Tri-Lo-Sprintec and Anxiety: What Users Say

• txg...
• July 30, 2019

For Birth Control "60 days of awfulness. I was on Orth Tri-Cyclen Lo for 14 years before switching to Tri-Lo Sprintec. I don't believe it was an equivalent generic. I’m a strong, independent, hard-working, successful, and happy woman who is very driven — motivation was the first to go. I gained 12 lbs in 1 week. I was irritable, emotional, anxious about everything. I was depressed and had dark thoughts (which I knew was crazy) but couldn’t think straight enough to know I needed help. I had zero sex drive, felt bloated and horrible. Nothing mattered (relationship, career). I realized I wasn’t alone. After stopping Tri-Lo Sprintec, I started thinking clearly, the hazy brain fog was gone. I switched to Aviane - I'm 3 weeks in with zero side effects. I’m feeling myself again. Not everyone has extreme reactions to Tri-Lo Sprintec, but if you’re on here looking for answers - talk to your doctor. I have submitted this to the FDA and Teva as a formal complaint."

• Luz...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 19, 2021

For Birth Control "Tri-Lo-Sprintec was the first birth control I’ve ever been on. At first, I wasn’t too sure about it. The first few months were rough. I’m talking depression I’ve never experienced before. I was crying over nothing, had tons of anxiety, and was suddenly super insecure. It was such a dark time in my life, I legit thought I was going crazy, and my poor boyfriend supported me through that nightmare. I stuck through it, however (idk why), and surprisingly it all went away one day. It lasted about 3 months, but after that, I had no bad side effects - no weight gain, no acne, and it really helped me out with my period pain. I used to curl up in bed and cry because of how bad my cramps were, and on this pill, it was finally manageable. I still experienced a little pain, but it felt like what a 'normal' cramp was supposed to feel like compared to what I used to go through. Honestly, overall a good experience, but I had to go through a nightmare to get there, and it really depends if you think it’s worth taking the risk."

• Aly...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 27, 2021

For Birth Control "My experience being on this pill is by far some of the most traumatic experiences of my life. I started it when I was a senior in high school (about 2 years ago), and I immediately was thrust into an extremely dark depressive episode, which had aftereffects that lasted for about 3 months-just because of how deeply scarring this episode was. I was extremely happy, positive, and stable with some mild anxiety that I was quite good at managing, with no history of depression or ideations of self-harm/suicide. However, starting this pill had me thinking some of the darkest and scariest thoughts of my life, and after I stopped taking it, I almost immediately (a day or two after) felt a tangible difference in my thoughts and feelings. A couple of days ago, I decided to try it again, just in case maybe it would affect me differently-but it did the exact same thing unfortunately, and I was thrust into another very scary depressive episode with extreme anxiety. Please be very careful."

• Joe...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 26, 2018

For Birth Control "I’ve been on Tri-Lo-Sprintec for over a year now, and at first, it was fine. Here and there, I would get a little mad and emotional, but that subsided. But then, as time went on, I was so overly mean and irritable. Also, up until this month, I have had debilitating panic attacks and anxiety to the point I feel like I’m going insane, and yet there is nothing wrong. I’ve always had anxiety issues, but not this bad. I will be getting off this pill. Has anyone ever felt this side effect randomly after a year or so of being on it?"

• Kay...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 26, 2020

For Birth Control "WORST BIRTH CONTROL! I had been on it for 4 years and finally quit, after multiple trips to the doctor for acid reflux and my hyperthyroidism. If you have any autoimmune disease or are susceptible to side effects... expect it to make it 100x worse. Sinus infections regularly, then came the VOMITING of BLOOD. My anxiety has never been worse, especially being so young, coming out of high school and continuing the pill for another 2 years. With mood swings around every corner, along with anxiety attacks. Oh yeah, can't forget the INSOMNIA and a damn near panic attack when I missed a pill and had to double up. I wouldn't recommend this pill to anyone. Look up side effects on a few different websites, the list is endless and the studies are pathetic. Have a wonderful day, ladies, I hope this could help someone. If I could rate this pill 0/10, I would."

• NYB...
• September 5, 2018

For Birth Control "My insurance switched me from Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo to Tri-Lo-Sprintec. I wasn't a happy camper that they did this, I was told it's basically the same thing. Little did I know those additives were not the same thing. I took Tri-Lo-Sprintec for 2 years, I developed anxiety and was depressed pretty much the entire time I was on this pill. I was having really depressed thoughts and felt like I was going crazy. I've never had a panic/anxiety attack until I started taking Tri-Lo-Sprintec. I've been off it since Jan 2018, and I don't have those depressed thoughts, my anxiety has immensely decreased, and I haven't had a panic attack since. Do NOT let your doctor give you this stuff. I told my Gyno I ONLY want Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo and no substitutes. Usually, insurance companies will cover this product if your doctor asked for strictly that item. Don't let your mental health decrease so insurance companies can save money. You're more important than that."

• Mal...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 31, 2019

For Birth Control "I have been on Tri-Lo-Sprintec for a little over 6 months now. After trying the progestin-only pill, which caused side effects such as anxiety, depression, nausea, and headache, I then was switched to Sprintec, which caused abnormal bleeding for nearly three months. I love Tri-Lo-Sprintec! It took a while for my body to adjust. I had some weight gain. No other major side effects. It tremendously helps with irregular, heavy, painful periods and all other PMS symptoms. My mood is also much more stabilized on it. Everyone is different. Do not let the reviews from others scare you from trying this one. You'll eventually find one that works for you! This one just happened to be the one for me."

• Ast...
• March 25, 2019

For Birth Control "After reading these reviews, I realized I have gone through the same thing as so many other people on here. I was on Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo for years and absolutely loved it. My insurance stopped covering it, and I got switched to Trinessa Lo. Trinessa Lo was great, and I didn't even notice a difference. But now, both Ortho and Trinessa are discontinued, and I was forced into switching to Tri-Lo-Sprintec. I was really hopeful it would turn out okay like it did with Trinessa. NOPE! Tri-Lo-Sprintec was awful! I only took it for a week before I had to absolutely stop taking it. 1.) I broke out in acne very badly. 2.) I got bad headaches and slight nausea. 3.) I had pretty annoying mood swings, but the worst side effect for me was the absolutely crippling depression and feeling of sadness and absolute dread. I was paralyzed with depression and sadness on this pill and cried every single day. I couldn't even give the pill a chance for a full cycle because it was just too awful."

• Kit...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 22, 2018

For Birth Control "I started this birth control while in high school as a normal contraceptive. After 3 months, I began to notice a serious difference in my mood. For the first time in my life, I experienced anxiety so severe that I could not leave my house in fear of everything. I cried day and night over absolutely nothing. I was scared all the time and sad all the time. I immediately stopped the medication after I began to feel this side effect, and it still took me 3-4 months for my hormones to balance out again. This experience was years ago, but I have been traumatized from it, to say the least. I am writing this review to warn some of those who have anxiety and are worried about enhancing the severity of it. I do not suggest taking this birth control."

• Mia...
• March 6, 2016

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I started taking Ortho almost two decades ago because of my heavy and prolonged bleeding. I have never had any problems, noticeable side effects, or complications. I only had one period per month, and it didn't last more than 7 days. To my surprise, my coverage made me switch to the 'new' generic Tri-Lo-Sprintec, and the pharmacy assured me it is 'exactly the same.' It is not. I have never felt so depressed for no reason, anxious, angry, exhausted, disconnected... I don't feel like myself and feel like a crazy person. I'm having trouble focusing. I also have a weird rash on my chest and experienced sudden weight gain. I hate this pill, and it is definitely NOT the same as Ortho. Don't make the same mistake I did!"

• BKa...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 20, 2019

For Birth Control "After not feeling like myself for months, I decided to research my birth control (Tri-Lo-Sprintec) and see other people’s reviews out of curiosity. I was shocked to find that many people experienced the same symptoms as I did. After a couple of months of taking this pill, I experienced physical and mental health issues including depression, heart palpitations, shortness of breath that sometimes felt like I was about to have an anxiety attack, irritability, and mood swings that made me angry and later regretful, breast soreness, feeling unmotivated and extremely tired, as well as feeling weak overall, and a noticeable decrease in libido as I got into the 3rd and 4th month of this birth control. Birth control affects everyone differently, but with so many similar reviews on here, I thought I would share my input and strongly guide everyone who reads this to look into another alternative for birth control. I will be getting off of this Tri-Lo-Sprintec ASAP as I feel these symptoms are related to this pill!"

• Abi...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 18, 2019

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I'm 45 and have been on this pill for two months. I'm in perimenopause, and my periods have been extremely heavy and lasting more than two weeks. My PMS has also become much worse, with severe cramping and mood swings. I went on this pill to lighten and hopefully stop my periods. It hasn't done that. I'm on week two of a heavy, painful period. My cramping is still severe. Since starting this pill, I'm nauseous all the time. My anxiety is through the roof, and I'm extremely angry all the time. It has not helped me at all. It has made things worse. I have a check-up with my doctor next month, and I'm going to change pills."

• MtG...
• April 26, 2017

For Birth Control "This medication is terrible. My insurance switched me to the generic last year. I took the medication for several months and was miserable the entire time. I was noticeably irritable and extremely anxious. I stopped taking the medication and switched back to Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo, and the problems went away. I am currently waiting to receive information on my new insurance and ran out of Ortho. I had an extra pack of Tri-Lo-Sprintec and decided to give it another try. I regret this because just a few days into the medication, I am once again anxious, grumpy, and miserable. Maybe it will work for you, but it definitely doesn't work for me."

• Mar...
• September 6, 2018

For Birth Control "I have been on this birth control for about a year. It does a good job at avoiding pregnancy and preventing acne. However, about 6 months in, I started to notice that I became severely depressed. I’ve been thinking really bad thoughts (self-hate/self-harm, etc.). And lately, I have been having extreme anxiety to the point where I can’t even function properly. I feel like I am going crazy because I can just be sitting down or doing anything, and suddenly I start crying for no apparent reason. I’m constantly sad all the time, and it’s extremely exhausting. I think I need to speak with my doctor to discuss getting off this birth control. I personally don’t believe the pros outweigh the cons."

• Kdu...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 9, 2020

For Birth Control "Holy moly. This is the absolute worst birth control I have ever been on. I got on it to clear my acne, and it didn't even help with that. It made me bloated all the time, have extremely heavy periods, not to mention it made my anxiety 17,461,565 times worse. I felt like I was going crazy. I had horrible mood swings, especially around my period, my boyfriend thought I was a psycho bitch... which I was. It also lowered my libido extremely, and after 8 months, I decided I needed to change it. Idk why I waited so long. I've noticed what seems like an immediate change! I'm feeling less anxiety again, feeling a surge in my sex drive, and my anxiety has completely gone away. If you are experiencing these symptoms, do NOT wait to change! You will feel so much better, and no one needs to feel like that! (Only thing it did was keep me not pregnant, so obviously have to give it props for that, but honestly, don't get this birth control.)"

• Ash...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 10, 2019

For Birth Control "I was on Trinessa Lo, then suddenly it got switched to Tri-Lo-Sprintec, and I’ve been on it since December of 2018. Now it’s February of 2019, and this pill has been HORRIBLE. I haven’t been able to eat, I’ve been having nausea so bad I was scared to eat. I gag every time I eat or smelled food, even food that I loved. Then these very, very heavy, painful headaches came, and the headaches felt like someone was beating my head with a bat. Around my period, they got worse to the point I took pain pills. The pain pills did not help at all. My body also just has been feeling so off, I’ve barely had a period. It was so light, and it starts on different days every time. I have really bad anxiety now to the point my hand will shake and my heartbeat gets higher, so I felt like I was having anxiety attacks. I have not gotten off yet, I’m waiting till my next period to come so I can get off. I do not recommend this."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 15, 2016

For Birth Control "WORST BIRTH CONTROL EVER! I had been on Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo for over a year or two, and my insurance had just chose the Tri-Lo Sprintec for the generic brand. The pharmacist told me it was the EXACT SAME THING. No, it wasn't. I felt fine my first pack, and then right into my second pack, I started to get anxiety attacks out of nowhere. I would just be sitting on my couch, and my heart would start racing, and it felt like I couldn't breathe. I was diagnosed with interstitial cystitis 3 years ago, and it completely made that flare up. On top of all that, I was upset all of the time for no reason. I would not recommend this birth control to anyone."

• TsW...
• September 29, 2017

For Birth Control "Let me start off by saying, yes, the bad reviews scared me at first, too. So much, in fact, that I feared to even use this birth control pill. I have been using this method for 3 months now, and in all honesty, it's worked fine. Granted, of course, the first week or two will be a bit rough for just about anyone. You're adding something new to your body, so you probably will feel sick, sleepy, headaches, my biggest problem was anxiety at first. But once your body has adjusted to the pills, it really has no consequences. Just make sure you read all the information, take it at the same time every day, and give it a try! I understand everyone is different, but it doesn't hurt to try! It's worked fine and has done its job great."

• MCS...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 29, 2016

For Birth Control "After being on Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo for over a year, my pharmacy switched me to Tri-Lo-Sprintec, and as with others, I was 'assured' this was the same exact drug that I had been taking. Well, after the first pack, my face has been breaking out throughout the month. In my second month, my period was MUCH more painful (one of the reasons I went on BC to begin with), and I bled for almost a full week instead of my normal 4-5 days. By the third month, I noticed my anxiety and abdominal cramping at all times of my cycle flaring up. Mood swings galore and a period that lasted more than 7 days. :( Spoke with my PCP, and she agreed to switch back to brand name only, and I am hopeful that it will all resolve and that other ladies see these reviews too!"

• Kat...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 4, 2019

For Birth Control "On day 6 of this birth control after using Trinessa for the past few years, this Tri-Lo-Sprintec is awful. I have been nauseous every day. I've had a spike in anxiety and cannot sleep well as I feel anxious all night, as it feels my heart rate will not slow like it should. My appetite has diminished, and I believe I've lost a few pounds. I will be calling my primary tomorrow to switch off of this. I was prescribed Trinessa anyway, so I don't know why the pharmacy would give me this without my consent for the switch, or at least an explanation as to why, and then they refuse to take it back. This should not be permitted. Do not take this pill. It has wrecked me and made it difficult for me to function normally."

• Min...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 24, 2019

For Birth Control "This pill was the worst decision of my life. I started off using Mononessa as birth control and to regulate my period around 4 years ago and stayed on the pill until now. A month ago, I switched to Tri-Lo-Sprintec to help some weird acne I was getting constantly on the Mononessa, but the Tri-Lo-Sprintec was just horrible. All the side effects hit me hard: the migraines, anxiety, depression. I had around 3 panic attacks that lasted hours every week, so I decided to ditch the pill, and now I’m letting my body just clean itself out."

• BC ...
• May 11, 2016

For Birth Control "I switched from Orthotricyclen Lo because my insurance started charging me almost $300 for 3 months. I didn't want to pay this, so I was put on Tri-Lo-Sprintec since it was covered. I started getting the worst anxiety I have ever had at the end of the first week. I am on my second pack and it hasn't gotten better. I am finishing out this pack and switching. This has been by far the worst birth control for me."

• Sch...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 1, 2018

For Birth Control "I’ve been taking this pill for two months. I got on this BC pill to regulate my cycles. I was having two cycles every month, so my doctor figured it would regulate them. And all this pill has seemed to do is make them 10 times worse. I have THE ABSOLUTE WORST DEADLY CRAMPS!!!!! Not literally deadly, but just imagine the cramps. Sometimes I’m at work, and I just have to sit down because it hurts so bad. One time I fell to my knees, it hurt so badly. Not to mention I still have 2 cycles every month. Nothing has changed with regulating the cycle! I always had anxiety, but it’s way worse now. My sex drive has gone out the window, literally!! I have no desire to have sex. And I get THE WORST headaches. And I hardly ever have an appetite. My experience was the worst, but I would never tell anyone not to try it. Because everyone’s body is different, and it may work for you, so good luck!!!"

• Anonymous
• January 14, 2010

For Birth Control "As far as effectiveness, I did not get pregnant while taking this medication. However, I experienced so many side effects I eventually stopped taking it and switched back to Ortho-Tri-Lo. I experienced problems with mood swings, irritability, anxiety (racing heart and anxious feelings for no reason), depression, cramps, spotting, headaches, decreased sex drive, weight gain, breast/nipple tenderness, and vaginal irritation. All of these are side effects I had never experienced with Ortho, so I switched back and have little to no side effects. It definitely was not worth the money saved because it made me feel like a crazy person, and I really did not have control over my emotions. I would experience all extremes, especially anger and crying."

• Ann...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 4, 2016

For Ovarian Cysts "I was switched to Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo, but the pharmacy gave me this birth control, claiming it was the same thing. I have been on it for almost 2 weeks, and I've had all sorts of side effects. I've had nausea and vomiting, blurry vision, trouble concentrating, itchiness, dryness, zero libido, and recently I've experienced episodes of anxiety, what I believe to be high blood pressure, high heart rate, then drops to normal vital signs. It's just been an awful 2 weeks so far. I don't think I can handle continuing the pack."