Lo Loestrin Fe and Depression: What Users Say (Page 4)

• Cha...
• February 13, 2017

For Birth Control "Omg, I've been taking it for less than a month and had enough of it already. It turned me into a monster! I'm yelling at people, crying all the time, kicked out one of my clients from my office during our meeting. I've been having suicidal thoughts and been super depressed. Also, I have an uncontrollable appetite, I've been stuffing myself with white bread for days. I don't eat white bread! I'm not supposed to! But I just wake up in the morning and have these insane cravings for croissants. Yesterday, I had 4 of them. Surprisingly, I haven't gained any weight, but my skin is breaking out due to my gluten and dairy allergies. It's been a nightmare, and I don't know what to do because I've tried all kinds of BC, and my body rejects everything."

• ano...
• October 6, 2015

For Birth Control "I am 31 years old and have been on Lo Loestrin Fe for about 2 years now. My Dr. suggested putting me on this bc because the other birth control I was on was giving me severe mood swings. The thing I love about this bc is that I don't have my period AT ALL, not even once. The downside to this bc is that at the end of my pack, I start to have a few days of mood swings, depression, anxiety, and I get overly sensitive about stuff. Also, I gained a bunch of weight from taking this pill, before taking the pill, I was 115 lbs, and now I am about 145 lbs, and I'm 5'2. The other good side to the pill is that it stopped the cramping immediately. I want to go off the pill, but I am scared of the side effects of coming off it."

• Ash...
• January 2, 2012

For Birth Control "I'm a very petite, 16-year-old girl who is taking this to help regulate my periods. From what I can tell, I have had no side effects (weight gain, bloating, depression, mood swings) yet except for a few breakouts (which could be caused by just being a teen) and breast tenderness! This is severe! I'm just an A cup, and I can't tell if I'm growing at all or not, but I do know that I've only been on the pill for 1 week, and the pain I am feeling in my breasts is ridiculous! I can no longer lay on my stomach. The slightest amount of pressure hurts. I hope this wears off pretty soon, or I might consider stopping the pill."

• Idk...
• April 25, 2016

For Birth Control "While this was an effective contraceptive, the negative side effects were beyond unbearable. Within the first week, I experienced the most horrible cystic acne breakout of my life. The progestin in this pill is androgen-based, which is found to increase acne. Additionally, my mood swings were wild, and I found myself feeling incredibly depressed. I would cry for literally no reason. This birth control ruined my skin. I switched to a different BC, and since then, my skin and mood have improved exponentially."

• Ste...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 21, 2016

For Birth Control "I have been using this pill for 5 months, and during this time, I gained over 10 lbs, and my anxiety and paranoia have caused irreparable damage to my relationship. I must note I work out and have no changes in lifestyle that should've caused me to gain weight. I am constantly sad, on the verge of tears, I am oversensitive and negative. I am just not myself. I gave the pill more than the 3-month trial period because I don't want to keep switching hormones, but I cannot keep this up any longer. I am going to try the NuvaRing. For the record, I was previously on Diane 35 very happily for 2 years with no side effects, but my doctor took me off because it is apparently too high in hormones."

• Ale...
• May 21, 2019

For Birth Control "I was on Lo Loestrin Fe for about 3 years. Although Lo Loestrin Fe did stop cramping and gave me a little to no bleeding monthly periods, the mental health dip that I took was not worth it. Within the first year, my family and friends noticed I was moody and possibly depressed. I knew I was anxious and began having panic attacks. I was prescribed antidepressants and lived the next two years very out of it and sad. The last year on this birth control I started having migraines. The migraines were debilitating. My gut instinct told me to stop taking the birth control after doing some research. Within the first 6 months of not taking this birth control, I started to feel like myself again and the migraines went away. I am happier than ever and loving life! I have decided to go the hormone-less route. I've had the copper IUD for about a year now and I love it! I’m sure the Lo Loestrin works for some, but for me, it did not."

• Ell...
• November 14, 2017

For Birth Control "Since I started this pill, I've experienced seriously insane jump and change in my eating habits, lack of motivation to do anything physical that I previously enjoyed, and the worst symptom I've had has been the change in my mood. I have said and done some pretty horrible things that were unlike me. I felt extreme sadness and hopelessness, so bad that even others noticed these changes in me and it wasn't good. I was prescribed this medication to help with excessive bleeding and cysts; however, it no longer feels worth continuing this specific med."

• Ell...
• November 14, 2017

For Birth Control "Since I started this pill, I've experienced seriously insane jump and change in my eating habits, lack of motivation to do anything physical that I previously enjoyed, and the worst symptom I've had has been the change in my mood. I have said and done some pretty horrible things that were unlike me. I felt extreme sadness and hopelessness, so bad that even others noticed these changes in me and it wasn't good. I was prescribed this medication to help with excessive bleeding and cysts; however, it no longer feels worth continuing this specific med."

• Ell...
• November 14, 2017

For Birth Control "Since I started this pill, I've experienced seriously insane jump and change in my eating habits, lack of motivation to do anything physical that I previously enjoyed, and the worst symptom I've had has been the change in my mood. I have said and done some pretty horrible things that were unlike me. I felt extreme sadness and hopelessness, so bad that even others noticed these changes in me and it wasn't good. I was prescribed this medication to help with excessive bleeding and cysts; however, it no longer feels worth continuing this specific med."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 28, 2017

For Birth Control "Rating it as a 3 only because it kept me from getting pregnant and didn't make me moody or depressed like the NuvaRing did. Let's just start off saying that I made the switch from the NuvaRing to Lo Loestrin because the doctor recommended it because of the lower dose of hormones. The NuvaRing was great for my skin and regulating and shortening my periods, but oh my god, did it ever mess me up mentally. I was tired all the time, so moody and depressed, made me feel suicidal and unhappy all the time, so that's why I switched. Lo Loestrin made my clear skin break out in cystic acne, made me have little sex drive, made me lose a tremendous amount of hair, and totally messed up my periods and made me spot throughout the whole month. I do not recommend Lo Loestrin."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 28, 2017

For Birth Control "Rating it as a 3 only because it kept me from getting pregnant and didn't make me moody or depressed like the NuvaRing did. Let's just start off saying that I made the switch from the NuvaRing to Lo Loestrin because the doctor recommended it because of the lower dose of hormones. The NuvaRing was great for my skin and regulating and shortening my periods, but oh my god, did it ever mess me up mentally. I was tired all the time, so moody and depressed, made me feel suicidal and unhappy all the time, so that's why I switched. Lo Loestrin made my clear skin break out in cystic acne, made me have little sex drive, made me lose a tremendous amount of hair, and totally messed up my periods and made me spot throughout the whole month. I do not recommend Lo Loestrin."

• May...
• May 9, 2014

For Birth Control "It's my first month on it, and so many things have gone wrong. Firstly, I got my first yeast infection because of it, secondly, I get the worst mood swings and depression like no other. I'm trying to hold out, they say your body is getting used to it, but I don't think I will continue. I'm at the end of the white pill and haven't gotten my period yet. Oh yeah, and to top it off, I also got more acne and back/chest pain."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 20, 2017

For Birth Control "I started taking this pill around 2 years ago and started to get extremely depressed. My mom and I thought it was because of a boy I was seeing, so I broke it off and also got off the medicine, thinking I wouldn't need it anymore. About 2 months ago, I started on this same birth control again and have felt very emotionally overwhelmed and have not been myself at all. I have made the decision to go off this medicine for good this time and am already seeing positive effects. I do not at all recommend this product."

• Vee...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 1, 2018

For Birth Control "This product has had such a negative impact on me. I’ve always been in and around 110 pounds, but I immediately gained 20 on LoLo that won’t come off. I have zero sex drive, and my anxiety and depression have worsened. I also haven’t gotten my period in 2 years, which is not very comforting. The bloating and stomach cramps are daily, literally no way of minimizing that."

• Mia...
• January 16, 2017

For Birth Control "I read a lot of reviews before I took the Lo Loestrin Fe. No one wrote that it can make you crazy. At first, I was feeling good, no problem at all. Here and there, I had nausea, but that was nothing compared to the cramps I was having before. Then, I started having night sweats... (by the way, this was my first time taking birth control, and I only took the pills for 6 months). After taking the pill for about 5 months, I've noticed that I'm having a lack of interest in things, feeling sad, crying, negative thoughts. These thoughts really scared me. All this time, I've been consulting with my OBGYN, and she asked me if I was pregnant and said it had nothing to do with the pill."

• Mia...
• January 16, 2017

For Birth Control "I read a lot of reviews before I took the Lo Loestrin Fe. No one wrote that it can make you crazy. At first, I was feeling good, no problem at all. Here and there, I had nausea, but that was nothing compared to the cramps I was having before. Then, I started having night sweats... (by the way, this was my first time taking birth control, and I only took the pills for 6 months). After taking the pill for about 5 months, I've noticed that I'm having a lack of interest in things, feeling sad, crying, negative thoughts. These thoughts really scared me. All this time, I've been consulting with my OBGYN, and she asked me if I was pregnant and said it had nothing to do with the pill."

• Bec...
• January 31, 2020

For Birth Control "On Lo Loestrin Fe, I became depressed and was in chronic pain that I couldn’t work or even get out of bed. I would wake up in the middle of the night screaming in pain that even laying in the fetal position wouldn’t help. Not even pain medication would help. I went to several gynecologists before someone diagnosed it as complications from this medication. My fiancé and I couldn’t even have sex while I was on this medication, it caused me so much pain that even a normal gynecology visit would have me crying in pain. Once I stopped taking the medication, I no longer had pain. My fiancé and my sex life is back, my family and friends even say I seem so much happier because I no longer felt depressed. I don’t recommend this medication at all. Not only is it horrible for your mental health and physical health, but it is horribly priced. I paid $90 a month for it, and that’s with a discount from Walgreens. I also gained 40 pounds in 10 months while on it. I regret ever going on this medication."

• pam...
• April 4, 2013

For Birth Control "Well, I've been on this right now for about 3 months...and the first two months were horrific. It has evened out a little bit, I almost switched off of it. I am on an antidepressant, and the first two months have made me more depressed than I've ever been. I think things are evening out...the first two months I had the worst two periods of my life. I hope my mood evens out."

• Pda...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 20, 2021

For Birth Control "So I started taking this because I was told I had to take birth control. Well, it did not work for me one bit. I started taking this on a Sunday, and it immediately started affecting me in negative ways. I had just gotten over being severely depressed. My stomach and chest were constantly hurting. I tried taking pain relievers, but it didn’t work. All I wanted to do was lay around and sleep all the time. My boyfriend noticed I wasn’t being myself because normally I would be cleaning random stuff, studying for school, but I just quit everything. Maybe this is for you, but it was not for me."

• Ash...
• May 24, 2016

For Birth Control "I was on this pill for over 6 months, and it has been the worst experience. When I first started taking it, it was fine, but 2 months into it, I started gaining weight. And gained up to 10 pounds. My breasts went from a B to almost a D cup and hurt all the time. I was super angry and depressed all the time. It got to the point where I did not want to get out of bed and go on with my normal routine. I lost many friendships due to being depressed. I also did not go to school for over 3 weeks. I would never recommend this pill to anyone. I should not have taken it when I saw the reviews the first time. I just switched to a different pill and already lost 7 pounds in 2 weeks!"

• Jen...
• May 16, 2016

For Birth Control "I've been on Lo Loestrin for a year now. I literally thought I was pregnant until reading these reviews (still going to the doctor today, of course). I am dizzy, hungry, nauseous, breasts are very sore (mostly at day's end). I've been a tiny girl my whole life and gained 15 lbs in the last 2 months! I work out nearly every day and eat super healthy. I've also had depression and suicidal/irrational thoughts. Dryness has also been a problem along with severe chest pain from time to time. I'm 31 and do not recommend this pill."

• NHa...
• January 12, 2021

For Birth Control "I started this pill over two years ago because every other pill causes my blood pressure to skyrocket. My blood pressure medicine was quadrupled but has (mostly) managed my bp while on this medicine. I am extremely depressed and at times borderline suicidal on this pill. I have PMDD, and it has gotten much, much worse on this pill. Anxiety is through the roof, I have gained weight (5-7 lbs I just can't get off, and I go to the gym and run half marathons regularly). I don't sleep. I feel myself being a crazy, moody human but can't stop myself. I wonder what on earth is wrong with me and then realized it's this pill. In two weeks I am getting an IUD, and I can't wait to not have to deal with awful side effects. As far as preventing pregnancy, it is a 10. I have never had a pregnancy scare. My periods are erratic, my cramps are at times off the charts, and nothing makes them better. I've never had a problem with either. Dear Western medicine: women deserve better than this to prevent pregnancy."

• Jje...
• June 9, 2016

For Birth Control "I am 28 years old, and I took them for 5 months. In that time, I never got my period. I gave it some time to see if my period would come down, and nothing. I even took a pregnancy test to make sure I wasn't pregnant. About 4 months into the pill, I started getting anxiety and very depressed. That's when my husband realized that it might be the pills that have my hormones all out of whack and had me feeling like this, so I stopped them. I had never experienced depression before, and everything I had done in the past started to bother me. I have lost a significant amount of weight, and even though I stopped the pills a month ago, they triggered my depression, and now I'm even seeking a psychologist's help. I would rather be pregnant than so severally depressed."

• cat...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 10, 2019

For Birth Control "This birth control isn't the best, my periods don't correlate with the time on the pack, and I usually get it two weeks into my active pills. I also have become a crazy emotional person, I cry all the time, and it is exhausting. I am hopefully getting off of it soon, and I hope I am able to find an option that doesn't make me super depressed."

• Gra...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 15, 2019

For Birth Control "I read a ton of these reviews, and none of them quite described my experience - truly, everyone reacts differently on this pill. For the first month, I dealt with terrible headaches. But I stuck it through, and they subsided within a few weeks. I also felt like at first my sex drive decreased, but everything was back to normal after the first month. Ever since I started taking it, I haven’t had periods at all, which has been great. I also love that I no longer get cyclical breast pain and tenderness - my breasts were slightly more tender during the first few months, but they never really hurt anymore. Overall, I really like this pill. I haven’t gained any weight, had an increase in acne, or experienced increased anxiety or depression - all things I was scared of when I started taking it."