Mono-Linyah and Cramps: What Users Say

• Hap...
• April 11, 2014

For Birth Control "I'm on Mono-Linyah, and I have a love-hate relationship. I've been on it for a month, and my 32A breasts are now 32B breasts. I'm underweight and struggle with weight gain, but this pill has helped me put on pounds. I'm hungry a lot, lol. My skin is totally clear, not even any blackheads, which is great. But my mood swings are extreme. On the active pill, it's bad, but I can handle it, but on the last week (period week), it's awful. I cry several times a day and can't get a hold of myself no matter what I do. My period was heavier than ever, and I cramped horribly. But it was short. I find it hard to concentrate due to mood swings, but I just drink some herbal tea and am usually fine afterward. Love/hate relationship."

• Lov...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 11, 2018

For Birth Control "This medicine got a three-star rating only because I'm not pregnant. These pills make me so sick 24/7. I'm so tired, moody, irritable, nauseous like you wouldn't believe, and I've never had terrible cramps until I started taking this medication. I'm currently waiting for a response from my doctor about switching!"

• Dah...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 6, 2020

For Endometriosis "I have been taking this medication for 4 months now and have been bleeding heavily for 4 months straight with severe cramping. I have been having severe mood swings and increased depression. This was prescribed to help slow down the process of my endometriosis returning, and my bleeding has been heavier than before my surgery."

• Anonymous
• April 5, 2020

For Birth Control "I was originally on a different pill, but my insurance wouldn’t cover the name brand, so I was switched to Mono-Linyah. The first month I took this, I suffered from painful cramps and mood swings. I attributed these to switching birth control, and after the first month, they went away. I continued using this pill for a year with little side effects and a lighter, shorter period, yay! But after a year, all the benefits stopped. My acne has exploded! My hair is thinning and falling out. I bleed randomly between periods, and during my regular period, I experience horrible cramps and really heavy bleeding. I started experiencing abnormal levels of anxiety and panic attacks, and I slipped into a really dark depressive state for 2-3 months. The only reason I’m still taking this pill is because it does its job in the sense that it prevents pregnancy. I will be seeing a doctor soon to switch."

• lex...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 16, 2021

For Birth Control "I’ve been on this birth control for about 2 years. At first, this pill does the job, relieves cramps and lessens bleeding, but recently these symptoms have come back. I have miserable cramping, heavy bleeding, and extreme backaches (to the point I can’t walk). Along with this, about a week before my period even starts, I not only become depressed, I also experience almost suicidal thoughts. These things have made my period one of the most miserable things that I have to deal with each month."

• Son...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 12, 2020

For Birth Control "I've been on birth control since I was 14 because of horrible periods and cramps, and have tried a lot of different pills. I am now 22 and have been on Mono-Linyah for a few years now. At first, the pill was a godsend as I was experiencing a lot of acne on Sprintec, and this pill cleared it up. However, I feel like as I get older I'm beginning to experience a lot more PMS. I cry, get mad, and feel overall depressed and low during placebo week. My periods have gotten super heavy, and my cramps are back with a vengeance. This pill worked for me when I was younger, but now that I'm getting older, it seems to be working less effectively."

• Sho...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 17, 2018

For Birth Control "It's been a month on the pills, and I have noticed spotting on the second and the beginning of the third placebo pills. I was very drowsy and drained, and my period was a little heavy, and the cramps weren't so bad, but I noticed during the spotting sometimes my blood was brown, and when my period actually started, it was brown. The pills seem okay, but if I have the same problem this month, I would try to change...."

• ema...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 5, 2018

For Birth Control "I’ve been on this birth control for a few months now to try and alleviate my heavy period and cramping, and this only made it worse. When I was on the blue pills, I was spotting/bleeding every single day. On the white placebo pills, I bled through a super tampon within three hours. The worst cramps of my life. I can’t wait to switch or get off of this, it’s been such a pain!"

• Won...
• November 12, 2017

For Birth Control "I am ready to get off this pill. I have been on this pill now for a year and some change. I want to get back on my lower dosage because this pill is just horrible to me. I have been on BC pills for 10 years and never experienced what I am going through right now. I gained 20 lbs and changed nothing with my healthy eating habits, my migraines got so super bad I had to get an MRI to make sure everything was okay. I am usually nauseated and I spot a lot. Three weeks out of the month I am spotting or lightly bleeding with some bad-ass cramps. I have my appointment Thursday and I am ready to be done with this!!"

• Mic...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 21, 2020

For Birth Control "I got on this pill at 18 because I had acne, and I also needed protection. It was GREAT for the first couple of years. Now I’m 22, and I’m starting to get worse PMS symptoms; I cry and fight, my flow is heavier, and I cramp worse. Also, I bleed a whole day longer now. I definitely don’t have as bad of acne as I did when I needed to treat it at 18, but I still get acne regularly. However, I’ve never been pregnant, so it has done its job well. It’s definitely time to switch to an IUD; I need less hormones."

• ind...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 14, 2018

For Birth Control "I've been on this pill for about 2 months now, and I feel no different for the most part. No mood swings (probably because I'm also on an antidepressant), no skin changes, no cramps, no spotting, no headaches. The only thing I've noticed is my pH balance has been a little off. Not sure if it correlates."

• ray...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 16, 2018

For Birth Control "Absolutely hate Mono-Linyah. I was on it for almost a year, just got switched this week. My gyno just refused to switch me no matter what I told him. This is what it did to me: right before my period, it would make me super dry down below, to the point of having to sleep with a wet rag between my legs. It made me super emotional, moody, and I never had bad cramps until on this. It only gets a decent rating because I’m not pregnant and it didn’t make me break out... But the side effects were miserable, it even made my period heavier!"

• Jan...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 20, 2021

For Birth Control "I’ve taken Mono-Linyah since my freshman year of college (I’m graduated now) and have nothing horrible to say! My body reacts differently every month due to stress/anxiety from normal life things (plus mental health reasons). My cramps are a little more painful than I’d like - I do get quite moody/emotional right before my period week. I didn’t experience any unusual bleeding when starting this pill, and it’s the only one/form I’ll use. Reliable when taken correctly, just like all forms of birth control!"

• Sad...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 23, 2020

For Birth Control "I have been using this Mono-Linyah birth control pill for over a year after my pill (Prevefem) was discontinued by the manufacturer. I was reluctant to use this pill as I have had bad experiences taking different pills. Luckily, this pill has been great. No cramps, anxiety, or weight gain, and my period is very normal. The only negative is that I always spot on the second week for 2-3 days. After having horrible experiences with other brands, I can live with the spotting."

• Hal...
• April 16, 2020

For Birth Control "Before this pill, I had terrible cramps, mood swings, and heavy periods. I went on it at age 15, and almost immediately, everything went away. I have been on this pill for 4 years now, and my symptoms are coming back a little bit, but not nearly to the extent they were before. I love this brand, truly. I was switched to Sprintec for a week because I switched to a pharmacy that didn’t carry Mono-Linyah. The week that I was off of this and on Sprintec, I had a panic attack inside of a CVS when I started thinking about how I hated Sprintec. I screamed at the pharmacist and had to leave the store. I called the pharmacist after to apologize and then switched back to my old pharmacy and went back on Mono-Linyah. This brand really works for me and has given me little to no problems."

• She...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• February 12, 2021

For Birth Control "I’ve been on this birth control my entire teen years and now into adulthood. I struggle with both anxiety and depression, so it is very hard to see if this pill has contributed. As far as acne goes, it hasn’t helped at all, and I still have awful breakouts. Ironically, my skin is the clearest on placebo week, if that tells you anything. I only continue to take this because this helps tremendously with my awful bed-ridden cramps. I have not gained any weight with this pill, but I did go up two cup sizes back in high school when I first started taking it."

• Tex...
• March 19, 2021

For Birth Control "So I was on Sprintec for about 3 years, then my doctor changed me to Mono-Linyah without asking me if I was okay with that. She told me how it is the same pill, just the generic brand, and I wouldn’t even notice a difference. Well, I don’t believe that one bit. My hormones are everywhere, I’m emotional all the time, my horrible cramps came back, and I’ve gained 10 lbs in 2 months. My diet or exercise routine hasn’t changed at all. I am very upset because I loved Sprintec and never felt a difference with my body. This pill has given me most of the side effects it lists. I do not recommend."

• Vio...
• November 29, 2022

For Birth Control "I have had a really good experience with Mono-Linyah. Before taking this pill, I was on a different one, and my periods were terrible. I had horrible cramps, heat flashes, mood swings, heavy bleeding for many days, and migraines that made me throw up. I finally switched to this pill, and I skip the placebo week, and I have not had a single problem. It’s been about a year now, and I haven’t noticed a single side effect. It has improved my life tremendously."

• Dis...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 10, 2022

For Birth Control "I took this for 5 months. I had severe cramps, nausea, heavy bleeding (with many blood clots). The symptoms got a little better in 3 months, so I kept taking it. Also, I noticed body hair decreased, so that was a plus. However, within the last week, I’ve experienced severe anxiety with racing thoughts to where I have discontinued this pill. My head is foggy, and I feel tense, with a general unwell feeling. Hoping this will ease now that my period is here. I let the nurse know, and she took me off of it. I know this will affect everyone differently, but if I can stop someone from experiencing this, then I’ll be happy. I do not recommend. I gave it a 2 because I did not get pregnant and the decrease in body hair growth."

• Aar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 11, 2021

For Birth Control "I switched my birth control after 5 years from being on the Depo shot to taking these pills. I have been on the pills for 4 months now, and let me tell you, it is the most horrible experience ever. I am bleeding heavily every period, and I know the last week is supposed to be my period week, but I have periods every other week it seems like. Another symptom I have had is very bad depression. I came to the conclusion that it is because of the birth control pills that are making me depressed. I have never in my life been depressed before, if you know me, you know I am not like that at all. I cry a lot, my cramps are bad. I am very emotional and moody! I don’t recommend it, and like everyone says, everybody’s body is different, and I could just be having these side effects because I’m switching after all those years, but me personally, I don’t recommend this pill. I am going to try a different BC pill and see if I like them better!"

• Doo...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 28, 2021

For Birth Control "I was prescribed Mono-Linyah over a year ago. My periods were generally light, minimally painful, and on average lasted a full week. After starting this pill, my periods are debilitating. The cramping is so severe that I will vomit for the first 2 days, and I bleed through super tampons every 3 hours like clockwork. Not one over-the-counter pain medicine, herbal supplement, or home remedy has ever helped relieve the pain or bleeding. The doctor and I ran multiple tests to rule out any reproductive issues, so I know it’s not any underlying condition that is making this worse. I would give this 0/10 if I could."

• Mad...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 4, 2021

For Birth Control "I’ve been on this birth control for almost 2 years, I believe. I suffer from bad acne, and it hasn’t necessarily helped, but it hasn’t made it worse either. I still get my regular breakouts a week before my period, like I always have. I used to have terrible cramps to the point where I couldn’t move, and it didn’t do much the first 6 months, but now they aren’t as bad as they used to be. But I also have been taking those Flo Gummies since January 2021, which seem to help with that."

• Gin...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 20, 2022

"For me, this was a zero-star drug. Two hours after I took my first pill, I had stomach cramping and diarrhea. I stuck with it for another week, thinking my body would adjust. I could barely eat because even white rice caused stomach pain and diarrhea. The last night I took it, I had such horrific abdominal cramping I was curled up on the floor. My doctor was concerned about my gallbladder, liver, or pancreas, but after running tests, it turns out it was just this horrible pill."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 1, 2021

For Endometriosis "Was told this was the generic version of Sprintec that works just as well, that was a lie. I take birth control for my endometriosis and painful periods, but since I have been on this BC, I've been cramping and spotting every single day for 2 months. When I was on Sprintec, this never happened. I won't be taking this BC anymore."

• Dan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 16, 2021

For Endometriosis "I had been on the Depo-Provera shot for many years, having a good experience. Towards the end, I had some bleeding. I went off it for 2 1/2 years. After meeting with my doctor, he put me on Mono-Linyah. I am 27 years old, 5 feet 1 inch, and weigh 115 lbs, possible endometriosis. I started on the first day of my cycle at 7:30 in the morning. By 10 am, I was experiencing a migraine, and by afternoon, I was nauseous. This continued for 6 days. Symptoms progressively got worse. The migraine was so bad I could hardly think straight. My stomach hurt so bad with cramps and gas. I was vomiting every day by 3 in the afternoon. As well, my left ovary, which was already enlarged, had the worst pains I’ve ever felt. I’ve had cysts rupture the past year and cause nausea and vomiting, but I’ve never had a pain this bad. It honestly felt like I had a baseball for my left ovary that was about to explode. I took my last pill on day 6 at 7:30 am, and the next day at 8 pm, I was finally feeling better."