Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo and Mood Swings: What Users Say (Page 3)

• Anonymous
• April 16, 2017

For Birth Control "I have been on this birth control for a month with minimal problems. I was on another one before but had to switch due to how emotional it made me. Tri-Cyclen Lo balanced my mood out pretty well. I had no spotting, but when I got my period, cramps were a little harsh. My boobs grew a little bit bigger and became sensitive. I was a little nauseous the first few days of the birth control, but that settled itself. My acne cleared up pretty well! Overall, a good, trusty birth control."

• Not...
• September 30, 2011

For Birth Control "This pill is making me miserable. Since starting the pill three months ago, I have had mood swings, cramping, and periods that last between 10-14 days. I have never had a problem with my menstrual cycle until starting this pill. The real reason you won't get pregnant on this pill is because you are ALWAYS on your period! My pre-menstrual symptoms are also worse than ever. I am bloated three weeks out of every month, have terrible cramps, and almost no sex drive. I would not recommend this pill to anyone."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 29, 2012

For Birth Control "I can say that the only positive effect about this pill is that it prevented pregnancy. As long as I ate right before or after taking the pill, I would not get nauseated. My periods never became lighter, and I still had cramps. I did not develop acne or notice any weight gain, however. The reason why I stopped taking this pill was because I had overwhelming mood swings and depression. I also noticed a decrease in my sex drive."

• Anonymous
• January 11, 2010

For Birth Control "I have been using Tri-Cyclen Lo for almost 2 years, and I have decided to switch to Nordette. I like Tri-Cyclen Lo for not getting me pregnant, but it gave me a few side effects that I didn't want to live with again. I had a huge decrease in sex drive, I gained 25 lbs in weight, I cried a lot for any situation, I had mood swings, and my period lasted 5-6 days and was heavy with pain! I think the only good thing is that it cleared acne very well, my period came exactly on time and no pregnancies. I hope Nordette works better for me!"

• Anonymous
• January 6, 2011

For Birth Control "I was on Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo for about 5 years and switched to Loestrin (because of insurance purposes). As soon as I switched, I got horrible acne. Although Loestrin gave me lighter periods, I was crazy, moody, and overall a terrible, cranky person-haha. I gave it about 6 months to see if it would get better-it didn't, so I'm spending $75 a month for Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo again. Totally worth it."

• Two...
• April 19, 2016

For Ovarian Cysts "This pill made me feel horrible to the point I was depressed and had mood swings. My parents noticed, and so did my boyfriend because I wanted to strangle him. I would cry on the days I took the 7-day non-normal pills in the case. Thank God the doctor changed my prescription, and I feel better. To think such a tiny pill can change me into a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde."

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 23, 2018

For Birth Control "This is the worst birth control I have tried by far. Although it cleared my facial acne, my periods became even more painful to a point where I was vomiting. Around the middle of the second pack, I started to have mood swings, and now, nearing the end of the third pack, I find myself constantly feeling depressed and on the verge of tears at any time. I can’t sleep, I have headaches, and I don’t feel like myself. I would not recommend this to anyone and am hoping that once I stop taking it, I will be able to return to the happy person I was before I started it."

• Jas...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 10, 2012

"I've been using this pill for three weeks now. I've experienced no side effects at all. No nausea, headaches, cramps, weight gain, or spotting. It doesn't feel like anything has changed. Actually, I think I noticed mild mood swings. I can get really mad from a small comment. My period should start any day now, so I'm curious to see if it will be lighter with less cramps."

• Mag...
• August 16, 2017

For Birth Control "I have been on this medication for about 2 years now, and I absolutely hate it. It worked very well the first couple of months (originally went on it for acne), but then it started going downhill. I gained an unbearable amount of weight on my stomach and hips. My moodiness is disastrous to the point where I can't have a normal conversation with people some days. I get extremely emotional, to the point where I cry over very small things. Not to mention, my appetite has spiked x100. I need to get off this ASAP. I don't recommend."

• ch4...
• May 7, 2017

For Birth Control "Had no issues on this! No noticeable weight gain or change in mood or anything. Got my period during the placebo week, which was nice, because my period was super irregular before (got it anywhere from 28 to 54 days in between cycles). Only once did I start getting my period a day or two before the placebo week, so my OBGYN put me on an extra dose of estrogen pills the next month to balance it out. That seemed to fix it. My acne cleared up a bit too. Only switched off it to get an IUD, but if I was going to stay on an oral BC, I would have had no reason to leave this one."

• CCa...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• December 6, 2019

For Birth Control "I took the Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo for several years after the birth of my second child. I suffered through severe insomnia without realizing it was due to the birth control. I decided to stop taking it due to the melasma that, unfortunately, looked like a dark mustache. The mini mustache look was not what I was going for! I got an IUD, Mirena, instead. A few months after that, I was sleeping without any problems and no Ambien. As a birth control, Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo did the trick, and I didn’t notice weight gain or mood swings, but the effect it had on my sleep was intolerable."

• Anonymous
• November 5, 2011

For Birth Control "I took this pill for about a month. And in that month, I thought I was doing fine. No mood swings, nausea, headaches, not as much acne. But then my mom pulls me out of my room one day and tells me that I was gaining weight. I thought I had noticed it, but thought it was just because I was eating a lot. Being on this pill made me overly hungry all the time."

• Shi...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• July 4, 2019

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I’ve been taking this pill for almost ten years. I’ve discontinued it three times for a few months, but would reinitiate treatment because it really helped with my acne and menstrual cramps. In the past few months, my acne got back, and I’d be spotting the weeks before and after my period, so I discontinued it. This was the best thing! Almost immediately, I noticed an improvement in my mood and pain tolerance. I would get mood swings, feel super vulnerable, overreact to small things, and would care what other people thought. I felt my emotions were all over the place, and I couldn’t control them. This caused anxiety and a depressed mood almost every day. I spent so much energy trying to manage my emotions! Once I stopped using the pill, I got MUCH, MUCH BETTER! I also noticed I got thinner! In conclusion, it made wonders with my acne and cramps, and I would give it a 10/10 just for that, but it’s not worth it if my quality of life deteriorates due to mood changes."

• Anonymous
• July 31, 2010

"I've been on this pill for a couple of months now, and I haven't experienced any of these problems others are listing. I don't feel like I'm going to vomit, I don't have migraines, I don't feel dizzy, nor have mood swings, but my sex drive has slightly decreased. I have yet to gain weight, and I think it's doing a pretty good job clearing up my skin. Also, my breasts have gotten a little bit bigger."

• Oka...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 20, 2015

For Ovarian Cysts "So, I thought the light periods were a problem, but since I see people with the same issue, that makes me feel a little better. Although, I don't like that I come on at the end of the pack. I usually would come on the Wednesday during the non-active pills, but now it's like Saturday or Sunday, then extremely light for maybe 2 to 3 days. Good thing is I do not have problems with the cysts or fibroids now, no pain. Periods are once a month, although light. No acne, mood swings are normal, I think :-) overall good pill."

• Anonymous
• April 30, 2010

For Birth Control "I have been on this pill for about three years. It was the very first and only birth control pill I have ever taken. When I first started, I experienced nausea and vomiting, but it went away after a week. One time I forgot to take the pill, and I was horribly sick for two days. Overall, the pill does work. I am not pregnant, it helps with acne a little bit, and it decreases cramps. I do have a decreased sex drive, and I am emotional. I am planning to change or discontinue the use of birth control pills, but as always, everyone is different, and I would recommend consulting with your doctor."

• FDa...
• April 14, 2011

For Birth Control "I used this specifically as a contraceptive. At the beginning of every cycle (the first couple of white pills), I would wake up in the middle of the night with nausea. This would then lead to a couple of hours of throwing up. I also had severe headaches, mood swings, no sex drive, and I was bloated."

• Gee...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 14, 2018

For Birth Control "I was on this birth control starting at age 16 because my period wasn’t regular, which it helped for two years. Then I started having hot flashes, intense mood swings, gained weight, my period wasn’t regular anymore, and I was spotting. Never quite understood what happened so suddenly, but I had to switch, and I’m glad I did."

• SSi...
• May 22, 2013

For Birth Control "I was prescribed this birth control about a year ago, and I LOVED IT up until about two months ago. I suffer from terrible mood swings and irregular periods. I had absolutely no mood swings until about two months ago. I had regular periods, ALWAYS on time. Weight was hard to lose, though. ALWAYS hungry. But all in all, worked perfect. My body must have just gotten used to it."

• Anonymous
• June 27, 2011

For Birth Control "I have been on OTCL for 4 months. The first couple of months, I had several bad mood swings, but those have improved. I still experience irritability and nausea daily and have gained 5 lbs. I feel bloated often and less energetic. My sex drive hasn't decreased much, my periods are light and predictable, and I haven't become pregnant. I get moderate breakouts, and this medication hasn't had any effect on those either way. I've tried worse, but I definitely don't feel as good as when I'm not on birth control."

• kim...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 10, 2017

For Birth Control "Also forgot to mention that my boobs got bigger! I can't tell if I have mood swings because I've always been so moody. No nausea. One time, though, I had some pain in my leg and I was worried about a DVT, so I got it checked out. Turns out it was just a pulled muscle-thankfully. So don't get scared of all the horror stories out there. Just be on the lookout for dangerous side effects, obviously, but don't be afraid to try it out."

• Anonymous
• April 16, 2012

For Birth Control "I've been on the pill for a solid 4 months now and have had overall no bad experiences. It has taken my body a bit to get used to it, but I haven't experienced mood swings, nausea, or headaches. It has helped me to regulate my period, even lighten my flow. I normally have really terrible and painful periods, but after the 3rd month, my cramps became more bearable. I have moderate acne, and it's caused my skin to become a little red, but it's starting to go away now. I'd say the only con is my period lasts about 6-7 days.... Maybe that will change later on. I haven't experienced weight gain, but I hope I do. But overall, I suggest it to women who have had bad experiences with high-dosage birth control pills. I went from YAZ to this and feel better."

• Ano...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 24, 2018

"Before taking this pill, I was an extremely positive and happy person. I had killer cramps and I ended up in the ER, so I needed them! I started taking the generic of Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo in June 2017, and the first 3 months were okay. I did notice lots of changes in mood, and I got easily annoyed, but it wasn't drastic; I cried many times over little things. My discharge was a bit thicker, yellowish, and had a nasty odor; I thought I had infections. One night in February, I went to sleep and woke up a completely different person. I had never experienced horrible symptoms of depression in my life. My sex drive vanished, I became so dry and barely had discharge. The thoughts I had never went away, and I cried myself to sleep for 3 weeks. I finished my pack on March 3rd, and I've been off since (was on for 8 months). I still don't feel like my happy self, but each day I’m getting better, and I don't plan on taking it again! Everyone reacts differently, but based on my experience, I don't recommend!"

• IBs...
• July 27, 2016

For Birth Control "I've been on this pill for over a year. I like it, it cleared my acne. I did gain weight, though, I'm kind of having a hard time losing it too, and the mood swings are crazy. Like the first 10 white pills, I'm the most emotional, and when I start my period, I actually feel normal. But I'm willing to stick to it because my acne was just so bad, and this pill cleared me up, so I really don't mind the side effects."

• IBs...
• July 27, 2016

For Birth Control "I've been on this pill for over a year. I like it, it cleared my acne. I did gain weight, though, I'm kind of having a hard time losing it too, and the mood swings are crazy. Like the first 10 white pills, I'm the most emotional, and when I start my period, I actually feel normal. But I'm willing to stick to it because my acne was just so bad, and this pill cleared me up, so I really don't mind the side effects."