Nortrel 1/35 and Depression: What Users Say

• clo...
• April 22, 2021

For Birth Control "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."

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

For Birth Control "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."

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

For Birth Control "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!"

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

For Birth Control "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
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 27, 2021

For Birth Control "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

For Birth Control "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."

• Anonymous
• November 30, 2017

For Birth Control "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!"

• Anonymous
• November 30, 2017

For Birth Control "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!"

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

For Birth Control "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!"

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

For Birth Control "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."

• Kel...
• February 17, 2019

For Birth Control "Pros: no acne, no pregnancy, regular periods. Cons: weight gain. Water retention and bloating. Had migraines but went away, still get headaches a lot. Breast tenderness. Hair was thinning out. Dry skin, eyes, vagina. No sex drive, even if I did, the outcome would be dry. Mental cons: crazy mood swings. Anxiety, insomnia mixed with depression. Stopped the pill for a month. Felt like myself again. Slept sooo good, like my body felt like it was healing itself. My groin was feeling flutters like it was on relapse. I was so calm and felt like my outward attitude on everything was way more content, happy, and more clear. Not agitated so easily. Starting losing weight already for that month. Now I'm switching to another form of BC, but had to get back on the monster pill until I get that. To make sure I don't get pregnant (IUD). So I'm feeling like crap again. Good luck, ladies. Experiment, 'cause everyone is different until you find the best for you. This BC just didn't work out for me personally."

• AMT...
• November 4, 2017

For Birth Control "This medication is the worst! I've been very depressed, anxious, not myself at all, had crying outbursts, lost all interest in sex altogether (I'm 24, healthy, work out 3-4 times a week and eat well). The GYN's solution was to have me take fewer placebos and go straight to the actives after that. I too was switched from Necon (took for 10 years) to this nightmare from which I cannot wake up, and Walgreens had the nerve to tell me it's the same thing. Newsflash, it is NOT. The inactive ingredients are different and metabolized differently. Also, name brands such as Necon are held to stringent standards of how much active hormone is in each pill - generics are not! Please God, let there be something they can switch me to."

• Mhm...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 19, 2020

For Birth Control "I had been on less strong pills before switching to this one, and I wish I never switched. This pill is absolutely awful. Prolonged bleeding and continuous spotting, terrible. TERRIBLE. Constipation and bloating, and extreme anxiety and depression. Only pro is that my skin has been doing better. I wouldn’t give this pill to my worst enemy."

• Ano...
• February 19, 2022

For Birth Control "I’m 20 and have been taking Nortrel for about 3-4 years now. I have little complaints about this brand of birth control. When I think about it, it definitely modified my personality a little—it is easy for me to be sad or anxious. However, I have had no physical issues with this birth control. I definitely would recommend."

• AJR...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 9, 2018

For Birth Control "Just like everyone else, I was on Necon for years, no problem whatsoever. I got switched to Nortrel a year ago, I'd say. I was a normal, healthy person until I started this darn pill! The worst part about this pill is the nausea! I get sick almost every single day, vomiting for hours and not being able to sleep due to an upset stomach and taking the pill a few hours prior. It's ridiculous. As for my periods, they're all messed up. I could or could not get it, who knows. For a year now, I've seen doctors thinking it's some type of GI stomach issue. I'm beginning to think it's the stupid pill. I am officially done taking these pills, and if I start getting better, I'm doing something about this as I'm writing to a company. I can see many females' health has been at risk due to this pill, and that is not alright! Nortrel, watch out, your reviews are about to be bad. I've also been experiencing horrible moods, along with depression and twice the anxiety I've ever had, making me feel like I'm unhealthy and insane."

• jca...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 21, 2018

For Birth Control "I have not had a good experience with this brand. Like others, I used to take Necon, which I liked, then got switched to this brand. Since the switch, I have noticed an increase in anxiety and mild depression. I am a teacher, so that comes with enough stress. This medication seemed to worsen it. I have never experienced such high levels of anxiety. After reading the reviews of this medication, I see now how it can affect some people. I am not going to continue with this brand."

• CCa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 27, 2019

For Birth Control "I'm very emotional and depressed. I feel low. All I want to do is lay down and eat. I've been sleeping longer. I have no energy. It's making my endo cramps worse. Just horrible. I haven't been on it long, but I'm feeling worse day by day. I switched to this birth control as the last birth control I was on gave me severe acne. And when I stopped, it started to clear up."

• Nis...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 12, 2018

For Birth Control "Terrible anxiety, depression, mood swings with this brand of birth control. I've taken various forms of birth control for 16 years, this pill felt different. Felt awful on it, would not recommend."