Larin Fe 1/20 and Cramps: What Users Say

• Kkp...
• December 27, 2019

For Birth Control "Larin Fe 1/20 has been kind of good so far. I was recently switched to this brand from my other brand, Junel Fe 1/20. On this new brand, Larin, I have had horrible headaches and random cramps throughout the month. I did have a pregnancy scare because I had some symptoms of pregnancy due to the switch of brands, but it turns out that Larin did do its job at preventing pregnancy. My periods are much lighter, and I don’t have much cramping when I get them. Overall, Larin is great! Just gotta let your body get used to it after a few packs!"

• BLR...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 25, 2020

For Birth Control "I started Larin FE back in Nov 2019. First time being on BC. Struggled with hormonal acne and just wanted better protection with my sex life. When starting, had breast tenderness and cramping for a bit (prob lasted a month or two), and my boobs def grew as a result. My face, however, cleared up TREMENDOUSLY. I love this birth control, and I’m happy I didn’t have to try multiple ones or experience severe side effects like the other individuals who posted a review had stated. One thing I noticed, however, is I bruise far more easily... first three months I was bruising so bad I’d wake up every morning with random bruises and have no recollection of bumping into anything at all. Brought this up to my doctor, and she said it’s not common for bruising to be a side effect on BC... but other than that I’ve been 10/10."

• Meg...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 10, 2019

For Birth Control "Larin Fe has quite a few pros, but for me they do not outweigh the cons. I’ve been taking this for 4 months and this is my experience. Pros: - Protects well against pregnancy. - Acne has decreased. - I haven’t gained any weight so far. - My periods have become extremely light and short, only 3 days long. Cons: - Slight cramps throughout the whole month. - Pretty much every time I eat, and sometimes even if I don’t eat, I have terrible acid reflux. I have taken an acid reducer almost every day. I am assuming it’s from the pill because it never used to be this bad. - Depression. This is what’s making this pill not worth it to me. I have had anxiety in the past but I’ve never cried this much, not even while PMSing. My husband wants to know why I’m crying, but sometimes there’s nothing I can tell him because I have no idea why I’m crying. I will be in a great mood and be having a conversation, and suddenly my voice will start shaking and I’ll be in tears."

• Car...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 30, 2020

For Birth Control "I’ve taken this birth control for 2.5 years and have had a great experience with it. It has prevented pregnancy and completely cleared my hormonal acne within the first year of using it. The only downside has been that my period cramps and symptoms are much worse than they were off birth control. However, I now only lightly bleed 2-3 days instead of heavily bleeding for 5-7 days."

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

For Birth Control "I’ve been on this Larin Fe birth control for five months after being traumatized from Depo-Provera. I literally begged my doctor for the BC pill with the lowest complaints and dosage. It’s been a miracle. So the Larin did clear up my skin (maybe one to two zits a month), my periods are lighter but now consistent, no weight gain, no severe mood swings except right before my period... the only complaint is I cramp most of the month on it, light cramping but still kind of obnoxious. I still am very happy with this birth control thus far."

• Lay...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 14, 2019

For Birth Control "I got on these pills to help regulate my periods. Before I started, I used to bleed for a week straight, skip a day, and then bleed another week. It was really annoying, but there was no cramping, just light blood almost every day. About a week after taking Larin Fe, I started feeling extremely depressed, lower self-esteem, I would be crying for absolutely no reason. But along with that, it has made me bleed way more now, where I have to change my tampon nearly every hour and pads around 2 hours. I’ve gotten excruciating cramps and pains so unbearable I will be crying for an hour. I wake up to them in the morning and nights so strong I cannot go back to sleep. I’ve been told to take 2400 mg of ibuprofen daily to help with the bleeding and cramps, but it honestly isn’t enough. I hate feeling like this and I really don’t know what to do."

• Eck...
• February 13, 2020

For Birth Control "I’ve been on Larin 1.5/30 for maybe two and a half months. At first, I didn’t notice any real side effects, but eventually, they all started to creep in. It started with my breasts becoming swollen and tender to the touch, and they’ve been uncomfortably tender for about two straight months now. My appetite has decreased dramatically, and some days I barely eat at all. I feel like I’ve definitely lost some weight due to that, and I’m terrified of it getting worse because I’m trying to actually gain some weight right now. I randomly get headaches and some small cramps, but nothing too bad. I would say the worst part about all of this is the anxiety and mood swings I’ve had. I already have anxiety, but since taking this birth control, it’s gotten much worse. I will say, though, it is HIGHLY effective at preventing pregnancy."

• Nia...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 12, 2020

For Birth Control "I've been on this medication not even for a week. I've been nauseous for the past 3 days straight. Today I feel unbalanced and unable to focus on the computer screen. Last night I suffered unbearable cramps. The listed long-term side effects are wild, like 4 or 5 different cancers, like what human being would suggest someone take this horrible drug. This medication isn't worth the risk. I'd rather be pregnant."

• ano...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 9, 2021

For Birth Control "I had extremely bad periods prior to starting meds. Throwing up every month multiple times in one night over a period of a few days. Cramps to the point of passing out and so on. I used to bleed for 8-9 days. The first three months were about the same as they were before starting the meds. My doctor said it’ll take a while to actually begin working, so I gave it some time. I honestly started to lose hope for a bit, but around 4 months, things were significantly better. I could go back to school, hang out again. I do still have cramps here and there, as well as sore breasts, however, it’s NOTHING like it was before. I’m also regular now, so I’d give it a good 8/10."

• Joe...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 3, 2022

For Birth Control "I was put on this birth control to help stop bleeding and to help regulate my periods, and I’m on my third month. I never had cramps this bad, and my period is really heavy, and it looks like it’s not going to stop anytime soon. I had this same birth control 2 years ago when I was 16 (18 now), and I had this same problem. Worst pill ever."

• JDa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 14, 2018

For Birth Control "I’ve been taking this pill for almost 5 months. The first three months, I had spotting between periods. I think it may just take a few months to regulate. It does indicate that these are common side effects for the first few months. Now my periods seem more regular, just very light, which I don’t mind. I haven’t experienced any weight gain. In fact, I’ve lost just a little weight. My skin looks better than usual. I don’t experience cramps nearly as badly as before. I don’t experience any nausea or headaches. I don’t notice any feeling of depression or fatigue. I do feel a little more anxious than usual. Not sure if it’s the result of the pill, or just life stressors. All in all, though, this pill works fine for me."

• Nat...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 20, 2019

For Birth Control "So I am on my 3rd week of taking this birth control, Larin Fe 1/20! Mind you, I haven't taken birth control in 3 years since I had my daughter, and oh my! I have never had cramps ever until I started taking this pill, and they are the worst and most extreme pain I have ever felt! I also, for some reason, started my period on the 3rd row of taking this birth control! So after having all this pain and weird period starts, I think I should call my gyno to get me off of this!"

• Sun...
• September 30, 2019

For Birth Control "I have been taking Larin for 4 months now. The first few days I was really, really sick, then side effects went down to light cramping all the time, which was annoying but not horrible. Now I have almost no side effects. No change in acne or weight for me personally."

• AMA...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 7, 2021

For Birth Control "I was put on this birth control to help stop bleeding and to help regulate my periods. I just finished the first pack, but for the ENTIRE MONTH, my breasts have swelled and are EXTREMELY painful to the point I’m in tears. I was already diagnosed with depression and anxiety, and my mood swings became even worse. And I’ve been cramping and bleeding for 2 weeks straight now, and Tylenol or ibuprofen won’t help at all. I don’t recommend this birth control! There has not been ONE day on this pill that I felt ok."

• Anonymous
• August 12, 2014

For Birth Control "This pill was complete hell for me. It has made my anxiety about getting pregnant even worse. I get migraines, and I am never hungry. I've lost 12 pounds, and now in my fourth month of taking the pill, I can say I am really excited to start a new pill next month. Beginning this month, my breasts became really tender, making my anxiety even worse! My cramps still exist, and it does a good job at regulating my period, but my period starts and stops throughout the week of the placebo pills."

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 6, 2017

For Birth Control "I am 28 years old and a wife and mommy of two. The only reason I was put on birth control was due to painful periods and possibly having endometriosis. And the thought of only a 2-3 day period and no pain for periods sounded nice, but I was on this birth control for 4 months till I had a scare and had to switch to another one. It made me bleed a lot and have blood clots. I felt nausea. And I was told it was normal, so I kept taking it until the scare happened when I started having really sharp chest pain that sent me to the hospital, it seemed like I was having a heart attack! It also made me very emotional and depressed. I would not recommend this pill."

• bro...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 12, 2019

For Birth Control "Larin Fe 1/20 was my first experience with birth control, and it is so, so, so bad. I started this because I had a pregnancy scare, and my doctor said it would help with my periods. My periods are not only more painful, but I've been getting 2-3 periods a month for the past 3 months I've been on it! I get a stomach ache every time I eat, no matter what I eat. I'm always nauseated. Random cramping. I also am always constipated, don't have a BM for as long as a week sometimes! And I am so depressed, and I cry over everything. I also go from mildly annoyed to feeling rage at the drop of a hat, which is not fair to my loved ones. My weight keeps fluctuating, even though I'm on a very calorie-restrictive diet. It's all bad - don't do it."

• bro...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 12, 2019

For Birth Control "Larin Fe 1/20 was my first experience with birth control, and it is so, so, so bad. I started this because I had a pregnancy scare, and my doctor said it would help with my periods. My periods are not only more painful, but I've been getting 2-3 periods a month for the past 3 months I've been on it! I get a stomach ache every time I eat, no matter what I eat. I'm always nauseated. Random cramping. I also am always constipated, don't have a BM for as long as a week sometimes! And I am so depressed, and I cry over everything. I also go from mildly annoyed to feeling rage at the drop of a hat, which is not fair to my loved ones. My weight keeps fluctuating, even though I'm on a very calorie-restrictive diet. It's all bad - don't do it."

• Anonymous
• May 2, 2021

For Birth Control "I started this pill when I was 13 (17 now), and trust me it was a rollercoaster, but I was also super young with raging hormones when I started it, which could have been a lot of why this pill was difficult for me. I started this to help my acne, which it did help clear up significantly. I developed depression and anxiety that I was medicated for, but it was tolerable. I noticed I was a lot more moodier and snappy when just starting the pill. I also gained weight, which wasn’t really a problem for me because I had an eating disorder at the time of starting it. This pill regulated my periods a lot and only brought them down to 4-5 days, and I had absolutely no cramps or breast tenderness. I just recently switched over to a new birth control because this one stopped working for me. I’ve had a huge increase of acne that I have never seen before, not even when I hit puberty. I also bleed in between my periods, which I have never had a problem with. I also have mild cramps."

• hey...
• March 18, 2018

For Birth Control "I had no major issues with Larin. This was my first ever birth control. Given the limited reviews when I started this about 7 months ago, I was freaking out. Let me start with the bad. The first 3 days of taking the first pack, I had the most severe headaches, maybe migraines, of my life. I never get headaches, and like clockwork around 3 pm, the headaches would come. Took the pill at 9 am ritually. Crazy enough, after the first three days, it went away. As for my periods, they are so sporadic - and generally come in between the start of my third pill back to my fourth. So annoying. Since I’ve started this, it has never regulated. One month I didn’t get my period at all. My cramps are also bad. I like to prepare myself, and again, it depends on the month. No breast tenderness, and swelling is minimal; no noticeable weight gain, although I did go up a cup size; no acne, etc."

• Hai...
• April 19, 2020

For Birth Control "I want to start by saying EVERYONE has a different body. My sister takes the generic brand of Loestrin and LOVES IT!! My friend got the shot and swears by it. I only took the pills for 12 days and I’m stopping MID PACK. Here is what I noticed. 1. I was getting cramps, and they hurt kind of bad. 2. I was nauseous and didn’t want to eat sometimes because I was scared to vomit. 3. I have started spotting and have not stopped yet. 4. I am breaking out again, and I have always struggled with acne. I got my skin clear about a year ago with spironolactone and Epiduo, so seeing my skin sh*t itself in 12 days was one of the last straws. LASTLY, my mother said she gained weight on BC, so considering genetics, I wanted to keep my body how it was. I called a pharmacist, and he told me the worst thing that would happen if I stopped mid-pack would be mood swings due to an imbalance of hormones. Good luck, ladies!!"

• Kar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 24, 2019

For Birth Control "I have taken this pill for about a month now, and I have had severe cramping and heavy bleeding. I have been bleeding for 8 days straight. No depression, no anxiety, and it has helped my acne. But I’m not sure if I should stay on the pill or go to my doctor and switch. This is frustrating that I’ve been bleeding this long."

• Anonymous
• August 21, 2017

For Birth Control "So I began the pill 3 months ago, and all was well for like 3 weeks. Then, once it came time for my period, it lasted 17 days, no joke. It was horrible, no pain really, but just way too long and annoying. Now, on the 3-month mark, I have been having symptoms of IBS and acid reflux, so nauseous all the time and very bloated and crampy. Not to mention my anxiety of pregnancy has skyrocketed due to these side effects and the fact my period is so light and only lasts 4 to 6 days, with no symptoms. It is nice, but how am I supposed to know I'm for sure not pregnant? It is horrible, can't wait to go to my appointment. I also have gained around 5 pounds that I can't drop in only 3 months. It is horrible for me, at least."

• Sad...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 15, 2021

For Birth Control "I started taking Larin Fe 1/20 after my insurance stopped covering Lo Loestrin (which I LOVED). Let me tell you this pill is GREAT at preventing pregnancies, but I am not sure if the side effects are worth it. I am now on my fourth pack of Larin Fe, and I am the moodiest, most raging woman you will ever meet. I really do not recommend starting this pill. My mood swings are insane, I feel depressed most days, any little thing that goes wrong makes me feel very irritable, and I usually end up crying. Also, I am very good at taking my pills daily, so I do not know the reason as to why my period is SO heavy and SO painful. I have been getting my period for 8-10 days every month, which is absolutely ridiculous considering I would have it for 3-4 days on Lo Loestrin. I am too scared to get the arm implant, so I am going to continue taking these pills, but I am considering just stopping birth control altogether as I do not feel like myself since starting Larin."

• LOV...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 4, 2021

For Birth Control "Prior to taking this birth control, I had terrible cramps, almost completely irregular periods, and rough mood swings. This pill saved my girly parts because after about 2 months, my period almost completely disappeared, very light, and bled maybe a full day and a day of spotting, and moderate cramps every other month. I experience mood swings only the week of my period, and it’s been pretty spot on every month. The only time it’s changed is when I take antibiotics. Highly recommend for a beginner's birth control pill!!"