Generess Fe and Depression: What Users Say

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 4, 2012

For Birth Control "Generess Fe made me gain 10 lbs in 2 weeks! I had cravings all the time, and I was always tired. All I could do is sleep and eat. My body retained so much water around the stomach and thigh area that I couldn't look at myself in the mirror without getting depressed! Overall, it was a HORRIBLE experience, I stopped taking it after 3 weeks. My OBGYN said I should have stuck with it for at least 3 months before stopping, but I didn't want the 10 pounds to turn into 30 or 50."

• Mic...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 18, 2012

For Birth Control "I've been on Generess Fe for roughly 5 months, and I'm still experiencing bad nausea. I have also noticed weight gain (probably around 10-15 lbs within the first couple of weeks), my breasts are constantly tender, and I'm depressed and tired much of the time. I have an appointment to switch my birth control."

• 123...
• December 1, 2013

For Birth Control "I have been taking this pill for 5 months to even out my hormones. It took my body only one week to adjust to the pill, which I don't think is bad. My period lasts from 2 to 3 days, very, very light, no cramps. I do get hungrier before the cycle, otherwise, I try to watch what I eat. To all the ladies, everyone's body will react differently to the pill. The main point is that you have to find the pill that will not affect you in any way. Generess Fe is not a bad pill, it's just that for some people it works, for some it doesn't. I honestly don't have any problems with the pill, I feel great. Before the pill, I was depressed, stressed. This helped me get rid of stress, anxiety, and depression."

• Mel...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 28, 2012

For Birth Control "I only took this medication for two weeks and had to stop. Right away, I noticed moodiness and depression worse than anything I've ever taken. Had a very heavy and long period with cramps and nausea. After the period stopped, three days later, started bleeding heavily again."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 15, 2012

For Birth Control "Just finished the first pack. I have constant mild stomach upset so that I can't eat much and have loose stools. Despite this, I've lost only a little weight - tummy still seems bloated. I expect this will clear up in a couple of months. Bonus - cleared up my skin. ? - no period the first month. Caution: What worries me is that it seems to have caused pretty serious depression for me. I tend to be a bit on the sad side if I don't watch it, but this was bad. I want to try to stick with it, but the depression feels horrible, so if next month is this bad, I don't know if I can continue."

• Jen...
• February 25, 2013

For Birth Control "Been on this for a little over a year. Experienced some moodiness and depression the first few months. Didn't feel myself. This is just what happens when the body gets used to the hormones. Periods went from painful, heavy, and 7-8 days to light, less painful, and approximately 3 days. No pregnancies or even scares. Mild weight gain (maybe 5 lbs - probably just normal from eating anyway). No problems with acne. Does what it should - prevents pregnancy and lightens periods/makes them less painful. Chewable and decent tasting as well."

• Cry...
• October 27, 2013

For Birth Control "Was put on Generess Fe to regulate spotting I have had for 3 months (PCOS). Have been on it a month, and it has been a horrible experience. I was surprised to see all the great reviews since I am having such trouble. I am usually a very happy person and have been extremely depressed, emotional (crying outbursts at ridiculous things), and irritable. I've had headaches daily since Day 1. Spotting has gotten worse. Breasts are so tender and painful, and I have horrible low back cramps during the 3rd week. Praying this is just because I've been so long without a cycle (8 years and 1 month), and it's just shocking my body. Doctor says it could take 3-4 months to regulate. Not sure I can handle that but willing to try."

• moo...
• April 16, 2013

For Birth Control "My moods have been horrible. At first, I was extremely angry and temperamental. Now, depressed and do not want to be touched. I've been on it 5 weeks. Thought I was going crazy, then tonight, remembered that I changed birth control recently."

• Anonymous
• October 12, 2012

"I was on it for 7 months, and it was my first birth control. I loved it because it cleared up my skin, lighter periods last about 3-4 days, which is short for me because I used to get them for a whole week. I used to have terrible cramps, but Generess really helped with that. It definitely worked as a birth control. However, I became very depressed and agitated. I would get mad over little things, and I was sad all the time. Severe mood swings. So I stopped taking it, and now I'm on Sprintec. It's a lot cheaper, and I no longer experience mood swings, I'm a lot happier."

• Nat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 11, 2013

For Birth Control "I've been taking this for two months now, and I don't want to say it's not effective because so far it's doing its job to stop pregnancy. My only concern is the light spotting between periods, but my doctor warned me that this would happen. I thought maybe I was making it up in my mind that I was a little bummed and depressed, but now I'm thinking it might be this medication because I'm seeing similar reactions to this online. I hope this will pass, otherwise, I'll be looking for an alternative."

• Kay...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 19, 2016

For Birth Control "I've been taking the generic version of this drug for about 4 months. Gradually, I've been feeling more and more depressed and hopeless. I have no history of depression or any emotional issues, and just yesterday, I couldn't get myself off the floor to leave the house. I've also gained weight, have an increase in body hair, and my sex drive is completely gone. I'm 28, far from puberty or menopause. The only good thing about the pill is my periods are extremely light, sometimes it doesn't even come at all. I am switching immediately to a lower hormone pill because the depression is now interfering with my life and relationships, and I know it's not normal. I am a student, and my insurance completely covers it."

• Tin...
• June 6, 2013

For Birth Control "Generess Fe is my very first birth control, and I'm in the middle of my second pack. I can say it's a good medication, although the side effects are pretty noticeable. I get extremely sensitive, sad, a big crybaby for stupid reasons. Breast tenderness, a lot of spotting in the first month. I was feeling a little more thick lately, I asked my boyfriend, and he said I had gained a little bit of weight. And looking back, I have been eating a lot of junk, so it increases your appetite. Your period becomes light. My first period lasted three days. And before the birth control, I had a crazy heavy period. So it might feel scary if you're used to having a crazy period and suddenly it's really light, but you're fine. That's how it works. And I'm baby-free!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 29, 2013

For Birth Control "I'm a 22-year-old college senior, and I've been on Generess Fe for 7 weeks now. It's my first birth control pill and was prescribed to me because I hadn't had my period for 6 months, and I was also diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). After a week of taking it, I was severely depressed for a day and a half, to the point where I considered seeking professional help, then I remembered that depression was a side effect. However, that was the only negative side effect I've had. My periods have come like clockwork, and my cramps are not nearly as bad as they used to be. I don't mean to sound like I'm actually selling this pill, but it's one of the best things I've ever taken. It does exactly what it's supposed to do."

• Kay...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 23, 2023

For Birth Control "I don't like this pill at all. I’ve never been hungrier, no matter how much I eat, I can’t be satisfied. I lost my abs, and I never even stopped bleeding. I hate looking at myself, I’ve lost my confidence, and I feel depressed. I have stopped taking them. I’m not sacrificing my happiness with myself and my athletic performance for a pill that’s not even going to solve my bleeding issue."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 12, 2012

For Birth Control "I only took this medication for 2 weeks. I noticed significant weight gain in that short amount of time. I also experienced crazy mood swings and depression. I was crying over nothing and at the drop of a hat. I stopped taking it and asked my gynecologist for a different pill. I then started Beyaz and didn't experience any of these side effects at all."

• Mol...
• April 30, 2013

For Birth Control "I've been on Generess Fe for 5 weeks now. I started the first day of my period and practiced safe sex the first month. I was on Loestrin before, which made me feel crazy. And NuvaRing, which made sex uncomfortable. Generess is not so bad, I did get nauseous in the beginning and when I had to double up when I missed a pill. I do feel anxious, but I also have been recovering from generalized anxiety disorder, so it's a normal feeling for me. I did, however, have strong depressed feelings for a few hours, but again I thought it was my period. I feel my moods go up and down faster, but they aren't as bad as the other pills I was on. I do feel more calm on this pill. I do feel breast tenderness, but that's it."

• pin...
• September 16, 2013

For Birth Control "I have been on this pill for about 2 months now. My first period on the pill came exactly when it was supposed to come and was normal. This last period was really light and only three days. I've had weight loss, but I'm not sure it was the pill since everyone is reporting the opposite. I did feel super nauseated and sad every few days, but it's normal. And my breasts have grown! But they feel tender. I have been taking the pill for severe back pain, and with the pill, that disappeared."

• Hor...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 26, 2013

For Birth Control "I was on this for a year and experienced weight gain, loss of sex drive, depression, thinning hair, and my hormone levels dropped (estrogen, testosterone, cortisol). For me, it isn't worth all of the horrible side effects experienced."

• Ano...
• November 15, 2013

For Birth Control "Periods became lighter within the first month, which was great because mine were very painful before. The one problem was the first time I took it. I felt far more depressed than ever before. But this was only temporary; it took about one week to adjust psychologically. Be sure to take with a good-sized meal! Other than that, very slight weight gain and no spotting. Always take the brown pills too; they contain the mineral iron, which women need a lot of."

• Sha...
• November 11, 2015

For Birth Control "This was the first birth control pill I tried. I went to my OBGYN with concerns about serious period irregularity. They just threw the pill at me. Within the first month, I gained almost 10 pounds. I did have a slight appetite increase, but I know most of it was because of this pill. At the time, I didn't realize it, but once I stopped, I realized that I had been acting different on it. And I was also depressed a lot, which isn't normal for me. I stayed on this brand for a few months, then ultimately switched. As soon as I switched to a different formula, I lost the 10 pounds I gained in just 2 weeks, and I wasn't eating any different. It was crazy. Overall, it did its job. It regulated my periods, and I never got pregnant. But the side effects sucked."

• Ali...
• August 1, 2013

For Birth Control "I am almost done with my second pack, and I love this medication. I didn't get depressed or nausea like a lot of other reviews. I am seeing a little weight gain, however, my breasts have started at a C and are now a D. I think I am switching off of this, though, simply due to cost per month."

• Dia...
• April 5, 2013

For Birth Control "I started this pill a month ago. After 4 days of taking it, I had a heavy period and terrible cramps that lasted for 5 days. The cramps were gone and the heavy period went away, but after 2 days, I had medium bleeding again and the cramps. It gets worse when exposed to cold or I am cold. I do not know why. I never had this problem before. I'm experiencing breast tenderness and depression. And now I am on my 2nd brown pill and I have cramps and moderate bleeding. I do not know if this is normal, but I am still taking it. My sister-in-law said, who is a nurse, that this is normal and would normally last for 3 months."