Femynor and Depression: What Users Say

• Ken...
• January 30, 2020

For Birth Control "I've been taking this pill, Femynor, for approximately a year. It started out okay, but a few months in, my periods started happening in the middle of the pack and lasting until the end. Also, the main reason my doctor recommended this pill to me was to clear up my acne. I have not seen a difference - I still break out a lot every month right around the second week, and my face doesn't tend to clear up until after my period... just for it to happen all over again. I came on here to see if anyone else had similar side effects and was surprised to see how many comments there are on anxiety/depression. I have never been one to be super anxious/depressed, but this past year, it has been so bad. I can't confirm this is the sole reason, but it does seem a little suspicious. I stopped taking it this month to see how I feel - I'm getting sick of trying out different pills though, this must be my fifth try. Just remember, everybody is different!"

• Jor...
• July 25, 2020

For Birth Control "I've been on this Femynor birth control for about 2 years. It has made me so depressed, right around my period, I get suicidal thoughts. I haven't had any nausea or any problem eating. Just mental problems."

• San...
• February 17, 2019

For Birth Control "I’m 28, 5’1, 115 lbs. CVS told me my usual oral contraceptive, Sprintec, had been discontinued. Pros: cleared my acne (purge for the first 2-3 months). Cons: gas, nausea, feeling hungry, but every dish seems to make me nauseous, so I rarely eat much, but always feel hungry. Sometimes I’d sweat in my sleep (never had that happen before the pill), irritability, mood swings, 2 periods a month. When I skipped a pill and took double the next day, I always end up arguing with a family member (not like me), depression. Honestly, after reading reviews and seeing how many side effects I have in common with other women, just confirms I need to get off this pill ASAP. I didn’t understand all these changes. I had severe acne, so I know what it’s like to want to try anything to clear your skin. If you happen to end up here looking for acne reviews, I’d try something different if it’s solely for the purpose of clearing your skin. Some days, while arguing, I felt crazy, shouting/crying."

• Gen...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 9, 2019

For Birth Control "I started taking Femynor in July of 2019 because CVS switched me from Estarylla. It has been terrible. Not even before the end of my first pill pack, I had intermittent bleeding and what felt like menstrual cramps throughout the active pills. Then in August, I started my next pack after my period, and before the second week of active pills, I had intermittent bleeding AGAIN. By this point, I'm thinking something is seriously wrong because I never had this issue with Estarylla since 2015. I decided to take a leap of faith and continue the pill pack into September, and it does not get any better. Still bleeding right now as I am writing this review. I have had night sweats, stomach aches, extreme fatigue, lack of motivation, terrible mood swings, constant cramps, and headaches, to name a few. I reached out to my doctor, who told me that the intermittent bleeding was normal, but I had enough once I had the worst anxiety attack of my life. I'm done with Femynor."

• Bet...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 4, 2020

For Birth Control "I have been on birth control for the past two years. About two months ago, my pharmacy randomly switched me from Mono-Linyah to Femynor. About two weeks into taking the pill, I had cystic acne, which I hadn’t had since a couple of months after first starting birth control. About two months into being on this pill, I started to get an unusual brown thick discharge. After having this for about a week, I went to the doctor. They told me I had a yeast infection AND I had been bleeding or “spotting” at the same time. I have never had any issues with spotting before, and the yeast infection was a huge surprise to me, as I have a balanced diet, regularly take my pills, and have good hygiene. I have never felt so depressed in my life as well. Pay attention to what brand your pharmacy changes your birth control to because it truly does matter, even if they “all have the same ingredients.” Stick to the one that works best for you. I would absolutely avoid this pill at all costs if you can."

• kan...
• February 24, 2020

For Birth Control "I started on Trinessa in high school and had never had acne before. That is when I developed some breakouts occasionally. About a year ago, I was switched to Tri Femynor (thanks to my insurance dropping Trinessa), and I have slowly developed feelings of anxiety and depression. I handle stress so much worse than ever before, and my acne has skyrocketed. In the last 3 months, it has been unbearable. Everyone is different, and I believe the dosage between Trinessa and Tri Femynor is the same (both norgestimate and ethinyl estradiol), so I do not see why I would see these drastic changes. I have never had feelings of severe depression or anxiety before, and I am definitely not easily worked up. Just wish I would have been able to talk to my doctor about it before the switch occurred or talk about other options. If your pharmacy is switching you out of the blue, I would recommend sitting down with your doctor first so you feel most comfortable and informed about what is going into your body!"

• Anonymous
• October 10, 2019

For Birth Control "I recently was on Lo Loestrin, and that one worked perfectly for me. No mood swings, no breakthrough bleeding. However, my doctor wanted to switch me to Femynor. WORST MISTAKE EVER!!! Just after 2 days of taking it, I felt anxious/depressed. Didn’t think anything of it until the next day I was just crying for no reason! I felt depressed, didn’t want to get out of bed. Bloating up from water retention. I’ve been off the pill for 2 days now, and slowly but surely I am feeling better!"

• Dan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 27, 2018

For Birth Control "I had been using Estarylla for months with little problem, but I started using Femynor recently because my pharmacy ran out of Estarylla. I'm barely a week into my supply, and my depression and anxiety have gotten dramatically worse. I had a severe panic attack and thought I was going to die, I also have no appetite and get nauseous if I try to force myself to eat."

• Pan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 27, 2020

For Birth Control "The first week I took this Femynor pill, I was nauseous, my jaw and face were sore with tension, my chest ached with the tightness of anxiety, and I began crying more. I'm old enough to know you have to give the symptoms time to work themselves out, so I continued taking it. I lasted 3 weeks on this pill before I called my doctor's office begging them to switch me. At that point, I was officially and actively fighting depression, my jaw and face still hurt, I had daily hormone headaches, I felt helplessness, and cried so much. I've switched to another pill and have been off this one about 3 days and already feel a little more emotionally and mentally stable, and my jaw no longer hurts. If you have any personal history with depression or anxiety, I would not, not, not recommend this pill."

• Ell...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 10, 2019

For Birth Control "I've been on Sprintec for a few months, and when I switched pharmacies, I was switched to Femynor. Literally, the day I started taking this pill, I've been feeling the side effects like crazy. I have the worst headaches, my appetite is weird, and I've been having mood swings. I've been feeling sad, then happy, and then I've also been feeling depressed. It's horrible and definitely not worth it. I will be calling my doctor immediately to get switched back to Sprintec."

• Ell...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 10, 2019

For Birth Control "I've been on Sprintec for a few months, and when I switched pharmacies, I was switched to Femynor. Literally, the day I started taking this pill, I've been feeling the side effects like crazy. I have the worst headaches, my appetite is weird, and I've been having mood swings. I've been feeling sad, then happy, and then I've also been feeling depressed. It's horrible and definitely not worth it. I will be calling my doctor immediately to get switched back to Sprintec."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 14, 2019

For Birth Control "The reviews with “1” rating are accurate. I’ve been taking birth control for a few years now. Never had a problem before. I’ve been taking Femynor for now 2 months. I’ve had an irregular period since I was 14. I’ve been spotting nonstop since I’ve started this one. I feel hungry nonstop. My mood swings are ridiculous. I was noticing my emotions were intensifying. I felt depressed, and it’s not me. I'm a happy spirit. If you’re experiencing this, get off this pill! Get a lower dosage. I caused a lot of arguments between my significant other and me while on this."

• Ana...
• December 8, 2020

For Birth Control "The worst birth control I have ever taken. I used to take Trinessa (Ortho Tri-Cyclen), and my doctor prescribed me this brand when I wanted to get back on. I originally went back on it to help the cystic acne I was getting. I’ve heard of people having side effects but never experienced them until I was on Femynor, and GOOD LORD. I dried up like the Sahara Desert, which led me to get a yeast infection. I had no sex drive, also because I was so dry, and on top of that, I had the worst depression. I cried senselessly every day without stopping. My acne had gotten horrendous, which made me even more depressed. I waited it out for about 3 months, and as soon as I got off it, I felt like my old self. This was the worst experience on this pill."

• Vee...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 9, 2019

For Birth Control "I hate this birth control. Constant spotting, and it’s made me depressed & hate everything!!!!! Please do not take this. I’m going to stop taking this pill immediately. I can’t even have sex without bleeding. Worst ever."

• Bel...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 29, 2019

For Birth Control "I got this pill because they said it’s generic of Ortho-Cyclen. I was depressed the first 2 weeks. Then depression was gone, my breasts got bigger. I have been using this pill for 3 months. I gained 6 pounds, but that is because I might have changed my diet. I don’t like it. My sex drive got lower, I never had that on a pill before. Generic pills, even though they are supposed to be the same, I don’t think they are the same. I honestly feel different, I don’t care what doctors and pharmacists say, I know my body, I feel weird, that’s why I’m changing this pill."

• MAD...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 1, 2021

For Birth Control "HORRIBLE, it took me 1.5 years to realize it was this medication that has made me tired, depressed, no sex drive, and a weight gain of 30 lbs. I thought it was just the pandemic and the sadness with that and working from home, but I took a testosterone test and my levels are low. Which seems to be in correlation with this medication. I wish I looked at these reviews before getting on it. I got on this particular one to help my acne, which it has a little, but it has not been worth it. I hope I can get on something better... to be happy and lose this weight. I would not recommend this to anyone."

• AKa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 13, 2018

For Birth Control "CVS switched me from Estarylla to Femynor. It's the worst birth control I've ever taken. I have depression, anxiety, irritability, everything mentioned in other reviews happened to me as well. I have to fight CVS every month to give me Estarylla because I refuse to take this medication."

• Che...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 26, 2019

For Birth Control "I’ve been using this birth control for about 8 months. Only complaints I have are nausea when I forget to take a pill and end up taking two the next day and weight gain. Severe weight gain. I’ve gained over 10 pounds with this pill and I think I want to switch to another contraceptive. Not gonna lie, my face looks amazing; no acne, but I’m feeling really depressed and insecure with the weight gain, and I specifically told my doctor beforehand I didn’t want to gain weight nor break out a lot. Any recommendations for a good birth control?"

• Her...
• May 13, 2019

For Birth Control "After reading reviews, I believe all my problems from the past year stem from this birth control, Femynor. I originally went on Tri-Estrylla for severe cramps, back pain, and acne. It was great! My periods became noticeably less painful. My acne did not change. After maybe about 4 or 5 months of using it, my pharmacy changed me to this, and my side effects started. First, I started losing a significant amount of weight for the first time in my life. Looking at food made me nauseous, and I became incredibly less hungry. Sometimes I felt like I was going to puke the whole day and just never did. I’m continuing to lose weight, and for the first time since elementary school, I’m under 100 lbs. I thought this may have been because of my depression and anxiety (which now I believe is caused by the birth control as well). I’ve always struggled with depression, but it became so bad for no reason at all this past year. I have become a zombie. Also, I have absolutely NO sex drive at all, which sucks."

• Dol...
• August 31, 2018

For Birth Control "I've been on Femynor about a month now, and I've noticed my acne has gotten a lot better, and I've gained about 5 pounds, and my periods are much lighter now, which I like. But the downside to this pill that I noticed about myself is I feel extremely irritable every day, and I'm usually not an angry person, but everything seems to bother me. I am extremely emotional and depressed over everything now, and I have no sex drive whatsoever. I'm probably going to get off this soon because I don't think I could handle the mood swings any longer, but the good thing was it cleared up my acne."

• FEN...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 25, 2018

For Birth Control "I started taking this birth control 12 days ago. The second day I took it, I immediately felt sad. I thought it was just a normal passing ache of the heart, but it didn't stop. After a week and a half of minor depression, I began to feel intense anxiety. Today I reached a breaking point. I had the craziest panic attack where I kept switching from mania to crying. My body kept switching from cold to hot, and I could not stop shivering. I felt hungry every day, no matter what, and felt irritated often. You may not think this was enough time to feel these effects, but I'm telling you I did. Good luck."

• FEN...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 25, 2018

For Birth Control "I started taking this birth control 12 days ago. The second day I took it, I immediately felt sad. I thought it was just a normal passing ache of the heart, but it didn't stop. After a week and a half of minor depression, I began to feel intense anxiety. Today I reached a breaking point. I had the craziest panic attack where I kept switching from mania to crying. My body kept switching from cold to hot, and I could not stop shivering. I felt hungry every day, no matter what, and felt irritated often. You may not think this was enough time to feel these effects, but I'm telling you I did. Good luck."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 19, 2021

For Birth Control "So Femynor was the first and only birth control I’ve ever taken and have so for almost 4 years now. I suffered with depression before, but honestly think this medication made it a lot worse. I didn’t even realize until recently that I have had horrible mood swings and have been very irritable. My acne seems the same, I didn’t gain any weight, but honestly think it made me lose my appetite. Nausea occasionally, but nothing crazy. Despite this, the medication seems to be doing its job. I’m considering getting off it after this long and realizing that my mood swings could be associated with it."

• Gis...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 21, 2021

For Birth Control "I was on Femynor for 8 months. The first 3 weren’t that bad, it made me a bit more emotional/sensitive and nauseous. After that, I started to gain weight, around 10-15 lbs in 8 months, which I wasn’t used to and made mood swings/depression worse. Eventually, I didn’t feel like myself, I just felt like the dulled-down version, and I cried every day, sometimes about nothing or small inconveniences. 3 weeks off of it and I finally feel back to my old self, more energy, and haven’t cried once."

• Sky...
• March 3, 2021

For Birth Control "This was my first birth control that I had used, and I took it for over a year before switching to another birth control. When I switched, I realized how much of a toll it had taken on my body. This birth control left me feeling depressed, extremely anxious, where I’d stay awake for days, cystic acne (which I had perfectly clear skin prior), stomach aches, yeast infections, and extremely lower libido. I continued to take it for a year, thinking those side effects would go away, believing it was all birth controls that did it. My new birth control is NOTHING like this, and I actually am starting to feel okay again, like my normal bubbly self!"