Loestrin Fe 1/20 and Depression: What Users Say

• Jen...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 28, 2020

For Birth Control "Loestrin Fe 1/20 is the best birth control pill I’ve tried. I was able to skip my periods (not take the placebo pills), and that made me not have any more PMS headaches. No depression or irritable moods like I had on Ortho Tri-Cyclen. No nausea like some other pills gave me. Didn’t really change my skin or sex drive at all. I felt like myself on this pill. I did develop high blood pressure after 3 years on it when I went through a time of stress. Not sure if due to the pill, but get regular blood pressure checks if you take any birth control pills, as it can be a side effect."

• Kpa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 17, 2019

For Birth Control "I only took this birth control pill for 3 days and had to stop right away, I started to experience bad anxiety and depression, and my doctor advised me to stop taking them. I am also on Wellbutrin for depression and not sure if they interact, but I highly recommend to not take this if you have anxiety and depression and take Wellbutrin as well. I cried nonstop and never felt so sad in my life."

• 28a...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 18, 2016

For Birth Control "Weight gain, severe depression during PMS, and intense itching. I was on Loestrin previously, and it was great for 2 months. I had no acne, my periods were better. As of the third month, I was itching uncontrollably and was told it was dry skin, but the itching coincided with the time I took the pill. I went off the pill for a year, then my doctor put me on LoLoestrin, trying to reduce the hormone. I'm not sure if weight gain was connected to that. I was having 2 periods a month. After 8 months of that, my doctor put me back on Loestrin. I hoped it was a bad reaction to one pack before. I had debilitating depression at least one day mid-month and one during PMS. During the second month, the itching came back. I always itched 20 minutes after."

• Bri...
• January 28, 2021

"This is the first birth control I have been on that has made me break out. I have always had very clear skin. I was very lucky and blessed with the skin I have! My entire life, I never had breakouts, never, ever broken out on my face, and absolutely NEVER broke out on my back, neck, and chest. Yet since I started taking this Loestrin Fe 1/20 birth control, I am breaking out everywhere!!! And it’s making me so depressed, it is also messing with me mentally. I barely get my period, which is extremely bad, as I feel you need to have your full cycle every month for many reasons. I used to have a heavy one for about 5 days, and it would actually make me feel better after, now I literally spot for a day and that’s it. I also now have the worst cramps. I need to get off of this one, but I’m scared to try another one because I don’t want to gain weight, that’s the main reason I went on this birth control, but it’s not worth it with how badly I’m breaking out. I know everyone is different, but I do NOT recommend this bc."

• Kel...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 20, 2018

For Birth Control "I have been taking Loestrin Fe 1/20 for almost 4 months now. Let's just say I'm going to ask for a different pill at my doctor's appointment tomorrow. This pill has caused severe tenderness in my breasts 24/7, sometimes I have what feels like heart palpitations and shortness of breath. I hardly have a period anymore, and worst of all, I cry ALL the time. I have never been an emotional person, but now all I want to do is cry about everything. I am also on Wellbutrin for anger, anxiety, and depression. I am wondering if these pills don't agree with each other. Either way, my anxiety and depression have been so much worse since starting this birth control."

• 199...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 29, 2019

For Birth Control "I was on this birth control pill in 1999 when I was 18. I took it for 6 months before I decided to stop using it. I did not have any problems with acne or cramps during use, but a serious increase in both directly after stopping. The problem for me was extreme nausea, depression, weight gain, mid-cycle bleeding, and dryness. I now realize that taking hormonal birth control, especially before having children, causes many bad side effects long-term. I would not recommend any hormonal birth control pills for anyone and wish I had never taken any."