Microgestin Fe 1.5/30 and Anxiety: What Users Say

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 11, 2020

For Birth Control "First few months, it was great. No mood swings, periods alright. But after the third month, I now have mood swings so horrible I have a difficult time controlling my emotional state. Crying, angry, anxious, depressed. For no reason at all. I’ll cry at nothing! Get stressed over nothing. Anxiety is so bad I can’t even enjoy life anymore. I’ve also had a rash all over my body, and my face has acne since I started this too! I've never had bad acne. I’m getting away from this right away. It’s downright dangerous and scary. Would not recommend."

• 25 ...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 21, 2014

For Birth Control "This is my first birth control pill and have been on it going on 3 months. Aside from the fact that it seems to be working well with lighter and shorter periods, there are some negatives. It gives me terrible lingering headaches, which sometimes turn into migraines. It also makes me very nauseous. I feel dizzy and squeezed at times. With this said, I take it in the evenings before I go to bed, so I'm not awake during the instant side effects. I realized I have also been a bit irritable, gained weight, and I have also been feeling very overwhelmed by things! With all of this said, maybe I will consider changing over. But each one has its new side effects, so maybe I'll stick it out."

• Bam...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 23, 2019

For Birth Control "I just finished my first pack of this birth control, and let me tell you, this has been the worst month of my life. The first week was fine until it was time for me to get my period. I expected some light cramping and bleeding, it being the first month. But I was way wrong. My bleeding is still going on, and my cramps lasted for days. Just uncomfortable enough so I couldn’t sleep. To add on top of that, my breasts have been sore every single day. My mood swings and anxiety levels have been unrealistically bad. I’m a happy and outgoing person, so this was extremely hard. Bloating and weight gain have made an appearance. I work out multiple times a week, and it really has done a number on my self-image and mental health. I have decided not to start another pack. I’m going to let my body reset and heal for a month or two before considering other birth control options."

• kee...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 25, 2017

For Menstrual Disorders "I was prescribed this to help alleviate my PMDD (severe depression associated with my hormones fluctuating around my menstrual cycle) and extreme menstrual cramps. I am at the end of week three of my first pack, and the whole experience has been horrific. CLOSELY MONITOR YOURSELF when taking this if you have a history of depression and anxiety. I've been crying several times a day and have slept a full night in two weeks. I've felt more suicidal than I have in years and came close to checking myself into the hospital because my lows have been so severe. After talking to my SO today, it was confirmed that my mood has been greatly altered since beginning this medication. I have cramps every day and am bleeding sooner and longer than normal."

• Eri...
• June 27, 2017

For Birth Control "I hate this pill. Been taking it for 1 year and went to the doctor to switch yesterday. In the past year, I've gained almost 30 pounds, which I CANNOT seem to drop regardless of how hard I try to eat well and work out. I've always been health-conscious, so I'm baffled at this weight gain. When addressing it with my male doctor yesterday, he basically laughed in my face, saying it's absolutely not the pill. I'm also experiencing daily anxiety where I shake and sweat for no reason. I haven't had a good night's sleep in months. My mood is usually negative, and I want to cry all the time. I was switched to another pill. But I'm considering Miena because the doctor said it's directly inserted in your uterus so the rest of your body is not receiving."

• Lyd...
• October 31, 2016

For Birth Control "About two months ago, I had to switch from LoLestrin Fe to Microgestin due to my insurance and pharmacy. Since starting Microgestin, I've noticed insane bloating, nausea, and weird discharge. While on LoLestrin, my periods consisted of spotting and average side effects, nothing too serious, but after one month of Micro, I got my period and it was heavy, and the cramping was so painful I had to leave my class. I've also noticed I've developed bad depression and my mood swings are very intense. My anxiety is bad and my sex drive is very low, if not nonexistent anymore. It helped with my acne, but I'm a lot more paranoid about getting pregnant than I was on LoLestrin. I'm going to be talking to my doctor about possibly getting the shot."

• bro...
• November 27, 2017

For Birth Control "This birth control is horrible. I have been on multiple pills since I was 14 for abnormal and painful bleeding. I've been on Sprintec, Kariva, and a few generics for both of those, as well as Azurette. I switched from Azurette to this pill because I thought it was increasing my feelings of depression and anxiety. This pill is making me so miserable; I cry every single day, my hair falls out when I run my fingers through it, my skin is really oily and I'm getting acne, which I've never had in my life. This is horrible. Maybe it's just the amount of estrogen in these pills and my body just is not having it; I don't know, but I hate this pill and I refuse to keep taking it."

• Mg1...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 28, 2022

For Birth Control "I like this birth control. I don’t have the mental side effects, like anxiety, I get with others. I’ve been taking it for a long time, though, and they recently changed their packaging to this thick white plastic thing that’s impossible to open and overall terrible. Please bring back the old normal thin packaging! What were you thinking?"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 13, 2016

For Birth Control "I was on Microgestin Fe 1/20 for around 10 months due to migraines. I was constantly having breakthrough bleeding, mood swings, horrible anxiety, which I had never had before, and my acne had come back. I switched to Glidess Fe 1.5/30 because it was free through my insurance, and all of my symptoms cleared up. After going back to school, where I do not have my normal pharmacy, I got put on Microgestin Fe 1.5/30 because they do not carry Glidess. My doctor did not clear this, but the pharmacist told me that I should have no problems. WRONG! My anxiety came back full swing, and that is not helpful being a college nursing student. I am constantly tired and I am eating like crazy. I am switching back to my old medication ASAP."

• j12...
• October 10, 2016

For Menstrual Disorders "I have been on this birth control for a little over a year now. It does help menstrual cramps by a ton, but it will take a couple of months before the cycle starts becoming a rhythm. I also gained a lot of weight after starting this birth control. Nearly 10 pounds over the course of the year. It also contributes to very high mood swings and anxiety, but overall these things are worth it to stop the pain that came with regular cramps. I used to have to miss school certain days when they were bad, but now I hardly notice them."

• Bea...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 9, 2018

For Birth Control "I was on this in the past for a year and had no problems with it. I stopped taking it for a year, then recently got back on the 1/20 to help with acne. In the 6 months that I took 1/20, I had my period every two weeks, with extreme mood swings around the time of my period. I’ve struggled with anxiety and depression since adolescence, and this does NOT help. No real weight gain. My acne didn’t change much, and I am using Epiduo as prescribed by my derm. Due to having two periods a month, I went back to my gyno, and she prescribed me the 1.5/30. I’ve been on it for 2.5 weeks, I have already had a period, and I have the worst breakout I’ve had since I was 15 (I’m 24). Shockingly, I haven’t had much issue with the mood swings, but I’ve been insatiably hungry. After reading others’ experiences with this pill, I’m throwing the rest of my pack away! The acne is not worth it."

• Ste...
• August 18, 2019

For Birth Control "I’ll give a little medical background first before I tell my experience. 28 years old. Fairly active. Was placed on the pill at 15 years old to control my PMDD and anxiety. I switched to this pill in January after thinking I needed a switch to control some anxiety. This pill has ruined my life. I thought it was stabilizing my mood, it actually increased my anxiety and made me have no emotion towards anything! After my 3-month trial, my pharmacy switched me to the generic form of this pill. This switch made me realize that my anxiety was out of control. I’d cry at the drop of a dime. Over nothing. Paranoid. Nervous. Awful. I was switched back to the Microgestin, and the anxiety persisted. Skipped 3 periods so far. Constant migraines. It’s been one of the worst experiences I’ve ever had. Switching next month. Beware if you are prone to anxiety and depression. This pill amplified it."

• Ste...
• August 18, 2019

For Birth Control "I’ll give a little medical background first before I tell my experience. 28 years old. Fairly active. Was placed on the pill at 15 years old to control my PMDD and anxiety. I switched to this pill in January after thinking I needed a switch to control some anxiety. This pill has ruined my life. I thought it was stabilizing my mood, it actually increased my anxiety and made me have no emotion towards anything! After my 3-month trial, my pharmacy switched me to the generic form of this pill. This switch made me realize that my anxiety was out of control. I’d cry at the drop of a dime. Over nothing. Paranoid. Nervous. Awful. I was switched back to the Microgestin, and the anxiety persisted. Skipped 3 periods so far. Constant migraines. It’s been one of the worst experiences I’ve ever had. Switching next month. Beware if you are prone to anxiety and depression. This pill amplified it."

• Ste...
• August 18, 2019

For Birth Control "I’ll give a little medical background first before I tell my experience. 28 years old. Fairly active. Was placed on the pill at 15 years old to control my PMDD and anxiety. I switched to this pill in January after thinking I needed a switch to control some anxiety. This pill has ruined my life. I thought it was stabilizing my mood, it actually increased my anxiety and made me have no emotion towards anything! After my 3-month trial, my pharmacy switched me to the generic form of this pill. This switch made me realize that my anxiety was out of control. I’d cry at the drop of a dime. Over nothing. Paranoid. Nervous. Awful. I was switched back to the Microgestin, and the anxiety persisted. Skipped 3 periods so far. Constant migraines. It’s been one of the worst experiences I’ve ever had. Switching next month. Beware if you are prone to anxiety and depression. This pill amplified it."

• Meg...
• June 20, 2017

For Birth Control "I have been on this pill for almost 5 months already. I am a 19-year-old, and I went on it because my periods were irregular (and I wanted to become active), but now after 5 months, it isn't worth it. I wasn't depressed before the pill, but now I am, and I have anxiety attacks at least once every week, and little fits of crying and terrible, horrible thoughts happen every now and then. Granted, for the first 3 months, I was taking it wrong. I had the 21-day supply, and after I finished the pack, I wouldn't wait the 7 days before I started the next one, and I would immediately start the next one. My acne has also never been this bad, I have constant breakouts in one area no matter how great I treat my skin."

• Anonymous
• April 22, 2018

For Birth Control "Sore breast, depression, anxiety, bleeding between periods."