Gildess Fe 1/20 and Depression: What Users Say

• har...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 6, 2014

For Birth Control "This is probably the pill I'll never take. The first six months were great. I lost weight, had 100% regular periods with no in-between bleeding. Now I've had a good 4 months of non-stop anxiety, paranoia, and depression that wasn't there before. I have also developed bleeding the week before my period is supposed to show up. Definitely switching pills ASAP."

• Hol...
• July 27, 2014

For Birth Control "Gained weight, felt depressed, worst experience of my adult life with birth control. 28 yr healthy vegan - 5'8 143 lbs. Two weeks on Gildess - 160. Horrible nightmare. It's been two months, and I've lost 5 lbs."

• Clo...
• February 15, 2015

For Birth Control "I have been on a low hormone pill for almost 10 years, this one has been the worst. I've been taking Gildess for about 4 months now and have noticed the worst of the side effects within the last two months. I'm incredibly moody, kind of depressed (weird highs and lows), almost no sex drive whatsoever, and have gained about 10 pounds. I really don't feel like myself anymore, and unfortunately, it took me a while to figure out that it was the birth control that has been causing this. I will be switching ASAP."

• Cla...
• April 6, 2016

For Birth Control "I have been on this pill for 2 months now. I plan on doing one more month to see if it gets better. BUT, I have never in my life been more depressed, and I was a very, very happy person before starting this pill. I feel sad all the time. I pick fights, and it has put a huge strain on my relationship with my fiancé, and I suddenly hate my job (which I always loved). I highly don't recommend this pill to anyone so far!"

• Ah1...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 25, 2016

For Birth Control "I am 25 years old and have been using a birth control since I was 14 years old. Therefore, I have gone through numerous birth control switches. NEVER in my life have I actually noticed symptoms of a medication than before using this. At first, I thought I could have been pregnant. Taking 3 different tests (all of which being negative), I realized it had to be from this birth control. I have been on this for one month, and today after almost fainting because I felt so sick, I refuse to take one more pill. Throughout this one month, I have visibly bloated in my stomach, my breasts enlarged. I have felt nauseous every single day. My anxiety and depression have been at an all-time high, not to mention I am agitated about pretty much anything. DON'T RECOMMEND."

• rac...
• December 20, 2015

For Birth Control "I started this birth control 4 months ago right before I left for college in August. I read reviews, and I was iffy, but my OB promised me everyone's body is different and I should try it out. The first month was okay. I was happy as ever at college. I got horrible cramps when I got my first period on it, and my period was really irregular, but I figured I just needed to adjust. Come late October, November, and now December have been the worst months of my life. I'm crying every day, lost my boyfriend, planned on starting therapy, don't want to go back to school, nothing makes me happy, I want to do nothing at all times. Everybody's body is different, but this depression isn't even worth risking. Do not take."

• Cri...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 18, 2015

For Birth Control "This pill did tremendously help with my cramps and lighten my period. But I have thought I was losing my mind since I started it. Very depressed all the time, extreme highs and way more extreme lows, my skin has never broken out like it has since starting this pill. I've gained almost 40 pounds. No matter how I cut back and exercise more, I can't get rid of it (something I've never had a problem with). My hair is literally falling out. I'm so achy and sore all day, every day, and I don't even know what sleep is anymore. Funny enough, I didn't connect any of these symptoms to this pill, even though it all didn't start until after I started this pill. It was just another sleepless night on the net. I'll just deal with the cramps, not worth it."

• Sun...
• April 1, 2015

For Birth Control "I've been on Gildess Fe 1/20 for about 4 months now, and at first, it was great! Slowly, I started to see changes in my behavior and body... I started getting irritated more and easier, I started getting a lot more emotional than normal, and I started gaining weight, resulting in me getting depressed about my body. I spot in the middle of my cycle about a week before my period starts, and I thought this was just my body getting used to it, but it's become clockwork. I have nothing but nightmare stories with birth control, so I'm starting to feel like it's not for me."

• Hor...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 12, 2016

For Birth Control "Express Scripts switched this one in place of my Microgestin FE 1.5/30. This has been the worst experience ever. I missed taking a pill by 2 hours and I had already begun breakthrough bleeding and severe cramping. To where I had to leave the office at work and just lean over and hold my stomach. The absolute worst part is the depression. I'm crying about everything and getting upset with my boyfriend over nothing. I've only been taking this for two weeks and it's been a hellstorm. I do not recommend this brand."

• tla...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 28, 2016

For Birth Control "This is the worst birth control I have ever been on! I am 31 years old and recently had the Nexplanon removed. BIG MISTAKE!!! I never write reviews, but this birth control is the DEVIL!! While on the Nexplanon, I never had cramps, bloating, breast tenderness, or horrible mood swings. Gildess, I have all these symptoms plus paranoia and depression. I have been taking these pills for a month and a half and never have felt more insecure in my life. The weight gain is an issue as well, I gained 12 pounds within the 1st month. I realized that this birth control was making me feel crazy, anxious, and not myself, so I made an appointment for my OBGYN for a better option. I can't wait to throw these pills down the drain. Hope this is helpful."

• Rac...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 23, 2015

For Birth Control "I have been on several different kinds of birth control: pills, NuvaRing, Implanon, spermicides, condoms. All the hormones were too much for my body to handle, eventually, I had to quit trying. I had my Implanon removed after a year and a half of nonstop bleeding and suffering from severe vertigo, headaches, and depression. So I went to my doctor and expressed my concerns. She prescribed this to me, and I was so reluctant to take them. I honestly expected the worst. The first month was rough, not going to lie... my body was adjusting. I was dizzy and nauseous a lot. But then, it all stopped. My body regulated, and I couldn't be happier with this choice! My period is on time every month, and it is super light the whole time. It's amazing."

• Anonymous
• February 27, 2016

For Birth Control "I have been on this pill for about 2 years now, and it gets worse and worse each month. I have experienced horrible nausea, headaches, mood swings, and depression. I constantly have bleeding throughout the month, and my period never comes when I'm supposed to have it. It is almost as irregular and heavy as it was when I didn't take the pill. I get extremely bad cramps and bloating as well. Currently in the process of trying to switch to a new pill. Very angry."

• Amb...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 10, 2016

For Birth Control "RUN THE OTHER WAY! I started on Gildess because the mail-order pharmacy chose it as a substitute for my normal brand. I've been on it for 2 months, and I'm up 9 pounds so far despite doing the 21-day fix over the past month. Called my gyno, and she asked me to come in immediately. Rapid weight gain like that is apparently not good. Other unpleasant side effects seem to be alternating between rage and depression, acne on my face, neck, and chest (oh baby!), zero libido, long, heavy periods with a decent amount of cramping, and migraines. Having another kid wouldn't be as bad as another month on this pill."

• kap...
• March 9, 2016

For Birth Control "I just finished my first pack two days ago, and I will not be taking it again. In the beginning, I was fine. There were no symptoms, and I was feeling good. Now that it's been a month, I can tell you I'm in a place I don't recognize. Every little thing my boyfriend does, I get upset over, I'm constantly crying and paranoid, never want to get out of bed, and I'm depressed. This is miserable, and I'm hoping that within the next few days, I'll feel normal again after being off of this."

• ken...
• December 13, 2015

For Birth Control "I hated this birth control due to the lack of libido, vaginal dryness (during sex), and persistent yeast infections. The pill also caused me to feel slightly depressed. I gave it 2 stars because it did make my skin look amazing! I used the pill for six months, and after six months with yeast infections, I got off of it. I could not have sex with a yeast infection, so the pill became essentially useless. All side effects ceased as soon as I stopped this pill."

• Abi...
• April 17, 2015

For Birth Control "I have been so moody while on this! I bled the whole first month (which I let slide because my body is getting used to the hormones). But I can't get over feeling exhausted and depressed all the time. I'm switching to another kind today."

• Mel...
• September 8, 2015

For Birth Control "I was prescribed this birth control at a local health clinic. I've been on it for 2 weeks. I've been on birth control since I was 20. I'm currently 24, and this is my first time using this kind. I am not one to write reviews for anything! I feel like I really had to share my experience with this particular issue. How do I say it sucks kindly? Ever since I used this birth control, I've been so emotional. I'm not normally an emotional person. This birth control makes me so needy and sad. My boyfriend even told me he thinks something weird is going on with me. I went back to the health clinic to see if I could get a different kind. They said starting a new birth control will affect me in some sort of way and that I should wait it out for 3 months."

• GAI...
• May 27, 2016

For Birth Control "I'm 14 years old, and I've been on it for 4 months, and I hate it. I'm on it for regular periods since my blood flows too quickly, and it has done nothing. I've been on my period for 4 months, light mostly, but heavy sometimes. I also went on it for my acne, but it did nothing. I gained 4 pounds, and now I have stubborn belly fat. I also have huge stretch marks (idk if it's related, but they showed up when I took it). Also, I have no motivation anymore. Don't take this, please!"

• Sam...
• December 15, 2015

For Birth Control "I absolutely hate this pill because ever since I started it, I am angrier, more depressed, and I bleed non-stop! Literally every day since the day I started! I fear becoming anemic because of it. I do not recommend this for anyone."

• 46w...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 12, 2016

For Birth Control "I was given Gildess to help control my ovarian cysts. BIG MISTAKE! I have gained weight, feel depressed and tired, and when I do have periods now, they are horrible, painful, and really heavy. They will last indefinitely too. I have bled for over 30 days. I thought this was just my perimenopause, but after reading everyone's reviews, I felt I had the same symptoms as them and felt obligated to share."

• IfI...
• July 17, 2016

For Birth Control "We moved to a new air base, and the horrible doctors here refuse to let me have my Minastrin 24 Fe that I was on for two years. Those two years were spent on cloud nine compared to the seven months on this garbage. On Minastrin, I lost 45 pounds, had clear skin like never before, a good sex drive, was not an emotional hurricane, and never got carsick. In seven months alone on Gildess, I gained 25 pounds and counting (even with a healthy lifestyle), suffering from depression and anxiety, no sex drive, periods are horrid, my face has exploded more than going through puberty, and I am 21. Taking this makes me sick. It's a good thing my husband and I don't want a baby because with the weight gain, breakouts, and no sex drive, it won't happen while taking this trash pill."

• Anonymous
• April 29, 2019

For Birth Control "I'm 27 and had been on the same birth control since I was 15 years old. After having a baby, that brand was discontinued, and my insurance sent me Gildess. Within a few months, I started having really bad anxiety. Eventually, I started having panic attacks before work (ER nurse). My midwife wanted to put me on anxiety medication, and I didn't like that. Instead, I impulsively quit my job that I worked so hard to get. I've always been an anxious person but never this bad. Looking back, I think it's all related to the birth control. I exercise daily and eat pretty healthy and still have about a 3-pound weight fluctuation throughout my cycle with awful bloating. It's bad enough that for 1-2 weeks throughout my cycle, I have to wear a size bigger in my pants. The mood swings are awful. I tend to be level-headed, but now catch myself feeling grumpy about things that normally wouldn't bother me. One week I have a lot of energy, and the next I don't sleep well, have night sweats, and feel depressed."

• Ang...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 13, 2016

For Birth Control "2nd month on the pill, this is my 2nd review. I feel nauseous a lot. No super craving. Broke out about the same. It seems like it makes me feel super sad/anxious for about 24-48. I shouldn't start until I sat still on the last week of pills. I spotted Monday in the morning, it stopped. Now it's Wednesday and I have to use a panty liner. I will report again next month."

• Cs1...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 30, 2017

For Birth Control "I started taking Gildess about 3 years ago and have slowly put on weight that has not been affected by either diet or exercise. It wasn't until October-December 2017 that I took a break from the pill for some blood work that I realized that it was this pill that was either causing or exacerbating anxiety, depression, irritability, moodiness, and weight gain. I resumed taking the pill about ten days ago, and I have progressively felt worse every day. I felt like my old self when I was off the pill, so I'm going to get off this drug permanently. If you're experiencing the same issues I have, this birth control may be the culprit."

• ken...
• December 8, 2015

For Birth Control "I've been taking this for about 4 months, and I have never been an overly emotional person, and now all the sudden my mood swings and emotions are off the charts. I never get that sad over things, and it's made me a lot more depressed/sad. I've always had an easy period, so that wasn't affected, but my emotions are so messed up. I do not suggest this brand."