Xulane and Anxiety: What Users Say (Page 2)

• HM3...
• February 23, 2018

For Birth Control "I started Xulane on a Sunday. Monday woke up super hyper and keyed up. Around supper time, I get so fatigued I can barely keep my eyes open. Started spotting Tuesday afternoon. Tuesday night, fatigued again. Started losing my appetite. Weds, full-blown bleeding, cramps, nausea...felt horrible! Ended up leaving work early because I felt so bad and my anxiety was high. Thursday, heavy bleeding and living like I'm pregnant on Saltines and Sprite. The nausea was constant. Felt so tired. Couldn't concentrate and felt dizzy every time I moved. Ended up leaving work early again because I had a sudden panic attack: couldn't breathe, my extremities and face went numb, crying hysterically, and felt like I was going to puke. Once it passed, I was so tired I slept for hours. Friday, I woke up with a headache and anxiety is already in full force. I ripped the thing off. I would rather see how I do without it than do this. DO NOT recommend at all!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 24, 2019

For Birth Control "I have been on the patch for about four months now after getting my Mirena IUD removed. My husband and I are not ready for children, so I figured this was the next best option. I am 27 and have been on multiple forms of birth control before the IUD and have a history of anxiety and IBS. The first 2 months, I experienced breast tenderness and basically 2 periods/month while my body was adjusting. Slight stomachache and fatigue, nothing I couldn’t handle. But in the last 2 months, I have felt major mood swings and lethargy, and my anxiety has been a lot worse. I started tracking my symptoms and found that I actually felt better on my period in terms of anxiety and nausea than when I had the patch on. I am going to go off of it next week because I think the hormones are making me crazy. I’ve never experienced anything like this before. Effective for stopping pregnancy, but not the birth control for me."

• 25i...
• January 12, 2018

For Birth Control "This patch sucks!!!! I used it for one month and said screw it. My side effects just weren’t worth it. First and foremost, I’m 25 and have had to try several b.c. to see if my body would like it. The first negative side effect was the nausea. I put the first patch on, and that night I had vomiting, severe headache - not good. I pushed through the puking and finished my 3rd week with severe anxiety attacks, panic attacks, and depression. I knew this wasn’t me and that it wasn’t normal. It wasn’t my stress causing this, but I was so scared having these attacks of shortness of breath, rapid heartbeat. I went to the ER, my heart was fine. I had high blood pressure upon arrival. DON'T USE THIS PATCH!!!"

• Lia...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 12, 2022

For Birth Control "It was the most miserable experience I've ever had on birth control. I tried 6 different types of pills before switching to Xulane's patch. Almost immediately, I experienced many things I never had before: severe breast pain, anxiety, depression, constant daily nausea, not being able to eat or sleep."

• Kay...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 21, 2018

For Birth Control "Worked well at preventing pregnancy, but horrible side effects. I have been experiencing crippling depression, mood swings, and anxiety, as well as slight weight gain. Up until being on this birth control, I was the happiest and most positive person, I was motivated and loved life... I recently got off and quit using it because I am realizing what it is doing to my body. The good does not outweigh the bad, and I will be quitting birth control for good."

• Mar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 6, 2016

For Birth Control "I'm on my third week and cannot wait to get my period and go back to pills. The first week I was nauseous, but that went away. For all weeks, I've been anxious, paranoid, emotional, unable to sleep through the night, and broken out. My breasts have increased a full size and were incredibly sore the first two weeks. The breakout started on my forehead but now, during week three, has taken over my arms! My chest and back are also broken out. So disappointed that the patch did not clear my skin like Loryna pills, it has only made my skin worse. The estrogen must be too high of a dosage for me."

• Mar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 6, 2016

For Birth Control "I'm on my third week and cannot wait to get my period and go back to pills. The first week I was nauseous, but that went away. For all weeks, I've been anxious, paranoid, emotional, unable to sleep through the night, and broken out. My breasts have increased a full size and were incredibly sore the first two weeks. The breakout started on my forehead but now, during week three, has taken over my arms! My chest and back are also broken out. So disappointed that the patch did not clear my skin like Loryna pills, it has only made my skin worse. The estrogen must be too high of a dosage for me."

• Jus...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 1, 2021

For Birth Control "For starters, the medication is extremely easy to use (1 patch each week). I was on Tri Linyah for 5 years until I switched to Xulane back in May. I loved it and wish I could continue staying on it, but I started having extreme levels of anxiety. I had little to no anxiety on the pill, but the patch amplified it to the point I couldn’t go a day without having a couple of anxiety attacks. I got fed up mid-anxiety attack and just ripped off my patch during my shift while it happened. Not everything suits everyone, and I really wish it worked for me because it was just so convenient."

• Jus...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 1, 2021

For Birth Control "For starters, the medication is extremely easy to use (1 patch each week). I was on Tri Linyah for 5 years until I switched to Xulane back in May. I loved it and wish I could continue staying on it, but I started having extreme levels of anxiety. I had little to no anxiety on the pill, but the patch amplified it to the point I couldn’t go a day without having a couple of anxiety attacks. I got fed up mid-anxiety attack and just ripped off my patch during my shift while it happened. Not everything suits everyone, and I really wish it worked for me because it was just so convenient."

• Ale...
• December 14, 2015

For Birth Control "I have been on this for about 6 months. I love it! It seems that the longer I'm on it, the shorter and lighter my periods are getting! I have experienced some anxiety, but nothing too serious. I would recommend this to anyone who is horrible about taking a pill a day!"

• Bro...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 23, 2018

For Birth Control "I was on Ortho Evra for about a year, then on this for 3-4 years. In the beginning, it was fine, but slowly started losing hair, retaining water, experiencing chronic anxiety (could barely handle driving at times), chronic brain fog, and major depression with highs and lows. My general practitioner believes it's because of the excess hormones suppressing my liver production. I hate this patch so much for ruining my thick hair and decreasing my quality of life. Sex was disappointing, so I stopped having it and didn't even care. I will never use this again. My breasts swelled as if I was pregnant, and they always hurt. Remember, this is a high dose of synthetic hormones. In my opinion, use with extreme caution. I say run far away from this."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 7, 2018

For Birth Control "I really would not recommend for anyone with a history of depression or bipolar disorder. It’s been about a week since I had to take it off, the side effects are too much for me. I’m too scared to sleep due to heightened anxiety. I’m experiencing the same things I did when I was very depressed: detached and afraid."

• Chr...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 18, 2021

For Birth Control "When I first began this birth control, I had symptoms for 3 months (which they say is normal): tender breasts, headaches, mood changes, moodiness, anxiety, tiredness, and really bad breakouts with cystic acne. But to be honest, I already was dealing with hormonal acne, so I can’t be sure it was my birth control that caused it or not, bloating. After the initial 3 months, though, most of those symptoms went away. I’m now a year and 8 months into it, and my boobs are still fuller than before and have gone up a cup size. My acne is almost nonexistent except for a pimple or two before my period. My anxiety, though, is crappy, but I had anxiety. I used to get a headache every time I changed my patch, but that went away, and now it’s nausea. When I change my patch, and when I take it off, I’m nauseous for the entire next day to two days, which really sucks. I usually take Dramamine to help combat it, but it’s been going on for 4-5 months now."

• Nic...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 23, 2021

For Birth Control "The Xulane patch did its job for me in the sense that it protected against pregnancy and eased my endometriosis pain, however, I find it difficult to deal with the highs and lows. One minute I’m energized and feel almost manic, get a lot done, have high drive and eat very well. Then I suddenly have migraines, fatigue, depression, and anxiety the next moment, as well as no appetite. I haven’t stopped taking it because I’m scared of my pain coming back and already tried depo, pills and IUD were excluded for me. I'm tempted to go back to absolutely nothing, as the ups and downs of the patch can feel overwhelming. I never know what to expect."

• Luc...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 13, 2018

"Been on birth control to reduce the cramping and heavy periods following the birth of my 3rd child and tubal ligation. I’m 43, 5’3” and 130 lbs. Started with NuvaRing, which worked great years ago for me, but now I bled all the time with it. Switched to pills but couldn’t remember to take them each month. Doc recommended the patch. Been on it for about 6 weeks. Goes on easy and is foolproof. No issues with it sliding/coming off. However, I notice my breasts ache nearly all month. I have headaches and a lot of neck tension/pain. I’ve gained about 7 lbs and am retaining a lot of water/am bloated. My anxiety is awful-like a motor running in my chest and then intermittent episodes of depression; crying, tearfulness, and lethargy. Also, agitation. It’s just awful for me. I’m going off it and back on the pill."

• hot...
• January 2, 2018

For Birth Control "I haven't been on birth control since my high school early 20s, and since I'm super fertile, I had to get on something at 37 since I'm avoiding tying my tubes. So far, since using this for almost 6 months, it's been pretty ok. Pros: perky boobs and no pregnancies. Cons: longer 'light' cycles and anxiety attacks (which were not an issue ever in my life). I'm a little more forgetful/less focused at times as well. Debating on getting off to really see how my body is without it again. I would definitely recommend it if you HAVE to have birth control."

• Ode...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 17, 2016

For Birth Control "At first I loved the patch, but quickly I became unhappy. The patch falls off at least once a month. I follow the instructions and put it in a place with no hair and wash well with mild soap to remove any oil on my skin. This patch has caused my face to break out terribly along with my back. It has made my anxiety and depression worse! It will fall off because my skin is oily, and my insurance won't pay for extra patches. I started the patch to control when I get my period. I have my wedding coming up, and I don't want any surprises with my period or pregnancy. However, on my second or third patch change, I ALWAYS get my period. I literally take the old one off after I have put my new one on. I'm very unhappy."

• Def...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 17, 2022

For Birth Control "I was on Xulane since 2017 with a break of 6 months. It is indeed a great birth control since I did not get pregnant. In 2019, I started getting dizzy at the end of my patch-free week, like my body didn’t want me to put another one on, so I did a 6-month break. Let me tell you, only when I took that thing off me did I realize how much I’m missing. Anxiety and mood swings went away, libido and femininity came back. Blossoming, got into a new relationship and decided to go back to the patches. It was okay at first, minor headaches and spotting. A year in, I started noticing my sex drive slowly dying off. Then my desire to leave the house. Then my relationship. I took off the patch 3 weeks ago, but I’m still experiencing anxiety and feeling really down. I just hope it goes away and I become a happy horn-ball again. I’ll be honest, I do recommend the patch to prevent pregnancy since pills didn’t work for me and the ring started smelling like urine after a week in. 5/10"

• eka...
• January 22, 2016

For Birth Control "This is the first and last time I ever use this birth control. I chose it because of the convenience of only replacing it once a week, but I have to say that as soon as I applied the patch, I started feeling anxiety, my arm felt sore where the patch was, I could not fall asleep. It was horrible, I decided to rip it off, and guess what, it took me less than 10 minutes to fall asleep. Whether it's effective or not, I can't say, I only used it for a day."

• Van...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 19, 2015

For Birth Control "Horrible, horrible, horrible! Words can't explain how horrible this patch has made my life. Gave me the worst anxiety of my life! Never, ever taking it again! I don't recommend it to anyone!"