Altavera for Birth Control User Reviews (Page 2)

• Kano
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 25, 2018

"I asked my doctor about taking birth control because my periods would last 1 1/2 to 2 weeks. They were very heavy, with the first 2 to 3 days where I would have terrible cramps to where I couldn't move. Midol did not always help. After starting the birth control my periods are now 3 or 4 days long. They aren't heavy and I don't get cramps. I do, however, get terribly gassy the week before my period, but that's worth it to not have awful cramps. My boobs get tender too before my period, but I had that before birth control. I've been on Altavera for three years now - going on four - and I am happy with it. I didn't really gain that much weight when I started it. The weight I did gain was from not the best diet and no exercise. It's not hard to lose weight either, if you're still taking Altavera."

• Kdren
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 20, 2021

"I have been on Levora for about a year. Due to it being unavailable, my pharmacy switched me to Altavera about 4 months ago. I've had more frequent acne on Altavera, but nothing horrible. I've been trying to lose weight and it's impossible on this pill. The worst of it is that I've been crying randomly, the tiniest things set it off. Awful headaches that don't respond to otc or prescription medications. I've been sweating profusely for the last two months - something as simple as washing dishes has me drenched from head to mid-thigh. Also, I'm exhausted all the time. Honestly, I felt so exhausted and burnt out, I thought I was pregnant! That was about the moment that I realized all of this coincides with the medication change. I'm switching back to Levora. I have 3 packs of Altavera left, they will go right in the trash."

• lulub...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 29, 2022

"I have been taking this for about a year. It worked like any other birth control pill, I am in my 40s. I started getting horrible headaches during the off week, but I am not a stranger to headaches. I also was experiencing an increase in ovary pain or pain near ovaries each month. Again, I wasn't sure if these were from the pill because it did not always happen. I have suffered from anxiety and depression for ten years and have taken Lexapro daily which made my symptoms pretty much non-existent. However, I noticed the last two months my anxiety and depression have heightened during the last two weeks of the four-week pack, getting much, much worse during the last/off week. I first thought it was my Lexapro no longer working but I felt great during the first two weeks of taking Altavera. I wonder if it is this pill. I want to get off of it and see if that helps."

• Bcisn...
• March 9, 2022

"I just started this, and within the first 2 days my acne got bad, cystic acne on the sides of my face and forehead, day 6 it went away and now my skin is pretty clear, but starting it I was 131lb now I’m 138lb within 7 days, I’ve been feeling extremely ill and horribly emotional. I got on this because my mom thought it was a good idea and the Dr said it was good for my acne and preventing pregnancy. But to be honest, I’m ditching the pills today, I rather have never taken these since I deal with body bad dysmorphia, and bad depression. I’m already bipolar enough why add altavera on top? and hearing that when you stop a birth control like this you get post-pill acne which I wish the doctor informed me on since I’ve suffered with severe hormonal acne almost my whole life, really puts me down the damn rabbit hole. I don’t recommend this pill to anyone with severe mental health issues and body dysmorphia, unless it works for you, And if it don’t….. Ditch it."

• Mel
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 9, 2018

"I was on a few different generic birth controls before the pharmacy started giving me Altavera for the past 2 or so years. I usually skip the white placebo pills and start taking the next week of pink pills right away to skip my period. However, I do notice that after about 3 months of skipping my period I'll start having some light spotting so at that point I'll take the placebo pills. I used to break out every time I got my period but now my face is clear unless my diet is really bad."

• niki
• June 7, 2017

"My doctor switched me to this after having depression, anxiety and terrible cramps while taking Kariva. I've been taking birth control for about 7 years now due to PCOS and I've tried pretty much everything, nothing seems to be the right fit as of yet. I've been on Altavera for 2 months and I've gained 12 lbs already. Aside from increased hunger, I've noticed I've had less cramping and my periods were lighter and for less days. I've also had less mood swings. Aside from gaining weight, overall not bad."

• Ann
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 20, 2022

"I have had a good experience on Altavera. I was initially on Levora through Nurx, but they switched me after 6 months. My libido has increased since switching from Levora, though it is probably still lower than it was when before I started any hormonal birth control. My periods are very regular. I don’t experience much breakthrough bleeding. The only time I have breakthrough bleeding is if I smoked or vaped (which I rarely do). My weight has not fluctuated in a noticeable way. I have lost a couple pounds due to the nausea that can occur. I have noticed I’m more picky with my eating now. Things sound gross that previously were good to me. But this isn’t a big issue as it doesn’t happen very intensely or with many foods. My moods have been pretty stable. Maybe sometimes it’s easier to get overwhelmed emotionally and react, but it doesn’t happen very often."

• Roys
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 14, 2021

"The absolute worst. While taking Altavera, I experienced this insatiable hunger at all times. There was a constant pang of hunger in my stomach all day everyday, making me constantly think about food. I thought it was so bizarre I even stopped taking the pills for a few days and the hunger immediately went away, the difference was night and day. The next day after I resumed the pills the feeling came back. I disposed of the remainder of my pills. I also am not someone that has ever had issues with acne. This pill gave me a weekly pimple or two on my chin. I have never had any of these side effects with the other pills like Portia and Levora. Stay far far away from this pill."

• lele
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 27, 2018

"Ok, so Altavera is the first birth control I got on and it's been working fine. I initially lost my appetite completely and in the first week, I lost 4 lbs. Now I've been regaining my appetite and I've gained all that weight back that I've lost. I've been on it for over 2 weeks now and I have no complaints other than I've gotten 2 pimples on my forehead and I never break out there and I've gained a little weight since I started it but I'm not any heavier than when I started it so that's good. I haven't had headaches or anything so I'm happy about that. I haven't had any issues so I recommend for the time being."

• yeahf...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 26, 2022

"I was on Lillow for about 3 years steady until they started trying to give me Altavera. Ever since the first day I took it it gave me a raging UTI after sex, and Lillow never did that. This pill also makes me an emotional disaster. I’ve been on it for a week because CVS won’t give me Lillow and I have been crying every day, with no sex drive. MY FACE IS ALSO BREAKING OUT. NEVER TAKE THIS PILL!!!"

• altav...
• March 12, 2023

"I was on orriann for a year or two, which is birth control but not really. It is s supposed to be given a year worth to stop my period from being so heavy which was great it did work. Unfortunately, they gave me a month's supply then they stopped. I recently started having irregular periods which were heavy in one month and got my period twice. the doctor recommended this Altavera it's only been 3 weeks but I feel a little down and depressed and my boobs ache. I think am going to give it until this month and if I feel off then am going to tell the doctor to give me something else. I don't like to feel down and am not a depressed person, I am always in a good mood."

• Kat
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 21, 2022

"This was a terrible medicine for me. Started taking this because my periods are awful. Altavera made me extremely irritable and tired. The first month was ok, was able to skip my period. Towards the end of the 3rd pack, had a lot of spotting, so I decided to go ahead and take the placebo pills so I could have a break from the moodiness. Big mistake!!! Made my period so bad, I had diarrhea and threw up constantly the first day. I had to call out of work! The last pack I took, I started my period on the active pills, and it's horrible again. Super heavy flow with lots of clots. Switching to something else now."

• Carol...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 13, 2023

"I was on Altavera for 6 months. I did not have any serious side effects besides lower libido, but it didn’t totally kill my sex drive. Unfortunately, out of nowhere, I started having some extreme side effects at month 6. After my placebo pills and start of my new pack, I started getting breast pain immediately. I thought this was strange because my period had just ended. This did not subside the entire month (Took a million pregnancy tests, so ruled that out) along with this my anxiety was through the roof and I truly felt crazy. Once I started my placebos again and got my period, all of the symptoms went away. Didn't want to go through that again so I decided to switch. Overall this pill was decent for me, never had a birth control affect me this way in the past after 4+ months of use"

• Zig
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 29, 2022

"I have been on Altavera for a year or so and have gained 40 lbs. don’t use this medication!"

• Anonymous
• August 3, 2016

"This pill has given me so much acne. My mood and emotions are pretty stable but my acne is unbearable."

• ajs
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 9, 2022

"Altavera made me gain weight and gave my the worst breakouts of my life and heightened my anxiety. I don’t like this one"