Xulane and Mood Swings: What Users Say

• 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."

• Chy...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 26, 2020

For Birth Control "I love this patch! I’ve been on the pill for about 8 years. After the first 7 years, I got off it and had my daughter. The doctor put me on the pill after birth and had the worst side effects! (Extreme acne, mood swings, weight gain). With the patch, I have the best skin, no weight gain or mood swings. The only bad thing is nausea. But I would rather have nausea from birth control rather than pregnancy!"

• Eha...
• January 30, 2020

For Birth Control "So I’ve been using the Xulane patch for about 3 or 4 months now. It’s been pretty effective. I do have type 1 diabetes, it never messed with my numbers. Since recently, I have had more mood swings than normal. Also, big vaginal change, as in like I smell different in this past month. I went to the doctor, and they told me that everything was fine. I discharge more too. I’m hoping that this is just a phase in the medicine and hopefully will go away. Only pro.... I get super wet during sex. Very amazing."

• oli...
• May 24, 2021

For Birth Control "So I've decided to give Xulane a chance after my friend suggested it. My insurance covered it, and I was able to get 3 packs, which equals 3 months. I actually was able to do everything on the app Nurx. Anyway, back to Xulane. Two weeks today. But my first week was interesting, trying to get used to the patch and all. I was a little paranoid it would come off because I wasn't used to it. But after an intense workout and long shower, it didn't move or lift, I got excited. So far... no symptoms, no mood swings, no bloating, no spotting, no weight gain, no changes in sex drive, acne has cleared up. I've tried the patch and implant, and this is by far the best! If you're reading this and you're unsure, I totally recommend the Xulane patch! I keep mine on my lower abdomen, and I put a clear Nexcare Tegaderm on top of my patch (lasts up to 7 days, no issue) to secure it and give me peace of mind. It doesn't move, lift, wrinkle, and I took a bath, and it still didn't budge. So far, so good!"

• Moo...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 1, 2020

For Birth Control "I have only tried the pill and this patch as contraceptive. The pill was difficult to remember, and being off by just a minute would cause spotting. Frustrating. I am very petite, 5 ft tall, I rarely can get to 108 pounds, so most things are strong to me. This Xulane patch isn't bad. I don't know if I have mood swings. I am moody in general with an anxiety disorder. Nothing has changed in that area. No pregnancy, which is great. Easy to remember to change the patch. I've been on this patch over a year, and for some reason lately I am spotting when I have my patch on. I get long (7 days or more), heavy periods. It's very annoying, and every time I try to get answers, they say it shouldn't happen that way. I can't even skip my period if I want to. Why can't this birth control stop my period? I enjoyed Xulane until this whole struggle with my period on it."

• kks...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 23, 2016

For Birth Control "Been on it for 10 months. Had mood swings and on-and-off bleeding the first month, but after that, it worked great (I did do the quick start method). I usually keep it on my shoulders, and I hardly remember it's there once I've applied it. Only once had it peel, and my pharmacist simply gave me a new box (he explained that he told the manufacturer it had malfunctioned, and they will send a replacement). I switch patches on Friday, and my period always starts Monday. It ends by Friday when I apply the next patch. Period is now light and pretty much cramp-free, I barely notice. As far as birth control, my boyfriend and I very rarely use condoms anymore, and I have had no issues with pregnancy."

• 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."

• 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!"

• 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."

• 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."

• 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)."

• 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."

• imm...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 21, 2022

For Birth Control "I’ve been on Xulane for 3 years. Xulane has high estrogen levels, so when I first started, I lightly bled for about a month, and after that, my period has always been regular. It helped so much with my acne. I have realized one period will be a light flow with bad cramps, and the next will be heavy with no cramps. I am more emotional and moody. I get depressed once in a while, but I have good support people around me, so it’s nothing but a lay-in-bed day. Just recently, after a few days of wearing a new week's patch, where the patch is will get itchy and red randomly, like an allergic reaction, and I’m not sure why. I saw someone else saying the same thing. But other than that, 10/10 on preventing pregnancy."

• Kay...
• March 22, 2019

For Birth Control "5 years ago, I started on Ortho Tri-Cyclen, and it worked out well until I got to college. Went through all the stress, emotions, and long story short, it made me crazy. Then, I tried the birth control shot for 9 months. Went great the first round, then started losing a bunch of weight, having my periods for a full 2 months at a time, and it made me anemic, and you guessed it-CRAZY. So I quit birth control altogether about 7 months ago. In those 7 months, I’ve had my period every day, along with heavy bleeding. Talked to my gyno, and since I’m busy with school and 2 jobs, I needed something I wouldn’t forget to take. She recommended this, so I gave it a shot. Had this on for a week. PROS: - immediately stopped my period, - don’t have to worry about missing it. CONS: - emotional - mental breakdowns (at least 1 a day, for no reason), my boobs hurt SO BAD - my legs cramped up really bad almost immediately after I put the patch on - nauseous. & I'm not talking about normal nausea."

• 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."

• Mis...
• March 29, 2017

For Birth Control "Last year, I had surgery for benign endometrial hyperplasia and a baseball-sized ovarian cyst. I was officially diagnosed with polycystic ovarian syndrome when I was 19, and this is a common side effect. To prevent further problems, my doctor recommended hormone therapy, but I haven't done well with any of the pills or the shot - too many bad side effects (sciatica, mood swings, etc.). I was on Ortho-Evra in my early 20s and never noticed any problems, so I decided to try it again. Unfortunately, though, it was discontinued in the USA and Xulane was its generic. I've been on it for 3 months, and I've been miserable the whole time. I stopped today, and now I feel like I have the flu."

• Ash...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 5, 2019

For Birth Control "First of all, the Xulane patch doesn’t stick well at all. And heaven forbid you exercise. I have been on this patch for about a month and a half. I’m pretty sure it’s keeping me bloated. I definitely feel more emotional. I don’t know if it’s kept me from getting pregnant because I have been so scared that I’m not using it right because it keeps coming off that I am still using a backup method. Lastly, it has left a rash everywhere I put it."

• Ama...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 6, 2017

For Birth Control "Before I got on the patch, I was on the birth control shot. The shot was horrible, and it made me gain 20 lbs, and I had horrible mood swings that almost cost me my relationship with my boyfriend, as well as the extreme depression issues it gave me. Changing to the patch was the best decision I could have ever made. I'm much more calm and back to my normal self. This product is the real deal."

• Lis...
• July 31, 2015

For Birth Control "My insurance switched me over to Xulane from Ortho Evra, and at first, it was going really well. I am now 4 months in, and it's terrible. I have the worst mood swings, low libido, I've gained 10 pounds, and I get a rash around the application area. I have an outline of the patch on my hip that has been there for 3 months... I would not recommend this to anyone. While it does its job, keeping me not pregnant, the side effects aren't worth it. Back to the pill, I guess..."