Junel Fe 1.5/30 and Headaches: What Users Say

• Ali...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 5, 2020

For Birth Control "Wishing I would have read reviews on Junel Fe 1.5/30 before taking this pill. I've been taking it for about 1 year, and I didn't really notice it until my boyfriend pointed out that I've become more angry, upset, I cry more often, constant headaches. I'm just super moody, and I've gained some weight. The ONLY thing I like about it is that I don't have any periods, which is lovely, but not with all the side effects. I'm definitely switching to another birth control or just getting off it completely."

• Ann...
• December 14, 2011

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I tried this medication based on recommendations from my doctor. First, read ALL the information about the pill before taking it. My doctor prescribed this to me knowing I suffer from severe migraines (it was in my medical history and discussed). It says in the description NOT to take this if you suffer from migraines. So aside from that, here is what this pill has done to me: extreme and heavy bleeding for 14 days now (and it's showing no signs of stopping), body soreness, breast soreness, increased headaches, extreme eye pain, extreme fatigue, extreme mood swings, loss of appetite and weight, heavy cramping, chest pains, difficulty breathing, and loss of libido."

• Hea...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 17, 2020

For Birth Control "My doctor increased my dose of Junel to the 1.5/30 28-day, and I started having awful tension headaches. The headaches were over my eyes, so I thought I had a sinus infection. After 3 weeks of headaches on most days (getting no relief from Motrin, Excedrin, etc.), I realized it was from the hormonal increase in the Junel. I’ve also noticed that my appetite has increased this month. It’s not a good pill for me, I've never experienced headaches like this from any other BC pill."

• Nic...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 13, 2018

For Birth Control "Listen, I have been taking Junel Fe 1.5/30 birth control for 2 weeks, and my side effects are nausea, occasional vomiting, low sex drive, dry vagina, painful vagina, dizziness, insomnia, weird heart fluttery feelings, and headaches. It's been two weeks, and I genuinely feel near death. Ohhh, and I've started to get bumps on my face. Getting off of this as soon as I possibly can."

• 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."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 1, 2019

For Birth Control "Worst birth control on the planet. I experienced every negative side effect immediately after starting it (nausea, headaches, bloating, fatigue, complete brain fog, dizziness, horrible cystic acne), and now, after deciding to completely quit it 4 months later due to these side effects, I got diagnosed with a DVT. A freaking blood clot in my leg, after being on this for only 4 months. And, after reading other reviews, it doesn't sound like I am the only one who has experienced this. Hundreds of dollars later for tests and medication, now I have to take blood thinners for 3 months. Stay away from this medication!"

• Jan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 26, 2020

For Birth Control "I've only been taking Junel Fe 1.5/30 for 12 days and so far, so good. I was really worried because of all the horrible reviews, but honestly... nothing has changed. No headaches or nausea... no hair loss, no difference in appetite... the ONLY thing is that one night I did have slight aches in my lower legs, but that went away. Also, my breasts are sensitive, but not really painful. Maybe I'm reviewing it too soon, but so far, so good."

• nda...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 4, 2020

For Birth Control "I have been on Junel FE for almost a year and a half, and I am miserable. My gyno did the right thing and put me on a low dose, but after being on it for so long, I have noticed some side effects: weight gain, extreme headaches, my personality and emotions definitely changed. The one thing that helped was my period became a lot lighter, but I did have one month where I skipped a period. I am done feeling this way, so I have an appointment with my gyno to insert an IUD :("

• 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."

• Lee...
• March 20, 2018

"I have been taking Junel 1.5 for 2 years. I am 49 and had never been on birth control before. My gynecologist put me on this because I’m going through perimenopause, and she said this would control some of the severe symptoms I was having. I gave this a “2” because it did lessen the heavy bleeding I was having, but it worsened the headaches, night sweats, and the big kicker - now I mysteriously have high blood pressure. Two doctors and a pharmacist said they believe it is from Junel 1.5, so I am stopping it. I am in excellent health and eat ultra-clean. Make sure you get your blood pressure checked regularly if you take this."

• gol...
• May 7, 2016

For Birth Control "My OB-GYN switched me to Junel 1.5/30 after taking Sprintec for 4 months. The Sprintec was fine, except I noticed breakouts. I now realize that the breakouts were due to a skincare product, and that switching to Junel is the worst thing that's happened to me. I have constant mood swings, I cry all the time for no reason, I have a CONSTANT throbbing headache, I have no sex drive whatsoever, my appetite has changed, and somehow my breasts got smaller. I stopped taking it and I'm switching back to Sprintec as soon as I can. Horrible, horrible birth control."

• ali...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 22, 2017

For Birth Control "I have been on Junel Fe for about 2.5 years on and off, and I've about had it. I should've known when I first began because I got headaches endlessly when I started and gained weight (plus it was my freshman year of college, so double the weight), and my skin has suffered as well. This pill is the absolute worst. I have to take it the same time every day or I start spotting, and I have never been this moody. Switching to Kyleena next month."

• Bir...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 25, 2017

For Birth Control "I switched to this birth control after being on another pill for five years. I've been on this pill for three months. I've gained noticeable weight, solely because I feel like I can't stop eating. Even more so, I'm exhausted all the time, my energy is low. I'm a very active person and it's becoming increasingly difficult to keep up with the workouts. This is NOT me. I've also had headaches (and migraines) almost every day. These headaches are debilitating. I've had to call out of work because my head was pounding and I was overwhelmed with nausea. I'm currently working with my OB to find an alternative. I'm sure this pill would be great for someone, but it's not the one for me."

• shg...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 5, 2022

For Birth Control "I was prescribed Junel Fe 1.5/30 by my fertility doctor in advance of IVF. I took this drug for about 2 1/2 cycles (no break) in total. During the first month, I experienced almost no notable side effects—some bloating, slight headaches, slight nausea, tender breasts, etc.—which are pretty normal. Within the first week of pack two, however, I sunk into a place of what I can only call complete hopelessness. I’m not even being dramatic in the slightest. I had literally never felt so low, so full of absolute despair, in my entire life. I have always been an extremely strong and stable person mentally and emotionally, and even I couldn’t understand why I was feeling so absolutely… hopeless. I would sit in bed and feel like there was no point in getting up. I felt drugged and… awful. Like someone had stripped all the life out of living. AWFUL drug. Beware. This isn’t even listed as a potential side effect. And it IS SO BAD."

• jmm...
• March 26, 2017

For Birth Control "I had a terrible experience on this - I was on a similar generic pill, and my insurance/pharmacy sent this instead. Within days of being on it, I had headaches, nausea, mood swings. I also have not been able to sleep through the night in the last few weeks. I have thrown up about 6 times in the 3 weeks I started the pills, and my boyfriend thinks I am insane from all the mood swings. I am switching back to the other generic pill - which I realize you shouldn't be able to tell a difference, but for some reason...I can. What a nightmare."

• Pru...
• September 1, 2017

For Birth Control "Awful pill! Caused extreme nausea and fatigue and terrible headaches daily. It made me almost impossible to function, after three days, I decided to call it quits. Do not recommend."