Sprintec and Headaches: What Users Say (Page 2)

• Kat...
• April 15, 2016

For Birth Control "I've been taking birth control pills for 15 years, and Sprintec is the worst thing that has ever happened to me. I'm from Latin America, and I used to take Diane-35, which has a very low hormone component, controls acne, reduces PMS symptoms, and causes shorter periods, but is not available in the US. I started taking Sprintec 5 months ago because I have no insurance here, and I feel so terrible now: dizzy, no energy, headaches. Please don't take this pill if you have insurance or a better option!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 9, 2015

For Birth Control "I have been taking Sprintec for about 3 weeks, haven't even started my period pills yet. So far, I am pleased with the results, I was getting the Depo shot before I switched to Sprintec. I switched because I never stopped bleeding on the Depo shot for almost a year, I bled. So far, no side effects, no weight gain, no headaches or nausea, and I actually think it is helping clear what little acne I had."

• Lio...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 28, 2019

For Birth Control "I’ve been on Sprintec for the past 6 months. The first day I started taking it, I got a really bad headache and nausea. Every time I start a new cycle, I get a light headache. I’ve gained about 10 pounds since I started; I blame it on the hormones because I exercise 5 times a week and have a good eating habit. Also, some mood swings are noticeable, but again, hormones. However, it regulated my period; I could go 2-3 months without getting it, and it also completely took away the cramps. It’s worked well, but I’m indecisive if I should continue using it because of the weight, headaches, and mood swings."

• Kat...
• April 14, 2016

For Birth Control "In the first 2 weeks of taking these, I gained 5 lbs easy. It might just be water weight (I have read that that is normal), but it is definitely noticeable! In addition to the gained weight, I am nauseous ALL THE TIME and have constant headaches. I am a freakishly healthy eater, I exercise 6 days a week and all this has stayed the same. The only thing that I have changed in my routine is the inclusion of this medication. After reading about the experiences of others that are similar to mine, I'm going off of it ASAP."

• Ran...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 21, 2019

For Endometriosis "I have been on Sprintec for almost 9 months now. My doctor prescribed it because I had abnormal periods with non-stop vomiting, serious IBS-like symptoms with blood in my stool, and heavy bleeding. She says that most probably I have endometriosis. Every month, for at least a week, my life became awful. I had to take at least two days off work per month. I also have fibroids with a history of myomectomy. Sprintec improved my life immensely. Now, I do not experience nausea and intestinal issues as often as before, and I do not have to take days off work anymore. The problem is that I have been on my period for two months now. Not even a normal day in between on which I don't have to wear a pad. The bleeding does not stop, and it is getting heavier and heavier. Last night, I experienced huge blood clots and cramps. I have also gained weight and have headaches all the time. I am so disappointed. I can't go back to my life before Sprintec, but now life is no fun either."

• M I...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 22, 2017

For Birth Control "I first got put on birth control in 2012 due to ovarian cysts. I tried 5 types in the past that didn't work for me. They either made me depressed, induced anxiety, headaches, acne, etc. I was on Aviane for roughly a year, it had the least amount of side effects, but I stopped in 2014 because of weight gain and anxiety. Now, 3 years later, I'm trying Sprintec to avoid getting pregnant. This is my first week, and so far so good. None of the side effects I had with the others. The first few days I was really nauseous, had a headache the 1st day, and I still don't have a strong appetite. I've actually lost 5 pounds, so I don't mind though. And my boobs look great. :) Will update more when I continue with this pill for longer."

• M I...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 22, 2017

For Birth Control "I first got put on birth control in 2012 due to ovarian cysts. I tried 5 types in the past that didn't work for me. They either made me depressed, induced anxiety, headaches, acne, etc. I was on Aviane for roughly a year, it had the least amount of side effects, but I stopped in 2014 because of weight gain and anxiety. Now, 3 years later, I'm trying Sprintec to avoid getting pregnant. This is my first week, and so far so good. None of the side effects I had with the others. The first few days I was really nauseous, had a headache the 1st day, and I still don't have a strong appetite. I've actually lost 5 pounds, so I don't mind though. And my boobs look great. :) Will update more when I continue with this pill for longer."

• Cud...
• February 24, 2019

For Birth Control "I’ve been taking this medication for 3 weeks, and I’m not totally sold on it. Early pros: I don’t feel as anxious. Early cons: severe nausea, headaches, diarrhea, increased acne, tender breasts. I’ve tried almost every birth control on the market; this certainly isn’t the worst, but it’s still not a winner. I can’t wait till they come out with a birth control for men."

• Tay...
• December 1, 2015

For Birth Control "DO NOT USE. I am 18 years old with no health problems whatsoever, and I've never had any health problems. I was on Sprintec for 3 months, and I started getting very bad headaches daily, but I didn't think anything of them because I recently tried to cut out my caffeine. Then I started getting blurry vision. I went for an eye exam because I've always worn glasses, and they sent me to a specialist. Turns out I had papilledema, which was caused by a pseudo tumor. After having an MRI, CT, weekly trips to the specialist, and to the neurologist, we finally found our answers. DO NOT USE!!"

• Sug...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 1, 2019

For Birth Control "This medication makes me nauseous and shaky, and gives me headaches daily. I have PCOS and fibroids, and I suffer from cramps daily and cervix pain, and this birth control makes it so much worse. I do NOT recommend."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 6, 2012

For Birth Control "I've been on Sprintec for three years now and have had a roller coaster of experiences with it. Sometimes it makes me so sick I swear I'm going to get off of it and take something else. And then at other times I don't even notice it. I would say my most common side effects are sudden onset nausea and headaches. Every so often I also experience some hot/cold flashes with it."

• Rev...
• January 23, 2019

For Birth Control "I have been on various birth control pills for about 9 years, and Sprintec has been a good option for me. I take pill packs back-to-back so that I only get my period 4 times per year, and it's been great - however, this does cause me to leak sometimes if I'm even 2 hours late taking my pill. Consistency is key. I will say I still experience some bad acne at times, and I always get headaches when I do get my periods now, but overall this pill has been just fine for me."

• KLa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 1, 2017

For Birth Control "I have been on Sprintec for four months. The first month I started taking it, I all of a sudden got extremely depressed and felt on edge all the time. I experienced nausea, some breast pain, extreme headaches, and I gained 15 pounds in the first 3 months. Some of the symptoms have gone away, and I haven't had any breakout, but I still get down in the dumps. One day I'll be high, and a couple of hours later, I felt like I wanted to crawl under a rock. Before getting on this birth control, my boyfriend and I had sex every day at least once. Now I'm lucky if I feel like doing it twice a week. There's maybe a 3-4 day period where I want to, besides that, I just don't feel like it anymore. I wouldn't recommend this birth control at all."

• Ste...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 30, 2013

For Birth Control "I've only been on this pill for one month [I have three white pills left out of this first package], and I've only had mild side effects. I had a bit of spotting, but not much. My period this month is much lighter than it ever has been, and I'm hoping it'll be shorter, too. And every once in a while, I get a headache. I've also noticed an increase in my appetite, but nothing I couldn't control if I tried. I believe my breasts may be growing, also."

• sab...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 3, 2017

For Birth Control "Definitely not a fan. After being on it a full month, I've experienced EXTREMELY low sex drive. This is coming from someone who typically enjoys sex. Now I view it more as a chore. Low energy, low mood. Headaches... the only thing that it did prevent was pregnancy! But I'm pretty sure it does that by making you never want to have sex in the first place."

• Sal...
• April 6, 2016

For Birth Control "I was on Lo Loestrin Fe, then had to get off for a month because of a health insurance mishap. I got on Sprintec because it is so much cheaper, and it is so much better! I have a history with depression, and this has not caused any problem at all. In fact, I've not even had a headache or any stomach pain. I highly recommend this."

• MRA...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 1, 2019

For Birth Control "I was previously on Larin Fe 1.5/30 and suffered from recurring yeast infections and increased discharge. Decided to change to Sprintec due to these side effects. Didn't help much. I don't think this increased my discharge or made it any worse. However, the mental side effects were the worst. It caused terrible mood swings, lethargy, excessive crying, and no sex drive. It was even hard to have an orgasm, and if I did, they would only last for about 3 seconds. I had no breakthrough bleeding or cramping. The first week, I did get massive headaches from the dosage change and was increasingly nauseated. I have heard great things about this birth control, I just think it is not for me. PROS: Effective (not pregnant), no breakthrough bleeding or cramping CONS: Mood swings, no sex drive. I really tried to stick it out for longer than a month, but I decided the side effects outweighed the benefits, and I had to give it up."

• Lyn...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 14, 2019

For Birth Control "I started taking Sprintec because I had really long periods (like I was bleeding for four months at one point), and doctors could not find a reason for it, so I took this pill and my period was regulated. I did not have many side effects while using, but I recently stopped taking this pill (around April this year), and the side effects have been awful. I haven't had a period in two months (I'm not really complaining about this lol), mood swings galore! Sometimes I don't have an appetite, and other times I want and can eat all day. My sex drive has been crazy high. I get really bad headaches and super irritable. So yes, I liked it because it did help my problem, but at the same time, these coming-off effects are a little too much for me."

• fre...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 10, 2014

For Birth Control "I'm on my 2nd pack of Sprintec, and the biggest side effect I have gotten is bad acne around my jawline and chin, cystic acne. I've had to use Proactiv so it wouldn't get worse. More headaches and body pain. My period was a little heavier and more painful than when I was on Minastrin 24. My period came 2 days earlier than before. I'm not sure about weight gain yet, but Minastrin was terrible, I gained about 15 pounds."

• Zeb...
• January 14, 2019

For Ovarian Cysts "My experience with Sprintec was a nightmare. I’ve taken Orthocyclen for over 10 years with no issues. When my pharmacy discontinued it, they offered Sprintec, and in about a month's time, I experienced the following symptoms: depression/anxiety, dizziness/nausea, exhaustion/fatigue, chronic headaches, thinning hair at the top of the scalp, mood swings, weight gain (about 5-7 pounds). It did keep my skin clear... If you notice any side effects, please discontinue. I thought I was going crazy... I spent several hundred dollars on doctors' visits, hair appointments, and the sadness was unprecedented. Please do not take."

• Sam...
• March 30, 2019

For Birth Control "This is a nightmare! I started to take this medicine almost a month ago, but I had to stop it! It’s been a month, bleeding nonstop! Crazy headaches, dizziness! I stopped at the white pills, and so far, bleeding! Do not take this medicine! It's the worst!"

• Won...
• March 2, 2012

For Ovarian Cysts "I initially had Mononessa prescribed for PCOS but switched after 3 months to Sprintec. Of course, I experienced the usual side effects with both, i.e., nausea, mood swings, hot flashes, breast tenderness, and headaches, but only for the first week or two. However, with Sprintec, I am now experiencing depression, my skin on my face and chest area above my breast is not as smooth as it used to be, and worst of all, a yeast infection, which I have never suffered from before (awful itching, but Monistat 7 is helping a lot). I'm still quite new to Sprintec and hope all this goes away."

• Emi...
• April 1, 2016

For Birth Control "In my experience, this is terrible. I'm only almost done with my third week, and I'm having the worst ovary pains and migraines. I got on it because the doctor told me it would prevent cysts because I've had a cyst that covered my whole ovary and wanted something to prevent that from happening again. Well, I'm having the same exact pain when I had a cyst, but the stabbing pain is more often. I've never had trouble with headaches or migraines until now. My whole experience has been terrible."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 22, 2016

For Birth Control "Worse birth control. I have been taking it for 2 weeks, and I am already experiencing horrid headaches. I'm nauseous, and I feel like I have something just sitting in my stomach. But the worst part, I have a decreased sex drive, and when I have sex, I dry up very quickly, which is so frustrating that I can't even enjoy my sex life while being on this pill."

• Ang...
• September 22, 2015

For Birth Control "I gave the rating some points because it does control birth, and I was given the pill to stop my irregular heavy bleeding because I am severely anemic and needing blood transfusions, and it did stop the bleeding. However, the side effects are horrible. I'm always nauseated, especially when I first take it, I feel sick like I'm coming down with the flu all day. I get bad headaches every night after taking them, and I'm extremely depressed and moody, ready to snap about every little thing. I've only been on it a little over two weeks, but I am making an appointment with my doctor to change this pill or have surgery for my fibroids instead. I can't deal with this pill."