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Errin and Acne: What Users Say

Acne: mentioned by 28 users (14.9%)

Based on user experiences from 188 Errin reviews, the following table shows the most commonly mentioned side effects.

All user comments are moderated by Drugs.com. Each review is verified for relevance and screened for inappropriate content. Side effects are user-reported and not clinically verified.

bleeding 21.3%
cramps 18.6%
weight gain 17.6%
spotting 17.0%
acne 14.9%
nausea 12.2%
mood swings 10.1%
sore breasts 9.6%
headaches 9.0%
depression 8.5%

Reviews for Errin

Commonly mentioned side effects
  • Sun...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • March 10, 2020

For Birth Control "First, I'll say I was VERY worried about taking this after reading reviews. I'm on my second month of taking Errin, and it's gone well so far. I have not taken any meds (before this) in over 15 years, I'm 31. But after getting married, I needed birth control because we have enough fur children and don't want human ones. I really haven't noticed any major side effects. I have had somewhat tender breasts, and I did break out my first week on this, but it may have been the stress of getting married, it cleared up fine now. I don't notice any change in mood, weight, or anxiety (I have had anxiety for a while). My period is normally 28 days on the dot, with very occasional one or two day differences. My period came 2 days early after taking this (I started the pill day 1 of my period). I do notice darker periods with more clots, but other than that, it's about the same. Overall, I'm happy with this pill, especially after reading a lot of other reviews and feeling so worried!"

9 / 10
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56 Report
  • Mca...
  • Taken for 6 months to 1 year
  • July 7, 2019

For Birth Control "You have to be patient with this stuff. The first 3-6 months come with some pretty annoying side effects such as multiple periods a month, mood swings, and acne, but luckily for me, no weight gain. I take it for normal birth control and have been on it for about 8 months now, and I like it. My acne has actually gone away, and I get a period every other month that lasts about 3 days! I know this pill reacts differently on people, but I have no problem with it. I guess you can’t base your actual opinion off of using it for a week. Give it a chance and be patient. Also, you should be taking it at the same time every day for it to be most effective!!"

10 / 10
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40 Report
  • Sar...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • October 24, 2019

For Birth Control "Before I got on this pill, I looked up the reviews and was terrified from all the terrible things I read, but my gyne highly recommended it for me, and I’m happy she did. I’ve been on this pill for about two months now, and my experience has been great. Before getting on this pill, I would have terrible heavy periods that came along with cramps, acne, tender breasts, and mood swings. I have not gotten my period at all since starting it, only spotting with minor cramps. And I have not had any other terrible side effect. I would say give it a try because not everyone’s body is the same."

10 / 10
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26 Report

Frequently asked questions

  • Rah...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • July 6, 2019

For Birth Control "I have been taking Errin for a week now. I started it the first day of my period. I usually have a 2-3 day period, but it stayed on for 6 days, it wasn't heavy. I get emotional due to the pill, I have lost weight, and I also notice my bottom is getting rounder! I'm experiencing light cramping, my hair is still intact, and no acne. I will follow up with you guys in about a month if there are any changes..."

7 / 10
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25 Report
  • liv...
  • October 21, 2013

For Birth Control "I have been on Errin norethindrone tablets for almost five months now and have liked it a lot more than regular birth control tablets. I gained a lot of weight on birth control with estrogen and have not on Errin, which I liked. But, it has not helped acne like my old birth control. I also haven't had a period since the first week I took Errin, which is somewhat concerning, but I'm not pregnant, so I assume it is just my body getting used to the medication. Errin has not affected my mood or mentality."

7 / 10
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33 Report

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  • Mam...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • October 12, 2018

For Birth Control "Been on this for 3 months now. Only taking this pill because I am currently breastfeeding and have no other options, really. I've had probably 6-8 periods since I've started this birth control. I'll bleed for 6-9 days, stop for less than a week, and start the process all over again. The bleeding is heavy. I've gained some weight. The acne is terrible and extremely painful. I've developed constant cramping and occasional heart palpitations. Oh, and the hair loss. My god. I have to empty my brush 2-3 times when I brush my hair, and clumps come out in the shower. The worst side effect I have encountered on this pill is the moodiness. I get so angry for absolutely no reason and catch myself freaking out over the littlest things. The side effects of this pill are terrifying. I've been on numerous different pills as well as the depo over the last 11 years, and this is by far the absolute worst. I would never recommend."

3 / 10
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  • Mam...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • October 12, 2018

For Birth Control "Been on this for 3 months now. Only taking this pill because I am currently breastfeeding and have no other options, really. I've had probably 6-8 periods since I've started this birth control. I'll bleed for 6-9 days, stop for less than a week, and start the process all over again. The bleeding is heavy. I've gained some weight. The acne is terrible and extremely painful. I've developed constant cramping and occasional heart palpitations. Oh, and the hair loss. My god. I have to empty my brush 2-3 times when I brush my hair, and clumps come out in the shower. The worst side effect I have encountered on this pill is the moodiness. I get so angry for absolutely no reason and catch myself freaking out over the littlest things. The side effects of this pill are terrifying. I've been on numerous different pills as well as the depo over the last 11 years, and this is by far the absolute worst. I would never recommend."

3 / 10
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22 Report
  • Tan...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • June 26, 2018

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "Over it!!! Due to my health insurance going away, I was given Errin as it was cheaper out of pocket. I was using Loestrin FE and was loving it! Periods were very light, and some months didn't come at all. It was a nice alternative to the Mirena that I had. However, the Errin is horrible. I take it the same time every day, and the side effects are awful. I have started to experience breakouts on my face. But the worst is the periods! Periods last anywhere from 7-10 days!! It's ridiculous!! You think you're done, and BAM it's back. Once this pack is empty, I'm done!! I have insurance now, so I will be asking the doctor to switch me back to my Loestrin FE. This is horrible!! I do not recommend."

2 / 10
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16 Report
  • aqu...
  • Taken for 6 months to 1 year
  • December 24, 2020

For Birth Control "Started Errin due to migraines from combination pills. Errin gave me cystic acne that does not respond to any treatment, which is very annoying, but I’m dealing with it because this is the only BC I can tolerate. Starting in May, I had a period at the beginning of the month and the end of the month, both 5 days long. (Pretty normal) No period the whole month of July or August, then 2 in September. One lasting 5 days and the other lasting 8. No period in October, and one in November. They consist of heavy clotting and very dark blood. The cramps are very uncomfortable. I also have constant breakthrough spotting, which is enough to fill liners. Very inconvenient, but this is what I’ll continue with."

5 / 10
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7 Report
  • Car...
  • Taken for 1 to 2 years
  • August 23, 2019

For Birth Control "Positives: Does its job, no period, no cramps, minor mood swings. Negatives: Back acne, bloat, irregular (minor) spotting, dizziness (randomly). Side effects aren't bad compared to others, which is why I've stayed on this medicine for a while."

7 / 10
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9 Report
  • mom...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • December 16, 2016

For Birth Control "The first time I was on this (before baby #2), it was effective for almost a year, then decided to stop taking it after experiencing anxiety, chest pain, acne, and I swear it made my BP go up. The symptoms disappeared within a few days. Fast forward to now, I have been put back on this pill, and after 2 months, I am stopping it again for the same previous symptoms. This pill is the worst. I would not recommend."

2 / 10
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10 Report
  • Ale...
  • Taken for 6 months to 1 year
  • December 22, 2020

For Birth Control "I've been on Errin for about 7 months, and I have never experienced more painful period cramps. That is my only complaint while being on this birth control. Before starting this pill, I was taking Lo Loestrin Fe, and I experienced terrible acne, felt depressed and emotional constantly, and gained some weight. Although the cramps have been bad with Errin, I would rather take this pill than what I did before."

8 / 10
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6 Report
  • Hsa...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • November 25, 2020

For Birth Control "I’ve been on Errin for five months now, about to start my sixth pack. The first few months were rough as my body got used to the hormones, as this was my first ever time taking birth control (21 years old). I bled for about a week every two weeks for the first four months, and now it seems that I’m back to a regular monthly period. I started getting acne almost immediately, with it peaking around the four-month mark. It’s slowly getting better with prescription medication. I’ve experienced minor weight gain, but that could just be a side effect of being in a relationship, lol! My partner and I don’t use condoms or the pull-out method and have sex pretty frequently (multiple times a week), and I haven’t gotten pregnant yet (knock on wood!), so overall I’d say this is really effective!"

8 / 10
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6 Report
  • Bec...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • April 25, 2020

For Birth Control "So far, it has been okay. A lot of spotting and minor headaches. Less acne and no hair loss. I used to have very heavy periods every 20 days. I am on Errin, and the first month I spotted every day, I did this on combo pills too. Now, I have a period and then spot a few days. The days I spot are also from taking it an hour late. I'm on my third month now, and I am hoping it regulates everything. I noticed my face looks less haggard, and I am 43."

7 / 10
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6 Report
  • Nur...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • May 23, 2018

For Birth Control "I used to be on birth control for years to inhibit the growth of ovarian cysts. I stopped and was off pills for 6 years. Unfortunately, I am still very fertile, and as a single mom in a committed relationship, I did not want to have more children, especially since I will be 40 next year. I decided to try the mini-pill to avoid the effects of estrogen. This worked in that I didn’t get pregnant while on it, but it caused me pretty much every side effect. I developed acne on my face, my mood swings were crazy and very negative, my appetite greatly increased and I gained weight, I no longer had natural lubrication since my vagina became very dry, I noticed an obvious decrease in libido, and my breasts became very sore and tender the whole time on the pill. I did experience some very light spotting, but I wouldn’t have a problem with that if it weren’t for the other symptoms. Unfortunately, I’ll have to resort to another method of birth control. I had high hopes for this pill."

6 / 10
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8 Report
  • Meg...
  • Taken for 6 months to 1 year
  • October 5, 2020

For Birth Control "Well, I didn't get pregnant, thankfully, off Errin birth control pill. I always took the same BC since I was 14, with no issues. Turned 35 and had to switch but have now stopped taking Errin due to negative side effects. My hair and face get really oily fast. I've stopped having my period, developed cystic acne, and developed eczema since taking this BC."

3 / 10
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5 Report
  • Kim...
  • Taken for 6 months to 1 year
  • August 24, 2020

For Birth Control "I’m fifty, and I took Errin birth control pill for six months and just quit it due to side effects. I lost a lot of hair, which was extremely noticeable. You can now see my scalp through my hair from five feet away. I used to have thick hair, so this really affected me. I also had painful cystic acne around my mouth. I never had acne my entire life. Always had great skin. Now I have scars on my face. Lastly, lengthy, heavy bleeding during my period. It would last ten days and consisted of large clots of blood that would leak out past a tampon. It’s just not worth it. Avoid at all costs."

1 / 10
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6 Report
  • Foo...
  • June 25, 2015

For Birth Control "I'm at the end of my 2nd month. First month was on the .25 dose. Gained 4-5 pounds in the first 2 weeks! I'm very petite and have been the same weight for 20 years, so this was a huge drawback. My doctor changed me to the .35 dose, and still the same weight but now more pimples and bled for 2 weeks. Also, I think this pill makes me feel kind of blah and empty inside. Could be environmental factors, but I think I'll be switching soon!"

4 / 10
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9 Report
  • Anonymous
  • December 27, 2016

For Birth Control "When I first started this BC, I liked it. First month, no bleeding, missed my period totally, and my nipples hurt so bad I thought I was pregnant, but then a week into the second month, my period showed up. I lost weight that I gained on previous birth controls, so I liked that about this pill, but now I've been on it for 6 months and I've noticed the past 2 months I've had little to no sex drive and it makes discharge REALLY thick. I don't like that. Also, it's making it so it's nearly impossible to orgasm all of a sudden, and I'm getting acne. I'm not super happy with this BC, and I'm going to switch, but I am glad it worked well for 4-6 months considering how sensitive I am to BC pills."

4 / 10
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8 Report
  • Anonymous
  • October 16, 2016

For Birth Control "I'm on month 3, and at first I had no side effects because I had just gotten off the depo shot. But this month I'm having mood swings. My face is breaking out, and I've always had nice, clear skin, and so far I've been bleeding 8 days straight and cramping every day as well, which I've never done! I'm seriously thinking about getting off this pill or taking nothing at all. I'm tired of all these toxins in my body doing me harm!"

2 / 10
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7 Report
  • MLP...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • May 6, 2018

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "Was given a prescription to Errin due to my age (almost 37) and nicotine use. I’ve been using it for 3 weeks and am already done with it. I’m discontinuing use once my pack is used up. I rarely ever break out (1 or 2 small pimples on my chin during my period, that's it), but this Errin has caused my face to break out ALL OVER. My temples, my cheeks, under my nose, around my chin. Yuck. Bye bye, Errin!"

6 / 10
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6 Report
  • Mad...
  • Taken for 6 months to 1 year
  • November 12, 2020

For Endometriosis "I had god-awful endometriosis. When I get my period, I have cramps so bad I cannot function, diarrhea, and nausea. I started Errin to help fix this issue. The first month I didn’t bleed but had god-awful cramps (per expected). After the first month, my periods came twice a month and lasted about 7 days. My cramps weren’t as bad as when not using birth control. 8 months later and it’s still the same. I’m actually getting off Errin because my active lifestyle isn’t really fitting with having my period half the month. With Errin, my acne skyrocketed too. My chin and cheeks have never been so broken out in my life. I used to never wear makeup, and now I can’t bring myself to be in public without it. I’m glad I have to wear a mask in public because of how bad my acne is. Altogether, I didn’t get pregnant, my cramps got slightly better, and my acne is uncontrollable. Wouldn’t really recommend."

3 / 10
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4 Report
  • pin...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • April 10, 2022

For Birth Control "As much as I wanted to love Errin, this was definitely NOT for me. I have never been any lower mentally, nor experienced so many mood swings all at once. I started taking this birth control at the beginning of March, so for a month, it really just changed my appearance and mental health. Now I have acne all over my face, and it was never as bad as this. Also, I am gaining weight fast too, and I barely even eat. I just do not feel like myself, so if you have anxiety or depression, I would not recommend this birth control. I take .35 mg every day, so maybe it is the dosage and it's too much, but either way, I will not be continuing this pill."

2 / 10
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3 Report
  • Pac...
  • June 21, 2021

For Birth Control "I have been taking Errin for three months now. I started taking the mini pill after contemplating using birth control again. My periods were terrible. I would bleed for 7 days, and I would bleed (TMI up ahead) probably a coffee cup full each period. (Thanks, DivaCup, for letting me track that.) I was left exhausted each time, I was flooding each month. I take my pill at the EXACT TIME every single day. I have an alarm set. I noticed that my breasts get really tender about a week before my period is due, but they hurt before I started taking it. I noticed that although I still bleed 6-7 days, the amount of blood is so much less! I used to have to wear a cup and a large pad during my first few days. I am so happy to have tried this pill. My periods are so much more manageable. Side effects: so far, I have gotten 4 pimples, I have also gained one pound."

10 / 10
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3 Report
  • KCa...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • October 4, 2019

For Birth Control "I was on Errin for 1.5 months and stopped due to side effects. The first few weeks were fine, but things quickly went downhill. I was exhausted. I could get through work alright, but then passed out when I got home. I have never had bad acne, and my chin line exploded with small pimples. I have really bad cramps with my period that usually subside with BC, they were back and with a vengeance. My period was also really heavy and longer than my usual periods. Thankfully, my pharmacy let me switch back to the Norethindrone pills that were unnamed. (off brand?) I had been on them for a year and a half before my insurance changed it to Errin. I am very excited to be switching back!"

1 / 10
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3 Report

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Reviews may be edited to correct grammar/spelling or remove inappropriate content. Reviews appearing to come from parties with a vested interest are not published. This information is not intended to endorse any medication and should not replace the expertise and judgment of healthcare professionals.