Microgestin Fe 1.5/30 and Depression: What Users Say

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 17, 2016

For Birth Control "My pharmacist put me on this when I had been on GILDESS 1.5/30 (21) ORAL for almost 2 years, and that was perfect. But now that I'm on Microgestin Fe 1.5/30, I'm having horrible headaches, major mood swings, and depression. I absolutely hate this pill, I would give it a negative rating if I could."

• Hat...
• January 27, 2016

For Birth Control "This, by far, was the worst experience on a pill. I rated it a 2 because I didn't get pregnant. I was not only bloated ALL of the time but literally craved food ALL of the time. I gained 20 pounds in 8 months (went from my normal weight - 115 to 135 in the blink of an eye). I was out-eating my boyfriend, who is twice my size. I won't even get into the moodiness. I was depressed for months. I would never recommend this pill to anyone, I don't see how it is still on the market. I switched back to my old pill from my teen years (I'm 32 now), which never gave me problems (Levora), and 2 weeks in, I've already lost all of the water retention and 7 pounds. The food cravings are gone also, finding that I'm having to 'remember' to eat."

• 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."

• MTW...
• June 29, 2017

For Birth Control "Got on Microgestin 1.5/30 after getting married (had sex with my husband before we were married, but wanted to start birth control to eliminate condoms or pulling out for him). PERIOD: I had a short but consistent and heavy period beforehand, and now it's VERY light or nonexistent in the off week. Didn't get pregnant, so overall effective. MOOD/LIBIDO: the hard part is being able to determine if my mood, weight gain, what feels like depression (never have experienced depression before), and decreased libido (LEAST cool) have been primarily due to the pill or my life change/transition. Looked here today due to my first acne spike (2 huge pimples a day on my face and chin) since starting to see if this has caused acne for others."

• 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."

• Pil...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 6, 2018

For Birth Control "I have NOT had a good experience with Microgestin Fe 1.5/30. I am taking it to regulate periods. After my new gynecologist suggested I stop the Depo shot and start this, I began noticing many negative effects, such as weight gain, increased acne, decreased libido, depressed thoughts, and MAJOR headaches and migraines! I can’t stress enough how much I’m missing out on doing when these headaches hit. It has made my quality of life decrease an incredible amount. I would not recommend. I would rather be incredibly irregular and never know when to wear lining than take this horrid pill."

• Niv...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 6, 2018

For Birth Control "I was prescribed Microgestin 1.5/30 (no breaks or placebos) after Trinessa stopped working for my severe period pain/heavy bleeding. The first month, I had cramps every single day with no period the entire month. Month 2 came along with a period that lasted 21 days with mild cramps. I contemplated stopping the pill, but I didn’t know if it would make things better or worse. I was also extremely fatigued and emotional/depressed. Now I’m in month 3, my breasts are super tender every day, mainly in the mornings, and I’m only a B cup. I haven’t gotten another period, but I experienced very light spotting from skipping a pill for just one day — I ended up doubling up the following day. I have no acne, but I also never had acne, no weight gain, and no headaches out of my norm. So I’m going to continue to give this brand more time to see how my body responds in the upcoming months."

• I...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 18, 2017

For Birth Control "I started using Microgestin because Aygestin and Ethinyl Estradiol just wasn't working. For the first couple of months, everything was good. Around month 5, I slowly started to have mood swings. Sometimes I cried for the smallest things. Then I started to get depressed. Not too long ago, I noticed certain pants started to feel a little tight when I put them on. I completely have NO SEX DRIVE. My boyfriend doesn't understand what I'm going through. I'm just about done with this medication."

• 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."

• Pha...
• January 8, 2017

For Birth Control "I was put on this birth control when Gildess was recalled. Gildess was perfect for me, so I hoped that the change wouldn't be as different, but I was wrong. Granted, this pill did a good job in preventing pregnancy, and there was no breakthrough bleeding. I experienced mood swings about a week into taking this pill and honestly did not recognize myself. I never understood depression caused by the pill because I never experienced it, but this pill literally made my life hell. I was so moody, crying at the smallest things, and my sex drive was gone. I also had no desire to eat because of the constant nausea and abdominal pain. Avoid this pill, the side effects are not worth it. Currently waiting to be switched to brand Loestrin Fe."

• Bea...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 6, 2019

For Birth Control "Not worth it for me with the side effects. Constant headaches, mood swings, and depression, heavy bleeding and clots from half dollar to golf ball in size, accompanied by painful cramps. Made me feel wiped out and killed my sex drive. My doctor put me on a lower dose birth control pill, but I’ve still had constant bleeding and clots for the past two weeks."

• Lex...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 5, 2021

For Birth Control "I’m switching to Azurette, not sure it will help. I’ve been depressed, weight gain, and have the worst mood swings. I can’t control my mood. I cry about everything, and something so little can set me off. I don’t feel like myself anymore. I hope this works, because if not, I might just stop."

• Jj5...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 20, 2018

For Birth Control "This has been pretty great. I no longer have heavy periods, and it is now much shorter. At first, I was worried I was pregnant, but the same thing kept happening each month. I do still feel a little moody and depressed, but I couldn't tell you if it's the same as usual or not. It feels manageable, and my mood swings during my period and pain levels are now much better. I got a little bit of acne, but hey, I haven't gotten pregnant, and the acne lessened by the third pack. That's all I have to say."

• Unh...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 8, 2016

For Birth Control "I am 18 years old, and after being on this pill, it caused me to have extreme hair loss. I didn't realize this was causing it until 4 months in. It did a good job keeping me from getting pregnant, but now I am depressed over my hair loss. Not worth it!"

• 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."

• Thi...
• July 29, 2017

For Birth Control "I decided to take birth control just in case I decided to become active in the future. I wanted to start taking the pill before the school year to see how it would impact me and to get adjusted. At first, my acne flared up more than usual. Once I got my period, I experienced horrid and uncomfortable cramps one of the first days, that I had to call out of work for being sick (I was crawling, crying, and threw up once). The period lasted about 2 weeks. I've had slightly bipolar moods before, but once taking this pill, the moods were extremely hot and cold. For two hours, I would be angry, and then I would experience happiness for a bit, just to go into another anger/sadness. Depression was worse with bad thoughts. I'm stopping the pill now."

• Emi...
• April 4, 2016

"This birth control really cleared up my acne, as well as shortening the length of my periods and making them light. It protected me from pregnancy every month, which was good, however, it made me have terrible headaches and made me extremely moody and sometimes depressed. You have to give any birth control time, and every pill works differently for everyone, but other than that, I give it 8 out of 10."

• Goo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 5, 2020

For Birth Control "I was put on this Microgestin Fe 1.5/30 because I have extremely bad menstrual cramps. It was effective at stopping the pain for the most part, but I had a lot of negative side effects. Horrible headaches, acne, fatigue, mood swings, depression, and dizziness are all things I started experiencing when starting this pill. These things are not things I experienced before starting this pill. I had light periods and the bleeding would stop for a week, but then I would spot from then until my next period came. Probably wouldn’t recommend this pill to anyone, but it works different for everyone."

• 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."