Nortrel 1/35 for Birth Control User Reviews

• clo...
• April 22, 2021

"The worst experience in my life. Like others, I was on Necon for years and loved it. Then I moved to a new city, and the new pharmacy didn't have the Necon in stock, so they gave me the Nortrel instead because 'it's the same exact thing.' Famous last words. The worst 6 weeks of my life followed. Crippling anxiety, the worst depression (had never had depression before), heart racing, zero appetite (had to force myself to eat protein bars so, you know, I'd stay alive). Even had 2 ER trips because I thought I had a heart problem. I'd sob 6-7 times a day. Had no interest in anything and couldn't even choke down my favorite foods. Suspected Nortrel, stopped immediately, and within a week, felt like myself again. Now I take only Necon and haven't had an issue since. There is something off with this pill, even though the active ingredients are the same, there are other differences. These can make a difference in some people. There's something fishy. Avoid if possible. It's not worth going through that nightmare."

• Nin...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 28, 2018

"I was terrified to take this after reading reviews on here, but I actually have had a good experience with this birth control. I didn't really get any side effects, except I've gained 5 pounds, which could definitely be due to my eating habits. My skin has cleared up and my periods aren't as painful or long as before. It has also prevented pregnancy very well, basically, it does everything it should. I previously took Trinessa and Yaz, and my body hated them both (cystic acne, bloating, nausea), so Nortrel has been a breath of fresh air."

• Ley...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 26, 2019

"Okay, so this is my experience with Nortrel 1/35. (Meaning my body reacts differently than yours on this birth control.) So I got on this BC because of the Depo. I was bleeding nonstop for 5 months. My gyno prescribed me this since it was a high dose and was sure my bleeding would stop. It definitely worked as it should. I stopped bleeding, and I get my period at the end of the month. My period now only lasts 3/4 days instead of 7/8 from before I took any type of birth control. Now the cons of this: my mood is horrible. I cry for any little thing, everything bothers me. It even affected my relationship. If you’re currently depressed and have anxiety, I do not recommend it. I have never felt so low about myself. It’s emotionally and mentally exhausting."

• bru...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 18, 2020

"Works fine. Not pregnant, so that's good. A little more emotional than usual, but nothing major! No overall weight gain, but my boobs got bigger. ;) It's important to remember everyone's experience will be different!"

• Bra...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 3, 2018

"I overreacted the first few days and got scared I was having a heart attack, haha. It can mess with you if you read everything online. But truly, your body is just getting used to it, you shouldn’t stop taking it the first week - that’s so silly (unless you're really ill). I've been on it for a bit now, and I like this first-ever birth control for me. I’m 20, and I’m pretty active. I always drink a lot of water and prop my feet above my heart for about 15 minutes a day because it’s good for you. Especially if you’re worried about blood clots. Just listen to your body, it’ll be fine."

• Man...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 23, 2019

"I have Stage III endometriosis and have had two surgeries in two years. I was put on Nortrel continuously for the past few years and never had endo symptoms, no sore breasts, no period or spotting, and overall didn’t feel emotional or anything. Unlike most here, my pharmacy gave me Necon, saying it’s the same (it is the generic), even though the binders aren’t. And I had two weeks of sore breasts and just started my period for the first time in two years. Terrible pain and issues. So I would take anybody’s opinion with a grain of salt, even mine. It fully depends on how your body metabolizes all of the ingredients, not just the active ones! Ratings on medications can only get you so far without trying it, unfortunately."

• Nen...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 10, 2020

"I've been taking this pill for over a year now. Sadly, I gained more than 20 lbs from this. Super abnormal for me, and it's so hard to lose this weight. Constantly nauseous, even after months of taking it, even when taking it at night. I'm a very happy person, and now I have days of depression. I've been sleeping more and feel unmotivated. I have unreasonable anxiety levels. I've never been an anxious, nervous, or sad person. I've even been losing more hair than usual! Nortrel has been horrible to me! This birth control was prescribed because I had really heavy bleeding from the Nuvaring and experienced a bit of anemia (gone now). It has regulated my period to super light, but it's not worth it when there are so many options. Finally switching to another pill!"

• Anonymous
• June 8, 2011

"I've been on Nortrel 1/35 for about 10 months now. I'm 22, and this is the first time I've been on birth control. I had spotting between periods for the first few months I took it - way longer than you're supposed to. Sometimes it practically was a period, and then during the off-week, I would have another one. But my periods were never regular, and now they are - a good thing. My cramps, however, seem to have gotten worse. But my biggest problem is vaginal dryness! It's not that I don't have a sex drive, it's just that sex HURTS without an hour of foreplay and a gallon of lubricant. I guess that makes this a highly effective method of birth control because I'm starting to avoid sex out of fear that it will leave me sore for hours."

• Cam...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 28, 2022

"I remember feeling freaked out reading these reviews before I took Nortrel, so I wanted to share my experience! I was taking Sprintec for quite a few years before this, but I had been having some breakthrough bleeding mid-cycle, so my doctor recommended that I try Nortrel, and I'm honestly really glad I did. I have been taking it for about 10 months now. After a few months of adjusting, the breakthrough bleeding stopped, and my periods have gotten much lighter (from 5 days, relatively heavy periods to 2-3 days with super light bleeding). I didn't gain any weight at all, and my mild hormonal breakouts around my mouth (that I got nearly every period) stopped. I still get a bit grouchy on the 2 or 3 days leading up to my period, but I thankfully haven't had any of the mental/emotional symptoms that others here have experienced. It's very effective for me."

• Mus...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 16, 2020

"I really didn't like this Nortrel 1/35 pill. I was on Pirmella 1/35 for about three years but had to switch to a different pill due to the virus (I now get my pills from Nurx). This was 'the closest thing they had to Pirmella.' Bad, lingering headaches, weight gain, longer and heavier periods, and horrible acne. I never had any of these on my original pill. I also get numbness and tingling in my fingers and hands on this pill. I haven't gotten pregnant yet, so that's the only positive thing."

• Lad...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• November 16, 2020

"This medication, Nortrel 1/35, has really worked well for me. I started taking it when I was 20 and have used it as my primary source of BC. I suppose I was lucky, but I have not experienced any of the commonly mentioned side effects other than some mild cramping the 1 month I took it as my body adjusted to the hormones. Since then, ten years later, I have not had any weight gain, headaches, or nausea, and I can’t say that it has affected my mood either. My periods went from 8 heavy days of nightmare periods to 3 to 4 days of using a liner with only an occasional cramping. Most importantly, after a decade of use, I have not become pregnant or had a single pregnancy scare. This pill has worked very well for me."

• Kay...
• July 16, 2019

"I have been on birth control since I’m 15 years old (now 23 years old) because of the chronic pain and bloating I would get on my periods, not to mention the very heavy flow. I’ve been on 4 different pills. I was taking Necon for 3 years, which was my favorite pill. Unfortunately, my pharmacy said the manufacturers were no longer making Necon, and I had to switch to the generic brand of Nortrel. I’ve now been on Nortrel for about 2.5 years. I have only one complaint, and it is a very crucial one... I receive HORRIBLE migraines. Other than that, I react okay to the pill. My mood is fine. I don’t PMS. My flow is light. Periods last 3-4 days. I could say weight gain, but I’m not going to blame my overeating on a pill... that’s just me being unhealthy. As fast as I gain the weight, I can lose the weight, so that’s the issue. It’s only those darn migraines. When they hit... they hit hard."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 27, 2021

"Honestly, the worst birth control I’ve been on. This is the third birth control I’ve tried, and I get two periods per month with cramps and heavy bleeding on one. I’m also super hormonal—more than I ever was with just my regular period. I am depressed and super irritable and tired and hungry. Would not recommend."

• KBa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 22, 2019

"I took Necon in my 20s and had no issues. I just restarted last week, but I am 47 now. I thought I was just having a bad week, but my moodiness is awful. Extreme anger and frustration over the littlest things. Sleeping only 2-3 hours a night, and that's with the help of Benadryl, melatonin, and Ambien. Gained 5 pounds. No motivation to work out. Craving carbs and naps. I need to stop taking this med and see what happens."

• Bri...
• March 20, 2017

"I've been on Necon 1/35 for almost two years now, but had to switch to Nortrel last month because it was all my pharmacy had to distribute apparently. The first month of taking it, I had no problems, but my period was super light and lasted 2 days (concerning, but only slightly). Now I'm on month two, and my first pill last night made me so incredibly nauseous. I woke up at 4 a.m. running to the bathroom because I thought I was going to vomit. This feeling has lasted another 5 hours now, and I've taken one ondansetron (anti-nausea tablet) since then and drank some water with no change. So far, the pill has been great at preventing pregnancy, but my sex drive has lowered significantly. Hoping this nauseousness goes away soon!"

• Anonymous
• February 9, 2011

"Nortrel is the third birth control I've tried. I have been taking it for 2 months now. I haven't experienced any breakthrough bleeding, which was my problem on the other two pills, but my periods on this pill have been unbearable. This pill has caused me to have extreme cramps, major mood swings, bloating, back pain, breast tenderness, and a very, very heavy period. It lasts about 5 days, but it's far heavier than my period has ever been. I thought that my body just needed to get used to it, but my second period on this pill seemed considerably worse than the first."

• Sue...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 13, 2019

"I took Necon in my 20s-30s. I am 40 now and have been on Nortrel (generic of Nortrel) for 3 months. My pros: regular, 3-4 day periods, light flow, no to little acne, intense sex drive in week 3 (no dryness here), no depression/anxiety, or lack of sleep (I take clonazepam), rare headaches, rare spotting. My cons: extreme bloating (Midol helps), weight gain/increased appetite, mood swings, irritability, fatigue, cramps, nausea (I take ondansetron), gas, backaches (I take 800 mg Ibuprofen). Besides weight gain, there are 2 cons that can be age vs the pill. I see cellulite on my legs and my hair is thinning. I noticed most reviews are from girls younger than me, so I can’t compare. I love the light, short, regular periods. I am able to live with the majority of my cons. I am looking at ways to diet & become more active. Take at your own risk, but note your symptoms. See what you can live with, medicate (if you are okay with it-it helps). For me, this is not the best, but it's not the worst either."

• Anonymous
• November 30, 2017

"This was the worst experience I've ever had with a birth control. My relaxed and chill personality instantly changed when I started taking these pills to a severe extreme. I would have anxiety constantly, felt annoyed at everything, I would have bursts of intense crying over nothing, I felt depressed and sad. Why take birth control when you become a bitchy sad person that doesn't want sex anymore? Do not take this!"

• Rev...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 22, 2020

"I mostly love this pill, mostly. I have been using it continuously for the past two years, and out of those two years, I've probably had my period about 6 times. With taking it continuously, I am not supposed to get my period. It's GREAT for a few months, you feel great, very good protection against conception, and easy. But, every now and then, I will start to bleed randomly. If I keep taking the pill while bleeding, there is brown blood that will linger for about 2 weeks, BUT if it's my actual period, if I stop my medicine for about 5-7 days, I can let myself have a period and then start over. I really don't like it when I start spotting and bleeding randomly, with no clue. Has ruined underwear and been embarrassing. I would say it's a I really like it/really don't like it relationship with this birth control. It works spectacularly against pregnancy and is great for a little bit, until your vagina has enough and decides it needs to have a period, even though technically it isn't necessary."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 2, 2020

"I began taking this birth control when I was 17 (I am now 20) because my periods were normally 10-15 days long, very heavy, and very painful. Overall, the birth control works (I never got pregnant), but I experienced so much nausea and vomiting within the first year, and any time I would forget a pill, this same nausea and vomiting would occur. I also experienced symptoms like migraines, bloating, and swelling in my breasts, but my periods were much more bearable. Overall, it accomplished what I initially wanted, but I think it’s caused me more harm than good."

• Anonymous
• May 2, 2018

"I've been suffering from migraines for at least 10 years. Part of my problem was neck pain causing them, which I fixed. The other factor was hormonal migraine. When I was able to get control of my migraines through physical therapy, I was still getting severe ones during my period. I take Nortrel 1/35 continuously. I have just one period every 3 months. It's been a lifesaver. My migraines have reduced dramatically in terms of frequency and severity. As a bonus, my skin is super clear. I went from having 12 migraines a month to about 3. This birth control is amazing! I personally have had no negative side effects, it's been great."

• Mar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 22, 2018

"I got switched to this from Ortho Cyclen due to irregular bleeding. I've been on it for a month. It's good so far. I do feel a little more tired. Not depressed, and I'm not sure about this loss of sex drive and crying everyone here is talking about. I feel fine, but I also was on Ortho Cyclen for 7 years before I got switched. Sounds like most of these comments are from people who have never been on birth control or were on a low-dose birth control. So far, so good for me."

• Coo...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 11, 2019

"DO NOT TAKE THIS MEDICATION. I started Nortrel 1/35 in Dec 2017. I became extremely anxious, depressed, extremely moody and would go from happy to sad or mad in a matter of seconds. I stopped taking this in January 2019, and all of the side effects subsided. Not realizing it was from the birth control, I started back up on it two weeks ago, and I have been breaking out so bad, my moods are all over the place, my anxiety is worse than ever. I decided to look up reviews because starting this pill again was the only recent change in my life, and now it all makes sense. I’ve also gained 5 lbs in the two weeks I’ve been back on it and started my period yesterday when I’m not supposed to have my period for another full week. This pill is awful!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 14, 2019

"I too was on Necon for years. Had to switch to Nortrel. Can't tell the difference! No side effects. I'm 47 and been on the pill since 18. Sex drive is somewhat low. But is that just the pill? Probably not!"

• CBa...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 17, 2018

"I’ve been taking Nortrel for a few years now after trying a few different pills. I have a very hard time finding one that doesn’t cause breakthrough bleeding all month long. This is the only one that has helped with that issue, but it comes with its own consequences. I get extremely moody and have spells of minor depression. I also have zero sex drive, but that’s been an issue with every pill I’ve tried. I have gained weight, but I also don’t eat the greatest and I'm getting older. So, I’m not 100% happy with it, but it’s the only one that doesn’t make me bleed all month, which is my biggest concern."