Ethinyl estradiol / norgestrel and Mood Swings: What Users Say

• Bro...
• March 19, 2018

For Birth Control "I was one of those girls who has anxiety over trying new medicines. I looked up everything online and got scared easily. However, I have been on Cryselle for four years now. And I love it. A lot of people share the negative stories behind it, but I want to share my good experience. I have not gained weight from this drug at all, no mood swings or anything like that. My periods went from being 7-8 days of hell to 4-5 days of livable periods. The only downside (and this isn't even that bad) is that my breasts have become more tender a few days before my period. That's it. No crazy cramps or bad blood clots. This was the first birth control I tried, and it worked well for me. Everyone reacts differently, but I wanted to share my good experience and possibly get rid of some girls' anxiety about this pill."

• 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."

• ccf...
• November 18, 2013

For Birth Control "I am 25 and began taking Cryselle for birth control. I've had oily skin and moderate acne since puberty. I've been using topical medicines to treat my acne for two years. The first month taking Cryselle, I broke out horribly the week of my period. We're talking the worst pimples I've ever had-the kind that throb when you bend over. The second month, I had no breakout. I have not had a single blemish in the past 4 months of taking Cryselle. Mood swings are mild to unnoticeable. Even though there may be lots of ladies with bad experiences with this birth control, don't be afraid to try it. Cryselle has turned out to be very good for me and cleared my skin. Just be patient, give it at least 2 months before quitting."

• Anonymous
• November 6, 2011

For Birth Control "This pill has done nothing but cause me problems. My skin is oily, I have really bad mood swings, I have gained 6 pounds, and I'm constantly crying over any little thing. I find a reason to argue with my boyfriend over ANYTHING. I'm seriously thinking about stopping the pill."

• 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."

• YRa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 10, 2014

For Birth Control "Today marks the second month I've been on this pill. In the beginning, it was fine except that my face was breaking out really bad. I thought I would deal with that until about a week or so ago. I started getting terrible mood swings. I can't stand the person who sits next to me at work, I can't stand my boyfriend, my friends, anyone. I thought I was just having a bad week until the past two days when I couldn't stop crying and would randomly burst out crying in public places! I called my doctor, and she told me to get off the pill immediately. I will sign back on and let you know how I feel a week from now!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 19, 2013

For Birth Control "I was given this pill as a second option because I felt the other pill I was taking was causing me to gain weight. I notice that with this pill, I was not happy. Not with the pill, but my personality drastically changed. I was moody, irritable, emotional, and downright a pain to be around. I have stopped taking it a week ago, just to see if my mood would improve, and it has. I would say stay away from this pill if you are under stress, as it will add to that negative side of your life."

• 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."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 4, 2013

For Birth Control "I recently just switched to this pill because I kept spotting and having heavy periods on the estrogen pills, but I have to say this pill is working great for me so far. I have little to no periods, the only place I gained weight was in my breasts, so that's cool, and my mood has been so stable I barely PMS anymore. The only negative is that I sometimes break out on my face a little bit before my period, but a few pimples over heavy bleeding and spotting in the past is no problem! Great pill, highly recommend it if you have heavy periods and want a lighter one."

• lee...
• July 23, 2018

For Birth Control "This was my first birth control pill I ever took. I wanted to start birth control to help my really irregular periods. I was probably 16. I was on it for a while and then switched to a different one to help acne, but switched back because I felt this was a better fit for me. Now, years later, I've been on it ever since, and it definitely does its job of preventing pregnancy, but I’m finally starting to realize why I’ve felt so emotionally and mentally miserable. I was one day away from scheduling an appointment to get anxiety medication before I looked up these reviews. On top of the constipation and stomach aches, this pill has sent my anxiety and mood swings through the roof. I’m annoyed at any little thing, I cry so much I can’t control it, extremely irritable, irrational thoughts I can’t control, and a constant lack of energy. My sleep has been so bad, I can’t stay asleep to save my life, and sometimes I just feel like I’m mentally going crazy. I wouldn’t recommend this."

• Sar...
• July 20, 2016

For Birth Control "Most of these reviews aren't so good, and most of the reviewers aren't giving their body enough time to adjust to the hormones. Your body is trying to get used to the pill, so that's why, during the first month, you may get some unpleasant side effects like mood swings and acne. I had nightmares for the first 3 weeks, sore breasts after that, and acne breakouts. My first period on Cryselle was horrible, the cramps were awful, but everyone's different. I'm still going to give my body the opportunity to adjust to Cryselle. If you're having some unpleasant side effects while on Cryselle, talk to your doctor, especially if it's something serious. But don't be quick to give up the pill because of things like acne and sore breasts. Things can improve!"

• TRa...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 27, 2013

For Birth Control "These are my first birth control pills. I had heard about the weight gain and such, but it never happened to me. I am really happy with the pill. During my pre-pill life, I had cramping and lots of gas and mood fluctuations during periods, but during this pill, I have very predictable periods and almost no mood imbalances or unusual pain. Since I work out regularly, I experienced no weight gain at all."

• Jen...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 7, 2018

For Birth Control "I started this pill back in February, and for the first couple of months, I was fine-no side effects. And if you’re looking for a pill to regulate your period, this one works wonders. I never got breakthrough bleeding either. However, after the first couple of months were over, I slowly started getting into a funk. My mood is just “numb” all the time, and I never want to get out and have fun anymore. My anxiety is a 10 when it was usually a 4. Now I know everyone’s bodies are different, so they’re going to react differently to this medication, but I can’t stand not being able to focus or, like... be happy. I’m getting off of it finally and switching to another type, so wish me luck. Side note: this birth control also does its job in the pregnancy prevention category VERY well if you take it on time. I never had to worry on this pill."

• kka...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 21, 2019

For Birth Control "I switched from Junel Fe to Cryselle after I was having spotting in between periods. I was hesitant at first after reading these reviews and wasn't even going to pick it up from the pharmacy. I am happy I did pick it up. I have anxiety and have not noticed any changes. I do get a little bit more emotional the last few days of the third week, but nothing out of the ordinary. I no longer have spotting in between periods, and my periods are so light when they do happen. Everyone's body reacts differently to birth control, and Cryselle is a great fit for me."

• 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."

• 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."

• Anonymous
• August 20, 2015

For Birth Control "The only benefit to the birth control is that it prevents pregnancy. It has caused me major mood swings (anger and sadness), pain in my breasts, and acne breakouts. I have never had issues with acne, even as a teen. It's not worth it."

• 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."

• Eli...
• March 20, 2013

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "A month ago, I switched from Lo Loestrin Fe to Cryselle because of the expense of Loestrin. So far, I think Cryselle is okay. I'm on birth control to regulate and lighten my periods, and Lo Loestrin did that for me. So far this month, Cryselle didn't do anything for them. They are just as heavy and I still have bad cramps. But they are regular. What I do like is it cleared some of my acne. I've had no weight gain, but I am very emotional. Oh, and my breasts have grown tremendously."

• Dar...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 6, 2016

For Birth Control "I've been on these for 6 months. I'm a very petite person, and ever since I was 17, I've had crazy bad cramps and acne. I've tried a few different kinds of pills, but the Low-Ogestrel-28 pills made me sick. Cramps never went away and even got worse. My acne got good within a few months, but then got bad again. My sex drive has decreased, and I hate that. It also has messed with my hormones, and I'm already emotional, so I'm ten times more upset when I don't need to be. I don't have a good appetite anymore, and it makes me more sick. It also made me throw up when I take them too late. My period goes from 4 days to 2 days, then a week, it's all over the place, and I would like a steady cycle. So, in all, these pills are too over the place, not really helpful."

• Ano...
• January 23, 2020

For Birth Control "I had been on Low Ogestrel since I was 18, but never really got the hang of the hormones in the BC. I told my doctor and was switched to something else, and unfortunately that didn’t work out, it was absolutely terrible. When I asked to be switched back to Lo Ogestrel, they gave me Cryselle because they said it was basically the same. WRONG. Not only did I have more extreme mood swings, but it did not work with my body the way LO did. And the cherry on top? I broke out like crazy! It didn’t work for me, but that’s been my personal experience."

• 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."