Kariva for Birth Control User Reviews (Page 2)

• Anonymous
• June 26, 2010

"I have been on Kariva for a few months now. I switched from Loestrin 24 FE and could not be happier. My period comes like clockwork with Kariva and I am no longer a moody, crazy person. Although my periods are not lightened by this pill I do not care, I am extremely happy with it."

• Gally...
• August 6, 2010

"This birth control pill has it's advantages in the fact that it gives you a very predictable period, and that's it. The side effects outweigh the benefits. I started getting acne at 23 when I hadn't had it for years, my skin became oily, I started getting headaches that persisted all day, my appetite increased, my sleep was disrupted, and I became depressed. The depression is the worst part. I would wake up and be horribly angry or depressed, without cause. I'm switching back to my old birth control."

• Anonymous
• October 29, 2011

"My doctor suggested Kariva to me because I was previously on Ortho Tri-Cyclen (which made me extremely moody/emotional) and more recently Lo-Estrin (which gave me no sex drive whatsoever and made me completely emotionless). I was anxious to find a happy medium after going from one extreme to the other. I've been on Kariva for three months now. I've never been one to have any type of headaches of any kind, and after being on Kariva I experience headaches multiple times a day. I'm extremely tired all the time and I've gained weight in my breasts (I'm naturally a D and I've went up to a large DD). No sex drive, extreme mood swings, acne and increased appetite. I can't wait to get off this pill. Look for other options before taking Kariva."

• Ruining...
• August 6, 2014

"I started taking Kariva May 2013 when I was 18. It was the first time I was a taking a birth control pill and I was with my boyfriend for 3 months at the time so it seemed like a smart decision. I mainly went on it to control my periods and clear up my acne which I was fed up with after years. Now I have realized that over the past year, it has made me completely emotionless and I have absolutely zero sex drive. On the bright side, my periods have been light and short (still painful cramping) and my skin has never looked better. I am going to stop taking it and try out a different pill that hopefully doesn't diminish my emotions."

• Anonymous
• October 6, 2011

"I have been taking Kariva for about 8 months, and so far I love it. My skin has cleared up, I have less cramps and far less moodiness before my period. Also, my periods are usually only about 3 days long when they used to be almost a week. I love this birth control! Also, I haven't gotten pregnant yet which is a huge plus. Only negative is I have gained about 15 pounds since starting Kariva (much of which went straight to my breasts). This weight gain could however be from the stress of college and a new boyfriend. Also, the first month I took the pill I would get incredibly nauseous everyday around 8 or 9 pm, but thankfully that subsided. Occasionally I will get this way on the first pill of a new pack but it is bearable. Overall, love it."

• Not...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 25, 2016

"After reading a lot of negative reviews I was nervous at first to start Kariva. I automatically thought it was going to be bad for me but I have not had one bad thing to say about Kariva. It cleared my skin a couple months after starting it along with preventing pregnancy. Other than that my sex drive, weight, moods and eating habits have all stayed the same. I think it really differs from person to person because I love it."

• No more
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• September 8, 2021

"After having a terrible experience with Nuvaring (panic attacks which started and ended with it) I took Kariva. Despite having sore boobs 24/7 and 365 and mood swings I didn’t think it would cause any medical problems until last fall when I got searing stomach pain and abnormally high lipase (pancreas) numbers to the point where I thought there was something seriously wrong with me I was in so much pain for months. No doctor believed it was because of birth control when I mentioned that was the only medication I was and they ran a bunch of unrelated tests and gave me Nexium. I finally decided to take it upon myself and went off birth control. Immediately, my pancreas numbers plummeted back to within range and have been normal since. My stomach began to heal, nearly completely now. Only in retrospect did doctors acknowledge the correlation. It might work for some people, what I got is probably rare, but I’m still seriously disappointed in how lightly the medical community takes hormonal drugs. Lesson learned."

• Anonymous
• June 15, 2011

"I've been on Kariva for 8 years with no problems (before Kariva I was on the brand name Mircette - same thing). Four years ago, with the blessings of my gynecologist, I stopped taking the 4th week all together. Haven't had my period for four years, no breakthrough bleeding, no spotting, no worries."

• butte...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 4, 2019

"I think it is important to note that birth control is different for everyone, but I was on Kariva for 5 days and it was awful! I would wake up between 3-4 times in a night, have night sweats (which is not normal for me), my breasts were SO tender, I was insanely bloated and THE WORST PART... I think a blood clot was forming in my calf. I did not think this was possible since I was only on it a few days, but then I read that clots normally form when first starting birth control. I was also very emotional/anxious/ depressed. I will be switching birth controls."

• Anonymous
• June 12, 2010

"So I was put on the birth control Kariva and I never got pregnant and it was the only form of birth control I used, so in that effect it worked. However, I experienced severe migraines that were bad enough. They checked me for a tumor, decreased sex drive, tired, nervous, dizziness, weight change, appetite change, and numbness on the left arm and hand. I have been off this birth control for just a few weeks and I am already feeling back to normal. "

• anony...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 15, 2015

"I was on this for almost 2 months. It did its job of preventing pregnancy and it also cleared up my skin, but it wasn't worth the side effects. I started getting anxiety attacks and debilitating depression. It got so bad that there were days I didn't want to get out of bed. Also my sex drive was nonexistent. I didn't want to be touched at all sometimes. All of the emotional issues and the low libido really took a toll on my relationship. When I thought this could be related to the pill, I went off. It hasn't even been a week and I feel so much better."

• Lisa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 18, 2016

"This birth control is amazing! I was definitely skeptical about it reading all of the mixed reviews, but I cannot really complain. The first month I started I had a week of migraines and a strenuous and painful menstrual period . But after that week, the migraines were gone and I literally had no cramps, headache, nausea, or any menstrual signs. My period only lasted 4 days, I'm in the best moods ever. I cannot say this medication effected my sexual desires. But the medication did lighten my discharge which I am very thankful for. CVS did try to switch me to the generic brand but I could not take risk. Literally it's great!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 30, 2015

"I've been on this for about 3 years and experience very little cramping and other period side effects which is great. Also I haven't gotten pregnant so I guess it does the job. But I experience drastic mood swings, no sex drive whatsoever, and my hooha is like a desert. I stayed on it because I'm too lazy to make a new appointment with my gyno but its starting to drive a wedge in my relationship as the side effects are getting increasingly worse, so I plan to change soon."

• Horri...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 15, 2017

"I started this pill a week ago due to Stage 3 Endometriosis. I am having pregancy like nausea. It is all day. The only way to fix it is to continually eat. If I did that I would pack on the pounds. It is also making me feel weird in my head. Like I cannot focus. I would not recommend this at all."

• Jjsadi
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 3, 2018

"I’m 23 years old. I’ve switched from Viorele to Kariva because my pharmacy decided to switch it and I just ended up taking it. I definitely do feel a bit more emotional than usual, but I don’t know if it’s casually linked to the Kariva. I realized a small rash of white pimples next to my mouth - which I’m hoping is not a side effect and is nothing serious. I’ve only been on this new pack for a week now, but I don’t really have any complaints. I liked my previous bc Viorele, and they have the same exact active ingredients... so far I’m ok with the switch."

• Gravi...
• September 5, 2016

"I can't give this medication a 10 without being on it for a long time, but what I can say is that this medication was recommended to me 2 different doctors who also take it themselves. Also, I can say that my side-effects from my previous birth control are going away after taking Kariva. I had the worst mood-swings and anxiety from Ortho-tri-cyclen. I was always either angry and upset for or hysterically crying for no good reason. From the first time I took Kariva, my mood dramatically improved. I actually feel friendly towards others for the first time in months."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 28, 2016

"I have been on Kariva for about 3 years now. I originally went on the pill for my severe cramps and heavy bleeding. After one month, my acne cleared up, my period got much shorter, and my cramps were less intense. However, I have gained 20 pounds and a full cup size since being on the pill. In addition, I have absolutely no sex drive and a lot of dryness. Though I have experienced anxiety before taking the pill, it has gotten much worse since being on it. My PMS is much more severe as well."

• sam
• September 6, 2016

"I have been on Kariva for almost 3 years and I have never got any bad side effects. I originally went on birth control because I get really bad cramps before I get my period, during, and after. I've tried so many birth controls and this one is definitely the best. Like someone else said, be careful at CVS because they will sometimes switch you to their preferred generic Viorele which is the worst one I have EVER been on. It gave me migraines every 3 days, it was so bad. I am a little mad because I got new insurance and I have to pay more for Kariva but it is worth it. It is definitely the best one out of this group!"

• Josieb
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 21, 2016

"I would not recommend this birth control. I've been taking it for almost a year now and it just makes my period all wacky. It also makes me extremely emotional as opposed to my last brand before this which was trivora (love trivora) after I finish this pack I'm going to stop it all together. I just cant deal with it anymore. In the beginning it was fine but as time went on it just kept getting progressively worse and my period became all out of wack now. Definitely more cons than pros. The only thing that's good is that I haven't ever had pregnancy scare. Other than that....would not recommend"

• Anonymous
• October 1, 2011

"I started this in September 2010 and continued to use it until July 2011. Everything about it was great except for one thing, NO SEX DRIVE whatsoever. My periods were short and light, no weight gain or bloating, no cramping or mood swings, however the no sex drive didn't work for me. After being off of it for a month or so, my libido returned."

• kjox
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 23, 2016

"I have been on Kariva for less than 2 years, and I guess I never read the drug information because my sex drive is near nothing. I even get annoyed when sex is brought up. My period is only 3 days long though, and no nausea or cramping to go with. But, the fact that my body refuses sex now is getting ridiculous. My doctor suggested it for me because I am pretty moody or my moods flipped a lot on everything else I tried. But Kariva was the last thing I could try. I'm breaking up with it. I miss being intimate with my boyfriend..."

• Anonymous
• April 12, 2011

"I was prescribed this for birth control because I didn't like the weight I gained on Yaz, but it was a mistake. For weeks I had horrible headaches to the point where I couldn't think, and then had terrible mood swings. Effective as a contraceptive, because I didn't get pregnant, but I was confused as to why I didn't feel like myself at all. After I figured out that it was probably Kariva, I stopped immediately. I had no clue birth control pills could make me that crazy! After a month, I felt much better. Not taking this ever again."

• Julie
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 12, 2019

"This Kariva birth control has completely ruined my mental state! I have not gotten pregnant or had any scares but that is not worth what it has done to me emotionally. I am always on the verge of crying, I wake up mornings feeling depressed, and I have even developed anxiety and have anxiety attacks once a month when I have NEVER had anxiety in the past. It has put a strain on my relationship with my boyfriend because he is constantly having to tend to me emotionally as I am always susceptible to mood swings and upset. My period has not even improved other than the fact it is consistent, it is still five days and not even much lighter. Also, my cramps have not improved at all they may have even gotten worse."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 11, 2017

"I have taken Kariva for about 6 months and my boobs have gone from an A cup to a D cup, which is alarming. I have pregnancy like symptoms very often, but I'm not pregnant. Overall this birth control made me extremely moody and gain crazy weight."

• MissA...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 4, 2015

"Took brand Mircette for 2 months. Great for skin & body adjusted quickly to brand only. Had no immediate side effects but the manufacturer never made enough. Was forced to generic. Estrogen placebos did nothing to help menstrual migraine/estrogen withdrawls dibiltating headaches. It was actually worse on this pill. Many trips to ER. On brand I didn't have the daily headaches. Sex was ridiculously painful on both & 3rd month on brand was unbearably dry in my vagina. Took kariva & had the most dibiltating migraine/daily headaches ever. All dr's denied the correlation. Had break though bleeding/spotting tampon amounts for 3 months & then anemic. Demanded to be removed off this! Get rid of your gyno if she doesn't believe you."