Microgestin Fe 1/20 and Mood Swings: What Users Say (Page 2)

• Emi...
• May 5, 2014

For Menstrual Disorders "I was put on Microgestin because I have awful cramps at the start of my period and ovarian cyst ruptures that would put me in the hospital. Microgestin took the cramps away, as well as my period! I was on it for 7 months before I began to realize that it was giving me some bad side effects. I felt nauseous, had blurred vision, shortness of breath, and felt tired all the time. I also experienced hot flashes and some mood swings. Today is my first day off the pill, and I can already feel the cramps. Guess I will have to decide which one is worse, the cramps or the side effects."

• Jan...
• June 19, 2009

For Birth Control "Wow. It sure did the job. No pregnancies because I lost my sex drive and became dry. I don't do any drugs nor smoke. And I had mood swings that were insane. Once, I got to the point where I couldn't go to sleep at night and went through my boyfriend's phone and accused him of cheating. So just please beware, and if others are noticing symptoms, I hope they speak out because I didn't come to terms with it until I reached a scary point."

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

For Birth Control "First, I want to say I have never been on birth control. I am 24 years old. This is my first time being on birth control. I’ve been on this birth control for about three months now. The first few weeks, my mood swings were horrible, my boobs grew!!! I feel the difference... and I haven’t gained any weight at all! Actually, this birth control kind of slowed down my appetite. Now, after the few weeks went by, everything has been fine with me. My period is back on track how it used to be. I have no problem with this birth control, but every woman's body is different, so I really didn’t have any bad experience with this birth control. I hope this helps."

• Mad...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 14, 2014

For Birth Control "I'm currently on a mood swing, so forgive me. Although I've just started this pill 3 weeks ago. Every other day, I cry for no reason. Then I get angry and mad and just lose my appetite. And I'm sick to my stomach. I feel bloated daily and just annoyed. I have my good days. I was so much happier, though, before the pill. And the only great thing is my breasts grew like 2 sizes, haha. Other than that, I'm making an appointment tomorrow. I'm fed up with these strange mood swings."

• cam...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 15, 2014

For Birth Control "This is effective in preventing pregnancies, but I've had some other unpleasant side effects. I've been on this for 9 months. During the first three, I would always break out real bad around the time of my period. Then for a couple of months, the acne stopped, but other symptoms began popping up: spotting, sometimes an early period, extreme mood swings, weight gain (20 lbs). The last two months, when my libido began to suffer, I decided to switch. No sex drive. None. It's killing me. Even if I want to have sex, which is rare anyway, my body says no. The end of this pack is it for me."

• Van...
• December 18, 2015

For Birth Control "This birth control is the worst kind I've ever taken in my life. I thought I had a bad experience with Seasonique solely because of the weight gain, but Microgestin Fe was 100 times worse. The first month I was totally fine, then after a while, I started getting really emotional. I cried at the most absurd things, and I'm not usually a crier. It made me so irritable and cranky with my family, my boyfriend, and even his family. Not to mention it caused me to get a yeast infection, which I never had before and haven't had since I got off the pill. And the worst part, it made me go from someone with an extremely high libido to someone that cringed at sex. Getting off it was the best decision I've made."

• Anonymous
• October 8, 2009

"I've been on this pill for 7 months. I'd been having hormonal issues, so I thought a pill with less estrogen in it would help. Perhaps I am allergic to this pill. It upsets my stomach. The last few months, it has been like I have diarrhea. After every meal, I have an urgent need to use the restroom. My period has been unpredictable, heavy at first, then it lightened. One month I didn't get one. Now it's average in length, but my back aches, and I feel tired. I break out twice a month with mild acne. I have a 3-4 day window where I feel like having sex, and my body will respond. Other times I want to have sex, but I am dry, and my body is slow to respond. I am moody, easy to cry, and anger. My boobs itch, I get bloated, and I'm losing hair like crazy!"

• Tex...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 2, 2015

For Birth Control "When I originally took Microgestin 1/20 by Watson, it was amazing (particularly after the first couple of months of taking when my body got used to it). My breasts went up a cup size, and there were little to no side effects. Lighter periods. No pregnancy. WIN! THEN, after almost two years, a dark cloud called Actavis became the new manufacturer and shattered my love for Microgestin. Something changed in the formula because I was suddenly sick during the first week of each new pack to the point that I'd throw up at times. Random cramping. Gained about a pound a week - not a deal breaker, but still sucks. HEAVY, exhausting 2-3 day periods. Two side effects worsened over time: melasma and mood swings. Needless to say, it's goodbye time. Beware!"

• Bre...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 4, 2015

For Birth Control "This is the worst birth control I have ever used. I have been taking it for two weeks now, and I have literally gone crazy. I'm not myself at all. It has made me insanely emotional, I cry all the time, not to mention I'm very, very depressed and have thoughts of suicide. I am also very irritable and find myself snapping at people for no reason. I would never recommend this pill to anyone."

• Kil...
• July 24, 2011

For Polycystic Ovary Syndrome "I was terrified of taking this. I had been on Lo-ovral in the past and had a terrible experience with it (mood swings, lack of sex drive, constant hunger, weight gain, etc.). This was pretty much off the bat. Plus, I have seen some scary reviews about Microgestin. But after getting diagnosed with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), I had to do something. I have had pretty much zero side effects after a month of use. Breasts grew a little bit and were tender at first, but other than that I feel fine. I am typically hypersensitive to medicines. It could be that I am used to high hormone levels due to the PCOS and this just balances it out. With birth control (and anti-depressants), it is important to really shop around until you find one that works with your body."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 24, 2013

For Birth Control "I have just been on Microgestin Fe 1/20 for a month now. No period yet, which made me nervous until reading some of these reviews. I was on Microgestin Fe 1.5/30 and wanted something with less estrogen. I have lost five pounds, no mood swings, and I'm loving it. Only thing is night sweats and more emotional at times."

• dan...
• September 13, 2016

For Birth Control "I've been on this pill for 8 months. I've always been overweight, but I've significantly changed my lifestyle, going to the gym consistently for the first time ever, yet I'm gaining weight. Ugh. Other side effects: anxiety, panic attacks, mood swings, weird, vivid, and often sexual dreams. I sleep so much (10 hrs/night), loss of sex drive. Headaches and disturbed sleep, which were extremely rare for me before. Also, my blood pressure was 140/89 the other day, and I've never had high blood pressure! I was compelled to read reviews after that, and I see some people had the same issue. This is the first pill I've been on, so I thought 'maybe this isn't so bad,' but now, writing out all of my side effects, I'm seriously considering stopping this pill."

• SRk...
• April 10, 2017

For Birth Control "My gyno switched me from Teva (brand name) to a generic. The generic wreaked havoc on my moods. As someone who suffered from bad PMS already, I was led to believe this would help. Did quite the opposite. Triggered months-long depression and anxiety. I had preexisting problems with both that were exacerbated by this pill. After wasting at least $800 seeing a shrink and going off of the pill, I went to see a psychiatrist who put me on Lexapro, which has made me feel a million times better. I know everyone reacts differently to different pills, but I would warn someone with a genetic predisposition to depression and anxiety to be very careful going on this pill. Doctors don't always care enough to listen before they prescribe medicine."

• Anonymous
• October 7, 2009

For Birth Control "I've been on Microgestin Fe 1/20 now for a little over 2 years. I haven't gotten my period since I started taking it. My doctors don't know why but don't seem to be too alarmed. I noticed I am emotional, and I have the urge to cry about the silliest of things. I don't think it has made me gain weight, if so, no more than 5 pounds."

• My ...
• May 23, 2015

For Birth Control "I like the pill now because most of the side effects have gone away. The first month is the hardest, though. My body had a very hard time adjusting to the pill, and I had insane mood swings. I went from insanely angry to sad and depressed, even considering self-harm. I do not feel any of those emotions now, but if you are someone who is prone to depression, try another pill."

• Gen...
• April 21, 2019

For Birth Control "I’ve used birth control for over 10 years. I’ve used Microgestin Fe 1.5/30 for the majority of that time. I’ve also used the patch (no complaints other than it would give me a small rash on the area that I applied it to). Microgestin Fe 1/20 was my least favorite. I didn’t get my period the first 4 months. I gained weight (10-15 pounds). I hit the gym every day for about 2 hours. I ran 5-7 miles a day, ate clean, and I could not lose the weight. I had mood swings. I just got off it. As soon as I went back to Microgestin Fe 1.5/30 (my regular birth control), I dropped all the weight, my period came back, and my mood swings went away. I’ve always been regular. Please read reviews before you try something."

• Pen...
• November 19, 2009

For Birth Control "I started this pill 4 months ago, and my hair is breaking badly. I have mood swings very, very badly. Also, I'm totally emotional all the time. You would think I was pregnant, no sex drive, and my husband is fed up with it!"

• Pen...
• November 19, 2009

For Birth Control "I started this pill 4 months ago, and my hair is breaking badly. I have mood swings very, very badly. Also, I'm totally emotional all the time. You would think I was pregnant, no sex drive, and my husband is fed up with it!"

• Rac...
• April 23, 2010

For Birth Control "I started taking Microgestin Fe 1/20 because my doctor was no longer prescribing Yaz. I gained 15 lbs, started breaking out with acne like crazy, was weepy about nothing at all or very angry, did not have a period for 6 months and then became pregnant. I was taking the pill exactly as prescribed. I even set an alarm on my phone to take it at the same exact time every day."

• Bcp...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 23, 2012

For Birth Control "I honestly don't like these pills at all. I mean, there are good side effects, but they're all mostly bad. The good thing about it is that I never broke out with acne, and my chest got a little bigger. But the bad side of these pills is that I get sick to my stomach whenever I start a new month, major mood swings, depression to the point where I'm thinking suicidal thoughts, and usually I'm not like that, and they don't even help with my menstrual cramps because they are still pretty severe. Every person's body is different, but if these symptoms don't stop, I'm switching to another brand."

• 20K...
• November 4, 2015

For Birth Control "In reading the reviews of this birth control, I see a lot of been on it a week, a month, couple months. I see a lot of when Watson distributed it, etc. I'm one of those who've had a bad experience with it. While yes, it's done its job in preventing pregnancy, here I am after 18 mos on it, and I've decided enough is enough. Pros: no pregnancy, no periods, minimal spotting. Cons: 30 lb weight gain, mood swings, nausea-induced migraines, lethargic, zero energy, constant feeling of not enough sleep, unusual body pains, painful sex, emotional, looking and feeling pregnant numerous times (even having people ask), increased appetite, pregnancy symptoms, etc. As a mother and nanny, the cons are huge for me as they've greatly impacted me."

• 20K...
• November 4, 2015

For Birth Control "In reading the reviews of this birth control, I see a lot of been on it a week, a month, couple months. I see a lot of when Watson distributed it, etc. I'm one of those who've had a bad experience with it. While yes, it's done its job in preventing pregnancy, here I am after 18 mos on it, and I've decided enough is enough. Pros: no pregnancy, no periods, minimal spotting. Cons: 30 lb weight gain, mood swings, nausea-induced migraines, lethargic, zero energy, constant feeling of not enough sleep, unusual body pains, painful sex, emotional, looking and feeling pregnant numerous times (even having people ask), increased appetite, pregnancy symptoms, etc. As a mother and nanny, the cons are huge for me as they've greatly impacted me."

• Jet...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 6, 2012

For Birth Control "So far I can say I've been pretty happy about this birth control. I had taken it 1 month, then I forgot to pick up my other pack, so I had to wait another month to get back on it. The first month, I was super hungry and just ate everything. Gained like 5 lbs. But this month, I don't feel any diet change, and I have lost those 5 lbs. My period was strange: 2 days of brown discharge. Can't really complain though. I get less of those really huge balls of acne (the ones where nothing will come out, but it's the size of 5 pimples). My breasts do feel bigger, and I think I'm more emotional, but it's hard to tell because I've been dealing with a lot lately. I'm fairly happy so far."

• Anonymous
• September 26, 2009

For Birth Control "I got switched to it because, with the birth control I was taking, my periods were irregular. Both of the months that I was on this, I had two full periods, one in week 3 and one in week 4. I had mood swings, and I was emotional the whole time I was on it. And the worst part is that I've weighed the same thing for the past 10 years, and after being on this for 2 months, I gained 10 pounds, and after 2 and a half months of not being on any birth control, I still have it. Two months was way too long for me."

• Mam...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 29, 2013

For Birth Control "I was put on this after I had my 2nd son 3 years ago, and this pill started off great. The first 8 months were totally fine with this pill, it even stopped my periods, which at first made me stressed, but then I got used to it. As soon as the 8th month went by, the bad side effects kicked in. I put on 20 lbs, started breaking out, mood swings and PMDD were in full force. I started getting weekly migraines that literally made me bedridden."