Minastrin 24 Fe and Mood Swings: What Users Say (Page 2)

• 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!"

• dan...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 13, 2016

For Birth Control "I am 41 years old. I started taking Minastrin at age 37 because my periods were lasting almost 10 days. My periods weren't bad (no cramps, heavy bleeding, etc.), but most of those 10 days my period was light, and I wore a pantyliner because a tampon was irritating. But extended use of pantyliner was irritating as well. I was also experiencing strong PMS-type mood swings as well. Despite my age, my doctor put me on Minastrin. I maintain a healthy weight, eat well, non-smoker, no other health conditions/concerns, etc. I have not had a period since I started taking it, and it is wonderful :). I do get moody/irritable about a week before the placebo pills are taken. But I am aware of this and 'check myself' (am I overreacting, etc.?)."

• LAt...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 4, 2023

For Birth Control "Horrible pill! I had terrible mood swings and anxiety, headaches, and dizziness. My periods were heavier and more painful than without the pill, and I had terrible dryness. Find something else - don’t put yourself through the hell of this pill."

• 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."

• Dan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 5, 2016

For Birth Control "STAY AWAY FROM THIS PILL. This is my second month with this pill, and let me tell you how horrible my experience has been. Sudden weight gain, like literally 15 lbs more during these past two months. Lately, I've been very depressed, I've had two panic attacks, pain in my left arm, and shortness of breath. I thought I was having heart problems and rushed to the ER, and my heart is fine. This is all the pill, this pill is driving me crazy. I've never felt like this in my life. So many mood swings. I'm stopping these pills starting now. The only good thing is that your period is lighter and you get zero cramps. THAT'S IT."

• Bir...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 20, 2019

For Birth Control "I took Minastrin for about a month and had extremely bad side effects. I had horrible mood swings, I was anxious, and most of all, super depressed. I’d go from okay to crazy in what felt like seconds. It was awful! It also made my breasts swell up about a full cup size."

• pri...
• August 2, 2014

For Birth Control "I used to take the regular combined pill and would often get terrible migraines with black auras. It was really scary. Now that I'm on this mini pill, I really haven't gotten them. I never took any other mini pill, but this is way better for me than all the regular pills. My periods are so much lighter and shorter. Yes, I have gained weight and emotional sensitivity. But now that I know they are just side effects, I know I can deal with them. I would take this over the scary migraine and heavy fainting periods anytime. I really think it depends on the individual how you like it. Also, I really think you need to chew it like it says. I read somewhere that the enzymes in your saliva, or stomach, or whatever need to break it down properly."

• Iii...
• November 27, 2016

For Birth Control "1/10 does not even begin to describe my awful experience with this pill. I was on this pill for almost a week and had to stop it due to extreme mood swings and massive depression and anxiety. I have been on SSRIs for 7 years now and my depression and anxiety are relatively under control. From the minute I started this BC, I started gaining weight, breaking out, and having intense mood swings to the point where I thought I needed to go to the hospital. My breaking point with this BC was one night when I went through the cycle of angry/violent thoughts to intense anxiety to feeling completely normal. That cycle happened about 5 times in an hour. After this experience, I am now terrified to try another birth control method besides condoms."

• Ros...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• November 14, 2022

For Birth Control "I've been on Minastrin for a handful of years now (5+, I've lost track). Best things about it: it gets the job done, never had one pregnancy scare. Periods are light and mostly painless. Super simple to skip a period if I'm on vacation, no spotting during/after. The not so great: definitely affects my mood (I'm more prone to anger and sadness when on the pill and feel a sense of 'clarity' when I'm on the placebos), and I still get moderate PMS cramps. However, I take birth control for stress-free sex and controllable periods, so for me this medication is gold and the pros outweigh the cons."

• 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."

• rev...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 18, 2014

For Birth Control "I started this pill as my first pill ever, and it definitely helped with the intensity of my heavy bleeding issue prior to starting the pill. However, I noticed a lot of mood changes, a decrease in sex drive, weight gain, lots of spotting, and I never missed a pill. I am switching to Beyaz now, hoping to get better results."

• Mdm...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 1, 2015

For Birth Control "I haven't been on birth control for a few years, but I have used two different brands, and this has got to be the worst one I've ever been on. I lasted all of two days. I read the side effects and reviews, but wanted to try it out for myself, and I will have to agree with all the negative reviews on the pill. My side effects were really bad nausea, mood swings, and severe anxiety. I would go from wanting to cry, punch someone, or total sadness in a matter of minutes. I know your body has to adjust, but going through just two days of what I went through, I decided to stop taking it. I would say try at your own risk!"

• KMa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 28, 2019

For Birth Control "I have been on many different birth control pills (Linessa, Diane-35, Yasmin, Lolo, Orthocyclen, Alesse, Seasonale, Trinessa), and this pill was by far the worst. I have endometriosis, and this made my pelvic pain UNBEARABLE. I also have a litany of mood disorders, and this made me feel blunt and emotionless one moment, and then extremely depressed, and then insanely angry the next moment. I've never had a birth control create such violent changes in me, and I've been on various BC pills for upwards of ten years. I felt like myself the day after I stopped taking it. That being said, BC works differently for everyone."

• Jam...
• July 8, 2015

For Birth Control "This pill is horrific. I have been on it for only a few days, and it's making me feel super emotional and depressed, and I have never felt this way before. I will no longer be taking this and need to find something to switch to."

• Tba...
• August 19, 2014

For Birth Control "This is the first birth control I have ever been on, and it's awful. I only gave it a 10 because it does what it's supposed to. I've been on the pill for 6 months. The first three months I had severe acne. I've never had an acne problem until then. Spotting is a severe problem, I have to wear pads the majority of the time (two weeks at the most with no spotting). Periods are very irregular, one day I'm good, the next few days I'm not. I've experienced mood swings and cramping. Not a good experience at all."

• VCo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 26, 2015

For Birth Control "I'm giving this pill an 8 because, for me, it had very minimal side effects. I didn't gain any weight, it cleared any blemishes, and I experienced no mood swings or depression. However, I did experience severe spotting and breakthrough bleeding, even after being on the pill for three months. My doctor told me to give my body three months to adjust, and during my fourth month on this pill, I bled for the entire first week of my fourth pack! Therefore, it feels like I'm getting a period (or at least have to wear pads) twice a month. The spotting is absolutely annoying, and I'm strongly considering switching to another pill or just taking myself off of birth control entirely."

• jta...
• July 6, 2015

For Birth Control "I am finishing my second month on this pill and am switching to a new pill. The major issues I had while taking this pill were terrible stomachaches and extremely heavy breakthrough bleeding; however, I did not experience mood swings, weight gain, or any other adverse effects."

• Lov...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 23, 2017

For Birth Control "Before Minastrin, my periods were extremely irregular, fairly heavy, and accompanied by cramps strong enough to cause vomiting, acne, breast tenderness, and headaches. Minastrin was a miracle. My periods now only last 2 to 4 days, are extremely light, and they happen at the same time every month and never on weekends. I never gained weight either. The only negatives that I've noticed are the first week of pills I was nauseated every morning, but that passed, it causes some mood swings that my parents noticed as well, and my cramps haven't fully gone away, but they are much more manageable due to regular periods and only last 2 days instead of 4. With these negatives, though, I strongly recommend it."

• Sar...
• February 4, 2017

For Birth Control "I started taking Minastrin in October 2015. I lost weight taking this pill, have had great skin, and I don't really have a period. I am 24 years old and have one child. This pill has been great so far, but after reading other people's experiences with side effects, I feel relieved knowing that I'm not the only one that has frequent mood swings the week before I start my placebo pills. I don't take my pill at the same time every day. Overall, this has been a great contraceptive."

• j_e...
• December 4, 2016

For Birth Control "I started taking this for extremely painful cramps and heavy periods. The only positive effect I've experienced is that my periods are regular and last 4 days instead of 7. I still need heavy doses of pain medicine for 2-3 of those days to even tolerate my cramps (which of course wrecks my digestive system). I'm significantly more moody and emotional. I've gained about 25 pounds on this pill, even though I eat healthier and exercise more than I did before starting it. I suddenly had terrible acne, which lasted for the first 6 months, and it eventually cleared up again. My sex drive has also been much, much lower. This pill was my only option because it is chewable and I can't swallow pills. If you don't have to take this medicine, then don't."

• Unh...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 7, 2015

For Birth Control "I have been on different birth controls over the years, and due to changes in my hormones, I have been spotting before my period. So, my doctor put me on this BCP, and I have been getting really bad acne, mood swings, and my lips are very chapped. I've been on it for 2 months, and I'm still spotting, and now I have side effects! After I finish this pack, I'm gonna stop taking this pill. My doctor said to give it 3 months, but I just can't with these side effects."

• Cha...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 28, 2015

For Birth Control "You can actually call this birth control because I didn't want to have sex while I was on it. I had no type of sex drive whatsoever, and I'm always in a mood. I had mood swings, depression, and was nauseous all the time. The only thing that Minastrin was good for was my periods were light and lasted two days, and I didn't get pregnant. I was originally on Loestrin 24 Fe and stopped. Loestrin 24 was the best birth control ever. I went back on birth control a year later because I couldn't afford to pay for it at the time, but now my insurance basically covers anything now. The doctor prescribed me Minastrin, and it was the worst thing ever. I stopped using it after three months and felt so much better."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 7, 2015

For Birth Control "I am 21 years old, and I started taking my first birth control pill ever (Minastrin) in late January 2015. The first month I took this pill, I was extremely emotional. It's now just over 6 months later, and I have had stomach cramps/pain as well as bleeding of all sorts of colors for the entire month. My boyfriend and I were so convinced I was pregnant because of all the symptoms and side effects associated with this pill. I never have a cramp a day in my life until I started this pill, and now, along with the cramps comes bleeding and horrible stomach pain. Anything that causes such differences in your daily life and this much stress is not worth it. I am starting a new pill tomorrow, thankfully."