Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo and Mood Swings: What Users Say

• Cri...
• March 27, 2019

For Birth Control "I used Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo, the brand, for 2 years. It’s all I’ve ever used. I am 29 years old now, and I am so devastated that Jansen has discontinued this because it was too expensive to manufacture, which means they weren’t making as much money as they wanted. But for me, it is the best birth control pill out there! No weight gain, no breakthrough bleeding or mood swings, no pregnancy, and I’ve never used any backup birth control or condoms - just the pill. I don’t even know where to go now or what to use instead. Please bring back this birth control pill!! It’s been so amazing. I was even willing to pay the $150 per month to get it out of pocket because I don’t want to risk crazy side effects of any other birth controls."

• Anonymous
• September 3, 2009

For Birth Control "I have been using Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo for 6 years now, and I have always absolutely loved it! I never experienced weight gain, acne, mood swings, and my period is every fourth Wednesday. I have no complaints. It is the perfect birth control for me."

• Lov...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 2, 2013

For Birth Control "I must admit that some of the things that people experience from this pill are scary. One thing to know is just because they have this experience doesn't mean you will. Always try it yourself. Different bodies have different reactions. I have been on this birth control for about 4 months now, and I love it. I don't have mood swings at all, I am very calm at all times. I did not used to be. I don't have vaginal dryness, yeast infections, UTIs, or anything else that people are saying besides breast tenderness. It only seems to be tender at night. I have not gained any weight. I think my breasts are getting bigger, which is a plus to me. I don't have acne like I used to. My periods are very light now."

• Anonymous
• April 17, 2008

For Endometriosis "I have been taking this OC for 4 years. I have mild endometriosis with occasional pain and/or discomfort. This pill is amazing. It helps decrease the level of pain. I have had fewer mood swings. I have less bleeding during menstruation. I highly recommend this oral contraceptive to any woman who has had trouble with other OCs."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 20, 2014

For Birth Control "I'd never been on birth control up until a few months ago, and I was given Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo as a starter because I did not want it to have much hormones. I went through two whole packs and decided to switch because of extremely low sex drive, extreme mood swings, and increased appetite (I would eat a full meal, and two hours later my stomach would be growling again). My relationship began to suffer due to these side effects, so I stopped taking it and am back to normal. However, this pill DID have pros: I didn't get pregnant, it regulated my period, and caused no breakouts or acne. But be wary of weight gain, decreased libido, and mood swings."

• lil...
• August 25, 2010

For Birth Control "I have PCOS, and I had gone without a period for 10 months. My doctor put me on Loestrin. I was extremely moody and emotional, crying over everything and very depressed, plus I was spotting and bleeding almost constantly. Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo is the second pill my doctor prescribed, and I am beyond happy with it. I don't even notice that I'm taking it. There are no mood changes, I have lost a little bit of weight, and it has even helped with my rosacea. My periods are coming around the same time every month, which is wonderful because I am finally able to know when to expect it, something that I have never been able to do. The only complaint I have is bad cramps, but they only happen in the first couple of days."

• ann...
• May 16, 2008

For Birth Control "At the age of 29, I began using Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo. I was a bit emotional for the first two months, and then this went away. My cramps are very light, and I only have mood swings for a few hours at the beginning of that week. My periods are lighter and on schedule. The only continuous side effect is breast tenderness. It can be really frustrating."

• ann...
• May 16, 2008

For Birth Control "At the age of 29, I began using Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo. I was a bit emotional for the first two months, and then this went away. My cramps are very light, and I only have mood swings for a few hours at the beginning of that week. My periods are lighter and on schedule. The only continuous side effect is breast tenderness. It can be really frustrating."

• Amy...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 15, 2015

For Birth Control "I've been taking this brand for about four months now and haven't had any problems. Not sure why other women are experiencing such negative results from this brand. I got this for free at Planned Parenthood and she said it was one of the most popular brands. I haven't gained any weight, haven't had any mood swings, and my sex drive hasn't been diminished. Oh, and most importantly, I haven't gotten pregnant. So far, so good!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 3, 2012

For Birth Control "After my BC pill that I had been taking for about 18 years was discontinued, I have been searching for one that I like. My doctor suggested Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo. It's been almost 1 year, and I want to change pills. Every month I experience a migraine along with my period that lasts 2-3 days. I have also had nausea, mood swings, bloating, and trouble losing weight. Recently, I have had breakthrough bleeding lasting several days. All of these symptoms are a first for me."

• OTC...
• September 22, 2010

For Endometriosis "Obviously, everyone's body has different chemistry, and because of our genetic predispositions, diet, and environment, study samples of women may all react differently to a certain oral contraceptive. Personally, I found Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo to be effective for the first two months, and then I experienced a horrid yeast infection, breakthrough bleeding, and abdominal pains. I took my pills at the same exact time every night with the same amount of water. My sex drive disappeared, and I felt terribly bloated. The absolute worst was my unstable mood. I was making snappy comments and feeling suicidal."

• scc...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 2, 2014

For Birth Control "I have tried Yaz, Nuvaring, Paraguard IUD, and other pills. This is the only pill that I have little to no side effects. Normally I become emotional and gain weight on birth control. I have been on this for 9 months and have lost 15 lbs (because of a healthier lifestyle). My skin hasn't broken out, though I am not sure this pill will help if you have acne (I took Accutane before going on this pill). My period is fairly regular. That's my only complaint. I had one month where I got my period 3 times. Overall, I would definitely recommend this pill. Also, even if you're a big woman, this pill with a lower dose of hormones can work for you. I'm 5'11" and 165 lbs! TRY IT!"

• 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."

• Mel...
• July 18, 2016

For Birth Control "Let me start by saying that I love this birth control. I started taking it at the age of 14, I'm 24 now and have never had any pregnancies! I have taken it at 8 pm every night, and that has worked wonders. I notice that if I do not eat something with the pill at night, I am WAY more likely to wake up and feel sick. Now that I know what to do, it's not really an issue anymore. I never gained any weight and didn't notice any out-of-the-ordinary mood swings. Breasts did get bigger, though! I tried a generic version of this about 5 years ago and had TERRIBLE results. I'm so scared to try it again, but I can barely afford the $150 it costs every month for this pill. Please lower the price! It's a wonderful product!"

• Jas...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 17, 2015

For Birth Control "The great thing about the pill is that my breast went up a full cup size, which is wonderful. The bad part is that I got severe migraines about 2.5 weeks into the pack, and I have never gotten one before. My cramps were so bad I felt like my insides were going to fall out, and I never had serious problems like this. Lately, I have been more emotional than usual, I don't act like myself at all. I'm always angry, sad, or depressed. My sex life with my boyfriend is completely trash now, so I guess that makes my increased cup size a waste. No positive or negative changes in acne. Since I'm only just finishing the first pack, I'm going to try and keep going and see if the side effects subside."

• 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 ;("

• hoo...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 22, 2015

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I began taking this b/c 2 years ago because I was having a 10-day-long period every other week. The pill worked perfectly for regulating my hormones so that I would have a normal (4-5 day long) period once a month. I didn't have headaches, mood swings, weight gain, or any odd side effects. The only downside is my insurance began charging $50 a month for it, so I had to stop using it and now have to switch. And now that I have stopped taking it, my acne on my face, back, and chest has returned."

• Meg...
• May 7, 2019

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I’ve only been on this birth control for 3 months. I’m constantly nauseated, my boobs are so sore, my mood swings are crazy, acne is awful (I’ve always had super clear skin). My period stopped April 26th, I had been bleeding for 10 days straight. Today is May 7th, and it’s back again... something is just not right with this pill! I do not recommend it to anyone."

• 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."

• 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."

• Anonymous
• January 19, 2010

For Birth Control "Pros: Didn't get pregnant, acne became less severe, period was light and very predictable. Cons: Horrible headaches for 3 months in the beginning, weight gain, increased incidence of spider veins, mood swings. Overall: It worked, I did not get pregnant. However, the side effects worried/bothered me, so I stopped taking it and have since gotten a prescription for a lower dose BC pill called Mircette."

• 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."

• 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."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 25, 2012

For Birth Control "This was the first and most amazing birth control I have taken. My breasts went from a large B, almost C, to a solid D cup, and I was slightly more emotional, but all of that went away after a few weeks. My skin was flawless, and my hair felt healthier and thicker, and even my eyelashes were thicker. My sex drive seemed to increase, and to be very honest, I no longer had any use for lubricant other than what my body produced. However, after about a year and a half, a horrible smell started, and my periods were mostly just intense discharge, and sometimes it would last for a couple of weeks. I wish that hadn't happened, because now all the birth controls I've tried have been horrible to my body. I wish I could go back to it!"