Junel Fe 1.5/30 and Depression: What Users Say

• jon...
• March 2, 2020

For Birth Control "I am a healthy 20-year-old. I've only been on birth control for a little over a year now. Previous to Junel Fe 1.5/30, I was on Blisovi. But last time I went to get my prescription filled, they gave me Junel instead. I've just completed my second pack. In this second month, I've really been struggling, these past couple of weeks, I am nauseated every day, usually at night. I've lost my appetite completely, I rarely eat anymore. This is REALLY starting to worry me. I'm losing weight, my breast size has increased. I have terrible anxiousness, and I feel so in my head, depressed with scary dark thoughts (not like me at ALL). I also feel very detached/unemotional. TMI, I don't think I'm pregnant, but I've been having irregular periods, they come close to the middle of the pack instead of during the inactive pills. My periods are all dark blood (black and brown) and usually very clotted-looking. I'm not bashing this pill, I just don't think it's really agreeing with my body. I hope this helps someone!"

• Col...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 30, 2019

For Birth Control "I’ve been reading a lot of these reviews and, unfortunately, have read that most people have really bad experiences with this birth control. Personally, this is the first birth control I have taken that hasn’t completely ruined my life. My boobs have gotten bigger, I’m finally filling out, my acne is clearing up, and I haven’t had any nausea or depression. Strangely, while most reviewers have noticed a decrease in sex drive, mine has increased, and vaginal dryness is not a thing for me. I think it is safe to say that this form of birth control is not for everyone, but it is worth a shot."

• Ste...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 7, 2019

For Birth Control "Junel is by far the worst pill I have ever been on. I was not one to believe that switching a brand name for another brand would have any effect on me since the hormone level would stay the same. Guess again. My pharmacy switched my pill after my 3-month trial of Microgestin 1.5/30 after I had finally leveled out after 3 months, I had no anxiety, my period was regular. Well, I got Junel in its place, and it’s been a living nightmare. I was placed on the pill 15 years ago for anxiety and depression. Junel made me feel like I was on the verge of a mental breakdown daily, anxiety-ridden, uninterested in almost everything. Inside, my head felt chaotic 24/7. And that was only one month of being on it. I’m a sound human being, it’s crazy what this medicine can do. My doctor has written me a prescription for only Microgestin. Beware."

• TER...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 31, 2019

For Birth Control "I truly wish I could’ve seen the reviews to this horrible medication before I started taking it. I was put on birth control at 15 and took it for 3 years. I didn’t have any issues with my previous birth control. I stopped taking it, though, at 18 and was just recently prescribed Junel to help break down my ovarian cysts. Worst decision ever. I bled for nearly 3 weeks, my breasts doubled in size (I already have large breasts, so this made them massive), making them painful and heavy. I haven’t felt severe depression or really dark thoughts in years, but since starting Junel, I was completely out of control of my own thoughts, and every day felt like I was going to have a breakdown. Felt like a completely different person, and I couldn’t stop it. Gained easily 10 pounds, and my body became extremely itchy, like rashes and hives. I am so glad I decided to stop taking it. DO NOT USE THIS BC."

• Ced...
• July 24, 2019

For Birth Control "When I first started taking the pill, I didn’t notice anything until a month later. I started noticing my personality change. I became really mean and had low patience with my kids. I knew something was wrong. I kept picking fights with my baby father over really small things, like I should be taking bipolar meds or something. I gained a lot of weight in my stomach area. Also, I couldn’t really get sleep at night because I felt so depressed and stressed. I will never prefer this birth control to anyone. All these side effects from one little small pill, it’s not that serious, just use protection."

• Bri...
• June 14, 2020

For Birth Control "I've struggled for years with BC. I have endometriosis, and most birth control makes me anxious and very emotional/depressed. I've also struggled with being exhausted on the pill. Ever since I've started this pill, I've felt pretty great! I was on Junel Fe, the lower dose, then they upped it to 1.5 because I was bleeding for so long through my pill and still getting cysts, unfortunately. The only side effects I have noticed so far are I struggle to sleep now, and I'm not really used to that, so it does make me frustrated when I wake up and it's either been a bad night's rest or I'm just constantly waking up. I've even been taking two melatonin, and well, that only helps for a 4-hour night's rest, and I wake up groggy."

• Anonymous
• March 28, 2021

For Birth Control "OMG! Reading these reviews explains so much! To start off, I'm a 19-year-old, and this was the first ever birth control I've been on. - Nausea my first month, but it went away. - INSANELY BIG APPETITE. I'm 5'3 and I gained 25 lbs in 6 months. - Depression. I was never depressed my entire life, and on this pill, I became so sad it's crazy... one week, every day that week, I would wake up at 5 and have these crazy thoughts about my boyfriend cheating on me. - Decreased sex drive, vaginal dryness... - RECURRING YEAST INFECTION EVERY SINGLE MONTH. I never had a yeast infection in my life. - Boobs swollen and tender even after being on it for 6 months. - Positive side: I didn't get pregnant on it. The side effects weren't terrible, but the only reason I'm giving such low stars is because of its effect on my mental health. Why does this pill do this to you? I'm just going to use condoms and hope for the best, lmao."

• kb1...
• June 6, 2021

For Birth Control "I started with the lower dose 1/20. It didn't give me my period, so I asked my doctor to up my dose to 1.5/30. About 2 weeks after taking it, I got my period, but about 2 weeks after, I started feeling TERRIBLE side effects. I felt depressed and started to have bad anxiety and panic attacks. I had heart palpitations and couldn't even eat anything without getting nauseous and throwing up. I lost 5 pounds in less than 2 weeks. I thought I was just mentally unstable, but after taking a break off them for 2 days, I started to feel normal again. These pills were literally making me SICK. I just tried taking the lower dose of the birth control today and almost had a panic attack. Even the lower dose doesn't do me well at all. I am officially stopping this medication immediately, it's confirmed that it is bad for my body, my mind, and my overall health. Please consider your birth control as a suspect before anything else, your every birth control can affect you differently."

• Gre...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 24, 2018

For Birth Control "I took this for around 6 months, and I'm not pregnant yet. I'm moving to a different pill because it mainly caused some depression and weird mood swings. I didn't see a change in my weight, and my skin did clear slightly. My breasts grew about a cup. It's an effective pill, just not for me because of the effects it had on my mood."

• pup...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 5, 2020

For Birth Control "This is the WORST birth control I have ever taken. I have been between 3 different types due to insurance. This made me depressed the whole month I was on it. It completely changed my personality. I have had headaches often, which I would rarely have before. Microgestin 1.5/30 is what I was on before, and it was great. Please don't take this if you want to have stable mental health. I had no prior history of poor mental health until this."

• Veg...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 13, 2021

For Birth Control "I am shocked to see so many bad reviews for this! I started on the lower dose Junel in January 2014 and experienced breakthrough bleeding on and off for a few months. It was annoying since I had just gotten married, and my husband can't stand the sight of blood. So, I switched to a different pill. The new pill caused depression and anxiety. I then switched to another one, causing even worse anxiety. So, my doctor decided that since I didn't have any emotional issues with Junel, I should just try the stronger pill. Since being on the stronger pill, I have gained a little weight (but not sure that is due to the pill rather than a happy marriage), and my hair has thinned out a little (only noticeable to me). Other than that, my emotional issues due to my birth control are GONE. I would recommend trying this pill for about 2 months before scratching it from your list, all birth control pills will take a little bit to get used to. Hope this helps!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 24, 2021

For Birth Control "I was on the lower dose and constantly had breakthrough bleeding for a month straight, so my doctor switched me to the higher dose. Within a year, I gained 20 lbs. Before this, I never had any problem with weight gain and could always lose weight, no problem. Now, it is so difficult to lose any weight. It made me super depressed, and I have really bad anxiety now. It completely depleted all of my sex drive."

• Liz...
• April 14, 2017

For Birth Control "Absolutely terrible. Mood swings, tears, weight gain. Seriously, just don't. I am not an emotional person at all. But I would cry, get upset, and become severely depressed. A week off of the pill and I am back to my normal self."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 12, 2018

For Birth Control "I started birth control to help with my excruciating periods (average of 17 days long and horrible cramping). And since, I've experienced horrible breakouts, mood swings, a huge increase in anxiety and depression, and my sex drive is practically non-existent. As well as those, I have a decreased appetite. I hardly eat, yet I'm gaining weight, and it's all going to my boobs and thighs. My periods have gone from 17 days to about 10, but I still have horrible cramps and sickness. I was off of the pill for about 2 weeks, and I felt like my normal self. Less anxious about everything, less moody, my sex drive increased, but when I started taking them again, it all went back to the horrible way I was before. I don't really recommend this brand."

• Sou...
• April 20, 2017

For Birth Control "One of the worst experiences I've ever had. I'm 38 and have never had skin issues. Well, now my skin is worse than my 14-year-old daughter's skin. Within a week of going on this pill, the left side of my face developed cystic acne. A full month in and it was all over my face. I attempted to stick with it to see if I would adjust, but it has gotten worse. Today is Wednesday and I quit taking the pill on Saturday; I'm hoping to see an improvement soon. I'm not sure if it was the pill or my skin, but I'm also pretty depressed and have lots of anxiety. I'd really rather have another baby than deal with the results of this pill."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 3, 2019

For Birth Control "I have been on birth control for 8 years now, and in January of 2018, my doctors switched me to Junel Fe 1.5/30. It was effective, with my periods being lighter and my acne going away, but over the 7 months, I was severely depressed for no reason, which has never happened to me. I was so moody and stressed all the time! I also lost SOOO much hair. I had tried everything to fix my hair falling out, from shampoos to getting my blood tested to see if I had any issues, and nothing worked! It never occurred to me that it could have been my birth control since all the other ones have never done this to me. Turns out it was. After my family doctor suggested it probably was hormonal issues and it might have been the Junel, I stopped cold turkey. It has been about 5 months since I’ve stopped, and my hair is starting to come back, but I will NEVER use Junel again! Whatever was in it messed my hormones up so bad!"

• Ros...
• August 15, 2015

For Birth Control "Not pregnant, so at least there's that. Beyond that, I'm not terribly impressed. Dramatic mood swings; just this morning, I went from being a ray of sunshine to crying on the floor in my room because my jeans were tight. This happens several times a week. Which brings me to the next lovely side effect; weight gain. I have an active career (I'm a dancer), and I work out 5-6 days a week. I have a very healthy diet, which I monitor carefully. Yet, I have gained about 8-10 pounds since starting this pill. I normally have very clear skin, but have noticed some breaking out along my cheekbones and jawline. The best one; my libido is in the basement. I'm at the end of month four. Calling the doctor in the morning. Not worth the depression, especially."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 9, 2017

For Birth Control "I've been on this BC for about 6 mo. It's done its job as for not allowing pregnancy, so I give it a 4. But for the first 2 weeks I was on it, I was so sick-waking up at night drenched in sweat, lower back pain, cramps, no appetite, my face broke out, you name it... Now I only have cramps off and on, bloated, my period is lighter, but I have been depressed for at least 2 months. My appetite goes from nothing at all to wanting to eat everything. I have NEVER cried this much in my entire life. Also, I will get headaches for a week to 2 weeks straight, which has never happened to me. Everyone's body is different, this pill might do great things for you, but it has not worked well with my body."

• gg8...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 13, 2019

For Birth Control "I guess this BC is definitely doing what it's supposed to. I was taking it primarily for my irregular periods and ovarian cysts, so it seems to be helping with that. My OB-GYN switched me to this from Taytulla, but ever since I've been on Junel, I have had anxiety and depression that had been slowly getting worse and having pretty bad mood swings. I was convinced everything was going to go wrong and was stressed about things I had no reason to. Didn't have this experience on Taytulla, so I'm definitely not taking Junel anymore."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 22, 2017

For Birth Control "Pros - Haven’t gotten pregnant. Cons - Broke out (never had acne), irregular periods (also spotting), emotionally depressed, super bipolar, massive weight loss (I’m already skinny). I do not recommend this."

• Cbp...
• December 4, 2017

For Birth Control "Great for birth control. I switched from Tri-Sprintec because of spotting. I have been on Junel for about 8 months now but have noticed weight gain and depression. Getting off of it and hopefully switching to something else."

• Tan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 25, 2018

For Birth Control "I took Junel Fe 1.5/30 for three months before I switched to a new birth control. It did effectively prevent pregnancy and gave me a regular period. The first couple of weeks consisted of terrible nausea and extremely tender breasts. The nausea did subside after the first month or so. My breasts have been tender the entire three months and have grown very much. Although I did not gain weight, I did have really bad mood swings, non-existent sex drive, and depression! I didn't notice until the end of the 2nd month going into the third one, but I was constantly unhappy and my mood could switch at the drop of a dime. Before taking this pill, my sex drive with my boyfriend was extremely high, but after I began taking it, we've gone nearly 2 months without even touching each other because of me (feel so bad). The pills affect everyone differently, so it really is trial and error."

• hol...
• September 18, 2017

For Birth Control "So, I've been on this birth control for about 2 months, and so far I haven't had many problems with it. I was on Gildess until it got 'recalled,' and I LOVED it. So until then, I have been on 4 different birth controls, and I was on the Junel 1/20 for 3 months, and that made me gain weight. I was depressed and mean and had no sex drive. So now I have tried this one, and it is going really well. I like that I don't take the pills for a week. My moods are normal, I'm losing weight easily, I'm sexually active. But the only thing that sucks is I have back acne, and I've never had that before. They're huge zits and super painful, so I would like tips on how to calm those down! But other than that, it's a pretty good birth control so far!"

• Sml...
• February 17, 2017

For Acne "I went on this for acne, and it worked the first go-around. I stopped for like 6-9 months, and then went back on it, and now my face is completely dried out every day. I'm bloated, finding myself completely emotional about things I would never find upsetting, depressed, and now I'm bleeding at random times and does not regulate my period. A big no from me."

• Kit...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 5, 2023

For Birth Control "I started back on birth control in November 2022 on Hailey Fe 1.5/30. For some reason, my last RX at my pharmacy changed to Junel 1.5/30. This has been my first pack, and I’m on my last week and have quit it and will not be taking it again. I have bled the entire month, have been lethargic, angry, sad, starving, zero sex drive. This stuff is terrible. Not sure why it would be so different than the Hailey, but I’m done with it and will not take it again."