Etonogestrel and Headaches: What Users Say (Page 5)

• Jul...
• November 21, 2019

For Birth Control "I've had the Nexplanon inserted September 24 of 2019, and I've been bleeding non-stop since. It's now November 22 of 2019, and I just can't take this anymore. I'll go 2 days spotting, then have a regular period for 5 days, then right after have a heavy period for 3 days, like out-of-control bleeding where it's too much, even with a tampon and the huge Always brand Kotex. I have to run to the bathroom every 15-20 minutes to change and clean up again. I've even had to throw away some of my jeans because it will overflow, even if I just changed and cleaned up 10 minutes before. It would still go through. I just be so embarrassed, it's just the worst thing ever to happen in my life. I've been having my period non-stop, like seriously, I haven't had not one day free of bleeding since I put this thing in my arm. I'm going next week to take this thing out, I can't wait. Also, the side effects are terrible. I get really bad headaches, and I get really dizzy. I honestly don't recommend this birth control."

• Ren...
• April 12, 2016

For Birth Control "I've had it about 2 months now, and my experience has been great! The injection was not pleasant, not going to lie. The numbing shot they gave me did nothing, but it was completely covered by my Aetna insurance, so it was free. I got it during my period, and my period finished out, then I had extremely light spotting for about a month and a half. I do get headaches sometimes, but they're not unbearable, go away with painkillers, and I can't tell if it's from hormones or something else. But either way, I have had no side effects otherwise, and it's been great! One thing I noticed is if you are on the lighter/smaller side, you will probably have fewer side effects. I am 5'2" and 110 lbs. Plus, you forget it's there!"

• Lal...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 17, 2016

For Birth Control "Got Implanon in December and had it removed a couple of weeks ago. I'm back on the pill, and my hormones are still fluctuating, so I'm waiting until I'm normal again. HORRIBLE side effects. Do not recommend!! I had it in for about 5 months and got my period twice on it (more like spotting for a week). It gave me insane acne on my face and back, terrible breast pain and swelling, the most extreme mood swings, increased my depression and anxiety x1000, gave me headaches at first, and completely wiped out my sex drive. Had pretty much every side effect except weight gain and never-ending spotting. Removal was horrible, it took 2 incisions to remove the stick from hell!!! PROS: never had to maintain birth control (like pills, NuvaRing) and not pregnant."

• hea...
• October 24, 2013

For Birth Control "I have had the Implanon since February 2012, and I hate it. The first six months were okay, I only had two periods on it, not got pregnant, but I've gained a lot of weight, more than I did when I gave birth. Before birth, I was 156, now I'm 198. I get bad headaches and stomach aches. My back always hurts, and I always feel tired. I get dizzy a lot, and it scares me having our little girl while I'm driving. It has caused me to faint one time at home while my husband was there. I just want my energy back so I can do the things I want to with our little girl, who is almost two. I haven't lost my sex drive, but my husband's job is one week on, one week off, so I guess it's hard to tell. I just want to feel normal and happy again. I'm tired of the mood swings and depression also."

• Don...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 17, 2019

For Birth Control "The first 3 months were fine, except for constant hunger, which comes with weight gain, obviously. Around the 3-month mark, I started to bleed, which didn’t worry me because they say that you can spot for a few months, however, I’ve been bleeding for 5 months, fluctuating from spotting to sometimes 5 ultra tampons a day. As soon as I think the bleeding is slowing, it comes back extremely heavy: cramps, headaches, depression, 12-pound weight gain, no sex drive at all, which has taken a toll on my relationship. I have no desire to have sex, and I mean at all! I will definitely be taking it out ASAP!"

• Ros...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 31, 2016

For Birth Control "The reviews for Nexplanon are really scary, so I thought I would share my experience. I got it implanted on June 17th. I got it put in while I was on my period and have not bled since then. I have not gained weight, had mood swings, headaches, or acne, which I am prone to normally."

• Jkb...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 9, 2016

For Birth Control "I've had the implant for a little over 6 months now, and I've had maybe 2 periods. Both extremely light, which was nice. I've noticed after getting the implant, I've felt more depressed, anxious, nauseous, and have been having huge headaches that don't seem to go away for days at a time. Getting the implant wasn't difficult at all. It's inserted with a needle, and it was so fast I barely felt anything. My arm was sore for a little bit and some bruising, but other than that, I felt little to no pain. A week or so after, I started feeling less motivated to get anything done. Leaving the house would just give me anxiety. Also, being a new mom made it harder to keep up with my baby."

• C...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 29, 2016

For Birth Control "Had it placed in November 2015. First few months were great, no periods, small spotting to nothing at all. After 4-5 months, I started having migraines with auras, weight gain, always tired. I snapped at my family often, and the libido was gone. I didn't have the motivation to do anything. Finally, I started having chest pain, going down my left arm and around my back. I went to the doctor, who ruled out heart attack and said it was muscular. I had the implant taken out in October 2016, butchered my arm to get it out, came to find out it was close to a nerve in my arm, causing me pain. I went through a withdrawal of bad headaches one week after. Then I felt like me again, happy, good sexual health, can't believe this implant can change a person."

• X-p...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 23, 2019

For Birth Control "I had this removed after 3 months. 1) I had a dark brown discharge for 1 month. 2) Headaches!! On and off, bad the whole time. 3) Chest pains/tightness in chest. My doctor said it probably didn’t have to do with the Nexplanon, but it's listed in less common side effects. I've read reviews of women stating chest pains and been given the same response: “Maybe it’s related to something else.” Ladies, you know your body. You know what's normal and what isn’t. Don’t let a doctor tell you that you should take this if it's making you feel things you don’t normally feel. Chest pains/headaches were enough to get this out. I can deal with the bleeding, but NOT chest pains/headaches. It's a warning sign this isn’t right for my body, and probably not for yours. Other than that, this has done its job at preventing pregnancy, but not worth the side effects. It isn’t worth playing with my health. Please use caution while using this medication should you choose to, and best of luck to you all."

• Bri...
• July 27, 2019

For Birth Control "I've had the Implanon for 3 months! The first month, I was bleeding for 3 weeks, then, after the 3 weeks, I had brown discharge for a week! Well, everything went away for a week, then I was bleeding again for another 2 weeks! Now, in the 3rd month, I am just angry all the time. I'm depressed, like for no reason, I want to cry. I never want to eat, ever, which is not normal for me. I don't want to have sex, ever, which isn't normal. My head hurts all day! My face is breaking out so bad. I'm getting this out Monday. I'll never use birth control. I'm not going to put this stuff in my body ever again, no form of birth control! I've never felt so sick in my life. It's really affecting my daily life and not good for my relationship with my husband- just overall, the worst birth control ever."

• Lon...
• October 17, 2013

For Birth Control "I love Nexplanon. I've had it for four months now, and I was extremely worried because I don't take very well to birth control. I've tried about three different kinds, and they all gave me horrible side effects. So I thought I would get the nonstop bleeding like they say 70% of women get. But I didn't. I got headaches for the first month and no period for two months. The last two months, it's been just light spotting off and on for about 3-4 days, which is the length of my normal period. I don't get any warnings that my period is coming anymore. No cramps, no sore breasts. Nothing. I do get food cravings more often every day, and I have an increased appetite and a tiny scar at the insertion site, but that's all."

• Pip...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• March 28, 2013

For Birth Control "I've had this since 2002 and had an okay experience, but recently, I got diagnosed with high blood pressure 214/115 (normal 120/70) when I was in with a nasty headache. Thinking back, I've had headaches on and off for about 3 years, and now I'm connecting the two, so please beware and check with your doctor! I'm sorry to say that I will remove it to see if it changes."

• Lin...
• April 9, 2019

For Birth Control "Horrible experience ever! I got Nexplanon last September. The first 3 months were just okay. I mean, I got some headaches, changes in mood, body aches, and got my period every month only for 5 or 7 days, that was okay. In January, I got, for the first time in my life (I’m 31 years old), a yeast infection that would NOT go away and would come back right after every treatment (during two months). I was miserable! Also, I got, for the first time in my life, two panic attacks. I went to the ER, I felt really sick! Depressed, my heartbeat would go up constantly, pain in the arm, insomnia, pain in my breast, pain everywhere! I did not know what was going on with me. I’m a healthy person. Well, I found this place, I read most of the reviews and found that most people experience most of my symptoms. Well, I decided to get it removed on March 29. It has been two weeks without it, and I feel great! No more yeast infections, and all the other symptoms went away! I feel great and happy, and I would NOT recommend this birth control to anyone!"

• She...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 25, 2019

For Birth Control "I have had the Nexplanon implant three times now. The first was fine, ran for three years, the second so-so, felt a bit unwell and tired, and my boobs went huge and sore! Then the third time, oh dear!! Spots (never been a spotty person), my body aches all over like I'm 60 in a 27-year-old body, my period is all over, craving sweet stuff, feeling sick, headaches, crying, and hairy! Getting hairy all over. I have had this for nine months now, and it's all getting worse. I literally feel like I am going to die. Sounds dramatic, but I do. My body feels so weak. Had my bloods done, and they're all fine. Had problems with my breathing, and my lungs are clear, etc. It has got to be the implant. Feel so poorly now with it. Having it out today... got all the pregnancy symptoms, but I'm not getting anything out of it. So miserable x"

• Bec...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 19, 2019

For Birth Control "I have been on it for a month today. I have an appointment tomorrow to have it removed. I have been bleeding non-stop for 12 days, and today I passed 2 huge blood clots, and that's never happened to me before! Headaches, numbness, and pain in my legs, pain when urinating. My anxiety has gotten worse, my depression has returned. My acne has also gotten worse. I have awful nightmares and trouble sleeping. I get bad stomach aches. My sex drive is gone. I'm so angry about all of this, and I can't wait to have this implant out so I can start feeling better! I'm tired of being so tired and moody and fatigued. Do not get this implant. Not worth it at all!!!!!"

• Lil...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 9, 2013

For Birth Control "I had Nexplanon inserted 3 months ago. I've since had it removed and went back to the pill. To start, I had spotting for 3 weeks, and then it stopped. However, sex caused the spotting to return for weeks. Spotting was the least of my worries as far as side effects. This implant caused great turmoil in my life-mental and physical. In 1 month, I felt irritable and anxious. The highs/lows of my mood swings left me feeling like I was losing my mind. Insomnia kicked in and signs of depression emerged. I had no motivation or energy. I'm a runner, and 2 months after insertion, I began experiencing headaches after a workout. I relied on Advil and sleep aids to deal. I had my doctor take it out after 3 months. My life is back to normal now!"

• Jes...
• May 11, 2016

For Birth Control "I hate this birth control! I'm lucky enough to not have irregular bleeding or become pregnant, but I've gained 20 pounds, have mood swings, get headaches, no sex drive, and don't feel like myself!!! I'm getting it out soon, and I've only had it since the beginning of February."

• Ght...
• March 21, 2016

For Birth Control "I got my Nexplanon inserted November 2015 while I was on my period on the 5th day. Ever since then (4 months later) I've bled constantly. My doctor tried giving me the pill to balance out my hormones, but no luck at all. I constantly have cramps and headaches, and sometimes heat flashes. I want it out so bad, but removal costs $150 :("

• Pil...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 31, 2016

For Birth Control "I had this removed yesterday morning, and within 24 hours, my sex drive kicked back in again. Funny that. This thing works effectively as birth control because you probably won't want your partner to touch you. Yep, here are 10 things I won't miss by having a stick owned by one of the world's largest pharmaceutical corporations in my arm: 1. Headaches. 2. Bleeding. Every. Day. 3. No normal period. See point 2. 4. No sex drive. 5. Weight gain. 6. Mood swings that made me feel insane. 7. Sensitivity to the stupidest things. 8. Lower bone density and higher risk of osteoporosis. See 2007 study. 9. Uncharted, unknown long-term effects. 10. Having a stick that might break through my skin when grabbed accidentally. Satisfaction: never again."

• A74...
• December 14, 2015

For Birth Control "I had the Nexplanon for a year and four months, it was highly effective contraception. However, the side effects were terrible. 1. Mood swings 2. Depression (I've suffered with depression before, and the drug just aggravated my depression more) 3. Headaches 4. Breast tenderness 5. Anxiety/panic attacks (which I've never had a problem with before until now) 6. Difficulty breathing (had a pulmonary test and a cardiologist look at my heart, and they said all was fine) 7. Chest pain/palpitations 8. Paranoia 9. HORRIBLE cramps (I've never had really bad cramps until I got the Nexplanon put in) 10. No periods for a couple of months, just spotting, no period but horrible cramps 11. Backache 12. Hungry all the time 13. No sex drive."

• mam...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 4, 2013

For Birth Control "I was put on Implanon in September 2011 after delivering my second daughter in July 2011. I did not have a period for several months after getting it, besides a few days of spotting here and there. Within one month of getting Implanon, I started getting serious headaches, and in February, I began passing out randomly. I had low blood pressure, low heart rate, and was diagnosed with pseudotumor cerebri. I had to get a lumbar puncture to relieve the pressure. A few days later, I had to get a blood patch because I got a spinal headache. I ended up needing a second lumbar puncture in August 2012. In November 2012, I was also diagnosed with PCOS, which caused acne, hair growth, painful periods, and infertility. I was told that Implanon caused these."

• Iro...
• October 1, 2015

For Birth Control "I got my implant last month on the 1st. So far, it's been alright. I have noticed I've been getting headaches more often, and my skin has the occasional breakout. This could all be due to the fact that I just started college, though. Despite the claims regarding lowered sex drive, I've actually experienced a slight increase in my sex drive. I haven't experienced any weight gain or loss, and my stress level actually seems reduced. I have been having nightmares/vivid dreams since my implant, they began about a week after insertion. I'm not quite sure if that's what is causing them, though. I've always had irregular periods before the implant, and I just began spotting today, a month after insertion. So, I'll have to wait and see."

• Gab...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 27, 2021

For Birth Control "I’ve been on the implant since December 8th of 2020. I have had headaches, nausea, extreme dizziness, and recently I have started feeling depressed and not being able to think. I am constantly sad and unhappy. I love my fiancé and daughter very much, but it’s like my brain can comprehend love, like it put love and happiness on the back burner to make room for negative intrusive thoughts. I am glad to say that I am getting this removed next week and hoping to see improvements before my wedding. My period is also very weird and crazy. I also get extreme tiredness. It may work for some people, but I don't like feeling like this, it’s a disgusting method to be because it takes over your emotional, physical, and mental."

• Jen...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 13, 2017

For Birth Control "Had Nexplanon placed five months postpartum. Immediately after placement, I started having consistent bleeding every day (sometimes moderate, sometimes light, but every day), and my actual periods got closer and closer together (every 3 weeks at first, then every 2). After a few months, I realized that some other problems I've been experiencing can be linked to Nexplanon-anxiety/depression (it's gotten pretty bad), headaches, dizziness, fatigue (I'm more tired every day now than I was in either of my pregnancies), etc. I've been on one course of estrogen already with no improvement. My iron level is low, and overall, I feel completely unhealthy. Getting it removed this week."

• Mar...
• April 30, 2020

For Birth Control "06/15/20 will be the 2nd year on Nexplanon, and I will never get it again. I was sold on it when my doctor told me it could be left in for 3 years and either I would possibly not have periods on Nexplanon or have light spotting. That just wasn't the case for me, I've been unlucky. My periods are lighter, and the pain is way less, but I would rather have heavier periods and be in a lot of pain instead of bleeding every other week. The weeks I'm not bleeding, I'm spotting. I get a 3-day break randomly and rarely a 2-week break, and then it starts all over again. It's been 1 year and 10 months, and my hormones have yet to sync. I am tired of having headaches, nausea, cravings, and being hormonal all the time. It works wonders for my friend, it just depends on the body. I think people should try it because it's amazing when it works, being one of the most effective birth controls on the market. I'm not pregnant, so it did its job, but I'm sick of bleeding all the time. Next time, I'm getting the birth control shots."