TriNessa and Depression: What Users Say

• Lyn...
• August 14, 2014

For Birth Control "The pill started great until every time I take it I want to vomit all the time. Practically, had the experience of a pregnant woman. I gained weight, was expected, and had terrible headaches that don't go away for hours. Impossible to sleep without wanting to vomit. I've been having emotional problems, feeling depressed and crying without reason."

• Jho...
• February 13, 2013

For Birth Control "I was on the Ortho-Tri-Cyclen-Lo for 4 years, but my insurance won't cover it anymore, so my doctor switched me to TriNessa. It's been almost a month I've been taking it, and my husband and I love it. I was scared at first because of the bad reviews, such as weight gain and depression. But with me, it's been good so far. No headaches, I've lost weight because, with Ortho, I was bloated a lot. I'm more interested in sexual activities, so my husband is happy with that. The only thing I don't really like is I'm a little bit more emotional, but not moody or crabby."

• lad...
• September 7, 2013

For Birth Control "I am 23 with two little girls, got on the pill to have a nice sex life without the fear of becoming pregnant. It's been three months, and my boyfriend says I have become really moody. I eat all day, every day, if I was not on the pill, I would think I was pregnant. I started out at 125 lbs, and so far I'm still 125 pounds. My skin is glowing, and the best news of all, I'm not pregnant again, but at times I get really sad and depressed. This is something I never experienced in life, so I'm dealing with it for now."

• lad...
• September 7, 2013

For Birth Control "I am 23 with two little girls, got on the pill to have a nice sex life without the fear of becoming pregnant. It's been three months, and my boyfriend says I have become really moody. I eat all day, every day, if I was not on the pill, I would think I was pregnant. I started out at 125 lbs, and so far I'm still 125 pounds. My skin is glowing, and the best news of all, I'm not pregnant again, but at times I get really sad and depressed. This is something I never experienced in life, so I'm dealing with it for now."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 27, 2014

For Birth Control "I have only been on this medication for 3 weeks. Already, I am an emotional mess. I'm exhausted all the time. Not to mention my husband and I were having sex almost every day. In my first week on it, I didn't even want him to touch me. He said I seem detached. We tried, but I can’t even get turned on. No sex drive whatsoever. For the sake of my relationship and my sanity, I have decided to stop taking it..."

• Van...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 16, 2014

For Birth Control "I took Trinessa for a year and had no negative side effects, but I decided to try a few other birth control pills in an attempt to have a shorter period. Every single one of them left me moody, depressed, and my sex drive was completely non-existent. Trinessa is the only birth control I've been able to find that both helps with acne and doesn't destroy my sex drive. However, on the last week of active pills, my breasts usually feel heavy and sore, and I will break out a little more than the rest of the month."

• Ano...
• August 6, 2016

For Birth Control "I've been taking TriNessa for the past 14 months now. It's the first oral birth control I've ever been on, so at first I thought it was normal. I knew when my period was coming, it kept me from getting pregnant, and it cleared up my face. However, ever since I've been taking it, my anxiety has reached a whole new level. Not to mention, I have depression for the first time in my life. I have had suicidal thoughts, I've felt my self-esteem go down, and I've felt irritable towards nearly everyone in my life. It has affected a lot of my close relationships, such as my boyfriend who is constantly having to put up with my depression and anxiety attacks. I would consider another pill if you have these issues."

• Kat...
• April 23, 2016

For Birth Control "I've been on TriNessa for a year and a half now. It's prevented pregnancy, made my boobs bigger, and made my periods more regular and lighter. However, I have been severely depressed and anxious. I never realized that it was because of TriNessa due to the fact that I've been dealing with anxiety and depression for 7 years now. However, ever since I started, I have been so anxious that, at one point, I was borderline anorexic from being nauseous with no appetite. I've had severe sleep disorders that have stemmed from the anxiety and depression, and I've had serious thoughts of suicide on multiple occasions. DO NOT take TriNessa if you have a history of anxiety or depression!!!"

• MKC...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 10, 2019

For Birth Control "I have never written a review for something in my life, but I am hoping I will help someone so they do not go through what I went through. DO NOT TAKE THIS MEDICATION. EVER. I started taking TriNessa when my pharmacy ran out of my TriSprintec. I did not think anything of it and began taking the pill. However, with a couple of days of taking the pills, I was having severe depression, mood swings, then after a while, I eventually gained 20+ pounds and I got acne, which I have not had in over 5 years. DO NOT TAKE TRINESSA. I hope someone will read the reviews and not put themselves through what I went through...."

• Cou...
• March 5, 2017

For Birth Control "For anyone who has any trouble with anxiety or depression, I HIGHLY suggest you do not try this birth control. I have been on this pill for about a week now, and increasingly over the past 5 days, I have been nauseated at night and SEVERELY depressed, and I mean severely. Crying constantly, overthinking, irritable, mood swings, anxious to no end. I am absolutely without a doubt getting off of this medicine. I am a nursing student who has many responsibilities and cannot deal with having no motivation to do homework. Please try your best to avoid this medication at all costs."

• lll...
• December 11, 2016

For Acne "Before getting on this, I was experiencing severe acne after having tried a new skincare system and foundation. I didn't even know I was capable of having skin that bad. I was so embarrassed. I had never been on birth control before (I'm 21), but I was desperate. I had my doctor prescribe this to me. I would say for the first month or so, my acne got worse - especially around my chin area. I also had terrible mood swings and depression in the beginning, but I kept going and my skin started to get clearer. Then, right before starting my 5th pack, I broke out again. But it was like all the acne that had been underneath my skin came up and then disappeared. Now, on month 6, I'm pretty much clear besides hyperpigmentation. Be patient!!!"

• Ann...
• May 7, 2016

For Birth Control "I've been on this for a month and a half. At first, it made me nauseous every day, but just in the mornings. I take the pill at dinner time. The nausea has gone away the second month. It seemed like my boobs did get fuller. But my mood swings were bad! The first month, I felt like I hated everyone, especially my fiancé. I felt more depressed than usual and wanted to cry a lot. I knew I was being moody and stuck with the pill another month to see if my mood leveled out. So far, in my second month, I am still extra sensitive and cry easily."

• BKr...
• October 24, 2011

For Birth Control "I have been on TriNessa now for nine months. Within the first couple of months, I started experiencing mood changes and random panic attacks. I immediately called my gyno, and she said it had nothing to do with the pill. About two months ago, I started experiencing horrible side effects, and they have continued to get progressively worse. I have HORRIBLE anxiety, depression, mood swings, nausea, mental confusion (this is the worst, I cannot focus, concentrate, and my memory is very poor), and I am very irritable. I even started seeing a therapist for the anxiety attacks. These side effects are a complete 180 to the person I used to be before taking it. I usually am a happy, fun, loving, and extremely cheerful person."

• Zay...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 19, 2017

For Birth Control "Trinessa was great at first! I have always had pretty good skin, and it has not altered that. I did not gain weight, and my period was lighter. Unfortunately, I experienced a lot more cons than pros. First, I noticed that I was unable to control my blood pressure. It was to the point where I almost needed pills for my blood pressure, and I have never had a problem previously. Aside from the blood pressure, I was over-emotional. I'm a very outgoing person, but I found it hard to be around others these past few months because I was annoying! I cried about everything. I was supremely jealous if my friends hung out without me, and I'm never like that. I would get sad in the middle of the day or night with no explanation. I feel a tremendous change after stopping."

• Anonymous
• August 6, 2010

For Birth Control "I was on TriNessa for 5 months, and at first, everything went well. I had no problems with it, but after my 3rd month, I started noticing really bad emotional changes. I started off being moody, and then it went on to crying every day at night. I got to the point where I was really depressed and didn't want to do anything. Oh, and also my jaw would hurt a lot after taking the pill."

• JJW...
• February 7, 2017

For Birth Control "I am 28 and have taken TriNessa for 2 months. The first month, I noticed I was pretty emotional as I was crying a lot, feeling very depressed, especially the week before the placebo pills. Also, really painful periods that I thought BC pills usually help. I'm on the 2nd pack, and it's the week before my period. I cried for 2 days and actually felt like I didn't want to be around anymore. I never thought a pill could make you feel that way, but I found other reviews that said the same. I just could not figure out why I was feeling like a crazy person until I realized it's once again the week before my period. Please just be careful if you have any depression to start with. Pros: clear skin and no weight gain."

• Anonymous
• August 23, 2018

For Birth Control "First birth control I've ever tried and very pleased with it. Skin improved by about 90%, and my awful cramps are virtually gone. Have not experienced any type of depression or anxiety. If anything, I've had less because I'm less stressed out about my face and getting pregnant! May have slightly gained weight (around 10 lbs), but I believe that is more because of changes with my exercise at this time. Side effects with birth control are highly variable. Don't be afraid to protect yourself!"

• yay...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• April 14, 2013

For Birth Control "Been on Trinessa for 8 years for mild acne and birth control. At first, it helped with my acne significantly, but it also made me gain 15 lbs (even though I was working out like usual); I feel like the medication decreased my exercise tolerance and motivation. Now that I'm in PA school, my acne has returned. Part of the weight gain was in my breasts, but also everywhere else. It also worsened my PMS symptoms, making me more emotional and irritable. Not fun to feel like you're always in a bitchy mood. Overall, it did its job, helped with my acne (at first), and was cheap, but the weight gain and worsening PMS symptoms were not fun. I recently switched to Implanon because I hate taking daily pills and want something more long-term."

• Ano...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• February 10, 2019

For Ovarian Cysts "I took this stuff for 8 years. I have felt awful that long. I have thyroid problems, and so I thought the symptoms were due to my thyroid. I was depressed, lethargic, it was as dry as the Sahara down there, and I could hardly get out of bed no matter how much I slept. I stopped taking it 3 weeks ago. I feel human again for the first time in 8 years! Curse you, TriNessa! I give you a negative one million. Don’t make yourself suffer as long as I did. Stop taking this poison!"

• Mdy...
• April 13, 2016

For Birth Control "I began taking this medicine primarily to not get pregnant and a little for the acne part. I have not gotten pregnant, and it really didn't do much for my skin. You definitely need to have food in your system when you take it, I figured that out the hard way. My only complaint on this is I have TERRIBLE mood swings with this medicine, and it has worsened my already present anxiety and depression. I thought it was just me, but other women I know taking this have said the same thing. Going to talk to my doctor about switching during my next appointment because the moods are unbearable and affecting my relationships."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 8, 2017

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I've been on this birth control for quite a while now, and it's made me very depressed. Especially when I'm alone and not doing anything, I feel very sad and depressed. And every other month or so, I'm bleeding abnormally. Though I don't have a period every month, I shouldn't be bleeding all the time."

• ano...
• October 4, 2016

For Birth Control "This birth control has done its purpose in preventing pregnancy, but my side effects are awful. In the year I have been on the pill, I have gained about 15 pounds, and my diet is very healthy, and I'm active. This made my acne worse, I have sleepless nights, and I constantly struggle with being down and not being happy. I have been waiting it out to see if this would shift back to normal, but it hasn't. This might work for someone else, but it has not worked for me."

• bri...
• September 18, 2017

For Birth Control "TriNessa was the first birth control I had ever been on. I took it for almost a year and had to stop. I suffer from anxiety and depression. My periods were really awful before TriNessa, and when I started taking it, they were easy and manageable. My skin was glowing and clear. TriNessa made my anxiety and depression so much worse. I cried all the time, had panic attacks, and mood swings multiple times a day. I also gained about 15 pounds. I have not tried birth control since, I am so scared that it will be anything similar to TriNessa because it isn't worth it."

• Gon...
• March 29, 2015

For Birth Control "I had to give this medication a 10 because, ultimately, it is extremely effective in the prevention of pregnancy. I started taking this pill when I was 17, and I'm now 21. As a teenager, it was great. No acne and predictable periods. But I gained a LOT of weight (I was usually 109-115, and now I'm 135-140), mostly in my thighs and lower abdomen that would not go away. I also completely lost my libido. It was devastating. I have terrible mood swings and am usually completely incapacitated every first day of my period. I also started to have quite a bit of spotting for the last year and a half. I'm always nauseous, dizzy, tired, achy, and depressed. It also increased my migraines and made them much worse. I do not recommend this."

• Buf...
• April 11, 2017

For Birth Control "I have been on TriNessa for 3 months. My insurance no longer covers Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo, and I've been told this is the closest generic to Tri-Cyclen Lo. It's been terrible. I've been emotional, sad, and irritable. I have highs and lows throughout the day. I've had very depressing thoughts. I have cramps the first day of my menstrual cycle for the first time in my life, and I'm 32 years old. I spot between periods. I now have acne, so I am going to the dermatologist to get a prescription for that. Everyone says to give it more time. That, because I was on Ortho for almost 20 years, it will be an adjustment. They tell me that TriNessa is forgiving and my body will come around. I don't know what I'll do..."