Heather and Headaches: What Users Say

• Dis...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 4, 2022

For Birth Control "I have struggled with depression and anxiety for years. When I decided to get back on birth control at age 43, my Dr. prescribed Heather because pills with estrogen had a high risk of adverse reaction with an antidepressant I'm taking. After 3 months of extreme fatigue, super irritability, increased depression/constant crying, hair loss, acne, insane bleeding with large clots, bloating, cramps, headache, and back pain, all my Dr. (who I used to love) said was, 'I'm sorry you're having trouble adjusting to the hormones.' I feel like I've been set back several months on the progress I'd been making with my emotional issues. I stopped taking it today and can't wait to get back to 'normal.' Beware!"

• Sta...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 15, 2022

For Birth Control "I was put on Heather as a 42-year-old with pretty easy, light, regular periods. My boyfriend is not “fixed,” and we do not want more children. Now Heather. No periods? Sign me up! Well…my periods have been SO irregular. I never know when I might have one. My anxiety/depression has gotten so much worse to the point where I’ve felt like a lab rat trying all these meds to help my mood. Let’s not forget about the weight gain. I literally do not sit down. I’m on the move constantly, I don’t eat junk, and I drink my water. I have gained…are you ready? 45 POUNDS. 45 pounds?! Seriously. I am so upset. I can NOT get rid of the weight. I feel like a slob. I really don't like how I look. I was always tiny, but this stuff made me blow up like a blimp in less than a year’s time. My muscles in my legs ache constantly, and those headaches it was supposed to help? Yeah…no. It didn’t touch the headaches. This BC is a joke. Stay FAR away from it. I just stopped taking it. Fingers crossed."

• Joa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 22, 2019

For Birth Control "I am exclusively breastfeeding and now 8 weeks postpartum, so I decided to try out the Heather birth control pills. The side effects were instant: severe headaches and cramping daily, drastic changes in mood, and a period that lasted almost a week. I've been on this pill for barely even 2 weeks, and although it takes roughly 3 months to adjust, it's not worth my mental or physical health."

• Joj...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 5, 2022

For Birth Control "I switched to Heather after finding out I had factor IV. I would not recommend this pill. I recently stopped taking the pill because it completely changed me. After 7 months, I experienced hair loss at the front of my head, bad depression, bloating, bad digestion, and headaches. I had so little energy and motivation that I knew I had to get off this pill immediately. I am now using natural cycles and condoms, since the mini pill or progesterone was my only choice in birth control due to my condition. I decided to go the natural route. Feeling like myself now."

• kyl...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 21, 2017

For Birth Control "The pill is effective in the sense of I'm not pregnant, but I got a lot of adverse effects. I got switched to the Heather pill after my pharmacy didn't carry the generic version. After 2 months of use, I started to get some adverse effects. It started with random spotting every day, and I couldn't lose weight. They were irritating, but I continued use. It wasn't until I started getting headaches, becoming confused, and couldn't concentrate where it became a problem. I broke out in a rash for a few days, and I have been emotionless. I would say use at your own risk."

• Sam...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 24, 2021

For Birth Control "I was trying to use this progesterone-only pill to regulate my hormone levels. I was told that I have PCOS and high estrogen levels, hypothyroidism, and hirsutism. I used it for 2 months. It helped slightly with my severe period pain, but I was still experiencing bloating and inflammation in my body when I was ovulating and before I started my period. It stopped my period headaches as well. The problem started when I was on my third month, and my period started like normal, but then a week later I started spotting with brown blood. Then, a week after that, I started bleeding again like I had a heavy period flow again. My doctor recommended that I stop taking it. Within 48 hours, my period stopped, but my bloating and pain remained for the rest of that week. It's been 38 days after my last period, and I have not had my period since then. I am used to taking birth control pills, so I am used to taking it on a regular basis. I never skipped days or tablets. Not sure what to say about this."

• Joa...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 8, 2021

For Birth Control "So I’ve been taking Heather for about 2 years, and my experience has been mostly positive. I am switching to a combo pill just because I’m having trouble remembering to take it at the same time. The first two months were miserable, I had severe nausea and headaches constantly, and I was incredibly irritable. It likely also made my acne worse, but it has since cleared up (after a few rounds of tretinoin). After my body adjusted, though, it was a completely fine pill. I’ve never been pregnant, however, my cycles are pretty irregular. Not a bad pill, but probably not the best one on the market."

• Kat...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 1, 2020

For Amenorrhea "Biggest side effects starting on this Heather pill were terrible headaches, fatigue, and acne. Decided the side effects were not worth the benefit. Decided to try some natural remedies instead."