Tarina Fe 1/20 EQ and Acne: What Users Say

• acr...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 21, 2019

For Birth Control "I’ve been on this Tarina Fe 1/20 pill for 1 month and wow... I’ve experienced chest, back, and underarm pain. Mood changes that consisted of sad, anxious, a little depressed, and extremely paranoid. My period was about 2 days late, and I couldn’t tell if it was spotting or just a lighter period (TMI: my period was dark brown). I gained weight in my arms, mid-belly, breasts, and thighs. I had some acne on my forehead that was red-white heads and some red dots on my chin. Again, TMI, my discharge was thick and milky white and came in large amounts daily. It’s definitely not my favorite pill, but I hope this helped anyone."

• Lue...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 6, 2019

For Birth Control "I started taking this birth control about 5 months ago, and I’m not too sure about it. My face has been breaking out more compared to the other pills I have taken. My periods are extremely light, cramps, and back pain every month, mood swings, and headaches. I do not recommend this birth control at all, there are definitely better options for you."

• Ash...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 6, 2019

For Birth Control "I've been taking Tarina FE for a few years now. I recently received health insurance for the first time and went to a gynecologist who prescribed Taytulla to me. I immediately began breaking out, my hormones were all out of whack, my sex drive was non-existent. I was aware that it was most likely the change in hormones and it would go away. I gave it a shot for 2 months, and I became so depressed that I was in such a dark place, which is very unlike me. Now I am happily back on Tarina FE where I will stay. This one just works for me. My acne is cleared back up, my hormones are back to normal, my sex drive is back, and I don't want to hurt myself."

• nic...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 21, 2016

For Birth Control "I just started my 3rd week on this pill (it's my first time going on BC), and I can't say I love the pill, but I also don't hate it. The first 3 days I had really bad acid reflux, indigestion, and stomach pains, it went away, so I think my body was just trying to cope with the newly added hormones. My boobs have grown slightly, but not much. I'm definitely more emotional now, but not overly emotional like most people are saying they experienced. The only real negative side effect I've experienced is acne. The day after I started the pill, I woke up with small red bumps all over my face. My entire forehead, chin, and jaw area are so red and bumpy. I'm gonna give this pill another month or two before I decide if I need to change brands."

• Hal...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 13, 2019

For Birth Control "DO NOT USE THIS! Day three of using this birth control, my skin broke out into terrible red whiteheads. All over my face, the next morning I woke up to rashes all over my neck. If you want to save your face and sanity, do not ever use this birth control."

• mad...
• August 27, 2020

For Birth Control "For me, this Tarina Fe 1/20 is the ABSOLUTE WORST PILL EVER. I just got off of it after 2 whole years, starting when I was 16 years old. Before taking this pill, I was happy and skinny with minor depression and anxiety that I've had my entire life, and as soon as I went on this pill, and every day for the last 2 years, I've had the worst depression EVER. I cry every day, and I have anxiety attacks, everything makes me cry, and I had such bad anxiety I was diagnosed with tachycardia because my AVERAGE HEART RATE WAS 150. I still have acne and cramps, just not as bad. I got hives from heat exposure, bloating, spotting, no sleep, chest pains, muscle spasms, dehydration, vaginal dryness-literally every negative side effect but ENHANCED."

• Ale...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 30, 2020

For Birth Control "I am on my second pack in Week 3, and I would describe my experience with Tarina as not bad. When I was on the first pack, I definitely experienced those mood swings that everyone was talking about. I got mad easily and became very emotional. But I noticed once I started my second pack, my mood swings calmed down a bit. I guess it was just my body adjusting to it. I haven't experienced any sudden weight gain. I am currently working out and eating right, so maybe that's a plus. One negative thing I will say, though, is that it has made my acne WORSE even though it says it's supposed to clear it. I have been experiencing maskne (mask acne from wearing COVID masks), but it wasn't as bad as it's been since I started taking Tarina. Overall, it's okay. I will continue using it."

• MMa...
• January 27, 2018

For Birth Control "While beginning it, the first two months I was extremely nauseous 24/7, little acne here and there. Jump over to a year and a half, everything leveled out and regulated. The thing is, this pill has turned me into a complete crybaby or an emotionally detached angry rager. When I say there's no in between, there really isn't. It's either a hit or miss. I've gotten so much angrier in the process of taking it. Just made me really emotional, as well as always spotting 2-6 days before I even start my period."

• Ruy...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 25, 2018

For Birth Control "Tarina has prevented pregnancies so far, so good. I used to be on Microgestin for the last 4 years, then Planned Parenthood recently switched me to Tarina. I did notice my acne cleared and a few other changes on my body, like gaining a few pounds and having a few headaches. I also take it at night to decrease nausea side effects."

• m18...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 15, 2021

For Birth Control "I've been on Tarina Fe for 6 months and have no complaints! I honestly love it as far as birth control goes. I haven't noticed any mood, weight, or acne changes. I am generally hungrier throughout the day, but that's totally manageable. One complaint is that my periods are weird, not really super bloody (sorry if that's TMI), and they only last 2-3 days. It's kind of strange, but they're completely pain-free, unlike my periods before being on birth control."

• Not...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 13, 2017

For Birth Control "The first week into taking this pill, I got the yeast infection side effect, and I've never had one before. It made me way more emotional and sensitive to drama. My boyfriend doesn't even think I'm acting like the same person before I started taking the pill. Not only this, but it makes me really hungry even when I feel full, I just crave eating more food. It also caused my acne to get worse within the first week. I stopped taking it after the first week, so then I had the worst period of my whole life. I'm 18, and I rarely had any sort of painful cramps, and for the past 4 months, I've had cramps that are so painful it feels like I'm giving birth and having painful contractions. Taking this pill was the worst mistake I've ever made!"

• van...
• January 7, 2016

For Birth Control "My experience on the pill is going okay. I'm on my 3rd pack, no bleeding, just spotted for an hour. I get cramps when it's time for my period to come. I notice I have become more emotional lately. I feel like crying a lot. When someone tells me something, I get really sensitive. My boobs get sore, and they have gone up in cup size. I get acne when it's time for my period, but that's it. My hunger has been the same. When it's that time, I crave fried foods. I like the pill, just wish I wasn't so emotional. My sex drive is awesome. Hopefully, I will get my period irregular."

• Mar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 28, 2020

For Birth Control "I’m 20, and I’m on my second pack of this pill, Tarina, I just started the third row. Ever since I started this pack, my acne has become VERY bad. My jaw is full of acne, and there’s some above it on my lower cheeks. I’m happy that we’re being advised to stay indoors because I would be so embarrassed if people saw me this way. HOWEVER, I started taking this because of cramps, and this pill made my last period a breeze. I didn’t even have to take any pain relievers!!!"

• Jam...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 18, 2019

For Birth Control "This pill, Tarina FE 1/20, isn’t too bad. When I lost my health insurance for a while, I started using Planned Parenthood, and they said this is the same as Blisovi, which is what I was previously using. I’ve been on this for like 8-9 months now, and I haven’t noticed any weight gain or acne or anything crazy. I think my sex drive went down a little bit, though? But aside from that, I’m having a good experience on it. My periods are light and pretty short (like 3-4 days), and it does what it is intended to do."

• Cra...
• December 27, 2017

For Birth Control "I've been on this BC for 2.5 months now, and I hate it. At first, it was the acne all around my eyes and forehead, and the abdominal pains constantly. Then, in the second month, the bleeding never stopped. I wouldn't call it spotting, because it was more than that. Sometimes heavy bleeding for a random day, sometimes a glob, and I've passed a couple of clots. I came on here looking if I was crazy or if it was the BC, because my mood is out of control. I'm anxious, sad, depressed, I don't feel like myself anymore. My sex drive is non-existent, and the vaginal dryness is unbearable. It's good to know I'm not crazy. Hopefully, I can switch and relieve myself of these side effects."

• nic...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 10, 2016

For Birth Control "On my 3rd month, and the acne caused by this pill still hasn't gone away. When I started this pill, I broke out like CRAZY. I had HUNDREDS of pimples the day after starting. Most of them have cleared, but now instead of a bunch of tiny red pimples, I get big painful cystic ones. I stayed with it because everyone told me I had to give my body time to adjust, but it doesn't seem to be doing better. The 2nd month on the pill, I had HORRIBLE stomach pains. It was awful. I was puking every other day from the pain, not nausea. As a BC, it's great, I don't know if it's worth the acne, though. My skin is so scarred."

• Sid...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 13, 2019

For Birth Control "It’s my second month, and I don’t think I’ve had any side effects other than acne. My skin is usually pretty clear, but lately, I’ve been getting patches of painful pimples near my jaw area, which is what hormonal acne is. I’m hoping my body just needs to get used to it, but I may try switching if it’s not gone by next month."

• Bla...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 8, 2017

For Birth Control "If you don't want to get pregnant, then this birth control works just fine. Downsides for me: longer periods. I was bloated for a good 2 months. I read to try and stick it out for 3 months and bloating would subside, and for the most part, it did. Last but not least, and for me the worst, the cystic acne!! Uggghh I haven't had acne in 3 years, and as soon, as soon! As I switched to this BC, I started getting them all over, with cystic ones mainly on my jawline. I absolutely hate it and will be switching BC this week!!!"

• bb9...
• January 18, 2018

For Birth Control "I've been on this birth control for 3 weeks, and my period hasn't stopped. It is a lot more than spotting and has ruined 3 pairs of underwear already. I used to get complimented on my clear skin, but my acne has drastically increased since taking this birth control. I know these side effects are supposed to go away after a few months or so, but there is no way I am going to deal with this for that long."

• MJa...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 21, 2020

For Birth Control "I was on Tarina Fe 1/20 since Planned Parenthood prescribed it to me. And I LOVED IT! Gave me 0 problems ever. No side effects, my acne cleared up, and my skin was glowing. I felt great, absolutely no problems. I see reviews about hair loss, but I have insanely ridiculous thick hair that it would be very, very difficult for me to notice that one. But as far as I can say, this was the best birth control I have ever been on! It was my first ever one I have taken. I was on Tarina in 2018 for a year until I was switched (they told me and said it was discontinued *Planned Parenthood*), and they switched me to Blisovi Fe 1/20... IF YOU GET PRESCRIBED BLISOVI FE, DO NOT TAKE IT! It’s awful, it gave me cystic acne and moodiness to the point of losing myself as a person and human being. But Tarina is great!!"

• Cin...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 30, 2021

For Birth Control "Got this pill at Planned Parenthood after I had my IUD removed. While on this pill, I had no sex drive. I didn’t care about anything anymore. I didn’t want to hug or kiss my daughter or husband. I was always irritated. I also had the worst abdominal pain, and it messed with my bowels. I gained about 5 lbs in 2 weeks. I was super bloated. My breasts were super tender. I don’t usually have acne, and this caused me to break out really badly. All this in only 2 weeks. I stopped the pill, and 2 days later, I felt more like myself. Definitely don’t recommend."

• Dan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 23, 2021

For Birth Control "Please stay away from this birth control if you want to save your skin. I was on it for 6 months, and my acne has never been worse. I have never suffered from acne in my life, I was strictly on this to prevent pregnancy, and my face is extremely horrible. I ended up spending tons on skin care and ditching this pill. I am 8 days off of it, and I’ll just be waiting for my skin to hopefully recuperate. Stay away."

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 26, 2021

For Birth Control "I was on this pill for 4 months to help with acne and to regulate my period because it was so heavy, and I would get bad cramps. While it did help with the intensity of my period, it did not help with the timing. I would get it during the 2nd or 3rd week of the pill, not during the placebo week. My acne is absolutely insane right now, I just switched pills due to it. It has never been this bad. It is cystic and painful around my jawline and chin area. The amount of topical products that I have bought to try and curb this is overwhelming. My sex drive decreased significantly. Overall, a pill that was not meant for me."

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 26, 2021

For Birth Control "I was on this pill for 4 months to help with acne and to regulate my period because it was so heavy, and I would get bad cramps. While it did help with the intensity of my period, it did not help with the timing. I would get it during the 2nd or 3rd week of the pill, not during the placebo week. My acne is absolutely insane right now, I just switched pills due to it. It has never been this bad. It is cystic and painful around my jawline and chin area. The amount of topical products that I have bought to try and curb this is overwhelming. My sex drive decreased significantly. Overall, a pill that was not meant for me."

• cas...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 8, 2017

For Birth Control "I am on the first week of my 4th pack. I've been continuous cycling, so I was spotty the first 2 packs during my 'period,' but afterwards my body adjusted. I was nervous, acne-wise, because this is a lower dose of hormone than I'm used to, but so far no crazy breakouts. I actually have much less of an appetite now, which is great - I lost the 12 pounds that I put on from taking a higher dosage pill, so I'm back to my old self again. I would give this pill a higher rating if it weren't for the fact that I have way less sex drive now, and for a day or 2 right before I'd get my 'period,' I am very dry and have a slight stinging feeling that is slightly painful."