Ortho Cyclen and Anxiety: What Users Say

• Han...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 4, 2017

For Birth Control "I just started my 5th pack of Ortho Cyclen. I have never taken any other birth control pills prior to this one, so I don't really have anything to compare it to, but this one has worked well for me. My boyfriend and I are sexually active and do not want any children, so I decided to take the pill. My first couple of months on it, I did feel a little different - kind of anxious and more mood swings, but that went away as I continued to take the pill and my body adjusted. The positive aspects I have noticed are it protects against pregnancy, is easy to swallow, makes your skin very healthy looking (my skin is glowing after a few months of taking), and makes my periods much, much lighter than they were before starting on birth control."

• Anonymous
• August 31, 2016

For Birth Control "Cyclen has recently changed their non-medicinal ingredients in the past year. I now experience insomnia, anxiety, and lethargy. Never had any problems before. Watch out for any new symptoms with these new chemicals in the ingredient list."

• col...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 8, 2018

For Birth Control "I LOVED this birth control! I was on it for 5 months before my doctor switched me to a cheaper alternative. My acne was nonexistent after about 3 weeks! My boobs grew from a 32A to a 34B in just a month, without weight gain in other regions of my body! I didn't experience mood swings, depression, anxiety, migraines, or anything of the sort. My period went from slightly heavy and lasting 7-8 days to being super light for 4-5. My normal cramping on the first day still happened, but that happened prior to my use of this medication. I can't say enough good things about this product, and I wish I could go back on it again!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 25, 2017

For Birth Control "Been taking this pill for quite a few years, and never had any sort of problems on it. About a year ago, looks like they changed their inactive ingredients dramatically, adding many new chemicals to the mix, including something called titanium dioxide. With this new 'formula,' I noticed extreme weight loss (especially on face, boobs, and butt), anxiety, mood swings, and just general malaise (all probably from the new preservatives they added in there). I really wish they hadn't changed it and would reduce the amount of preservatives/chemicals they have now added to it. Gonna change to something else at next dr's appointment. And to anyone thinking of trying this new 'Cyclen,' I would say DON'T. Horrible experience."

• LLU...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 18, 2017

For Birth Control "Prescribed after experiencing breakthrough bleeding on another oral contraceptive. I gave it a fair go - 4 or 5 months, and I can't seem to get adjusted. Mood swings are more severe, experienced a 10 lb weight gain, feeling considerably more anxious, extreme breast tenderness, among feeling nauseated a week prior to period start date. Of course, everyone experiences this differently, but that's my story. Will be discontinuing this on month end."

• msc...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 8, 2021

For Birth Control "I have been on birth control for six years due to irregular periods and acne, and I had to switch because my body got too used to the pill I was originally taking, and I started spotting every day, so my gynecologist recommended Ortho-Cyclen. I have been on this pill for a year now, and I am so blessed to say I am finally switching off of it. This pill made me severely depressed, which I never dealt with, and I had suicidal thoughts. My anxiety has never been worse, my period cramps were absolutely terrible, which I never even had cramps on my last pill, and my overall demeanor changed, and I hated it. I was so sad, angry, and overly sensitive to the point where everyone in my life noticed a change. For a while, I could not understand why, until I realized everything started once I got on this pill. Yeah, it did a great job at preventing pregnancy and helping with my acne, but those two pros are not worth my mental health declining incredibly."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 2, 2015

For Endometriosis "This drug is horrible. My side effects are: 1. Anxiety 2. Depression 3. Acne 4. Weight gain 5. Back pain 6. Nausea 7. Easily angered and upset. It serves its purpose, but the side effects are unbearable."

• Mer...
• November 4, 2017

For Birth Control "I can say this really wasn't the right pill for me. I'm 20 years old, and I have a one-year-old daughter, so I decided that I wasn't really for any more babies, and I wanted birth control. Well, my insurance got cut, so I went to the county because a friend said I could get free birth control. They gave me three months' worth of this one first, and after I finish the last month, they want me to come back for a check-up. I have had severe anxiety and depression for as long as I can remember, and I was just starting to be able to manage it on my own. I'm almost done with the first week on my second pack, and I have absolutely no desire to do anything anymore. It's almost too hard to get out of bed. If you have anxiety/depression, be careful!"

• Tri...
• October 4, 2018

For Birth Control "The first 3 months on the pill, I had no problems, felt the exact same as I did before I started it (other than minor headaches sometimes). Then in the 4th month, I randomly became extremely anxious, like a light switch in my head. I was fine one day, and the next day I was having crippling anxiety. The anxiousness lasted for weeks until I decided to get off the pill to see if that was the culprit. Sure enough, I’ve been off it for almost a month, and within the first week, I felt like myself again; however, it is very effective in preventing pregnancy. Women, listen to your bodies."

• aaa...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 13, 2022

For Birth Control "Pros: helped with acne, boobs grew. Cons: inconvenient to take, harder to lose weight, much worse depression and anxiety (this is the reason I switched, my oldest childhood friend had the same thing too). I switched to Kyleena IUD and love it. Never going back."

• kad...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 17, 2018

For Birth Control "I’ve been on Cyclen for almost 2 years. It was good during the first year, since I’ve used it as a continuous pill, and it has been great to prevent pregnancy. Sadly, since last year, I’ve started having a lot of acne because of this pill. As soon as I’m not taking my pill, my skin becomes flawless in less than a week. On this, I am a lot more anxious and depressed - it seems to really disturb your emotions. I have an appointment to get a copper IUD inserted next week, and I can’t wait to be off hormones. Soon or later, it seems like every pill shows off their worst sides. Before this one, I tried Seasonale, which gave me the WORST headaches ever! I could not manage it, so I stayed on it for 5 months... You don’t have to go through all of this, please be careful of the side effects."

• Vic...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 12, 2018

For Birth Control "Started taking this 2 months before I got married. We waited to have sex until we were married. Four months into it, I felt like I was going crazy and didn’t know why. Super emotional and anxious. Not like me at all. A friend suggested it may be the birth control. Sure enough, I got off of it and felt like myself again. Hormones can affect mood significantly, so know your body!"