Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo and Depression: What Users Say

• rpv...
• October 9, 2018

For Birth Control "I've been taking this birth control for 3 months after fighting with my insurance about not wanting the generic because they are different, as we all know. I was approved OTCL, so I was stoked. Even though OTCL reviews are scary, I'm prone to anxiety and depression, and I had not ONE side effect from OTCL. Today, I am very upset because, according to pharmacists, the manufacturer has discontinued Ortho Tri-Cyclen LO? Why would the company do this? My insurance and I were paying for this, and this is the ONLY birth control that has zero side effects for me. I don't know what to do now. After doing extensive research on Tri Lo Sprintec, ALMOST ALL PEOPLE SWITCH BACK TO ORTHO TRI CYCLEN LO BECAUSE OF SIDE EFFECTS FROM TRI LO SPRINTEC OR ANOTHER OTCL GENERIC. I was told that generics have different binders in them (fillers such as sugar amount or other chemicals) that make the body absorb medication differently. PLEASE BRING BACK OTCL, I hope this is a false alarm and my BC will be back."

• Yo-...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 29, 2019

For Birth Control "This birth control did a great job of preventing pregnancy, which is why I gave it a 2. I did not like the way it made me feel, which is why my rating is so low. I was constantly feeling low, crying for no reason a lot, and just never really happy. I ended up being on other prescribed medicine to help with that because I thought something was happening. One day I managed to line up the timeline of my sadness of when I started the birth control, and then came across this review page. I took myself off of the birth control and the behavioral medication, and I'm totally fine now. I laugh, joke, and feel okay about things. Everyone reacts to these things differently, but I know those reviews helped me, and I'm hoping mine can maybe help someone else."

• for...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 23, 2015

For Birth Control "I have loved this birth control for some time, but it has made me gain weight and enlarged my boobs, which I hate. The last couple of weeks, it has made me super depressed and have major mood changes, which is why I am coming off this BC."

• Sel...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 15, 2014

For Birth Control "I have been on this pill for 3 months, and I have suffered every side effect. The only reason I continue to take it is because of the low hormone levels. I have headaches with neurological symptoms, a change in appetite, my breasts were enlarged for 2 months, then went down to normal size. I'm also suffering from depression, and I lost my sex drive, as well as I can't climax. My skin looks better."

• dea...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 1, 2019

For Birth Control "This was the best birth control option! I had debilitating periods before I started. On this pill, my cramps were a piece of cake; some cycles I didn't even get cramps! My breasts grew, skin looked great, no depression, anxiety, or mental health side effects. This is the only birth control that worked for me! Currently on Tri-Vylibra, and I hate it. I think I should be on the Tri-Vylibra Lo, but I'm on the bigger dose one (has 0.035 of ethinyl estradiol instead of the Lo that has 0.025 mg ethinyl estradiol), and I'm breaking out, TERRIBLE mood swings/depression, boobs didn't grow, and AWFUL nausea my first week or so. I want to go back to Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo!!!! I have no idea what I can use instead ;("

• Lyl...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• January 24, 2020

For Birth Control "I took this medication for almost 10 years, and it did prevent me from getting pregnant, which is why I gave it a 2. However, I did not realize it gave me digestive problems, brain fog, mood swings, and depression for all this time. I came to this realization when I went off the pill and felt my mind getting ‘clearer,’ like I was finally thinking and acting normally. I would not recommend."

• kae...
• September 21, 2015

For Birth Control "I really like this medication. I don't really have any side effects from it. Of course, with any birth control, you feel slightly dizzy and tired when you first start taking it, but after a few weeks, that wears off and my body adjusted. I switched from Aviane to this and I am extremely satisfied! With Aviane, I was depressed, confused easily, and even my vision would get blurry, and also my sex drive was completely shot. With this medication, though, I have no side effects and I am really happy :) Especially that I still have a sex drive on it. I have been on it one month."

• Owl...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 26, 2019

For Birth Control "My insurance switched me out of Tri-Cyclen Lo (which I was on for almost 3 years) to Tri-Lo-Sprintec, and I’ve been taking it for 2 months. HORRIBLE. I noticed a huge shift emotionally and mentally. I’m constantly sad, depressed, I have no energy to do anything. I’m always crying over the smallest things. I usually NEVER write reviews on anything, but honestly, I would recommend anyone on this birth control to SWITCH or just stop."

• Owl...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 26, 2019

For Birth Control "My insurance switched me out of Tri-Cyclen Lo (which I was on for almost 3 years) to Tri-Lo-Sprintec, and I’ve been taking it for 2 months. HORRIBLE. I noticed a huge shift emotionally and mentally. I’m constantly sad, depressed, I have no energy to do anything. I’m always crying over the smallest things. I usually NEVER write reviews on anything, but honestly, I would recommend anyone on this birth control to SWITCH or just stop."

• don...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 6, 2019

For Birth Control "OTCL messed me up. Before starting it, I was breaking out a lot. I was suggested OTCL, not only as BC, but also good for acne. I took this pill for a month and had to stop. I see reviews saying the first few months are brutal, but once you’re past it, it’s fine. But honestly, I couldn’t even handle all the side effects anymore. My acne seemed to get worse. I started a full-on period after week one - heaviest flow I have ever had in my life, 9 days long, horrible cramps (I normally don’t get cramps). The mood swings - they were terrible. I would randomly just burst into tears over literally nothing. I felt anxious all the time, and whenever I was alone, I felt very depressed. This is totally out of character for me! So I tried to tough it out, and it only got worse. I finally decided to stop taking it, and wow. The difference is insane. Since the day I stopped, I haven’t had any of those symptoms. I truly do not recommend this birth control. It was insanely brutal on my body."

• Mel...
• July 8, 2015

For Birth Control "I tried it for two months, and since day one, I suffered from major mood swings and low energy. I had frequent headaches and just felt depressed. I never felt like myself. But I just thought I had to put up with it so my body could get used to it, but I couldn't handle it by month two. Just pay attention to how you feel. Nonetheless, I switched to another birth control pill and feel great."

• Nik...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 6, 2021

For Birth Control "DO NOT recommend. I went from a happy, silly, chill, laid-back girl to absolutely crazy. My mood swings are completely uncontrollable, I have the worst anxiety I've ever had, I became depressed. This pill had me waking up in the middle of the night throwing up, constant panic attacks, and absolutely zero sex drive. I went to my OB, and she suggested I stop. I stopped it last night, hoping to get back to my old self."

• Pri...
• July 4, 2015

For Birth Control "I recently decided to start birth control again, and I wanted a low dosage. After three months, I decided to switch to a different pill. My experience with Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo has been horrible! I feel like an emotional mess and always depressed. I cry over commercials and don't feel like myself. Also, I've gained weight and just feel fat. The crazy thing is I've taken these pills before and didn't have this reaction. Hopefully, the new pills I've started won't make me feel this way."

• Meo...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• April 28, 2015

For Birth Control "I was on this pill for almost 7 years straight. I had zero issues with side effects. No mood swings, nausea, depression, or changes in appetite. Sex drive was the same, if not increased. I had fluctuated with weight on this pill, but it was because of bad diets. I ended up losing the weight with proper eating habits and exercise. The problem I have with this pill is that towards the end of my time on it, I started getting breakthrough bleeding. It is annoying. Otherwise, this pill is perfect for me. I went off the pill for a few years and went back on to this because of ovarian cysts. After a few months, the breakthrough bleeding still came back. Sometimes it's so light I don't notice, other times, it's like having a second period."

• Lee...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 26, 2019

For Birth Control "I have been on this Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo pill for a little over two years now and just stopped taking it... HUGE mistake on my part. I should have stopped taking this a VERY long time ago. I have been super depressive and cry over absolutely nothing ALL OF THE TIME! The mood swings are unlike anything I have ever experienced, and I am usually happy-go-lucky. It has made me feel like I am not in control of my own emotions and absolutely crazy. I do NOT recommend this birth control."

• Jad...
• March 14, 2014

For Birth Control "I've only been on it for a month, but I'm really liking it so far. I haven't experienced any noticeable side effects. I have trouble with irregular and painful periods, acne, depression, mood swings, insomnia, etc. So far, I've noticed that I haven't broken out since I started this birth control. I also have felt less depressed. I've had one period while on this birth control, and it was just as painful as usual, but the bleeding was much slower and much lighter. (I go through two tampons every eight hours as opposed to two every one hour.) I haven't noticed any mood swings, and my insomnia has definitely improved. Overall, I really like this birth control. The only thing that could make it better is if it made my periods completely pain-free."

• Anonymous
• March 10, 2014

For Birth Control "I've been taking this birth control for three months now, and I've gained 15 lbs. I haven't changed my diet, and I work out regularly, my acne has gotten worse, and I'm depressed all the time. Even my friends agree it's really affected my mood. I'm going to stop taking it now that I'm single. The only good thing was that it's very reliable for not getting pregnant or even pregnancy scares."

• Jma...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 26, 2020

For Birth Control "Started for acne and birth control. Has been great for a while. Last six months have noticed extreme changes. Mood and body. I gained depression, weight, hated how I looked, etc. I would cry for absolutely no reason. My once calm, understanding person changed into a snappy, crying, freaking-out person. Get extremely sad over things I normally wouldn’t. This has changed so many relationships in my life. Thinking about something to the non-hormonal IUD, but worried about the acne."

• Nik...
• August 5, 2015

For Birth Control "This is my first experience with birth control, and I've only been on it about two months, but I hate it. The pills make me crazy emotional; I've been crying over absolutely nothing, and I get paranoid about every little thing. Don't get me wrong, I love not having to worry about pregnancy as much, but I just feel depressed and not like myself at all. The good sides to this pill are that it makes my period very light with hardly any cramps, and it also has cleared up my acne a bit, but not completely."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 5, 2012

For Birth Control "For me, I had regular periods but quite heavy and sometimes last a few days more after my period pills were done. I gained weight, and in the beginning, I had major mood swings. Felt depressed and increased appetite. I also got more yeast infections when I never had them before."

• Joj...
• February 16, 2015

For Birth Control "My sex drive completely disappeared, and it caused me, as well as my husband, much distress and depression. Two weeks after stopping the medication, my sex drive came back with a vengeance. So happy I decided to stop taking this pill."

• Lad...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 21, 2015

For Birth Control "I've been on these pills for 1 year and 3 months, and I've finally got the chance to switch. These pills gave me less menstrual cramps, but an increase in migraines. My libido completely died, and I had depression/mood swings while on it."

• Anonymous
• December 3, 2012

For Birth Control "It was originally $30 a month, but with new healthcare laws, it's free. When I was put on this, I was scared to tell the doctor that I had severe depression. After being on Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo, my depression went away! I only seem to get it every once in a while. After being on it a while, I noticed that I got increasingly violent. I would get angry over the tiniest things. My periods are a lot lighter and not as painful. Despite the unexplainable rage, I'd say this changed my life! I can always expect my period on the same day."

• Anonymous
• April 25, 2011

For Birth Control "This pill is great for preventing pregnancy, that's it. The side effects that come with it are terrible. This pill made me turn into a different person. I would cry for no reason, I became overly sensitive, got mad for no reason, and had a constant bad, depressed, helpless feeling. If someone said something mean, even in a joking manner, it felt like the end of the world when it should be something to be shrugged off. I took this pill for 4 years, and the thing that made me realize the pill was the cause of the problem was that I missed 3 in a row, and I felt amazing, like a normal person again. I am now switching methods and feel way better."

• dom...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 14, 2019

For Birth Control "I was beyond being in a dark place on this Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo pill, my face broke out like crazy. I’ve had nice skin forever, and taking this pill, I thought would be nice because I’ve heard reviews of it being good for your skin. It didn’t really help with my cramps either, they still hurt (my pain is as bad as having to book off a week off of work, fainting, throwing up, etc.). I failed 4 classes because I was so depressed every day. This pill might work for you, but I wanted to leave my review to warn other girls that may experience this super dark, depressing, dark hole that this pill put me in so you can have an understanding of where it’s coming from."