Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo and Mood Swings: What Users Say (Page 4)

• Rac...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 17, 2016

For Birth Control "I was on this product for 3 years. I gave it a 7 not because it wasn't effective (because it was very effective, no pregnancies), but because the first year on it was awful. I was depressed and emotional ALL the time. One week out of the month maybe I felt okay, MAYBE. After a year, I would have given it a 9 (minor acne was the only issue). I loved that pill after the first year was over. I changed once because my clinic ran out of stock, NEVER AGAIN. I went emotionally crazy after I switched to a different brand. Needless to say, I switched back after that pack was used up. About 2 or so years later, I switched to the generic brand TriNessa Lo and loved it just as much."

• Anonymous
• April 13, 2011

For Birth Control "I have been on Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo for 7 years, and it has worked very well for me. No pregnancies, even if I missed pills every once in a while. I've gained some weight, but not much, and have had very predictable, short periods (3.5 days). I also have not had problems with mood swings. Sadly, I can no longer take this pill because my insurance no longer covers it. I am going to try the Nuvaring next, which I am very nervous about because I'm not sure how it will affect me. Wish me luck!"

• Anonymous
• June 10, 2010

"This product was very effective in preventing pregnancy and made my periods a lot lighter, but for me, it came with a lot of side effects. I was extremely moody, I wanted to break down and cry about even the littlest things. I was temperamental and got irritated easier than normal, and my period was extremely irregular. I was only on it for 3 months with these side effects being continuous the entire time, so my nurse practitioner decided to change my contraceptive to Levora. I'm 18, healthy, 5'4" and about 110 lbs. Hope this helps."

• Mee...
• March 2, 2012

For Birth Control "I've been on Ortho Tri-Cyclen for four months. My period used to be random, and I would bleed heavily for 7 to 8 days. I had horrible cramps and nausea. Horrible moody PMS. Now... light periods, 3 to 4 days. Same time. I've gained weight while on the pill, my breasts got bigger, but I was petite to begin with. No acne. At the beginning, I was emotional for the first month, but now I'm not. The only thing that is happening now is I have pain during sex. I would be ready to go, but once my boyfriend and I try, it hurts for him to put it in, and I'll have to stop because it hurts so bad. I'm making an appointment now to see the doctor, but I've heard it's because of the low dose of estrogen."

• Anonymous
• January 21, 2012

For Birth Control "I have been taking Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo for 2 months now and have gained about 15 pounds. This morning my jeans were too tight. I am expecting my period on Wednesday. I also experienced a very heavy period last month, heavier than I have ever had. I also had cramping all month the first month and bleeding. It was very hard to deal with. I am not comfortable with the weight gain. I have also experienced mood swings. Lots of crying about things that I would normally not cry about...stuff like the car didn't start!"

• Anonymous
• June 30, 2011

For Birth Control "I was on this pill for 8 years. I never had mood swings, weight gain, or decreased sex drive. It initially helped with acne, but I developed cystic acne while taking this pill, and the pill didn't seem to help it. I thought I should switch birth controls for this reason. I switched to Ortho-cept/Reclipsen - BIG mistake. NO sex drive, mood swings, extreme fatigue, and depression. The only positive was that it has gotten the cystic acne under control. The rest of the side effects aren't worth it though, and I have switched back to Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo, which had none of these side effects. I definitely think Ortho is the way to go."

• Boo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 5, 2019

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I only took this for a month, and the first week didn’t notice any major changes, so I was hopeful. As the estrogen amount increased in the pill, I became more and more emotional, sweaty, and started having facial flushing. Also, my ankles would swell-which was expected because this happens any time I’m on the pill. Besides emotional extremes, it gave me a painless period, which I haven’t had in months (thanks to copper IUD). Doctor is trying me on Lo Loestrin next. Hoping it works!"

• Tri...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 6, 2019

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I took this for 1.5 months due to heavy periods. I'm 37. First 2 or 3 weeks I was okay, by the 4th week, my head was spinning! I took a picture of myself and couldn't even recognize myself, it was that creepy. Almost like a demon possessed me. My vagina dried up so bad and felt swollen. Painful sex, stomach bloated up so bad (didn't gain lbs. but felt such painful bloating), it made me sad, especially after losing 50 lbs on my weight loss journey. Cramping so bad. Vision change. I was so sad and ANGRY! Decided to stop it a week early or I'd die, so now off of it for 2 months now, and I get my period every 21 days instead of my normal 35. Yeah. Great! This stuff is a monster, my vagina is still not normal, and I go in mood spurts that ARE NOT NORMAL! Trying to fix my abnormal bleeding, what a joke, I'm now paying a deadly price. I give it a 'shouldn't even exist' rating. Ruined and still is ruining my life. Don't do it! Find something else, do your homework before trying a pill. I wish I did."

• Dan...
• January 21, 2016

For Birth Control "When I first started taking Ortho Lo, my moderate acne cleared up! My periods were so much lighter. However, adjusting to this pill was hell. Mood swings, crying, psycho basically. After 6 months, I was fine. 5 years later and I am still on, never got pregnant, no acne, light periods, very moody during PMS but no cramps. I think it is worth it for sure. I have gained weight, however, I started at 17 and am now 22-college probably made me gain those few pounds."

• Jac...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 4, 2018

For Birth Control "I was on Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo when I was a teenager, and it worked fine. Fast forward a few years and two kids later, I am back on it. However, I've been experiencing mood swings, breast tenderness, and depression. I had no idea what it could be, and it had me feeling worse by the week. To add to the problem, I developed hormonal acne along my jawline. After seeing all these other reviews, I will be changing my birth control. I feel a little better knowing what could be causing these symptoms. I hope this helps someone out too!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 20, 2015

For Birth Control "For the first few months, everything was okay, and I had no symptoms at all. The past few weeks have been bad, though, because I've been getting spotting, nausea, vomiting, cramps, and mood swings. My friend has been taking this birth control for 6 years and has recently stopped taking it due to similar symptoms. Not quite sure what to think of this B.C. anymore."

• Anonymous
• April 10, 2012

For Birth Control "I took Ortho Tri-Cyclen because this is what I received from the health department for free when I didn't have insurance and was a poor full-time student. I was taking this for about 4 years. The best thing about it is that I never got pregnant. However, I had extremely heavy periods lasting 5-6 days until it was finished completely; painful cramps, spotting lightly at times, spotting heavily; mood swings; fatigue, and recurrent yeast infections. I finally made it back to my regular OBGYN after getting insurance again, and she placed me on Beyaz. So far, so good."

• Anonymous
• July 26, 2010

For Birth Control "I am 23, about 5'3", 105. Been on it for about a year now. Went to my doctor to get on birth control when I was getting married. She recommended this because of the low side effects. WRONG! Everything you read here is true! I threw up my first three days on this. Went away after a week. Had headaches, couldn't sleep well, very moody, was always snapping at my husband, crying at everything, had spotting, and worst of all, I had very low sex drive. I feel I could live the rest of my life without sex. Got off of it for a month, and things were so much better. I was already back to my normal self. Got back on it two months ago because of two reasons: it did keep me from getting pregnant and got rid of my acne. Have not gained much weight."

• KJu...
• December 7, 2016

For Birth Control "Feb. to Sept. I was on the mini pill, just progesterone, and during that time I got acne that never went away and I gained 25 pounds with bad mood swings. Prior to that, I was on Yasmine for a year, which caused my hair to thin out, but my doctor was concerned it was giving me really bad headaches. I started Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo 32 days ago, and every day I've had a period, which today it seems to be going away. I know it takes up to 90 days for my body to adjust, so I'm willing to work through it. The acne has gone away completely, no headaches, no severe mood swings, and my hair has stopped falling out. I don't have the food cravings, so hopefully I can start to lose the weight. I have noticed my breasts have grown, which is fine by me."

• Dan...
• June 21, 2016

For Birth Control "This pill was my 3rd try at birth control pills. From my last pill, this one decreased my severe headaches. But, after going off of the pill for a couple of months and going back to this, I felt like I went crazy during PMS week. I have never in my life experienced such severe depression and mood swings that I felt I was going crazy. I did have regular periods, but headaches came back full force, and I am moody always."

• Mar...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 8, 2018

For Birth Control "I am super conflicted about this birth control. I have tried many pills, and this is the one pill that I feel 'myself' on. Has significantly decreased my acne, anxiety, mood swings, and depression. However, my periods are ~7 days long, which kind of sucks. In addition, my appetite is out of control. The first week of the pack is usually okay, but going onto my third week, I can gain ~6 pounds just from water weight and increased hunger, wanting to eat everything in sight. I don't even remember what it's like to not feel hungry all the time. I will be switching next month in the hopes of gaining back control of my appetite!"

• Tea...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 4, 2016

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "Awful. Awful. Awful. I started on the pill when I was 15 because I was getting cramps so bad I was almost throwing up from the pain. Now at 25, I am still using the pill but have switched a few times. The brand that I am using now is terrible. Horrible cramps, periods last for a week or more, spotting, mood swings, weight gain, acne, discharge... you name it, I've got it. The pill is effective for birth control, I'll give it that, but there are a lot of negative side effects that come along with it."

• tee...
• November 29, 2011

"I love this birth control because no spotting between periods. A little emotional from the birth control. No mood swings. My last birth control made me bleed constantly every month, so I stopped taking it, and then I got pregnant, and then I went on this birth control, and I could be happier. I just wish it wasn't so expensive."

• Can...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 13, 2021

"The beginning of starting I was okay, just nauseous. But now I am having problems with vaginal dryness. I am 22, and it is horrible. I completely stay away from sex, as nothing helps the pain, and I am thinking of switching pills, as my doctor said I’m perfectly fine, just dry from the pill, and switching is my only option. It has made me anxious, insecure, depressed, and so overly emotional. I think I am done with this pill. Everyone is different, and I’ve had friends love it, but for me, unfortunately, it was horrible."

• fru...
• February 25, 2011

For Birth Control "I have been on Ortho TriCyclen Lo for approximately 15 years. I'm not sure exactly when I started since it's been that long. The first 5 or so years were great. I had regular periods, light to moderate bleeding, less acne, and cramps, but after that I've had less sex drive, regular adult acne, steady weight gain with the inability to lose easily (even tried Weight Watchers with no effect), mood swings, and slight depression. Other factors may have come into play with school, work, and relationships, but I'm now married and the side effects are more noticeable since the other factors have leveled out. I'm trying something else mainly due to weight gain, mood swings, and cost - I'm in Arizona - OTCL is now $88 a month."

• hat...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 3, 2018

For Birth Control "I have been on Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo for 9 months now and I am switching to another. The first 3 months were a huge wave of mood swings and acne. I gained 10 pounds in just 4 months, and on top of that, I have never been so prone to yeast infections!!!! I do not recommend this birth control."

• Anonymous
• June 19, 2010

For Birth Control "This was the first birth control I ever tried and let me tell you, my experience was horrible. I constantly felt like I was going to throw up, and at times I did. I also felt like crying about everything. I wasn't myself at all, so I changed birth control pills to Microgestin, and everything has been great. I have been on them for about a year now."

• Em2...
• August 14, 2012

For Ovarian Cysts "I recently switched from Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo because I had spotting, so I'm switching to a pill with more progesterone because that's what the nice doctor said I should do. But while on this pill, I could definitely tell I broke out instantly and had crazy mood swings during the third week, but it was doable. I don't think I like phasic pills. But other than that, no weight gain, no loss of sex drive, and still the same periods (which have always been bad)."

• Mel...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 16, 2016

For Birth Control "After a month and a half on this, I have experienced a heavy period lasting about 5-6 days. My breasts are not sore but have grown about 4 inches fuller. No mood changes or negative effects. So far I like this. I'm in my early thirties."

• Mpe...
• January 23, 2015

For Birth Control "Since starting this pill, I've had a three-week cycle, major breakouts, mood swings, and lack of appetite. I've only been on it one month, but that was enough."