Minastrin 24 Fe and Cramps: What Users Say

• Tay...
• July 20, 2014

For Birth Control "I started taking Minastrin in November after Loestrin was discontinued. I was told it was the same pill, just a different name (I disagree). Like Loestrin, I take Minastrin every morning at 8 a.m. I have been taking Minastrin now for almost a year. I find I have cramps all the time, I get mad very easily, no sex drive whatsoever. I'm not sure if this is related, but I get hot and sweat very easily now. I have gained a good bit of weight in my thighs and lower stomach, again, not sure if that is related to Minastrin. When I go for my yearly exam, I will be looking at switching."

• scu...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 14, 2014

For Birth Control "I'm rating it a 10 for effectiveness because it does what it does. It's birth control. First month, some cramping (during period only), normal bleeding (yet lasted 10-13 days), no headaches, hormonal jawline acne cleared right up. Got my period irregularly still. Second month, no cramps, no headaches, hormonal acne still gone, somewhat still fighting steady acne, yet it's MUCH better, gained a few pounds, breasts got noticeably larger (especially for my boyfriend). Got my period on the first brown pill. I'm looking forward to month 3. Hope this helped."

• CG4...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 20, 2013

For Birth Control "I was on Loestrin 24 Fe for 3 years with no problems. I loved it. My periods lasted less than 2 days, cleared my skin, and I didn't gain weight. Then I was forced to switch to Minastrin, which is supposedly the same pill, but just chewable. It's been a terrible experience. I've had a chronic yeast infection straight through the 3 months I've been on it, and it won't respond to any prescription medication. I've also had severe cramps during my period and acne. There is no way this medication is the same, and I want Loestrin back."

• Anonymous
• October 25, 2014

For Birth Control "I had severe cramping and bled for 21 days. My period before this birth control was only 4 days. I have taken myself off. The 21-day period, the heavy clots, the nausea, and irritable state just was not worth it."

• Ara...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 7, 2015

For Birth Control "I have been on Minastrin for over a year now. My very first form of birth control. The first 2 months were tough to get through, with spotting, bloating, mood swings, etc. But after my body got adjusted to the birth control, everything has been perfect. My periods are lighter and last 4 days. My cramps are still present, but they aren't as bad. I don't have severe acne or weight gain. Anyone who has a bad experience, I say just give it time before you write it off as terrible birth control."

• Gla...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 28, 2014

For Birth Control "This is the first birth control I've ever taken, and I've had a few mood swings, at the same time, I'm still a teenager, and hormones are flying everywhere, so it doesn't truly bother me. I used to have terrible periods where I would have to miss school for a few days at a time, and immediately the medicine fixed it. My period only occurs on the placebo days and is very light, with minor cramps that a few period relief pills help. Last month, I did feel very sick during my placebo days, and I'm sure it's because I was taking it but not eating. I was told that would happen, so I advise you to always eat before taking it. I also had terrible acne, and it has cleared up immensely. Overall, it's great for me."

• Ano...
• January 15, 2016

For Birth Control "I've been on Minastrin for maybe less than a year, and for my body, it works great! I had no nausea, less cramping and bleeding, and cleared my acne up. However, I did gain about 10 lbs and lots of bloating. Overall, it worked great. My periods were much lighter and lasted about 2-3 days, plus I haven't gotten pregnant. Unfortunately, my insurance company does not cover it, so I've been paying around $80 per month. Keep in mind everyone's body reacts to birth control differently, so do not get overwhelmed with the negative reviews!"

• LAi...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• September 1, 2015

For Birth Control "I freaking love Minastrin 24 Fe! I was on Loestrin before, and when the generic came out, I was happy to save money, but even better than that, now it's FREE with my insurance! Plus, I've been on this for, I don't know, 8-10 years, and don't have periods. At all. It's awesome! No periods, no cramping, no hormonal issues. Yes, I have women ask how I can tell if I'm pregnant, but I just don't worry about it. I use the pill, and my husband uses a condom, and honestly, I had more worries about pregnancy before, because if you were a day or two late, it was total meltdown time. Now, it's just a non-issue in my mind. There are no negatives to this pill for me."

• Ros...
• May 17, 2016

For Birth Control "I have been taking Minastrin 24 Fe for 3 years now, and I have no more cramps or period ever! My period stopped completely for a year now! Before, I used to suffer from horrible cramps and heavy period, but now I feel amazing every month! I totally recommend and wish I had found it when I was a teenager!"

• aiv...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 4, 2013

For Birth Control "I was switched from Loestrin 24 to this since it was discontinued, and at first, I was super nervous because it was chewable, but I liked Loestrin, so I went with it. The first month was okay, and it was exactly like Loestrin 24 with nothing different. The second month, I was told by my doctor that I can skip the placebo pills to not have my period, and I did just that. The first week after doing so was great, but then I started to spot. I knew it would happen, but it's been going on consecutively for three weeks, and it's into the next pack now. It's also caused mood swings, headaches (and I never get those), vision blurriness here and there, cramps, bloating, gassy, all the upsetting side effects. Overall, not good, and I may switch to another BC."

• ken...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• October 13, 2015

For Birth Control "I have been on Lo Estrin 24 Fe or Minastrin 24 Fe for over 5 years now. Overall, I have had no problems with it. At first, I did gain some weight, but I was just entering high school at the time, so it may not have been just from the birth control. Before, I had very irregular periods - with them coming about every 2 weeks, and they were extremely heavy. Now I get my period every month at the same time for about 2-3 days, and they are very light periods. Before birth control, I had a few cysts on my ovaries, which is why I was originally put on the pill, and I have not had one in the last 5 years. I have never had acne either on or off the pill. I get very little cramps each month - usually only lasting a day."

• Anonymous
• May 12, 2015

For Birth Control "I am 36 years old. I have previously been on Loestrin 24 FE, then Generess FE. My physician switched me to Minastrin, and I have gained weight, I am so lethargic and tired all of the time. I am moody and overall unhappy, which I have never had in my life. I get cramps periodically, and I get spotting at random times, although very, very light. This is the most horrible pill I have ever been on. I will be getting off of it immediately."

• Amb...
• December 28, 2015

For Birth Control "I have been taking this pill for almost a year, probably by far the worst birth control I've ever taken (side effects wise). This pill makes you bleed and spot ALL the time. I take it at the exact time every single day, and yet somehow my period will start like 2 weeks before I'm supposed to get it, and it will last for like a week of just pure spotting. This is verrrrrry annoying and inconvenient for a woman with a boyfriend. You never know if one day you're just going to start bleeding or not. Periods are just as bad as before I was on the pill, cramps, bloating, and heaviness of bleeding varies. I also have almost a nonexistent sex drive, which sucks. Also, I have been having stomach issues on and off since I've been taking this."

• Ash...
• May 26, 2015

For Birth Control "I have been taking Minastrin for over a month now. I loved it at first because there was no nausea! I took it as soon as I got it to postpone my period for an upcoming cruise... I read from 3 reputable sources that it was fine. My period was really heavy and lasted for 9 days..... wtf I thought birth control was supposed to make them light. I also had painful cramps 8/9 days...... Again wtf.... Anyways, I've also noticed my vision isn't as sharp as it was before I started taking it, and I most recently have had depressive thoughts. I was never like this before I took this mess. I won't be giving it time either. This is awful."

• Pyl...
• January 15, 2016

For Birth Control "When I got my period at 12, I was getting it 2 times a month for 7 days each. Literally, half of my life I was on my period. Then I was on a pill that was good (Tilia Fe) and got my period regularly for 5 days at a time. Then my doctor told me about this pill and that her entire staff used it because they either got their period for 2 days or not at all. I was sold! And I'm still sold after a solid year on it. NO weight gain, NO cramps, NO mood swings, and I get my period for 1-2 days max! It's a miracle pill for me. I'm so sad to read such negative reviews about Minastrin 24; it's funny how pills are so different for people! YAZ made me completely insane; it is very expensive though at $54 - I would pay a million dollars; I LOVE IT!"

• r1k...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 28, 2015

For Birth Control "I was on Minastrin 24 Fe for nearly 5 months. During this time period, I had horrible mood swings, and I was constantly emotional. My boyfriend said that I didn't seem like myself. I also ended up gaining nearly 10 pounds and had very tender breasts all the time. I also would get awful cramps, backaches, and headaches during my periods. My periods were very light, though! All in all, Minastrin 24 Fe was not for me. I have now switched to Loestrin, and I already feel so much better."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 13, 2016

For Birth Control "I've been taking this pill for almost a year now (I had never tried any other birth control prior), and I've had no bad side effects. I've never had a problem with weight gain, and I haven't experienced any since I've been on the pill. No unusual mood swings. My skin cleared up dramatically. No terrible cramps anymore, and my period has pretty much disappeared! Really wish I would have found this sooner!"

• km8...
• February 2, 2016

For Birth Control "Awful experience. NOT the same as Loestrin 24 Fe, which worked perfectly for me. This medication caused pains in my stomach, severe shoulder and back acne, bloating, and cramps. My mood swings were crazy, and I felt awful on this birth control. I gave it 3 months, and it didn't regulate. I developed the worst acne I have ever had, and it is painful."

• Kyl...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• May 30, 2019

For Birth Control "Great pill - Minastrin 24 Fe. It is the first one EVER to work for me. I had tried probably 15 others and always had breakthrough bleeding every day or throwing up. So I was so thrilled to start this one! Sadly, my insurance doesn’t cover it, and so I was paying out of pocket. I had a great price for a while, then that coupon expired and it cost me close to $200. A generic by Allergan became available for $100. But now I can’t afford it. So I am on nothing. With no birth control pill, I have terrible periods that last a long time and horrible cramping. On Minastrin, I had no pain, minimal bleeding, and was very happy. I laugh at the review that says on it a week and gained weight... whatever!"

• Ugi...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 18, 2015

For Birth Control "I am 20 years old, and this is the first BC I have been on. I started this pill to regulate my period. My gyno said it would help, and this pill has minimum side effects. I started this pill the second day of my period because it was a Sunday (that's what my gyno told me to do). Anyway, I have been on it for a month now, and I am still bleeding every day like I am on my second day of my period (which is my heaviest day). I have very bad cramps, loss of appetite, and lowered my sex drive tremendously. I am married, so that is very inconvenient. I honestly hate this pill because when I called my gyno, they said give it 3 months and that it's normal, which I don't believe."

• h__...
• November 16, 2015

For Birth Control "My experience with Minastrin was extremely favorable. I was suffering from intense period symptoms-overwhelmingly bad cramps that left me bedridden for at least 2 days, dizziness, uncomfortably heavy flow, irregularity, and periods that lasted up to 9 days. The first month of taking Minastrin was, admittedly, rough. I suffered some spotting and rather invasive mood swings. However, I have read that this is not common and might be related to the intensity of my periods prior to taking Minastrin. Once I got used to having Minastrin in my body (it took about 4 months), my periods became extremely low-maintenance. I still suffer from mild cramping, but I now have regular and very, very light periods, thanks to Minastrin."

• Wor...
• November 28, 2015

For Birth Control "My GYN prescribed this pill to help with my heavy periods. I HATE IT! I've been on it for almost 2 months, I take it at the exact same time every day, and have never missed a dose. I have had the worst mood swings and have been bleeding for a whole month. I experienced what I would call a very heavy period (changing my pad every 45 minutes or wearing adult diapers) 2 times in one month, and the cramps are horrible. I went in to see my doctor the second time I experienced the heavy bleeding, and she said that this is normal for the first 3-4 months of taking this medication. I wish that I had NEVER started this medication. My periods were heavy before the pill, and now they are worse than before. At least before the pill, I only bled 8 days out of the month."

• Oho...
• February 10, 2015

For Birth Control "I've always had extremely painful periods to the point where I would throw up from the pain. I decided to try birth control pills to see if it would help. So far on this pill, I've had short, light periods with very minimal cramps. My acne has even cleared up a great deal. So far, so good."

• Jay...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 3, 2015

For Birth Control "Omg... this is just some bullcrap. I was on Minastrin before I got pregnant, and the periods weren't really heavy, but I cramped really bad. So I decided after the baby I would go back on it until my Paragard comes in. Whelp, I get back on it, keep in mind I'm already facing postpartum depression. I have every symptom listed. I can't believe it would make me suicidal, but yes... it does. I stopped taking it because I couldn't stand the spotting, well, of course, that turned into a heavy period. Then, two weeks later, I got another full period. So I went without birth control for another month, which wasn't cool. So I decided at the start of my current period I would start back taking it. And here I am... spotting after my period, and I have blood clots."

• Anonymous
• October 14, 2016

For Birth Control "Started on Minastrin 24 Fe to help balance out my cramping and the heavy bleeding during my periods, which it did help. A week after I started my next new set, I started to have the bad feeling in my upper stomach like I have been doing tons of sit-ups nonstop. So I thought I probably moved funny or something, it'll go away. Well, a couple of days went along, and it got worse. It became more intense and sharp stabbing pains, and it extended into my back as well. I couldn't lay on my sides, nor even when I drove in a vehicle any bump nor turn it hurt. I knew it was time to go to the hospital. When they checked me out, they said I had a blood clot going to my liver, which was caused by birth control. Be careful, it might not be for you."