Junel Fe 1/20 and Depression: What Users Say (Page 2)

• Coc...
• April 8, 2019

For Birth Control "My OBGYN prescribed this specific pill for me because I haven’t been on birth control since I was 19 (I’m 25 now). He said it would be easygoing for me because it’s basically the mildest form of BC I can take. My first month on the pill was rough, I felt so nauseous, especially the hour before I’m supposed to take my BC. I had constant headaches & tender breasts (the doctor warned me of that & said it should subside after the 1st month, it didn’t). My breasts grew after the 2nd month on the pill, but my anxiety also heightened. I had 3 panic attacks during my 2nd month. I was thankful that my period was lighter. Haven’t had sex since I’ve been on the pill, I’d say it has lowered my sex drive only because it’s made me so depressed, anxious, and forgetful that I don’t even think about sex. I’m too moody. The 3rd month was awful and I hit a real low, I’ve become more critical of myself and unhappy with everything in my life."

• ABa...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 17, 2018

For Birth Control "Before I started this medication, I had read reviews of it, and I was horrified. It's now been a year and four months that I've been on Junel Fe, and I honestly haven't encountered any issues. Before I was on birth control, I was depressed, had anxiety attacks very often, always tired, had my period for at least six days, and had a lot of cramping. I never had any issues with having acne. Ever since I started, I feel like a whole new person. Zero anxiety attacks, no longer depressed, very light periods that last three days (at most), no cramping at all, and still no issues with acne. I constantly see reviews that other people leave saying that they're constantly nauseous or having headaches or gaining weight, but I personally haven't had any of these issues. Although this medication doesn't work well for some people, it works perfectly for me! Don't let other reviews discourage you. I almost didn't start using this medication due to the bad reviews I had read. I'm also glad I'm not pregnant."

• Nic...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 10, 2019

For Birth Control "I was on Junel Fe 1/20 for 2 weeks, and I changed instantly as a person, my personality changed dramatically, I didn’t even know who I was after being on this. I got depressed, I cried for no reason, I felt really crazy from it. As soon as I stopped taking it, I felt instantly better, I became myself again."

• Gir...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 30, 2020

For Birth Control "I was on the medication for 4 months. In the beginning, my period was fine. As time went on, my period got lighter and lighter and was eventually 2 days long. Usually, I have a 4-day period, so this freaked me out. I also had yellow/brown discharge. I took pregnancy tests and had blood work done, and I'm not pregnant. I was very emotional from start to finish. I cried every week, nearly daily. My depression and anxiety was at its worst in a while. The only good thing it did for me was I guess lighten my periods (way too much) and clear up my acne perfectly."

• Jan...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 9, 2020

For Birth Control "I’ve been on Junel Fe 1/20 for 10 months, and it has sucked! When I first started taking the pill, I had a period for like 10 days, and it was super heavy. My gynecologist put me on this for my PCOS, and it’s my first time ever taking birth control. This pill has made me over-emotional, angry, and I cry like a lot. It has worsened my depression, and it also has made my hair grow back faster, like underneath my chin. I’ve even noticed hair growing in places that it shouldn’t be. I get severe headaches, and my heart races a lot on this medication. I am quitting this birth control, and I will not try any new ones. I do not recommend this birth control at all."

• Cur...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 17, 2016

For Birth Control "I actually recently got off of Junel, and since being off, I realized I'm much happier, my sex drive has increased, I've been able to lose weight, and I'm not downright exhausted all the time. When I was still on it, I'd notice right before my period, I'd turn into a(n even more) psychotic, emotional wreck. I am also significantly less depressed now. I did not like the pill, and these are my personal experiences, but of course, everyone reacts differently to medication."

• mom...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 26, 2014

For Birth Control "Month 1 OK. Nothing that noticeable. Month 2 extremely tired all the time. No patience, overemotional, beyond ragey. Full period on the second week of the pack. Dry, flaky patch on my usually non-acne face. Headaches, some abdominal cramps. Want to give it a chance, but the tiredness I can't deal with... the side effects of feeling depressed."

• NYC...
• February 8, 2017

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "DO NOT go near this pill... gave it a few months to kick in per my gyno, and I have no idea how she prescribed this horrible medication. I took it to regulate my period, and now instead of one, I get two a month every two weeks or actually whenever it feels like coming. It has made me EXTREMELY emotional, sad, and easily angered by things that are normally nothing. I also got crazy hungry more than the typical PMS'ing days before. I can't stress enough to stay away from this."

• BC2...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 27, 2020

For Birth Control "I have been on this birth control, Junel Fe 1/20, for 2 1/2 almost 3 years. The first 2 years were great. Cleared up my acne, no PMS symptoms, period was light, no side effects. This past year or 1/2 year, I have had nothing but issues. Periods are a bit heavier and irregular, for the first time, I got migraines 3 days in a row with some nausea. I also have started having panic attacks, a bit of depression, and anxiety, which is so unlike me. Thinking about going off of this."

• Anonymous
• September 20, 2020

"The first month I felt horrible. The next few months after, I could feel my body getting used to it. About six months in, I was slowly losing myself. I would lash out at my kids, boyfriend, and even got into an altercation at my workplace. I stopped taking it midway through because I felt I was losing my mind. I’ve been off it about 2-3 months now, but I now suffer from severe, crippling depression and panic attacks and crying spells. My doctor tried to put me on Prozac, which I refused at first. I had to take a leave of absence from work because there were days I couldn’t get out of bed nor stop the crying spells. I went through a week of waking up between 5-6 a.m., vomiting and having panic attacks that almost landed me in the ER. I lost over 20 pounds, stopped eating, and had no appetite. I describe it as “living inside my own head”-it’s awful and dark. I am 34 years old and never suffered from depression. I DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS BIRTH CONTROL TO MY WORST ENEMY."

• Tap...
• September 7, 2016

For Birth Control "For 5 years, I took Junel. For the first year, it was fine. Lighter periods and fewer cramps. Year 2, I started suffering from increased anxiety and what everyone else decided was depression, even though I insisted it was fatigue. I was as tired as if I had the flu all the time, and the week before my period, I could not handle a thing. So I got therapy and started eating healthy to treat what my doctors insisted were not symptoms of the pills. I worked out, ate healthy consistently, but the weight kept coming on at 5 to 10 lbs a year. My sex drive completely disappeared, which doctors will blame on the depression. I finally couldn't handle it and went off two weeks ago. I feel like crying at how much better I feel. It's like I woke up from a coma."

• Ril...
• August 24, 2017

For Birth Control "I've been on Junel Fe for about a year now without any problems. My doctor recommended this brand for my extremely painful cramps I'd get at the beginning of every cycle, which would often lead me to throw up from the pain. Upon first starting it, I immediately noticed a positive change. My period lasts about 4 days now (as opposed to 7 days) with very light bleeding and hardly any cramps. Also, even though I've read bad reviews of this birth control due to anxiety and depression-related side effects, I've never experienced any, and I've been diagnosed with both (prior to being on this brand of birth control). Junel Fe is a great product."

• Sad...
• May 27, 2015

For Birth Control "I'm on my second month on this medication, and it is absolutely terrible. I'm so hormonal, and I feel depressed most of the time. My breasts are so tender it hurts to wear a bra or do anything. I would not recommend."

• KiK...
• November 30, 2018

For Birth Control "My dr gave me Junel Fe for my horrible periods due to fibroids. First month was awful. Major headaches, felt like I was PMS'ing 24 hours a day the entire month, major depression, hunger, and cystic breakouts. But my period came during placebo week, and I have never experienced such a light period before. Second month had improvement on ALL side effects. Period was still light, but it came for a couple of days, stopped, then came back. Third month, headaches and PMS symptoms are gone except for the period week, and my skin is perfectly clear!!! Super light period and minor cramping. No breakthrough bleeding, but I am very diligent about taking the pill at the same time each night. I set an alarm on my phone so I don't forget. Overall, I have been very happy with results. You do have to suffer through a couple of months of adjustment, but after that, it clears up. The benefits outweigh the negatives. I even started a low carb diet and have lost 11 pounds so far while taking this BCP."

• m f...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 24, 2019

For Birth Control "I never feel compelled to review anything, but this pill ruined me so badly that I feel I need to. I only lasted 2 weeks taking this pill. When on Junel Fe 1/20, I had horrible headaches, nausea, and depression. I cried constantly for no reason, I blew up on people for no reason, and my skin began to break out horribly. The worst part was the bloating. I have been bloated day and night for over a week. My weight is up from the water weight. I’m so uncomfortable 24/7. I stopped taking the pill and am now withdrawal bleeding heavy blood with the worst cramps I’ve ever had in my life. DO NOT take this birth control. It is ruining my life."

• Aan...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 8, 2019

For Birth Control "I’ve been on Junel for almost two years, and wow, those first 3 months were TERRIBLE! The nausea, anxiety, mood swings... it was insane! But after 3 months, it all went away. I had light, regular periods. It was really a great pill, I gained maybe 5 lbs on Junel, which wasn’t that bad compared to the 20 lbs on a pill I was on years ago. HOWEVER, the reason I’m going off of it is because I feel like it changed me completely as a person. I feel like I have no emotions, which is terrible because of my patient, loving boyfriend. I feel like this birth control protected me from emotions because I feel so disconnected with the world and myself. Also, this pill ended my sex drive... like *bang* I just can’t feel anything to get aroused. Smh, I hope this all goes away after stopping next week!"

• Kel...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 24, 2019

For Birth Control "I was on Microgestin before it switched to Junel Fe. I had gotten on the pill because of irregular periods and severe migraines around my period. I started taking this in December, and by the end of January, I had full-on depression and my anxiety was through the roof. I got into massive arguments with friends and family over nothing. I had no control over my emotions. It’s taken me almost 6 months to get to a spot where getting up every day isn’t a battle. I went to a therapist for the first time in my life because I felt so out of control. This pill also increased and worsened my migraines, which is incredibly frustrating. I’m not sure how a pill like this is on the market. I’d warn anyone who has any sort of anxiety or family history of depression to stay far away from this pill. I don’t feel like myself anymore, and the worst part is I’ll have to try another birth control just to try to feel like myself again. I’m so disappointed in this pill."

• Mar...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 20, 2019

For Birth Control "For what it's worth, I started this already having high anxiety and bipolar, compounded with an eating disorder - so the points about weight gain and mood swings were pretty freaky to me. I started taking it due to endometriosis-related period pain. Junel Fe 1/20 has worked perfectly for me; the only change I've noticed is that I don't spend a week in bed barfing from the pain. If you have bipolar II and are worried about the complaints of anxiety/depression worsening, give it a try. It worked just fine for me alongside Latuda."

• Fle...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 13, 2019

For Birth Control "OMG, this birth control was a disgrace. I can't believe it's FDA approved. I felt so depressed and so anxious to the point where I was crying all the time, and I couldn't even get to sleep at night. I tried to make myself at least finish the first pack, but I couldn't. I've never felt such profound sorrow in my life. Mood returned to normal after discontinuing."

• Anonymous
• March 15, 2019

For Birth Control "I have been taking this pill for 9 months. I don’t know how I made it through the first three months because I was constantly dizzy, nauseous, throwing up, I gained 10 pounds, and I started feeling sad and irritated all the time. Well, it’s 9 months now, and most of the symptoms have gone away, but I am still really depressed. My mood swings are off the charts, and I lack motivation for anything. It regulated my period, which is really great, but I don’t think it’s worth my mental health. I’m going off it."

• Anonymous
• March 15, 2019

For Birth Control "I have been taking this pill for 9 months. I don’t know how I made it through the first three months because I was constantly dizzy, nauseous, throwing up, I gained 10 pounds, and I started feeling sad and irritated all the time. Well, it’s 9 months now, and most of the symptoms have gone away, but I am still really depressed. My mood swings are off the charts, and I lack motivation for anything. It regulated my period, which is really great, but I don’t think it’s worth my mental health. I’m going off it."

• Anonymous
• March 15, 2019

For Birth Control "I have been taking this pill for 9 months. I don’t know how I made it through the first three months because I was constantly dizzy, nauseous, throwing up, I gained 10 pounds, and I started feeling sad and irritated all the time. Well, it’s 9 months now, and most of the symptoms have gone away, but I am still really depressed. My mood swings are off the charts, and I lack motivation for anything. It regulated my period, which is really great, but I don’t think it’s worth my mental health. I’m going off it."

• Anonymous
• February 2, 2020

For Birth Control "Went on this about a year ago, it cleared my skin, had no weight gain, and very light periods. Some breakthrough bleeding in the beginning, but that’s normal. Unfortunately, for the past few months, I have gotten two periods each month that are heavier than my periods before I started birth control. The worst part is that it has completely wrecked my mood, I cry at least once a day, I have no energy, and never feel like myself. I have had no history of mental health issues, but this genuinely makes me depressed."

• Man...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 25, 2021

For Birth Control "I've only been taking Junel Fe 1/20 for 2 months now (I have my 3rd month, but I don't know if I'm going to take it). I get my prescription online through a service, and the only reason I switched to Junel Fe was that I had to renew my subscription and they didn't pick back up where I left off. I figured I'd give it a few months and see what happened. I mostly take birth control to help with my ovarian cysts and regulation. I immediately noticed with this medication that I have a lot more pain and cramps. It also did not regulate my period, as I have missed it since I've been taking this medication. I also struggle with anxiety, and it not only doubled it but has made me feel extremely depressed. Also, I have relatively clear skin, but I've been having acne breakouts since starting. I already messaged my doctor to see about changing."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 18, 2021

For Birth Control "Junel Fe 1/20 was the worst experience ever! First, I became anxious and depressed and had no sex drive. My primary care physician put me on anxiety medication. Then I gained so much weight that was never like me, especially while dieting, then night sweats... The last straw was when I bled for a month straight... I wish I had looked up the reviews for this sooner because I would have stopped this way sooner."