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

• lem...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 27, 2018

For Birth Control "27 years old. I have been on this for 3 years and decided to give it up for good. There are definitely pros and cons, but for me, the cons are too much. Pros: -no period in 3 years -no cramps -cleared all of my acne -didn't get pregnant Cons: -anxiety -depression -extreme brain fog daily (like you're just walking around in a dream) -mood swings (happy for a few hours, then sad for hours, then happy) -makes my face very dry and not able to retain moisture -fat/water retention on my stomach.... I gained 10 pounds on it (I've never had fat/water on my stomach, but this medicine has me with a constant chubby belly that never goes away even with diet and exercise). It just isn't worth it anymore, I want to feel normal again."

• Nik...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 26, 2016

For Birth Control "I started this pill after my son was born. He is two and a half. I had lost all my baby weight and then gained 20 pounds on this. Also, I had some depression start, and I wasn't sure if it was from my dad passing away. But then I got severe mood swings and emotional states, so bad it was giving me chest pains. So, I stopped the pill and anything else vitamin-wise I was taking for about 10 months. When I wanted to be back on birth control, my new doctor put me on this again. Well, I'm 3 months in, the depression and severe mood swings are all back, worse than before. So, I'm going with that it is the pill! To the point where my husband wants me to immediately stop taking it, he believes it's the pill as well, because it's not like me to be like this."

• At...
• October 28, 2016

For Birth Control "I have been on this pill for about a year now. I used to weigh around 100 lbs, now I'm 160... I have gained so much weight, and the mood swings and depressing thoughts are awful. Looking for a new pill at the moment. If you take this birth control or are just starting it, KEEP TRACK OF YOUR WEIGHT GAIN!!"

• She...
• July 7, 2016

For Birth Control "I have taken this birth control for over 6 months now and am very pleased with it. I previously had Implanon and had a lot of side effects with it, including bad mood swings and weight gain. After switching to Lo Loestrin Fe, I started experiencing a slight loss of appetite and some nausea, which made me lose 25 lbs that I had put on as a result of the Implanon. I could do without the nausea, but I'm pleased with the weight loss, especially because I was expecting to gain weight, if anything. I have had no bleeding besides when I slip up and forget to take my pill, besides some very light spotting at the end of my pill cycle, which I almost don't even notice most of the time."

• Emi...
• August 31, 2017

For Birth Control "I started this pill when I was 22. I've been taking it for 3 years now, and I'm very pleased with it. I was nervous about starting birth control because of all the side effects you hear about. But I have not gained weight, I don't have mood swings. Nothing negative. I had bad periods/cramps before, and they are gone. I don't really get a period anymore, which I'm happy with. It's worth trying if you want a low-dose birth control and you have bad periods. Also, there are coupons online, so it's not so expensive. It was $25 a month. Now it's $25 for 3 months."

• Per...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 11, 2014

For Birth Control "Overall, this is a great pill. I love that I am not putting nearly as many hormones into my body as other brands. However, there are some side effects that I've experienced. The first month was miserable for me. I had terrible mood swings as my body adjusted to the hormones. However, after the first month, my mood and acne regulated. Like many other people who reviewed here, I did experience periods (almost constant) every other week for the first 4 months on the pill, but my cramps were nonexistent. With each month, my period lightened, and I haven't had a period (minus spotting) for 2 months now. Overall, this pill is great, but if you like a regular period to reassure yourself, try a different pill. My advice-wait it out!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 19, 2012

For Birth Control "I experienced bloating, depression, acne. No breast tenderness and no weight change. I had very little breakthrough bleeding and 2-day 'periods'. I didn't have mood swings, although I was freakishly mellowed out. I quickly fell into a deep depression complete with suicidal thoughts, and I have never had either of these before. My acne was intense, especially on my back. I also had a strange sensation of having out-of-body experiences (for lack of a better description). I was 'there,' but I felt like my mind wasn't, but I know and understand this is a rare side effect."

• Ari...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 19, 2016

For Birth Control "The medication was prescribed to help with very heavy, unpredictable, long periods associated with my being in perimenopause. First couple months, virtually no period to speak of, but 5-7 days of mid-cycle breakthrough bleeding, not spotting. Enough to feel like a light period. By the third month, no breakthrough bleeding or even a period. This has been a huge relief for me. Seems to have helped alleviate some mood swings and irritability also. For users unhappy with this pill in the first few months, I would encourage you to give it a bit of time. I was not thrilled with it at first but am very happy with it now. My insurance doesn't cover it (bummer), but the drug company offers a discount card which I received from my nurse practitioner."

• Anonymous
• March 20, 2012

For Birth Control "Well, this is the first birth control pill I've been put on in my life, and the first month was horrid. I had a crazy-long period and lost my sex drive and was an emotional wreck. It's been a second month now, and the spotting is gone, and my sex drive is back, and the period was very short, so I'm satisfied."

• Ugh...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 29, 2019

For Birth Control "This pill is the worst! Never been a fan of birth control. Doctor recommended it due to my extreme menstrual cycles with heavy bleeding and cramps - you know the kind of 'call out of work' type pain. I gained weight within 3 months and bled for 3.5 months consecutively with cramping and major mood swings! My doctor insisted that I remain on it. I decided to stop this pill. I feel back to my happy self, and the irregular periods have stopped! I've even lost weight. This pill is an absolute NO for me!!!"

• Ash...
• September 10, 2015

For Birth Control "I've been on this pill for 9 months now, and I love it! I have severe migraines, so it is hard to find a birth control that doesn't make them 10 times worse. My migraines have almost disappeared since I started this pill! Also, I had one period upon starting the pills, and I haven't had one since. In the beginning of my trial, I did go through some changes. I was moody all the time, my breasts stayed sore to the extent that I could hardly move around. Other than that, I had no issues. I haven't had any weight changes, acne changes, or anything like that. My body returned to better than normal after maybe three months. Mood changes disappeared, no period, no cramps, no soreness. Overall, I am satisfied!"

• PMD...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 16, 2017

For Birth Control "I've been on Lo Loestrin Fe for 9 months now and love it. I was diagnosed with PMDD 10 years ago and tried Yaz and Yasmin unsuccessfully before finding Lo Loestrin Fe. This has been the only pill that works for me. I actually lost weight after my body adjusted to the hormones. I was on this pill for several years and then took a break for 12 months as I take it continuously. I won't EVER do that again—it took about 8-10 months for my body to adjust and then the PMDD came back with a vengeance. Mood swings, insane food behavior, migraine, weight gain, no sex drive—it was horrible. I got back on Lo Loestrin Fe last April and by August my body adjusted. Has been great ever since. Only downside is my insurance doesn't cover it, so I pay out of pocket every month."

• Pyp...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 7, 2020

For Birth Control "I have taken this birth control before, and I was not a huge fan, so I decided that when I need to start taking it again, I would. After about 6 months, I decided to get back on birth control. This time around, less than a week later, I started experiencing horrible mood swings. I have depression and multiple anxiety disorders, and since starting this pill, it made them all so much worse. I also got really bad sweats, and my acne got worse. I didn’t notice any weight changes. I also experienced spotting this time around, which was odd. I would not recommend this to a friend."

• Bri...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 24, 2020

For Birth Control "I have been on Lo Loestrin Fe for 4 months now but have decided to stop taking it. I experienced severe mood swings while on this pill, and it was starting to affect myself and the people around me. I was much quicker to anger and tearfulness at seemingly trivial things. I would have random bouts of crying once a week at least. My patience level decreased significantly, and I am usually a very patient, calm individual when not on this specific brand of pill. Some positives I do have to mention and that I liked about this pill were that it did not decrease my libido like other brands I have tried in the past. Also, I did not experience depression or weight gain. I had high hopes for this brand, but for now, I will be taking a break from birth control altogether and am already feeling happier and more stable off of it."

• meg...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 10, 2013

For Birth Control "I have been on this pill for about a year and a half now. At first, my periods were heavy and irregular, but now I am down to a regular cycle of one really light period every month (lasting about 2-3 days max). Before I started the pill, I had problems with acne, and now I have virtually none at all. No weight gain. The only negative side effects that I've experienced are some weird mood swings every now and then. But for me, this pill is everything I could have hoped for, just wish it were a little cheaper."

• GSL...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 8, 2014

For Birth Control "I have not had a negative experience with this pill. Now, the reason this pill was prescribed to me was due to the low amount of estrogen it contained. I have horrible side effects when I take pills or birth control in general that has a lot of estrogen in it. If you are taking this for acne, it is not going to help you. It is not meant to help treat acne. My periods have been much lighter, and last month I didn't have a period. On the website, it also states it is not uncommon to miss a period with this birth control. I am not complaining that I don't have one. I have not seen weight gain or mood swings either. It is working perfectly for me. Probably the best birth control I have been on, honestly. No side effects."

• DS1...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 3, 2016

For Birth Control "I've been on Lo Loestrin Fe for 2 years now, and I've loved it. I haven't gained any weight, no acne breakouts, and I haven't had a period in 2 years. It's been amazing. The only thing is I have some mild mood swings during my Week 3 and Week 4 of the pill and some breast tenderness. I originally got on the pill for my heavy period and severe PMS, and I've had zero cramps and no bloating. Best birth control I've ever been on!"

• Dev...
• March 31, 2013

For Birth Control "I'm 41, using for cramps and excessive bleeding. My doc gave me 3 months of samples. First and second month, spotted for about a week, then got actual period, for a total of about 10 days bleeding, granted it was lighter, but still had some cramping. Also, it all started during the third week of the pills, not the fourth. Terrible mood swings, fatigue. Now halfway through the third month, terrible acne. It's like puberty all over again."

• Coc...
• December 20, 2015

For Birth Control "I hate this pill, and I wish I never would have tried it. I had a cyst on one of my ovaries that ruptured, and it caused me to have a period for a month or two straight, so my doctor put me on this pill. I have gained weight, my chin is constantly broken out, I had absolutely no sex drive, and worst of all, my emotions are crazy. It's taken a toll on my relationship. I cry about the dumbest things. I was never like this before I took those pills. I quit taking it before I finished the first month because I got to the point where I hated myself and everyone around me. I haven't taken it in months, and I still have days where I feel miserable, and my sex drive has not gotten better yet at all. I do not recommend this pill at all. It has ruined me."

• Ano...
• November 3, 2015

For Birth Control "The only good thing that came from being on this pill was that it prevented pregnancy. Unfortunately, the side effects forced me off it. In the beginning, there was cystic acne (face, chest, back), mild weight gain/bloating, and mild mood swings. I gave it some time, my body just needed to adjust. After four months, the acne cleared up, but the mood swings worsened and depression kicked in. It only got worse from there. Just before stopping this pill at nine months, I felt like a completely different person-crying over every little thing, everything irritated me, little sex drive, constantly depressed. These side effects were having a huge negative impact on my life, totally not worth it to me."

• Anonymous
• November 7, 2011

For Birth Control "I have been taking Lo Loestrin Fe for 2 months now and have only had one week of no spotting. The non-stop bleeding is very aggravating because I am unsure when my period begins, which has always been very regular. I have also been very irritable and emotional. The only positive effect I have experienced while taking this pill is no severe nausea. If the bleeding and mood swings have not stopped by the time I finish the third pack, I will be switching immediately!"

• Anonymous
• November 7, 2011

For Birth Control "I have been taking Lo Loestrin Fe for 2 months now and have only had one week of no spotting. The non-stop bleeding is very aggravating because I am unsure when my period begins, which has always been very regular. I have also been very irritable and emotional. The only positive effect I have experienced while taking this pill is no severe nausea. If the bleeding and mood swings have not stopped by the time I finish the third pack, I will be switching immediately!"

• hon...
• June 26, 2014

For Birth Control "I've been on this pill for almost three months now, and I love it. After my first birth control experience, I was terrified to use birth control ever again. However, I'd rather take the risk instead of becoming pregnant, so I tried it again. The first month was horrible, with minor breakouts and bad mood swings, but I have adjusted now. You must wait out the first month or two to be adjusted. After that, it's smooth sailing. I don't have any breakouts, my sex drive is normal, and I haven't gained any weight. I still get moody every once in a while, which is bearable. Overall, a very good birth control. But EXPENSIVE without insurance!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 5, 2021

For Birth Control "Do not recommend: Mood swings - screaming at everyone in sight and then crying hysterically. Depression, weight gain, cystic acne on my face, chest, and back, severe headaches. Very light period was the only positive I can think of, but it is not worth the negatives..."

• She...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 3, 2016

For Birth Control "STAY AWAY FROM THIS PILL. I was on Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo. I liked it a lot because I had zero acne. The only problem was that my periods lasted over a week and could be painful. I changed gynecologist when I moved to college. She put me on Lo Loestrin Fe, and it was the worst year of my entire life. My face looked worse than it did in 7th grade. I have ZERO sex drive. I already have anxiety, and this pill made it a million times worse, and I about drove everyone, as well as myself, crazy with my mood swings and attitude. Wanna know the worst part? I had two periods a month. One on the week my actual period was supposed to start and one on the second week in the pack. I put up with that for an entire year thinking it would 'regulate.' It didn't. BEWARE."