severe acne. This pain caused extreme sweating that caused severe Hidradenitis Suppurativa flare-ups, which cost me so much money with a dermatologist. I have severe scarring thanks to this stuff. It should be illegal. So you think that's all it does to some people? Try chronic thyroid complications that leave you feeling like you can't breathe or swallow because the gland is severely swollen. Weight gain double time. AVOID!"

• AKR...
• November 22, 2016

For Birth Control "Nightmare! I was on the Xulane birth control patch for 2 full months. I have felt like a complete zombie with no energy at all. I can feel depression, anxiety, and mood swings getting worse. I'm starting to get headaches and nausea, which I have never experienced before. The patch doesn't stick very well on the skin. I've gotten rashes, and it's always itchy at the site. I'm giving up on birth control because the crippling mental side effects are not worth it. I'm going back to condoms forever. BEWARE, the mental/emotional side effects sneak up on you over time."

• Yas...
• August 11, 2016

For Birth Control "I switched from the Nexplanon implant simply because I heard of a recall on it, and I couldn't take the constant dizziness and headaches. I used Ortho Evra before, and it was lovely, but this isn't at all. The first night, I felt like I couldn't sleep. With that being said, I was up for 3 days with absolutely no sleep, walking around like an insane person. Severe pain (hunger pangs) that I think contribute to the weight gain, nausea, and breast pain. I took it off. I tried it again, and the physical side effects have faded somewhat, but depression, anxiety, and mood swings are back in my life 10 times worse..."

• Let...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 18, 2022

For Birth Control "This birth control will give you nonstop headaches (no med will take it away), a lot of anxiety and depression, loss of sexual desire, a lot of anger, a lot of thinking, moody, nausea, bloating… worst BC ever."

• Mar...
• September 30, 2018

For Birth Control "I have mixed feelings about Xulane. It did wonders for me regarding my functionality while being on my period. I used to bleed very heavily, feel very dizzy and lightheaded, like I was going to pass out, vomit, and have awful cramps. That all went away when I started taking this. I also like how convenient it is. The patch stays on pretty well. But that is all I have to say that's good. It took about three months for my body to adjust, but I had excruciating headaches and spotting for two weeks straight at a time. The worst part of this is the awful mood swings I get. I don't feel like myself sometimes. I'll just be irrationally angry over the smallest things or have minor anxiety attacks. It killed my sex drive, which is the complete opposite of how I used to be, and it's starting to take a toll on my marriage. It all makes sense considering that the information packet that my pharmacy gave said that it contains more estrogen than certain pills."

• Lei...
• June 11, 2016

For Birth Control "When I started Xulane, I had many reactions. I experienced severe mood swings, and Xulane increased my depression and anxiety. I also experienced redness and itching at the application site, which stopped happening about a month later. I experience nausea, headaches, and severe cramping during times of suspected ovulation. My breasts increased in size, and veins are more prominent. They are also more tender. Sex drive has also decreased. My period comes at the expected time and sometimes lasts 4 days to 6. All in all, I like the idea of not having to remember an oral contraceptive every day! I change it three times a month and the fourth week I leave it off. All forms of birth control have their weak points, but I think Xulane works for me."

• Emy...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 6, 2018

For Birth Control "This is the worst thing I have done to my body. I have been on this patch for a year. The first few months I didn't notice any major side effects except for the itching. Then I started noticing that I was very irritated and anxious for no reason. Again, I didn't suspect that it was due to the patch. Now, a year into it, I realized it's all due to this stupid patch. I had never been like this. The mood swings and irritation got so severe that I was becoming a completely different person. Constantly tired and depressed. Stay away from this patch. I do not recommend it."

• che...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 29, 2022

For Birth Control "The worst decision I had ever made. I had the patch on for three days twice and it was the worst decision of my life. Each time by day 3 my heart rate was extremely high, my blood pressure extremely high, arm pain, chest pain, feeling of being fake, detached from the world and myself, and ended up in the ER out of fear/panic attacks. I immediately removed the patch and threw it away after I realized it indeed was the patch. It’s taken since April (it’s now almost June) for my anxiety to level out. (Still high. Just not extreme.) I have developed health anxiety horribly, I would wake up all night long with panic attacks, I developed insomnia due to being afraid, I couldn’t eat, I was just full of anxiety. I’m starting my anti-depressant for anxiety today. I absolutely would never recommend this to anyone. I came here to leave my review and ended up reading how many others experienced exactly what I did. It needs to be rated a zero."

• JJa...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 10, 2019

For Birth Control "The Xulane patch unfortunately did not work for me. The first problem I had was the patch itself. Anytime you get in the pool or water, the top started to come off. Went and took another patch and had to pay $120 out of pocket. Very upset. The second problem I had was the side effects. I am naturally a very bubbly, outgoing person, but as I was taking this, I noticed extreme mood swings, depression, loss of sex drive, and awful anxiety. The third problem was two-week periods. I had many of these, and I didn’t appreciate it at all. The fourth problem was my periods were not worse, but also not any better. Don’t recommend this to anyone that swims or goes into the ocean. I'm switching to the Blisovi pill, and hopefully this works, but the patch definitely did not work for me."

• Sta...
• July 25, 2015

For Birth Control "Awful. I was on the real Ortho Evra for years. I lost my insurance and had to switch to the pill. Finally, I got insurance and it covered the patch. I had one glorious month of Ortho Evra back, and then came Xulane. While I was paying for Ortho Evra out of pocket, I always wished there was a generic. I was excited to try it... but then I did. I've gained 20 lbs over the past year after staying within a 5 lb range for 10 years. I eat healthy and exercise consistently. I've had absurd levels of anxiety, had a decreased sex drive, and constantly feeling dry. Most importantly, the patches don't stay on. At least 1 out of the 3 per month will fall off at least once. What is the point?"

• Rea...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 1, 2015

For Birth Control "I've only been on it for less than a week, and it has been horrific! Like truly a nightmare. I'm nauseous all the time. I haven't really eaten anything since I started it. I've suffered random headaches, extreme depression, and anxiety. I want to rip it off, but my period was short and pleasant, and I've only had it on for four agonizing, horrible days. I wonder if it gets better?"