Jolivette and Anxiety: What Users Say

• Anonymous
• February 17, 2011

For Birth Control "I was prescribed Jolivette due to my high blood pressure, which was being caused by Ocella birth control. For the first 3 months, I did not experience any side effects besides the irregular period, which was advised in advance. After 3 months, I first noticed the side effects below: extreme weight gain (50 pounds!) and cravings for food that I had not previously eaten. Oily scalp and hair loss, this was a first for me and I thought that I was just getting older, but then confirmed that it was Jolivette! (I'm 30, by the way). Anger and stress to the extreme. Depressed for no reason (I actually thought I was pregnant and would take home and doctor tests, but they resulted as negative every time). Chest and stomach pains."

• Lem...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 28, 2012

For Birth Control "I feel psychotic! I had a baby two months ago and needed a low dose estrogen pill. I feel overwhelmed, anxious, bloated, and very emotional. After having an emotional breakdown over nothing, I am stopping this immediately."

• Lem...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 28, 2012

For Birth Control "I feel psychotic! I had a baby two months ago and needed a low dose estrogen pill. I feel overwhelmed, anxious, bloated, and very emotional. After having an emotional breakdown over nothing, I am stopping this immediately."

• Mom...
• July 31, 2015

For Birth Control "I've had a horrible experience on this pill. I started taking it after my third child, and it has absolutely altered my mental well-being. I have been depressed, anxious, nervous, angry, it's been a nightmare. Stopping right away, good to know I'm not the only one going through this."

• Mom...
• July 31, 2015

For Birth Control "I've had a horrible experience on this pill. I started taking it after my third child, and it has absolutely altered my mental well-being. I have been depressed, anxious, nervous, angry, it's been a nightmare. Stopping right away, good to know I'm not the only one going through this."

• Cas...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 13, 2017

For Birth Control "Due to my history of migraine with aura, my doctor suggested I went with a non-estrogen birth control. I went back and forth about the copper IUD and the pill. I decided against the IUD because it isn't a painless process for those who haven't yet had children. I've been on Jolivette for a month now. The first few weeks were difficult. I had breakthrough bleeding (bleeding between your periods) and quite terrible anxiety. If I had stopped taking it then, I would have rated this med a 2 or 3. After about 2.5 weeks in, my anxiety subsided, the breakthrough bleeding stopped, and everything balanced. I was even able to decrease the strength of my anxiety medicine. My PMDD and endometriosis have been easier to bear, and so far, so good."

• MzD...
• June 28, 2015

For Birth Control "I have been on regular pills for about 25 years without issue. I just finished my first pack of this and am not sure I want to start my second. I have been so irrationally angry, stressed, and depressed this last month. Angry over little things to the point of not sleeping several nights. I honestly was very concerned about what was happening to me. Also had very sore nipples and am super hungry all the time. So happy to find that others experienced this and I'm not losing my mind! I did not get my period, which is usual for me, but I do have cramps."

• AB9...
• May 20, 2017

For Birth Control "Been taking the pills for 5 months. Last two months, I have had two full periods each month and heavy bleeding. Also have felt huge mood changes, anxiety, depression, easily irritated. I can clearly see changes in my mood before and after starting with these pills. Sorry, but would never, ever recommend them."

• Kel...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 28, 2018

For Birth Control "I was on the brand Ortho Micronor until my insurance company decided not to cover it anymore, they put me on Jolivette. After about a week of taking this pill, I noticed that I was getting horrible anxiety about the smallest little things. By week 2, it was so bad that I was afraid to leave my apartment. Simple tasks such as going out to dinner or going shopping with friends became very taxing. As someone who has never experienced severe anxiety, this was a very scary time. I also knew that this wasn't normal for me. I stopped taking this medication, and the panic and anxiety attacks stopped. I will never recommend this pill to anybody, as it was one of the most depressing and scary times in my life."

• jol...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 21, 2019

For Birth Control "I was previously on Ortho Tri Cyclen, which made me have weight gain, super bad mood swings, anxiety, and depression. I was then switched to Jolivette and have had no horrible side effects. I have noticed I haven’t really been able to lose the weight gained from my previous pill, but that’s the only downside. Other than that, I completely love this pill! I am back to the same old normal happy me. :)"

• Con...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 23, 2016

For Birth Control "I've been taking this birth control for about 6 weeks now. My doctor prescribed this to me because I was having horrible migraines with one I was taking before. I haven't had my period yet, but have been spotting randomly since I started the pills. I used to have regular periods, so I'm not sure if I'm going to get them at all anymore. Not having the intense cramping every month like I used to is nice, though. I haven't experienced any weight gain or hair loss. Side effects that I have noticed are emotional. I have been experiencing severe mood swings, anxiety, fatigue, and depression. I know that I'm not pregnant, but this birth control makes me feel as though I am. Not sure if I'll continue taking it, for side effects may not be worth it."

• ack...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 29, 2017

For Birth Control "I had previously been on Ortho Micronor, the name brand for norethindrone, 0.35 mg, for 3 years. Then my insurance wouldn't cover it, so I had to go on Jolivette. After about a week of taking this pill, I started to experience heightened anxiety. It got so bad that I could no longer do simple day-to-day tasks, such as going to class or going to a restaurant. I was having panic attacks daily. It then got to the point where I was terrified to leave my house. I was also overcome with depression. This all happened within the first 2 weeks of taking this pill. It was too horrible to endure, so I stopped taking it. My mental health is still not 100% back to normal."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 9, 2019

For Birth Control "I started this pill 7 weeks after having my daughter because I was breastfeeding. Did not notice a decrease in my supply. I have been taking it for 10 months. I've been suffering from postpartum depression and recently stopped taking the pill. I can tell a huge difference and it has been 2 weeks. Now that I think about it and read all these experiences, I see a lot of similarities. I’ve had horrible anxiety and depression, it’s been hard to lose weight! And I have experienced hair loss. I’m going to continue off the pill and figure out what next birth control I should use next."

• Anx...
• December 19, 2011

For Birth Control "First, this pill kind of freaks me out with the whole 'have to take it within the hour at the same time every day.' I also deal with no period for a week, a period of 3 days, no period for 4 days, then a period of another 2 days...on and on and on. I have been on it for three months and thinking that this might not be the pill for me. It has given me some anxiety and increased my mood swings. I do have breast tenderness at times. Probably not the pill for me. But I was put on it since other birth control pills give me a headache, and so far this pill has never given me a headache, so at least that has worked."

• Jul...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 20, 2018

For Birth Control "I was prescribed this pill suddenly after my insurance decided not to cover Nora B anymore. I suffer from anxiety and take Zoloft to control it. After taking just 6 days of this pill, it made me almost lose my mind. I would tremble and shake, heart palpitations, and had the worst anxiety attack I had ever experienced. Do not take this if you issue like me!"

• Kat...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 4, 2019

For Birth Control "I started this pill ten days ago. I gave birth seven weeks ago. My milk supply was low to begin with, I am barely getting one feeding in after eight days of this BC. I struggle with mild anxiety and depression pretty rarely, however, the last two days, I have wanted to just cry, and I felt detached from my children and husband. I have been anxious, and I don’t know why. I have been an endless pit for food, I feel that I cannot eat enough, and I also started to get a breakout of pimples on my forehead (I have never had acne). After calling my husband crying and telling him I had been sleeping the majority of the day and crying, we decided it was best to stop the medication immediately. This was my experience with the medication, I cannot wait it out and hope it gets better. I do not want to spend my precious maternity leave feeling detached from my NB and depressed/anxious."

• Dan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 3, 2017

For Birth Control "I don't want to scare people off from taking this pill, but in the short period I took this pill, I had too many issues. I am a person who has great blood pressure. Immediately after starting, I noticed my feet feeling swollen, so I started taking my blood pressure. It was through the roof!! I was having horrible, crippling anxiety every day for most of the day, and I already have depression and anxiety disorder. I was bloated all the time. I called my doctor, and they told me to immediately stop the pills. I'm 37 and average weight. Birth control isn't worth having a stroke."

• Jus...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 3, 2017

For Birth Control "I started taking Jolivette 5 months ago. First, to all you breastfeeding moms out there, I have had NO decrease in milk supply. And that from a woman who had to supplement with the first 2 babies within their first 3 months because of low supply and low weight gain. My 3rd baby is now 5 1/2 months old and still exclusively breastfed and gaining weight beautifully. So it doesn't always affect milk supply. I've taken different BC pills before and always suffered severe anxiety and depression just before starting my period. I was worried about starting another pill but haven't had any problems yet. My first month on these pills I had a heavy period, but haven't had another one since. I'm pretty happy with these pills."

• Aan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 20, 2018

For Birth Control "This medication is not for me. I started it a few months ago after an ectopic pregnancy. My mood has changed so much to a point where my anxiety and depression were so bad I thought I was losing my mind. My headaches have increased, and I cry a lot. Not normal for me. I also have hypothyroidism, and it actually changed my levels. After reading what other people have gone through, I have decided to stop this medication immediately. I seriously thought I was going to end up in the psych unit!"