Larin Fe 1/20 and Depression: What Users Say

• Roa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 16, 2019

For Birth Control "*PLEASE READ* I never put reviews for medication I have been on, but I wanted to WARN all the girls who have to be put on this generic pill for some reason. I used to take Lo Loestrin, and it was amazing, however, my insurance stopped covering it, so I was given Larin Fe. WORST MISTAKE OF MY DAMN LIFE... At first, I didn't have any symptoms, but within a month, I've hit the darkest of spots in my life: insomnia, shakiness, HORRIBLE anxiety, breakouts (not severe), acid reflux, lack of appetite. Sadly, there was not a single day in that month where I felt normal, I was going crazy with mood swings, depression. I barely could leave my bed, I even had several panic attacks. I wish I could say a positive side to this drug, but THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING POSITIVE ABOUT THIS DRUG. Believe these negative reviews, please, and if you don't feel any side effects right now, the second you feel it, please switch to a different birth control. It won't get any better waiting."

• 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."

• Pep...
• September 5, 2019

For Birth Control "My experience with this pill was horrible. The first month was fine besides some nausea and minor weight gain (mostly in breasts). By the second pack, I was an emotional wreck. All my underlying depression and PTSD came back tenfold. I cry all the time, and I never used to cry. My anxiety is horrible-and it had been under control before I started this pill. I started taking it because I have PCOS and hadn’t had a period in 10 months. I will say it did regulate my cycle, and I haven’t had any skin issues, cramps, or migraines... but wow, nothing would make this pill worth it."

• ema...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 3, 2019

For Birth Control "I’ve been taking Larin Fe 1/20 birth control for about 4-5 months. I have sex about 3-5 times a week, if not more, and I know it’s supposed to be very effective in preventing pregnancy. However, since I’ve been taking this one, it has been making me miss periods and scaring me, having me nervous that I’m pregnant. I haven’t had my period last month, and the month before I got my period for the first time since a month. Hopefully I get it this month. I also have been crazy emotional and depressed almost every day and HORRIBLE mood swings. I get aggravated over little things, then perfectly fine the next. But it is different for everyone."

• 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."

• Dan...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 14, 2020

For Birth Control "I have been on this pill, Larin Fe 1/20, since March of 2020, and it's the first pill I've ever used as a contraceptive. Initially, I experienced terrible waves of nausea while on it, alongside nightmarish mood swings that would leave me absolutely depressed and near-suicidal over the smallest things. Nearly 7 months later, though, almost none of these symptoms exist. My mood swings are occasional and far easier to handle, and I have no nausea. Furthermore, this birth control made my period much lighter and shorter, which is a huge plus for me. It's been wonderful at keeping me from getting pregnant despite having had unprotected sex a number of times while on it. Ultimately, this pill works differently for everyone, and hopefully, many who use it in the future will have the same overall successes that I have had with it."

• Jor...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 31, 2020

For Birth Control "I’ve been on Junel Fe 1/20 for 9 years and loved it, never had a single issue on it even when I first started. Then my pharmacy gave me Larin and lied, saying it just switched names. I stupidly trusted them and took it. I’ve been on it for 2 weeks now, and for the past two weeks, I’ve had no appetite, and when I force myself to eat, I feel like I’m going to throw up the entire time and can maybe get a couple bites down. My depression and anxiety have gotten 10x worse, and I go from okay to extremely angry within seconds. This birth control switch has been the only thing to change in my life, and after reading other women’s reviews with the same exact story, I know it’s 100% the Larin. I know everyone reacts differently to meds, but be cautious and aware of your symptoms while taking this pill. I’ve never been this miserable and depressed in my life."

• Bel...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 1, 2021

For Birth Control "My ob-gyn prescribed this to me to treat menopause symptoms. Well, peri-menopause. I was still ovulating and having some periods sporadically. She also prescribed a low-dose testosterone gel to go along with it. The combination was life-changing! I felt like my old self again! My symptoms were major fatigue, anxiety, joint pain, loss of sex drive, loss of all motivation, and weight gain. After taking the combo of Larin Fe and testosterone, I felt so much better. I’m like a different person now. This review is supposed to be about Larin Fe, and I can say it is responsible for helping me feel myself again. I was on it for several weeks before the testosterone and no longer had hot flashes or mood swings. The testosterone gel added to it was a perfect combo. Finally, an ob-gyn who knew what they were doing! All the others kept giving me estrogen and progestin pills, but my hormones were still fluctuating. The Larin Fe took over and kept my levels at a steady rate."

• Ban...
• January 8, 2020

For Birth Control "So I was recommended to take this birth control because I have a cyst on my ovary. They are trying to see if birth control would stop it from growing. I'm 24, never was on birth control, never had a pregnancy scare, nothing. I've been taking this birth control since Oct 2019. And it's been the worst. The first month wasn't that bad, the second month until now has been awful, my boobs are extremely sore and enlarged, they never stop hurting. I will take my bra off and have to grab them because that's how bad they hurt! The period situation I have been spotting with cramps for 2 weeks now, it's annoying because I don't have a clue when it's going to stop. I get headaches, I don't really eat, mood swings are bad, in a horrible state of depression, and it's just like you can't tell what is wrong with you! I called my gynecologist and am waiting for my appointment to get off of it and back to how I was living before... birth control is bad for your body anyway, just have safe sex."

• RMR...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 7, 2018

For Birth Control "This birth control was a disaster. My mood was horrible, I was depressed and would have a meltdown over absolutely nothing. My sex drive was very, very low. It did prevent pregnancy, and my periods were light. But it wasn’t worth how it made me feel. I had to switch to this when my insurance stopped covering Minastrin. I am now stopping this and starting Sprintec in hopes I can return to my normal self."

• No ...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 9, 2020

For Birth Control "I have been on this birth control since August 2020. I have never used the pill before, I’ve always used long-term birth controls. I like how I know exactly when my period is going to start, but I noticed that on the week that I don’t take the pills, I am extremely emotional. I find myself crying all the time, extremely depressed. Emotional rollercoaster. If you have mental health issues, maybe this pill is not for you. Which I should look into changing soon as well."

• aan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 18, 2019

For Birth Control "I started this pill in May of 2018, and I’m currently still on it. The good: I had no weight gain, I never experienced any pain, my period went from 7 days to 4 days, and I had unprotected sex and haven’t gotten pregnant *knock on wood*. The bad: I feel like I’ve become extremely depressed, anxious, and impulsive since the end of June to now. So much changed within me that I feel it really affected me and the people around me. I have mild mood swings now, any teenage girl has these, but it feels a little more extreme. I’m considering getting off of it just because I don’t feel like myself, and I’ve become impulsive, and I want to say a little bit bipolar. I never had these mental issues before I started taking it. I recommend this product, everyone has different side effects, but be cautious if you feel like your mental health has become worse, then maybe get off of it."

• KJa...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 24, 2020

For Birth Control "I have not had good luck with any birth control pills, but I think it's safe to say Larin has been the worst. I have taken this pill multiple times throughout the last few years. Recently, I have had major depression and anxiety that seems to be a side effect of this pill. The hormonal imbalance makes me feel like I could be pregnant even though I'm not. PMS exists for three weeks out of the month for me while I have been on this birth control. My periods have been lighter on this pill, though."

• 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."

• Mol...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 2, 2019

For Birth Control "This was my first ever birth control. I started at age 18. It was the best birth control ever; no acne, no weight gain, no decreased sex drive, average periods, always on the same exact day/time and ending at the same time. Only negatives were I felt anxious/sad sometimes. I am now 20 and switched to a different birth control, which completely messed me up in all of those aspects. I am literally jumping with joy to be switching back to Larin."

• Ano...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 19, 2018

For Birth Control "Been experiencing severe depression since I started using this pill several months ago. I imagine different people react differently, but I would strongly warn anyone taking Larin to monitor their mental state and stop taking the pill if they become depressed. I’ve been miserable and detached from myself and my emotions. I came dangerously close to “cashing in my chips.” Please be careful with this pill. Also, pissed about the weight gain :/"

• dry...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 27, 2024

For Birth Control "This birth control has offered no issues whatsoever, even at the beginning when I first started taking it. I had never been on birth control before, and I was very nervous for the side effects. However, nothing negative ever occurred. It is easy to predict my period and even skip it, as simply skipping the placebo pills and starting a new pack prevents my period. I received another birth control called Blisovi Fe after about 6 months with Larin Fe, and it gave me the worst cramps & bad depression. My pharmacy gave me Larin Fe after my last refill, and I was elated to not go through another 3 months of Blisovi Fe hell! Love the packaging as well, pills are easy to pop out."

• Meg...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 29, 2021

For Birth Control "On this or PCOS. I thought I was going crazy till I read y’all’s comments here. This BC sucks. So I already have anxiety/depression, but I’ve been a basket case lately. I was nauseous for 2 weeks and could barely eat. I’ve been gaining weight when I’m really not even eating, and my boobs are painful and swollen/growing. I’m one pill away from the end of my first pack, and based on all these comments and my terrible side effects, I’m done. I never had this with my previous BC. Wish I could give a negative rating."

• jan...
• November 5, 2020

For Birth Control "After seeing how many people on Larin Fe 1/20 shared the same side effects symptoms that I had, I wouldn’t recommend this pill to anyone. The first few weeks, I felt more anxious and depressed than normal, but I didn’t make the connection. I was also having bad dreams almost every night. It was only when I started to feel nauseous daily and constantly on the verge of tears, spending hours crying over an inexplicable feeling of sadness and doom, that I realized this pill was causing it (I rarely cry normally). It magnifies every tiny upset, anxiety, or annoyance; I can feel myself acting irrationally and unfairly towards people, but I can’t stop. I had some other stressors the past week, and the pill blew them up to 10x their intensity, and I had a horrible panic attack. I’m normally an even-keeled person; this pill has turned me into someone else. I’ve stopped taking it and can’t wait until the effects wear off. Don’t take this pill. Try Tri-Sprintec instead."

• Sar...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 18, 2021

For Birth Control "I have been on this Larin Fe 1/20 birth control for a full year. The first 6 months were a roller coaster. I had random bleeding, mood swings, and I was depressed. I did not feel like myself. My OBGYN did tell me that for the first 6 months your body will need to adjust, so I was prepared. I kept asking myself when is this gonna end? I actually got on a great routine with it (after the 6 months), and all of the above stopped. I did notice when I didn't take it at the same time for days in a row, I had random bleeding. The only thing is that my sex drive has plummeted, and this is so awful. I have come to the point where I don't even want to do it anymore, and I have never been like that. I think after my last refill (this month), I am going off of it. But, in the end, it did do what it needed to. Be safe and do what is best for you."

• hma...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 21, 2020

For Birth Control "I have taken this birth control for a few months now, and I haven’t seen much change in my period, but I am becoming extremely depressed. I have had mental health problems in the past, but they have magnified so much with this pill. I worry about my week off from taking the pill because that’s when I feel depressed, and I have suicidal thoughts. It is good at preventing pregnancy, but not good for your mental health. I do not suggest this pill."

• Ano...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 1, 2020

For Birth Control "Took this Larin Fe 1/20 birth control for a year. I always struggled with anxiety and depression, so at first I didn’t realize the side effects. As months passed, I started experiencing extreme rage and crying spats. I hated myself and fell into a deep depression hole and didn’t go out for months. I spoke up to my best friends about it, and one of them was on the same brand and said she experienced the same exact issues, she just thought she was going through a phase. We are both off it now and immediately went back to our normal selves. Highly recommend trying a different brand. We are both on the Xulane patch now, and at first it's a little rough, but now that my body has adjusted to it, I can live normally. If you naturally have mental health problems, I encourage you to try a different form of birth control, Larin Fe probably isn't for you either."

• 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."

• 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."