Ethinyl estradiol / norgestrel and Depression: What Users Say

• sar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 22, 2021

For Birth Control "This pill was so hard on me physically and mentally. I had 0 health complications before getting on this pill. Within 1 month on the pill, I experienced: severe nausea, hot flashes, and sweating in my sleep every night, loss of appetite, constipation, complete loss of energy (I could not do ANYTHING, not even cook dinner, like my body just did not want to move). I was tired ALL the time. 3 months on the pill: EXTREME heart palpitations, my RESTING heart rate was 140. I had EXTREME anxiety, paranoia, depression, and suicidal thoughts that completely crippled me and made me homebound for a month. I went to the ER several times because I truly thought there was something seriously wrong with me. My glucose level went up to 200. I developed high blood pressure. I felt like I was having an out-of-body experience, I wasn't myself AT ALL. It took me 7 weeks after I quit the pill to go back to feeling normal."

• Car...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 6, 2020

For Birth Control "Do not recommend this birth control, Elinest, it made me severely depressed to the point I had to receive help. I also had hot flashes, spotting, migraines, mood swings, acne, water retention, and nausea. I was only on it for 4 months, but that was enough time for me to completely lose myself. I hope this helps someone else going through the same roller coaster."

• buc...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 28, 2020

For Birth Control "When I first started this birth control, I was extremely skeptical considering all of the reviews seemed to be negative. Prior to trying Cryselle, I was on 5 other birth control pills but had bad reactions to all of them. Severe acne, anxiety, depression, and non-stop spotting were some of the side effects I had on other pills. When I tried Cryselle, I had the best results yet. Light, little to no periods, no weight gain, no acne, no changes in mood. The first few weeks, I felt a little fatigued, but it went away after a month or two. If you are skeptical about going on this birth control, I recommend giving it a go. It was definitely worth it, and it's been the best birth control I've ever been on, with no noticeable side effects."

• Thi...
• March 24, 2013

For Birth Control "I have been taking this pill for about 7 months now, and I thought that all the side effects it was giving me were something else, so I just ignored them. Until now, when I finally hit it on the head and realized all my weird mood swings and everything are from this pill. I'm going to my doctor to switch. Every day I'm so depressed and want to cry all the time. I've lost interest in social activities, and some days all I can do is lay in bed all day from fatigue and exhaustion over doing nothing. My skin is extremely oily, and my hair that was once very thick is falling out. The smallest things irritate me, and on my period it feels like the world is ending. I have difficulties breathing, dizzy spells, huge cravings for junk food."

• Bir...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 31, 2020

For Birth Control "I’m so glad I found this page with so many Cryselle reviews to see I wasn’t alone. I’m a generally happy person, but once I started taking this birth control, I started to experience VERY severe depression, anxiety, and I was very moody. I even considered seeing a psychiatrist because of how horrible I started feeling. Everyone around me noticed the changes in me. Seeing everyone else’s reviews helped me and encouraged me to change my birth control after seeing I wasn’t the only one experiencing this."

• One...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 5, 2013

For Birth Control "I have been taking this pill since May. For months now, I have been feeling achy and nauseous. Just recently, I started having meltdowns at work over nothing. Crying spells. It wasn't until I was about to throw the pamphlet away when I decided to read the side effects. Under severe allergic reaction, it states severe mood swings, depression, loss of appetite. I'm suffering from all of them."

• Han...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 24, 2020

For Birth Control "I got put on Cryselle birth control about 2-3 weeks ago. My anxiety and depression have been so bad I constantly feel like something bad is going to happen. At first, I thought it was because of stress from other things. But, I'm also getting bad migraines every day, and around the same time every day, I feel nauseous and dizzy, like I'm going to throw up, but I don't. It's making me think I'm pregnant sometimes, which is making my anxiety so much worse."

• Emm...
• February 2, 2014

For Endometriosis "I started taking Cryselle almost 9 months ago to treat my endometriosis as well as to act as birth control. My OB-GYN instructed me to skip the placebos, and as a result, I have had virtually no cramping or breakthrough bleeding (common on my last pill). However, as she warned, I developed severe acne. The acne I could deal with, but the emotional side effects I cannot. I have become increasingly moody the longer I have been on Cryselle, especially around the time of my 'period.' I have also developed strong feelings of anxiety and depression. I had hoped when these symptoms began that they would lessen over time, but they have just increased in severity."

• Ann...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 19, 2019

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "WORST BIRTH CONTROL EVER!!! Positive: It helps with the bleeding and cramps. Negative: I never had health issues until now. I’m having the worst anxiety attacks, panic attacks, and depression. I feel like I’m going crazy! It makes you feel you’re in a dark place... If you have these symptoms, you should go to your doctor immediately."

• Mrs...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 18, 2017

For Birth Control "I took this pill for 3 years, and in those three years, I THOUGHT nothing was wrong, but I was really emotional, and I got depressed before my periods. I thought I had just changed, but as soon as I went off this pill, all those things went away. Be highly aware of your emotional state before and during."

• Anonymous
• June 13, 2019

For Birth Control "This pill Cryselle is downright terrible. I could not give a more honest opinion. Yes, it does its job of protecting you from pregnancy, but the side effects are NOT worth it. I’ve been taking it a year and a half now, and not once in my life have I ever had acne until this pill. My face feels like a gravel road because my skin is so haggard. So that right there has ruined my self-confidence, and on top of that, I’m more depressed than I’ve ever felt in my whole life. Constant mood swings. I feel fat, pimple-ridden, moody, and all around awful. But hey, at least I’m not pregnant. Totally not worth it, ladies."

• Nev...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 14, 2021

For Birth Control "I started taking this pill to regulate my period, prescribed by my doctor, and this is by far the worst pill I have ever taken. I have never been so sad, depressed, paranoid, and not to mention the terrible anxiety. I’m not an emotional person at all, I have always been a happy person, but taking this pill has made me lose myself very quickly. I feel like I live in my head and am never fully present. I have been taking this pill for about 9 months, hoping my body just needs time to get used to it, but it’s not, it is just making my side effects worse and worse. Not to mention the extreme hair loss I have from this pill, my hair has thinned tremendously. The only thing about this pill that has worked is preventing pregnancy. I still have cramps, bloating, mood swings, etc."

• Nev...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 14, 2021

For Birth Control "I started taking this pill to regulate my period, prescribed by my doctor, and this is by far the worst pill I have ever taken. I have never been so sad, depressed, paranoid, and not to mention the terrible anxiety. I’m not an emotional person at all, I have always been a happy person, but taking this pill has made me lose myself very quickly. I feel like I live in my head and am never fully present. I have been taking this pill for about 9 months, hoping my body just needs time to get used to it, but it’s not, it is just making my side effects worse and worse. Not to mention the extreme hair loss I have from this pill, my hair has thinned tremendously. The only thing about this pill that has worked is preventing pregnancy. I still have cramps, bloating, mood swings, etc."

• Sum...
• October 28, 2013

For Birth Control "After being on Tri-Nessa for at least a decade with no problems, I was switched from Tri-Nessa to Low-Ogestrel because I was experiencing very heavy bleeding during my periods. The Low-Ogestrel did fix the heavy bleeding but at a cost. I've been on L.O. for 6 months and have been experiencing depression, mood swings, acne on my chin, and pimples on my scalp. At first, I attributed these things to the beginning of menopause, but after really thinking about it, it just seemed too coincidental that these things began when I began taking a different pill. This morning, I googled 'side effects of Low-Ogestrel' and am finding pages of stories just like mine. I already have a call into my Dr. and will switch pills."

• Deb...
• July 8, 2016

For Birth Control "I've been on Cryselle for 2.5 months now. I've had acne all my life and had finally gotten it under control before starting Cryselle. It's out of control again. Additionally, I've had some serious anxiety, depression, mood swings. I cry all the time and have irrational obsessive, anxious thoughts. The benefits definitely did not outweigh the costs. My GYN is switching my prescription."

• bcb...
• January 14, 2016

For Birth Control "I have been on this pill for 3 months now, and I have to say it has been awful! I do not feel like myself, I'm really irritable, angry, depressed, and my sex drive is gone. I've been working out daily and eating right and still gaining weight. I've also got awful period acne breakouts on Cryselle. The only positive things are that the pill does its job and my periods are 4 days max (they're also light)."

• Sca...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 7, 2018

For Birth Control "I never would recommend. It's only prevented pregnancy. I've had every worse side effect. Ever since I started it, I've bled so heavily for over a month. I feel like I'm sick and dizzy from blood loss. I have major headaches and episodes of crying. Episodes of anger, depression, irritation, frustration, like a psycho. I'm not myself at all. I'm in such a dark place. I can't take it! It's ruining my life. I've never been so mad and sad in my life. Uncontrollably miserable in and out every day. If I'm not raging annoyed over small stuff, I'm blank, blah, and annoyed, and I mentally break down every other day. I'm switching to Ortho Tri-Cyclen. Something about Cryselle will make you cry forever. If you want to be negative all the time, just plain miserable, and unpleasant to be around, or want to be a psycho, this pill's for you. I can't believe how horrible this is."

• Sca...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 7, 2018

For Birth Control "I never would recommend. It's only prevented pregnancy. I've had every worse side effect. Ever since I started it, I've bled so heavily for over a month. I feel like I'm sick and dizzy from blood loss. I have major headaches and episodes of crying. Episodes of anger, depression, irritation, frustration, like a psycho. I'm not myself at all. I'm in such a dark place. I can't take it! It's ruining my life. I've never been so mad and sad in my life. Uncontrollably miserable in and out every day. If I'm not raging annoyed over small stuff, I'm blank, blah, and annoyed, and I mentally break down every other day. I'm switching to Ortho Tri-Cyclen. Something about Cryselle will make you cry forever. If you want to be negative all the time, just plain miserable, and unpleasant to be around, or want to be a psycho, this pill's for you. I can't believe how horrible this is."

• Mag...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 8, 2015

For Birth Control "Like another user below, I was also on Lo-Ogestrel since I was 17 for cramps and to regulate my period. I was getting it twice a month, and it was so painful. About 3 years ago, my local CVS started carrying only the generic version of it, which is Cryselle. I'm now 24 and have had great experiences with both. My period is 3-4 days long with no cramps. If it didn't come the same day every month, I couldn't even tell when it's coming. My skin has never been better. I honestly had no idea people had such depression and mood swings from this pill. I've never felt any of that. I also lost about 20 pounds while taking Cryselle, not from the pill itself, but I worked out and ate healthy. So, no weight gain."

• Sad...
• February 19, 2018

For Birth Control "At first, this pill was wonderful. I experienced, after a few months, that I was super depressed and sad over nothing. Mood swings constantly and stomach pains all the time on and off my cycle. I became so sad I started having horrible anxiety and then panic attacks on the regular. I cried one to two times weekly over nothing, and my relationship started to get sour because of the roller coaster moods. Severe headaches and nausea right after I stopped taking the pill for my cycle and cramps so horrible I couldn't stand. I was also so tired and had no sex drive. I was unable to enjoy an orgasm because it took so long for me to have one I would give up. I always had a high sex drive, this caused more sadness and anxiety for me. I went on the website and had every side effect at least once and decided it was time to get off the pill. This isn't how a young 24-year-old should feel. Please read the side effects asap and do not take this pill any longer if you start to have these same side effects."

• Jul...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 10, 2022

For Birth Control "Great birth control, but made me extremely fatigued. Couldn’t get out of bed for nothing, might’ve made my depression worse, but idk because it could’ve just been the not being able to do anything and feeling like a vegetable. Didn’t see many reviews saying this, so I'm not sure how it would affect every person."

• Nic...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 3, 2016

For Birth Control "I have been on Cryselle for about a year now, and I could never understand why I was feeling so depressed, irritable, and down. After I stopped taking them, I didn't have those issues anymore, so you do the math. If you don't want to feel like you're breaking down mentally, I would not recommend this product."

• Nic...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 3, 2016

For Birth Control "I have been on Cryselle for about a year now, and I could never understand why I was feeling so depressed, irritable, and down. After I stopped taking them, I didn't have those issues anymore, so you do the math. If you don't want to feel like you're breaking down mentally, I would not recommend this product."

• Sal...
• January 26, 2020

For Birth Control "I’ve been on Cryselle 28 (0.3 mg) for 1 year and 3 months since I was blessed with terrible period genes. My periods were extremely heavy (almost like hemorrhaging), were irregular, and would last for 7-10 days. Now, I can track my period and my flow is normal (lasts for 4-5 days). I struggled with acne on my chest and back, it cleared up within 2 months. Before I took the pill, I was a very happy, carefree, and lived-in-the-moment type of individual. The first month, I would cry my eyes out every night. The symptoms got worse until I hit 8 months, and now I'm struggling with anxiety and depression. I never dealt with anxiety or depression before, and it doesn’t run in my family, so I would not recommend this pill at all. I finally hit my breaking point not too long ago, and I’m switching to a different pill. Clearing up acne and helping my period was great and all, but mental health is extremely important, and Cryselle 28 took me to a place where I would never want to go back again."

• Dev...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 22, 2015

For Birth Control "This was the generic brand my original BC was changed to. The 1st month or so I didn't notice any changes, but recently, about 3 months in, I've been getting headaches, horrible nausea, and stomach cramps, and my period has gone back to being longer than shorter like it was on the first pill. I've never been one to feel unmotivated, lethargic, depressed, or anxious, but as of recently, I've been experiencing all those things, which is no doubt making stress-induced nausea worse, and I have just generally felt bad. I went to my doctor and had multiple blood tests taken and some other tests, but all came back with no abnormalities, leading me to realize it was a change in birth control. Ups? Worked and no breast tenderness. But that's it."