Sprintec and Cramps: What Users Say (Page 5)

• Sta...
• December 30, 2016

For Birth Control "When first beginning this medication, I experienced nausea, the first month only. I've been taking this medication for over a year now and I'm very happy with it. No problem with acne at all, just body hair growth. I don't have any cramping or breast tenderness either."

• Kay...
• January 7, 2017

For Birth Control "Just started taking these pills a few weeks ago. Am on the placebo pills part of the pack now. Period has not started yet. Side effects I've been experiencing: fatigue, nausea (non-stop), slight cramping, acne breakouts (which I've never had an issue with before), fuller breasts, very sore/tender breasts, and my period has yet to start. However, I did have unprotected sex within the first 7 days of starting the pill. So, my symptoms could be signs of early pregnancy or adverse side effects of the pill. Will update in a few days."

• cas...
• June 9, 2011

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I used to have really heavy periods, and Sprintec has really lightened my period. It has also taken away the cramps, bloating, and diarrhea that my period used to cause. My back pain has gotten worse, though, and I have started to get cravings. All in all, it is great at lightening my flow and making it to where I don't have any 'surprises.' It's the first pill I've tried, and I don't plan on switching."

• Anonymous
• October 11, 2010

For Birth Control "I've been taking Sprintec for a couple of months, and from the first week I started, I had horrible acne breakouts. My periods are longer than they've ever been, even while off birth control, and while my cramps aren't as severe during that time, I have cramps all the time, it seems. At least 3 weeks out of the month. I have horrible headaches and feel like I might pass out, although I can't say for certain these are from taking Sprintec. The worst side effect of all is my mood swings. It's sad and scary when, out of the whole month, the time that I'm the calmest is during PMS and my period. I snap and get upset with friends, family, and co-workers over things that have never bothered me before. I never had any side effects with my last birth control."

• Cat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 1, 2019

For Ovarian Cysts "I was put on this drug after being diagnosed with PCOS. It did give me stomach upset for the first month, and my periods seem longer (a whole 7 days versus 3-5 without it), but the bleeding is less intense. It does seem to make period cramps worse for me, versus cramps while not on birth control. I feel like it has helped with the crazy hormonal mental/mood aspect, and it's helped a lot with hot flashes and sweating. I'm trying to give it 3 months (it has been about 2 months) before I give up on it, because the cramps are pretty severe to the point I get nauseous, so I'm wondering if it's the right one for me."

• BLe...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 28, 2017

For Birth Control "I've been on it for a month and a half now. I skipped the placebo pills to miss my period as recommended. I started spotting on Wednesday and got horrible, horrible cramps. Now it's a full-on period, and my cramps are unbearable. I took Menstuaid, Pamprin, and ibuprofen, and NOTHING is working. I also am not myself. I'm very depressed and just want to be alone, not near people. I have no motivation. Yes, it takes 3 months to get used to a medication, but I can't be this sad for 3 months. I'm crying over everything. I've also gained weight, and I'm careful with what I eat."

• lan...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 30, 2018

For Birth Control "I really like Sprintec! I was previously on LoLoestrin, and that was horrible for me. I had tons of breakthrough bleeding, cramps, mood swings, etc. It was just too low of a dose for me personally. Sprintec has been great, and my period is much lighter and more predictable. It also did wonders for my skin. I haven't noticed any weight gain or mood changes. Everybody will react differently to birth control, of course, but this one has been great for me."

• Ano...
• December 11, 2018

For Birth Control "I was 17 and switched from the highest dose estrogen patch (to increase estrogen levels) to Sprintec, and finally got my period after never having it. I initially thought it worked fine, I never got acne (never had it to begin with) and could track my periods down to the day it would start and end. On the other hand, periods were the worst. Very heavy periods with a lot of clots, horrible cramps, and only a few cases of mood swings. My period only lasts maybe 4 days total, though. I am now switching since my periods were so bad. In terms of pregnancy prevention, it did its job, even with no other use of contraception, like condoms. It also made me very dry and lowered my sex drive. A good perk is that it made my boobs grow maybe a cup size up! They're still slightly tender at all times, though. Other than that, it's an okay choice for BC. I don't have anything else to compare it to, though, but for my first time ever using an oral birth control tablet, not terrible."

• TJa...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 12, 2021

For Birth Control "Sprintec is the first birth control I've ever been on. I have some side effects like cramping, the nausea gets bad, back pain, and breast tenderness. Other than that, it works really well for me. Helped with my period coming on time also."

• Tis...
• February 15, 2018

For Ovarian Cysts "After being on Estarylla for a few months, I was switched to Sprintec. I was on the first week of my second pack when I realized the new symptoms I was having were related to this med. I started to feel bloated, nauseous, and cramps all the time. I also noticed dry skin around my chin. Little to no sex drive, dryness during intercourse, and fatigue. I experienced what I think is breakthrough bleeding three times while I was on this pill. I also lost 5 lbs, but I usually lose weight while on the pill-any BC pill. I personally did not like Sprintec. It is not for me. Everyone's body reacts differently, I only suggest remembering the date you started this pill and paying close attention to any changes in mood or body. Good luck."

• oll...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 27, 2018

For Birth Control "I've been on Sprintec for about a year now. While I did experience some weight gain, everything else has been great. I used to get frequent, painful hormonal acne. Now, getting even one pimple is a rare occasion. I also used to have cramps that kept me home from school and then work because I could hardly get up. Now my periods are short and easy. I can also skip placebo weeks with no spotting. Although many of the reviews for Sprintec are poor, this pill was a game changer for me."

• Lin...
• December 8, 2018

For Birth Control "I’ve been on Sprintec for 4 months. I am also hypothyroid and on Synthroid. I was on Nuvaring and getting pregnant. Only good thing about Sprintec is it prevents pregnancy. The bad symptoms include horrible cramping, mood swings, loss of appetite due to nausea, nightmares, and acne. I have heavy bleeding. I am in my 40s. I have my ups and downs, but never like a few nights ago. I started by picking fights with my husband for no reason. I also imagined that someone was watching me when I was alone one night. I had to call my best friend to come over and calm me down because my husband was out of state on business. She is an OB/GYN nurse and said maybe it was the birth control and to call my doctor. I was afraid for our daughter, not like I’d hurt her, but myself. She was asleep in her room. Just horrible. I will never take this ever again. I will see my doctor in a week and may tell her no to birth control, given my age and thyroid issues, and go back to condoms."

• cap...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• April 9, 2015

For Birth Control "I've been on Sprintec since I was 14 (now 19), and I love it. I used to have moderate-heavy bleeding for at least a week before I started taking it, and now my periods are light-moderate for 3 or 4, sometimes 5 days. I normally get one pimple around the time of my cycle, and that's it, although I never had much of a skin problem before starting the pill either. I'm extremely sensitive to emotional side effects of medicines, I've even had changes from asthma medicine in the past, but I didn't notice much noteworthy from taking this pill. No weight gain, no pregnancy scares, and reduced cramping. It's perfect."

• hjg...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 7, 2015

For Birth Control "I have had the absolute worst symptoms on this pill. Before starting birth control, my periods were extremely regular, and I only ever cramped the day before starting my period and the day of. Now, I have about two periods a month, and my breasts are extremely painful and swollen. I've been sticking it out because I've read everywhere that it usually subsides within three months, but I've been on the pill for almost five months and my breast tenderness and swelling have not subsided. I can't even sleep on my stomach anymore. I have also gained weight on this pill (I am always hungry), have constant cramps and back pain, and I started getting huge pimples (have never had acne before starting the pill). I am about to change to something else."

• Tif...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 16, 2018

For Birth Control "I have been on this pill for about 6 months, and I honestly have NO complaints. I’ve always carried a little extra weight, and I haven’t gained or lost any weight due to the pill. I never had bad acne, but my skin literally glows now. I get very little cramps on my period. Don’t plan on switching meds anytime soon."

• Out...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 11, 2015

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I've been on Sprintec for over a year, and some months are fine. Others, I'll get horrible cramps 2 weeks into the pill or even get a period that lasts 2 weeks. Every month, it's something different. I guess you get what you pay for."

• Ban...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 5, 2018

For Birth Control "Update from Sept. 18th post. Still have oversized D boobs. They still hurt, and I am on my 4th white pill. Finally started. I've gained 9 lbs in almost a month, and my face is clearing up. My cramps are terrible. I hope this next month is symptom-free!"

• j15...
• October 9, 2014

For Birth Control "I started taking Sprintec to avoid pregnancy and regulate my periods. I finished 2 packs already, and I just started my third this week. I started the pack two weeks after my period, and I did get my period 2 weeks late, but it was super heavy the first two days, and I have really bad cramps. I got my period late again last month, but that was my fault for not keeping up with my pills, and my period wasn't as bad this time. It's the third month, and now I noticed that I gained weight, but not a dramatic amount, and I have gone up a size in my bra cup and my underwear and jeans. I do tend to get moodier than what I used to, but it's not as dramatic. That's only been about 3 times. My sex drive has not changed. It might have even increased a bit. I'm 19."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 6, 2018

For Birth Control "I have never been on any type of birth control before Sprintec. My son is turning 3 months old, so about a month ago I decided to go on the pill. I was very hesitant, but I went for it. AND I REGRET IT. I started noticing small symptoms like headaches, non-stop running to the bathroom, and sometimes cramps. But over the last 2 weeks, I started experiencing more severe, scary symptoms that included: my hair, I'm losing more and more in the shower, bad blood clots during my period, a very, very heavy period, migraines, mood swings, getting sad out of nowhere, loss of appetite... and the worst one was one night (final night of taking it) I started shaking, panic attacks, shortness of breath, I was very weak, couldn’t even pick up my son... dizziness, my body was uncontrollably hot. I instantly refused to take it ever again..."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 9, 2018

For Birth Control "I’ve been taking Sprintec for 5 months now. It’s my first birth control pill, and only for a week it helped with acne and cramps. I gained 10 pounds the first 3 months on the pill, and I have extreme anxiety because of the pill. The cramps came back, and acne decreased but still exists. I don’t recommend this pill."

• KkM...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 15, 2012

For Birth Control "I've been on this pill for about three weeks. The first night I took it, I felt horrible! But ever since then, I've been fine. I didn't eat before or after taking it, so that could have been the problem. I always feel like I'm cramping. Not bad cramps, but I just feel like something is going on. I also constantly have a headache, but overall, it's working like it should!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 22, 2017

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I was put on this pill because I have no insurance and needed something to help with my heavy periods. Everything was fine for the first month and a half, and then halfway through my second pill pack, I started bleeding, and it lasted 17 days, stopped for 5, and started again! The day it started again, I switched to a new pill. Also, during those 17 days, I experienced the worst cramps I've ever had, was constantly nauseous, and had really bad mood swings. I don't know anyone that's had a good experience on this pill."

• Fut...
• October 8, 2017

For Birth Control "I started my birth control journey with Monessa and switched to Sprintec after one year. I have been using Sprintec for the past two years, and it has really worked great for me. My periods have been shorter with a vast decrease in cramps. My acne has cleared since starting the birth control. I have also noticed that I have lost more weight on Sprintec than I did on Monessa. I went from 120 to 115 when I switched bc (5' 3'). I have not had to worry about getting pregnant while using the medication properly. If I ever forget a pill, I usually take it as soon as I remember. Also, this generic version is affordable!"

• Nic...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 5, 2013

For Birth Control "I have just started this birth control and have never taken anything else before. I started taking it the day after my doctor prescribed it instead of waiting until the recommended Sunday. I didn't think it would hurt anything, but I'm pretty sure I was wrong there. I was supposed to start my period right around the appointment date. I then started 4 days later and have yet to end. That was nearly 10 days ago. Also, I have never experienced cramps as badly as I did on this pill. I have never had children, but I swear I felt like I was having labor pains! The flow has been lighter than my normal period, just hasn't gone away yet. I am hoping it is just my body's way of dealing with the hormones. Guess time will tell."

• Anonymous
• March 28, 2010

For Birth Control "I was put on Sprintec a month ago to help regulate my period and help with the severe cramps. In the last month, I have had a loss of appetite, lack of energy, two UTIs, a yeast infection, and severe cramps."