Ethinyl estradiol / norgestrel and Mood Swings: What Users Say (Page 3)

• xox...
• September 6, 2019

Ethinyl estradiol / norgestrel for Birth Control "I’ve been on birth control for a year, and I didn’t have any side effects besides maybe a small headache, like once a month, which was close to my period week. I recently got switched to a new birth control which is basically the generic form of my old pill, and it is “Cryselle.” I’ve been on this pill for 3 weeks, about to be on my 4th. I’ve noticed that after I take my pill every night at 9 pm, 30 minutes after, my stomach starts feeling weird and it continues on until 10 am the next morning at least. It makes me feel as if I’m going to throw up, but I can’t throw up. Also, I’ve noticed whenever I eat a full meal after I took this pill, it makes me feel even worse than I do if I don’t have a full meal afterward. Sometimes I eat before, and sometimes I eat after. Anyone know of a way to resolve this problem? Also, I’ve been having body aches in a way and feel extremely tired and more emotional than I’ve ever felt."

• Jul...
• August 20, 2017

Ethinyl estradiol / norgestrel for Birth Control "I've been using Cryselle for three months now, and it has been amazing! I used to get horrible cramps that often made me nauseous and resulted in me missing several days of school just because of my period. Since I've been on this birth control, my period changed from 5 days to 3 days, and I bleed much lighter with mild to no cramps. The first couple of weeks, I had some mood swings and cravings for food, but it stopped after the first month. The only downside to it is it will make you feel nauseous if you take it at night, and my breasts are very tender and sore during my period. But other than that, A++!"

• Ril...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• June 23, 2022

Ethinyl estradiol / norgestrel for Birth Control "Started this medication during my first year of high school. I was so grateful for my newly found solution to heavy periods. I continued on this medication for about 6 years and praised it to everyone. After constant spotting and other issues, I decided to finally stop it. WOW!! This medication increased my anxiety, brought on paranoia, and even mood swings, and I never felt in control of myself. I didn’t realize how bad I felt until I stopped it. Not only did it take my mild anxiety to severe, it left me feeling increasingly depressed at times. Heavily consider the pros and cons before starting this medication. I had felt off for years, my partner even noticed that after a couple of months, I mellowed out and stabilized A LOT from just that one change of stopping. Unfortunately, our society has not valued putting resources into finding better birth control methods for women. I was never informed about the possible side effects, etc., at age 15."

• Tiy...
• February 17, 2021

Ethinyl estradiol / norgestrel for Birth Control "I started 3 weeks ago, and now I have huge mood swings, it's horrible. My boyfriend said he loves me, and I cried. This is TMI, but the pill made me a little more horny than usual. I eat way more. I ate 3 boxes of chocolate while crying, and after that, I ate chili and McDonald’s. Not joking, I've been eating like crazy for the last 2 weeks. It works good, but be ready for depression."

• 9an...
• March 16, 2016

Ethinyl estradiol / norgestrel for Endometriosis "I am very displeased. I started Cryselle because my previous birth control wasn't strong enough to stop bleeding caused by endometriosis. This drug made me very sad, depressed, and angry, and I had a lot of mood swings. On top of all of that, I gained 14 pounds in a month. What fun."

• Jam...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 21, 2021

Ethinyl estradiol / norgestrel for Birth Control "I love this birth control. I'm paralyzed from the waist down. I have decreased sensation, but I was getting horrible, horrible cramps before this medication. I take it straight with no placebos and let myself have a period every 3 to 4 months. This pill was an absolute lifesaver. No mood swings or acne, just positive results. My cramps have been gone since I started taking it. 10 out of 10 for me."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 27, 2016

Ethinyl estradiol / norgestrel for Birth Control "I've been on Cryselle for 3 years. It's the best birth control that ever has controlled my period. Light, never heavy, sometimes so light you don't have to wear anything except a liner. I'll start on Thursday, be off by late Saturday, with spotting on Sunday. Before, I'd bleed for two weeks straight. But the side effects of this pill are horrible. Everything starts two weeks before: severe breast tenderness, uncontrollable mood swings, nausea, headaches, and slight stomach pains that aren't cramps. If you can bear all of the symptoms and have short periods, then Cryselle is for you, if not, then you should pass."

• Acc...
• December 28, 2015

Ethinyl estradiol / norgestrel for Birth Control "I've been taking this pill since February, and I'm not a huge fan. My mood swings have been terrible when I PMS, and when I'm not PMSing, I feel blah. My sex drive has decreased, and that is my main concern because not only am I more dry, but I started crying after sex because I felt horrible. My boyfriend isn't happy with it either. I'm switching to Loryna because it has a lower dosage of progestin that should make me happier, but I'm still nervous."

• Bir...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 4, 2021

Ethinyl estradiol / norgestrel for Birth Control "Have been on this pill for over 3 years. Works well to prevent pregnancy, and my periods are light with little to no cramping. Only downfall is the horrible mood swings. I get super mad at little things and cry over everything. Considering switching to a new birth control because of how bad my mood swings are. I also get horrible headaches 2-3 times a week. Didn’t realize that was a side effect till I read the pamphlet that comes with the pills."

• Rea...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 3, 2019

Ethinyl estradiol / norgestrel for Birth Control "This is the first birth control that I have been on that didn’t cause any harsh side effects! I was mainly placed on it because of my acne, which has cleared dramatically. I believe it caused weight gain in the beginning, but it has stopped. I was 135 before starting it, and now I’m 140. I’ve been 140 for a while now. I can’t recall any mood swings or rapid heartbeats."

• fie...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• October 20, 2015

"I was on Cryselle for over 6 years, prescribed by my OB/GYN for ovarian cyst treatment. I had no issues on this drug, had minimal to no pain from cysts, and had regular periods. My periods are actually lighter since I have been off this medication, but were not heavy while on it and lasted about 3-5 days. I did not gain weight or have any issues with mood swings. I did notice when I went off of it that I sweat less, so that was probably the only side effect I had. Overall, a positive experience."

• Jes...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 12, 2015

Ethinyl estradiol / norgestrel for Birth Control "Cryselle was the first birth control pill prescribed to me by my gynecologist. I was only on it for a little over two weeks when she advised me to make a switch to a different pill. I had some serious nausea, even throwing up on one occasion. It also seemed to make my migraines worse (I have chronic migraines to begin with), and I had some consistent spotting and mood swings. I did, however, notice a slight improvement in my acne and did not have any weight gain. I'm sure that everyone's body works differently, but this is how my body reacted to Cryselle."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 10, 2018

Ethinyl estradiol / norgestrel for Birth Control "This is the worst birth control I have ever taken. Dr. prescribed me this to prevent pregnancy / treat cramps. I have always had horrible menstrual cramps, but this has only made them worse. Every month I have debilitating cramps, headaches, bloating, mood swings. My periods are shorter and lighter, but that's about the only positive point I can give to this brand. Makes me feel nauseous, lightheaded, and crampy in between periods. Wouldn't recommend this to anyone!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 19, 2015

Ethinyl estradiol / norgestrel for Birth Control "I had very irregular periods, so my doctor put me on this pill to help regulate them. My periods come like clockwork now, which is very nice considering I've never had that. They haven't become lighter or shorter in length, which I was hoping for. They are still 6-7 days with heavy flow and lots of cramping. My acne has also increased a lot. I had some acne before taking the pill, but this is the deep kind that can take weeks to heal, which I rarely got before. I also have been pretty emotional since starting it, but I won't entirely place blame on this pill, as I stay pretty stressed regardless, but I think it could be related. I'm going to switch soon, most likely."

• Mef...
• July 23, 2017

Ethinyl estradiol / norgestrel for Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "After being prescribed this pill, I gained 10 lbs. I was angry very easily and was very emotional with lots of mood swings. Since coming off of it 6 months ago, my boobs haven't gone back to normal, but I lost a small bit of weight. It feels very hard to lose any weight around my hips and stomach area, though. None of my clothes fit anymore because of this. Has this happened to anyone else? Will I ever be able to lose this weight?"

• Alc...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 19, 2017

Ethinyl estradiol / norgestrel for Birth Control "Was on it for about a year and 2 months. Experienced no weight gain or mood swings. My acne was not severe by any means, but it did flare the first month I started taking Low-Ogestrel, which went away the next month. Still get occasional pimples closer to my period. Had to switch because after about 11-12 months I started spotting during the active pills, which turned into full-blown periods that would last for 2 weeks. Tried to ride it out because my doctor suggested it might be a hiccup, but it continued for two more months. Was bummed because I loved this birth control."

• Moe...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 20, 2015

Ethinyl estradiol / norgestrel for Birth Control "I've been on Cryselle for a year and a half. I haven't had any side effects till recently. I take 4 packs, then have my period. I have extremely bad cramps, but I always have. No birth control has ever made them better. I noticed just last week when I was off the pill and on my period, I was happier. I do have mood swings that are sometimes crazy. I also don't have a sex drive. I will be trying a new form of birth control to see if my mood changes along with my sex drive, but I'm scared to try new things while my body adjusts. If nothing works, I will get back on Cryselle."

• Meo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 28, 2015

Ethinyl estradiol / norgestrel for Birth Control "This pill was awful for me. I had the worst mood swings. I was constantly depressed, crying, or miserable. I gained close to 15 lbs in the first month I was on it. My appetite could not be curbed, and I was eating everything in sight. The bloating was terrible too. Overall, I hated this pill for me."

• AJ9...
• July 28, 2015

Ethinyl estradiol / norgestrel for Birth Control "I had really bad cystic acne and went to a dermatologist, and the medicine they gave me didn't help much, so I went on Cryselle. My face has cleared up so much ever since I've been on this pill, but I have been very moody. I'll be happy, then sad to where I want to cry, and then the next minute I'll be extremely happy again. I have not gained any weight while on this pill, and I'll skip my period every 2 months, and they're very light with no cramps. Overall, I plan to stay on this pill until I can't deal with the mood swings anymore."

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 24, 2018

Ethinyl estradiol / norgestrel for Birth Control "This was the first pill I have ever been on. It is horrible! It made my acne so bad, I never have had a bad outbreak in my life. My skin used to be super clear. I have had the same breakout for 2 months now, and it has not gone away. I have bought better face skin products, was attempting to help it, and still, it hasn’t done anything for my skin. I wash twice a day, and my acne is still there. I also never experienced cramps before taking Cryselle, and this pill gave me cramps, which is actually horrible. I wouldn’t suggest this pill to anyone! It made me get super emotional and sad, and I would find myself crying over super dumb things or sometimes even over nothing. I once cried because my boyfriend didn’t text me back. Honestly, worst pill ever. I have 2 and a half weeks left of this pill until I can switch, and I haven’t been happier. Thank goodness! I do not suggest using this pill."

• Taf...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 17, 2018

Ethinyl estradiol / norgestrel for Birth Control "I was on this pill for a little more than a year and was never pleased with it. I was on it for my acne, and it did not help, in fact, it only made it worse. I did experience negative side effects, including anxiety and mood swings. I should have gotten off that pill sooner, but I wanted to give it a fair chance. Needless to say, this medicine was not for me."

• Kri...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 17, 2018

Ethinyl estradiol / norgestrel for Birth Control "I just began week 3 of my pack. This has been the absolute worst experience, side effect-wise, I've ever had. I've used other BC pills, had Mirena, the depo shot, and also used the patch over the last 17 years. No problems from ANY of them except this awful medication. In 3 weeks, I have gained 15 pounds (3 of those 15 were gained the first day taking my first pill). I ate maybe 1,200 calories and did 45 minutes of cardio that day, so I know... I have psychotic mood swings, and it has interfered with my sleep so badly that I have to take SEVEN Tylenol PM to fall asleep. I am on no other meds and have no health problems. It is so bad I'm considering quitting taking it a week early. If you're reading this and considering taking this med, please, DON'T!"

• Anonymous
• September 4, 2009

Ethinyl estradiol / norgestrel for Birth Control "Unfortunately, this birth control pill gave me the worst headaches! I think I had at least 2 per week. Some were migraines. I was also more emotional, but the headaches were the reason I stopped using this. No weight gain or acne."

• Rlt...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 2, 2017

Ethinyl estradiol / norgestrel for Birth Control "My pharmacy used this brand and Crycelle interchangeably, but both were generally the same thing for me. I gained a lot of weight on Depo before this, and though I haven't gained more on this pill, I haven't been able to lose much weight on it either. My face isn't necessarily breaking out, but my cheeks have been red with little bumps almost like rosacea since starting this brand. It isn't constant but does flare up sometimes. The only really bad side effect I've noticed is I've gotten really bad anxiety and mood swings. It is still way better than how I felt on Depo, and the birth control is really cheap ($15 per pack), so I will stick with it until I have money to try other brands."

• Vic...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• March 23, 2023

Ethinyl estradiol / norgestrel for Birth Control "I went on Cryselle when I was 18. I noticed that it completely changed my personality pretty immediately. I became very emotional and would cry at the drop of a hat. It also made me gain weight, +60 lbs. However, with diet and exercise, I kept the majority of the weight off. I stuck with this medication for years. After turning 25, I’m not sure if there was a shift in my natural hormones (people's hormones change in their mid-twenties) or my body was tired of the Cryselle as (it's high in progesterone/androgens) things started to change. I suddenly developed horrible acne, hair thinning of my head/eyebrows, facial hair growth, and would have hot flashes at night during my withdrawal bleeding. In addition, a decrease in sex drive and vaginal dryness during sex. I also now have stubborn weight that won’t come off even with diet/exercise. I have switched to Syeda, I have been on it for 4 months. So far, my sex drive is back, less dryness, way less acne, and no hot flashes. Hoping my hair grows back."