Junel Fe 24 and Depression: What Users Say

• Jul...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 25, 2020

For Birth Control "I’m not great with keeping a specific time, but I always take this pill between 11:30 a.m. and 12 p.m. This pill should take about 3-6 months to regulate in your body. Within those months, it’s normal to feel some mood swings, slight changes in period, and/or weight gain, so don’t worry. Prior to this pill, my periods were 5-7 days tops. The first period while being on this pill lasted 2 weeks, the second lasted a week. From the third month moving forward, my periods last about 3-5 days tops with no ovulation. My period dates also shift a bit. I didn’t notice any mood swings until about the 6th month. To today, I sometimes feel sad or depressed, and I won’t know why. I also cry a lot easier now. It’s nothing I’m concerned over though, not too bad, and the mood swings are easy for me to quickly get over. Positive side effect: my breasts have gotten noticeably bigger. My boyfriend has also “finished” in me multiple times with no pregnancy outcome, so the pill has been doing its job. I’d recommend."

• Jul...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 25, 2020

For Birth Control "I’m not great with keeping a specific time, but I always take this pill between 11:30 a.m. and 12 p.m. This pill should take about 3-6 months to regulate in your body. Within those months, it’s normal to feel some mood swings, slight changes in period, and/or weight gain, so don’t worry. Prior to this pill, my periods were 5-7 days tops. The first period while being on this pill lasted 2 weeks, the second lasted a week. From the third month moving forward, my periods last about 3-5 days tops with no ovulation. My period dates also shift a bit. I didn’t notice any mood swings until about the 6th month. To today, I sometimes feel sad or depressed, and I won’t know why. I also cry a lot easier now. It’s nothing I’m concerned over though, not too bad, and the mood swings are easy for me to quickly get over. Positive side effect: my breasts have gotten noticeably bigger. My boyfriend has also “finished” in me multiple times with no pregnancy outcome, so the pill has been doing its job. I’d recommend."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 20, 2022

For Birth Control "Do not take this pill. This medication has made my life a living nightmare. I have depression and anxiety, but this pill took it to a whole other level. Panic attacks, nonstop crying, intrusive thoughts, just overall a terrible time. Please use any other form of birth control."

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

For Birth Control "I don’t normally write reviews for things, but I had to take time to do this. I was on Microgestin before it switched to Junel Fe. I had gotten on the pill because of irregular periods and very 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 had no control over my emotions. I stopped taking this pill a week after I noticed the drastic change in my mood. 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 my emotions were so out of control. This pill also increased and worsened my migraines. 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. This drug should not be on the market. I’d happily pay more for my BC if it meant me not going through anything like this again."

• Emm...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 29, 2019

For Birth Control "I've encountered so many problems with this pill. Constant infections after intercourse. Smelly discharge before and after periods. Headaches, high blood pressure, mood swings, depression, anxiety, irregular periods, intense anger, zero sex drive. The thought of having sex with my partner was repulsive. It's a massive mess. I was on it for almost a year. Good thing I found out what was happening. It almost cost me to lose my child's father. It can ruin relationships. Terrible experience."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 17, 2022

For Birth Control "I was on Junel for over 2 years. For the first 2 years, it was great: lighter periods, clear skin, never got pregnant, no effect on mood. Then, all of a sudden, for the last 5 months, I’ve had terrible anxiety, depression, panic attacks, heavy periods, headaches, stomach issues, and more. I finally said screw it and decided to stop taking it altogether. It’s only been 2 days, and I already notice a major difference in my mood. I’m hoping I find something that works for me since I did start birth control in hopes of finding relief from my adenomiosis and endometriosis symptoms. I’m honestly afraid to go on birth control again, though, after my experience on this pill. I wouldn’t recommend this pill to anyone, however, for a good 2 years, it was a great option for me until things drastically went downhill."

• Ah1...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 31, 2021

For Birth Control "I recommend trying something else. I’ve read many reviews and talked to many other women who have tried Junel Fe. I do not have a history of depression, but within the first month, I was severely depressed. I could not stop crying for days. I made it through the first month, but it was very hard. I almost felt like a zombie, constantly being dismal. Not to mention, I experienced all of the side effects on the list and more. It was honestly miserable. If you are prescribed this by your doctor, please do some further research before you take it. I do not think it’s for everyone."

• Tro...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 23, 2019

For Birth Control "Terrible. I used to have a problem with acne years ago, and this birth control has made my acne just as bad, if not worse, than before. I was on Blisovi and Hailey before, with no side effects, and my skin cleared up. This birth control has put my body in a downward spiral with mood swings, depression, decreased sex drive, and again, bad acne everywhere. I maintain a good diet, good sleep, and good hydration too, and nothing has changed except this birth control."

• Can...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 14, 2020

For Birth Control "Junel is the worst birth control I have ever taken. I first started birth control 4 years ago to protect against pregnancy and regulate my period and have gone through a few brands. I paused birth control for a couple of months before starting again with Junel. As soon as I started taking this pill, my sex drive disappeared, I experienced vaginal dryness, extreme and constant breast tenderness, breast enlargement, depression, and stomach cramps. I would strongly recommend not taking this pill if you can help it. Most miserable experience I've had on birth control. I will say I didn't get pregnant and my period was regulated, so it did its job. My weight didn't fluctuate and my acne did, however, there are a few other factors that could have contributed to that, so I cannot blame Junel for that."

• Ata...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 18, 2018

For Birth Control "I was prescribed this birth control after I suddenly stopped getting my period. I had almost no side effects for the first couple of months and had a period every month, which was great. At the beginning of month 3, I broke out so bad to the point where I went to the dermatologist to get acne prescriptions to help improve my skin. Around the middle of month 4, I started getting really bad mood swings, anxiety, and depression, and would get an extremely bad migraine and chills the first day of placebo pills. The next month, my mood improved, but then I started getting headaches throughout the month and also really sore breasts, and also increased appetite. In the sixth month, I still had the headaches, my appetite decreased, the breast tenderness went away, and I started getting really bad cramps and mild nausea. I got tired of the unpredictable side effects and changed my prescription, so hopefully I won’t have the same experience!"

• Jul...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 12, 2022

For Birth Control "I was on Loestrin 24 Fe and then was given Junel. I loved it. Barely any period, absolutely no cramping, and it completely helped with my mental health. It saved my life. Now my pharmacy changed it to Blisovi, and I’m having horrible cramps and period mid-pack. And horrible mood swings and depression."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 9, 2017

For Birth Control "I'm reading all these terrible reviews, and I feel like my experience is almost exactly opposite. It's not perfect, but I'm pretty happy with the birth control. I do struggle with anxiety and depression, but if anything, I've noticed a 'leveling out' over the past month of taking Junel. I'm on the iron pills this week, though, and I've noticed my appetite go through the roof. I was really confused until I went to take the pill this morning, and it all made sense. My skin has improved a little, which I'm a little impressed with in only a month's time. I've suffered from cystic acne for years. I did spot a little in week 1 and then again for a day in week 3, but my period is much lighter than normal, and I've heard that it regulates in a few months' time."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 12, 2019

For Birth Control "This was the first birth control I had ever been on, spotting in the beginning, and I will say the positives are that I get my period for like a day and always know when it's coming. However, I've always had some depression issues, but right up until I started taking this medicine, I was the most mentally healthy I have ever been. As soon as I started taking birth control, my moods drastically changed, and I have such anxiety about everything, cry all the time, and everything scares and worries me. I lost drive and focus to do almost anything, wouldn't recommend if you already have hormone issues and imbalances because this throws you for a loop and makes you go crazy. I feel bad for the people who have to deal with it and see the changes in me, because I used to be able to feel happy, and now it's harder. Need a new birth control soon to level out my moods, and I can start feeling like myself again."

• Mis...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 8, 2021

For Birth Control "I have taken several different types/brands of birth control pills in my life. My insurance stopped covering my Lo Loestrin Fe, so my Dr. prescribed Junel Fe. I didn’t even make it a whole month. Thankfully, after 2 plus weeks of gradually getting more moody, bloated, hungry, depressed, and just overall blah, it occurred to me that the only thing changed is my BC pills. I have had horrible side effects!! Now I’m cramping. The very thing that taking BC was supposed to lessen. I searched on Loestrin’s website that they offer coupons. So it may cost a little more than before, but it will definitely be worth it. I contacted my Dr. and they immediately changed me back to the Lo Loestrin. Thank goodness!!"

• bsm...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 3, 2020

For Birth Control "Junel Fe was my first birth control, and at first, it worked really well for me. However, I soon noticed that it made my acne terrible. My periods started to get more irregular, they almost never came on my placebo week. It also made me cry almost daily for no reason, I was just really sad all of the time. When I stopped taking it, my acne decreased, and I didn’t feel the urge to cry all of the time. Works differently for everyone, but it wasn’t terrible compared to other birth controls I’ve taken."

• jay...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 6, 2020

For Birth Control "So I recently had to switch to this birth control, Junel Fe 24, from Lo Loestrin because my insurance would no longer cover it. Btw, Lo Loestrin wasn’t good for me either. It made me severely depressed and anxious. Anyways, I’m towards the end of my second pack, and I haven’t gotten my period once. My sex drive is also low, and every time I have sex, it hurts so bad (which I read is a side effect of this pill). I'm switching to a different birth control brand, and if that doesn’t work out for me, I’m seriously gonna freak out."

• Jun...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 23, 2020

For Birth Control "I have almost been on this pill for almost a month, and I don't know if it's just me, but I take my pill at night. And then feel depression in the morning and now feeling anxiety. I don't even know why because my life is great! The only thing I could think right now is this new pill I just started. As a kid, I used to have depression and anxiety, I haven’t felt those sad feelings in about 10 years now. My doctor said to give it about 3 months, but after seeing other people’s reviews and info on this pill, I just don’t know. I might stop before it gets bad off because the side effects are already rubbing off on me."

• Anonymous
• November 27, 2021

For Birth Control "Please, whatever you do, do not take this pill. In my opinion, I have always dealt with anxiety and depression, but never like this before. Nonstop thoughts racing through my mind and random moments of sadness and crying. This pill has been debilitating, and I cannot function on it. I don't like it. I took it for my ovarian cysts, and I’d almost rather deal with that pain than the mental suffering this has caused me. Not only mentally painful but physically. I have blood clots in my legs and feel like I have one in my chest. As with every birth control, everyone’s body acts differently, but take this into consideration."

• Anonymous
• November 27, 2021

For Birth Control "Please, whatever you do, do not take this pill. In my opinion, I have always dealt with anxiety and depression, but never like this before. Nonstop thoughts racing through my mind and random moments of sadness and crying. This pill has been debilitating, and I cannot function on it. I don't like it. I took it for my ovarian cysts, and I’d almost rather deal with that pain than the mental suffering this has caused me. Not only mentally painful but physically. I have blood clots in my legs and feel like I have one in my chest. As with every birth control, everyone’s body acts differently, but take this into consideration."