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Mili and Depression: What Users Say

Depression: mentioned by 38 users (14.1%)

Based on user experiences from 270 Mili reviews, the following table shows the most commonly mentioned side effects.

All user comments are moderated by Drugs.com. Each review is verified for relevance and screened for inappropriate content. Side effects are user-reported and not clinically verified.

nausea 25.9%
acne 21.9%
anxiety 19.6%
mood swings 17.8%
bloating 16.3%
cramps 16.3%
depression 14.1%
headaches 14.1%
bleeding 11.1%
spotting 10.7%

Reviews for Mili

Commonly mentioned side effects
  • Mae...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • January 10, 2021

For Birth Control "I started Mili 2 weeks ago after my previous pill was discontinued, and my emotions have been all over the place. Anxious, depressed, just super emotional. It just clicked today to do my research after crying again for something minor! Needless to say, today will be the last day I take this medication."

2 / 10
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23 Report
  • Ano...
  • Taken for 1 to 2 years
  • November 2, 2020

For Birth Control "I was switched to Mili suddenly when my pharmacy stopped ordering my other brand (other brand wasn't great for me either), so I stuck with it, and things were okay for a while. But I noticed I got severely depressed frequently, even though I couldn't explain why. My periods became irregular, and I gained about 20 pounds. I stuck with it for so long because doctors told me birth control doesn't make you gain weight or destabilize your mental health. I just found out I wasn't the only person who experienced this, so I switched to a brand I had a few years ago. I feel so much better."

1 / 10
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18 Report
  • Plo...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • May 10, 2021

For Birth Control "Before Mili, I was on Sprintec for three years and had absolutely no problems. My pharmacy gave me Mili because they were out of Sprintec and assured me it was exactly the same. Well, I have come to find out it's not. I've been on it for almost three months now and I am still having terrible side effects. My breasts have gone up a whole cup size, and I have a lack of motivation. I'm normally a pretty happy person, but since taking this, my anxiety is through the roof. Also, I have had a lot of gastrointestinal issues. Not only am I constantly bloated, someone who normally goes every day, I am sometimes backed up for 5 days. I have also been spotting between periods, and just recently my stomach has been in a lot of pain. Don't take this if you are already on a different birth control, it will mess you up."

1 / 10
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15 Report
  • Anonymous
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • November 26, 2019

For Birth Control "I started Mili so I could just skip my periods. Everything was fine with the first pack, but once I started my second pack, it started spotting, heavier and heavier into a full-blown period that hadn't stopped, and it has been about to be 2 weeks. I have felt depressed and have gotten painful breakouts on my face, and I don't have acne. I also feel nauseous and bloated most of the time. I'm going to give it till the end of the month, and then I think I will stop because I'd rather have a period than go through this."

3 / 10
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16 Report
  • cec...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • March 16, 2019

For Birth Control "Personally, I LOVE Mili birth control for my acne. I had terrible acne and tried everything to get rid of it. I was on this BC for 2 months and my acne cleared so much to the point where I literally had none. My pharmacy recently switched me to Estarylla and I’m only the second week in, and I have experienced depression and SEVERE anxiety that comes along with constant panic attacks. I will not be continuing it."

10 / 10
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13 Report

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  • Anonymous
  • July 24, 2019

For Birth Control "This was awful birth control. I just stopped taking it and am starting to feel back to my old self, and I have only been taking it for a week. Within three days of starting it, I started feeling very nervous and detached, like I wasn't a part of my surroundings. I felt very zoned out. Almost 'emotionless' is the best way I can describe it. I also experienced heart palpitations and shortness of breath. My gyno said these side effects that I'm experiencing are not what is in the 'literature' for this medication. I asked if there was another pill we could try, and she said they would all give me the same reaction and suggested I go for an IUD or the copper implant. I'd rather not have something implanted in me that I can't just quickly stop or take out should I experience severe side effects again. I'm sure they get a good commission on the IUDs, so that may be why she was pushing for it."

1 / 10
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11 Report
  • Ell...
  • Taken for 2 to 5 years
  • January 28, 2025

For Birth Control "Love, love, loved Mili. It was the first birth control I ever took. I was on it for three years, then my body got adjusted to it, and it stopped working, so I had to switch (this is not the medication's fault, it's a genetic thing). If I could go back on Mili, I absolutely would. I started taking it for bad periods and horrible month-long cramps, and it fixed them completely. I can't comment on weight loss/gain or bra size changes because I was still going through puberty when I started this, so any weight difference or change in bra size could've been because I was in peak puberty. I also had clear skin almost my entire time on Mili, even though I was a teenager, and I never struggled with anxiety or depression while on Mili until right before I went off it, but that was for personal reasons, not because of the birth control. Overall, I loved this birth control, and I never would've gone off it if I didn't have to. 100 percent recommend."

10 / 10
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2 Report
  • Liz...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • October 13, 2021

For Birth Control "I was taking Sprintec for years, but 4 months ago I got switched to Mili. Boy oh boy. The first few months were bad, but this last month... oh my gosh. I’ve been bleeding for 15 days (regular periods usually last for 3-4 days). I’ve had 6 anxiety attacks within the past week, hot flashes, cold sweats, no appetite, lack of motivation. Literally, I feel awful. I’m stopping it this month. I’m not even being dramatic when I tell you this pill is a nightmare. It may work for some, but this pill is literally so bad for me."

1 / 10
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8 Report
  • MMa...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • November 9, 2019

For Birth Control "Mili was the first birth control I had ever tried at age 27. I tried it for 3 months but felt like my anxiety, which I can control without medication, was only getting worse. I was extremely emotional and couldn’t concentrate on daily tasks. I’m in grad school and work as a nurse full time. I felt like this medication was not helping my mental well-being. I felt depressed, anxious, and irritable all the time. I was considering anti-anxiety medications just to help with the side effects. Needless to say, I called my doctor to change my prescription."

2 / 10
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10 Report
  • Daw...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • November 10, 2020

For Birth Control "It’s clear based on the reviews this birth control works for some and not for others. This birth control really messed me up. Threw my gastrointestinal tract out of whack, and I gained a little weight as well. Mood swings are abundant, and I’ve felt depressed and lethargic. Cannot wait to stop taking this birth control! I’d rather deal with my heavy periods than this medicine changing who I am and making me constipated all the time."

1 / 10
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7 Report
  • Yik...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • April 16, 2023

For Birth Control "I was so relieved to see I'm not the only one having major issues with this birth control. Like many, I was on Sprintec and was unexpectedly switched to Mili by my pharmacy. They say it's the same, but I seriously doubt it. I haven't had acne in years, and suddenly I have it again. My mood has always been stable on any other birth control, and now I have horrific mood swings. Literally woke up one day and could not get myself out of bed because I was so depressed. I was terrified of how low I felt. I never felt anything like that before. I have some depression and anxiety, but never like this. The following day, my mood was normal, but I had terrible cramps and heavy bleeding that went on for over a week. I'm on my second pack, finishing it out, and calling it quits. I only needed a couple months' worth while my husband fully healed after his vasectomy. Thank God. I'm sure this works for some, but after seeing others with similar experiences, I think there is something off with Mili."

1 / 10
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2 Report
  • do...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • July 14, 2021

For Birth Control "I thought I was crazy until I read all these other reviews of switching from Sprintec to Mili. My GYN and pharmacist both assured me they were the same, however, there is no way that this is the case. I am severely bloated, and it is physically painful, and I was beginning to think I was somehow pregnant despite no recent sexual activity. It looks and feels like I am 3 months along. Add on the horrible depression and spotting, and you have a miserable trifecta. Do not take, especially if switching from Sprintec."

1 / 10
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3 Report
  • iwn...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • September 15, 2019

For Birth Control "I was put on Mili after Mononessa was discontinued, as it is supposed to be the same hormones and same strength, but I had the worst experience! My hair fell out, I had cystic acne the whole time I was on this medication and had really bad migraines. I was constantly bloated and depressed. This medication is AWFUL!"

1 / 10
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4 Report
  • gir...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • November 21, 2019

For Birth Control "I have been on this birth control, Mili, for less than 1 month. Week 1 was the hardest. I have been extremely depressed and depleted. I feel life is meaningless and am starting to question my beliefs and relationships. I have slept so much. I get home from work at 4 pm and don’t get out of bed until the next day. I have gained about 6 lbs. Not sure if it is from water weight or lack of energy to work out. Positives: not pregnant, my acne is starting to clear up. I feel the depression symptoms lightening, so will give it another month to see how my body adjusts and review again."

5 / 10
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4 Report
  • jen...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • June 17, 2022

For Birth Control "I switched to the Mili pill after weeks of bleeding on Tri Sprintec. The switch did help regulate my periods, however, the entirety of the 3 months I was on it were literal hell. My sex drive has been demolished, and I am constantly on edge about everything. I became so overwhelmed and stressed out that it nearly ruined my relationship. Intense crying, screaming, and just general unhappiness, all of which would lessen on the off week during my period, so it took me a cycle or two to realize the hormones were the cause. I had been on Tri Sprintec for a year and a half before Mili and have never experienced such awful mood swings. I also gained 10-15 pounds rapidly within a month's time. That combined with the depressive episodes was bad for my self-esteem. This pill has made me want to stop my birth control journey entirely."

2 / 10
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2 Report
  • Ann...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • March 25, 2022

For Birth Control "I started Mili about 4-5 months ago. It has been the worst months of my life. I used to be on Previfem for 5 years, and they discontinued and switched me to Mili. I have always had slight anxiety but have never been truly depressed before until now. I had no idea it was related to the pill, but my boyfriend noticed that I had been acting differently, and so he found my BC and Googled it and told me that it had really bad reviews, with people often complaining about being irritable, anxious, and depressed. I was having trouble getting out of bed in the morning and was not able to get excited or happy about anything! I then realized that on my off week, when I have my period, I feel great and back to normal (because I am not receiving the dose of hormones that week). I finally made the connection after reading the reviews and called my pharmacist today to switch me to something else."

1 / 10
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2 Report
  • Mel...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • August 4, 2019

For Birth Control "I had been on Tri-Sprintec for years for acne that was outrageous! Never wanted to go out, etc. Recently switched to this so I could have consistent pills (not fluctuations like most) and go without a period for 3 months. Welp, I've been fatigued, extremely hungry, more irritable and sad than normal, weight fluctuations, waking up super weighed down there and spotting/light bleeding! First month was fine, but I got annoyed when I had to start wearing panty liners, and it was enough to mess up my shorts. BC works great for some and terrible for others... I'm going back to my OBGYN next week."

3 / 10
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3 Report
  • ASP...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • May 5, 2021

For Birth Control "This is the worst experience I've ever had with a birth control, or any medicine for that matter. I've been on it for two weeks, and it's making me miserable. I haven't eaten in 3 days because the nausea is so severe. Cold water is the only thing I can even think about keeping down. I've become very depressed and am much more anxious than I was before. I've had these problems in the past, but they were well controlled, and this medicine has set me back. I've stopped taking the pills and cannot wait for it to fully leave my body."

1 / 10
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2 Report
  • Mir...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • March 16, 2023

For Birth Control "I had the same experience as a lot of people in these reviews, I was switched to Mili from Sprintec after my pharmacy was out of my Sprintec. My pharmacist assured me it was the same exact thing and same ingredients. It does not feel like that at all. This drug is probably the worst thing I have put in my body. It made my depression 100 times worse, I have had cramps for the past two weeks, and I keep having periods of nausea and feeling fatigued. I feel like a completely different person. This makes me never want to take the pill again."

1 / 10
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1 Report
  • Mon...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • June 8, 2019

For Birth Control "Oh my goodness, I swear this birth control is terrible, terrible, and I’m not exaggerating. Before I took Mili, I was originally taking Mononessa, but then it got discontinued, and I went on Estarylla (they are all supposed to be generics of each other - same hormones, same strengths). When I took Mili, though, my acne went crazy and went back to the skin I had before I ever started birth control. The main reason why I take birth control is for my hormonal acne, and oh boy, I would never, ever recommend Mili. The anxiety and a bit of depression I got after having to suffer crazy breakouts again was disheartening to see. I literally had a new breakout every day I was on Mili. But now, after being on it for 3 months, it’s kind of improved, but I’m still not happy at all with my skin. Mili ruined my skin once again."

1 / 10
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4 Report
  • Dv9...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • April 17, 2023

For Birth Control "Hoping this review will help someone avoid this discomfort. Echoing what many others have said, this is NOT the same as Sprintec, regardless of what your pharmacy tells you. This gave me headaches, increased anxiety and depression, insatiable hunger, and the worst diarrhea and stomach cramps that came and went and lasted for DAYS like an illness. Do not take this poison!"

1 / 10
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1 Report
  • Mil...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • April 20, 2022

For Birth Control "I took Mili as prescribed to regulate my hormones due to PCOS, and it caused me to lose 30 lbs in 4 months, made my hair thin and brittle, worsened depression, worsened anxiety, caused my feet and armpits to smell terrible (and that's never been a problem for me), lowered appetite, made me more angry, and completely demolished my libido. It did, however, regulate my period, so I didn't menstruate for 3 months straight, and it helped with unwanted hair growth."

3 / 10
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1 Report
  • Mil...
  • December 17, 2021

For Birth Control "I can't even believe how many negative reviews there are about this pill. I relate to so many. I was 21 taking Sprintec as well for a long time, and it was the best pill I ever took. I am now 22 and have been taking Mili for a little close to a year now because Planned Parenthood on a telehealth call told me that it's the same exact thing. WRONG. Cramps, mood swings, cluster headaches, migraines, bloating, irritability, my anxiety is so high. I never felt this way before. I've been depressed to no end, so insecure within, no motivation. I feel so defeated by this and the doctors who are giving this out. But I guess this is how they get paid, ya know? To keep us coming back. Now I know we shouldn't be taking BC, but I'm 22, trying to be safe until I'm ready, and was told this birth control helps with PCOS patients. I am done. I deserve better. 12/28/21 is my appointment with a real GYN. I can't wait to get this problem fixed up. DO NOT TAKE THIS PILL, LADIES... PLEASE. THIS IS NOT A “GENERIC” OPTION AS THEY SAY. THIS IS TORTURE."

1 / 10
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1 Report
  • Mje...
  • April 9, 2021

For Birth Control "I have been on Sprintec for years, and my pharmacy gave me Mili instead for my last prescription. I have been miserable - sad mood, low energy, low motivation - and this second week just started spotting. Also, I never have cramps, and I did in the first month of Mili. I agree with the other reviewers; I don’t care what the FDA says - these drugs are NOT the same, at least for me. Getting all my unused Mili returned for Sprintec & will never ever let them try to switch my pills on me again."

1 / 10
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1 Report
  • BAL...
  • April 20, 2021

For Birth Control "My daughter was on Sprintec, and the pharmacists put her on Mili, saying it was the same. IT IS NOT THE SAME. At this moment, my daughter is upstairs in her bed, struggling with severe anxiety and depression. Her face is completely broken out with cystic acne. She cannot stop crying and cannot figure out what's wrong with her. She says, 'She just can't with life.' Mili is an awful drug. I wouldn't recommend it to my worst enemy. This should be taken off the market, and those taking it should be prepared and understand the impact on women."

1 / 10
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1 Report

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Reviews may be edited to correct grammar/spelling or remove inappropriate content. Reviews appearing to come from parties with a vested interest are not published. This information is not intended to endorse any medication and should not replace the expertise and judgment of healthcare professionals.