Lessina and Depression: What Users Say

• jvu...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 14, 2020

For Birth Control "I have been on this birth control for about 3 months now. The first month was fine. Last month, I started developing horrible boob pain and veins coursing all over them. Then I noticed spider veins on my hips and then on my butt. I have occasional leg pains. I’m wondering if anyone else has experienced this? I also have headaches, occasional nausea, lacking motivation, really bad appetite changes (one day super hungry, the next day don’t want to eat), starting to feel depressed, and anxiety increasing by a ton. I just feel generally tired and am thinking of switching pills."

• Anonymous
• October 18, 2011

For Birth Control "I have previously tried Yaz, which I quit after becoming emotional. My doctor switched me to another brand (which worked fine-no emotional drawbacks) but had to switch me due to my student care card. Then I was switched to Lessina. I had never been so emotional and depressed in my entire life. Additionally, my skin became unmanageable, I started having massive headaches, I couldn't focus because of exhaustion (I slept 15 hours two days in a row and previously had a normal sleeping pattern), and I was so weak that getting out of bed became a task. I am now on a different birth control pill and am experiencing none of these symptoms."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 26, 2020

For Birth Control "Horrible. I have been spotting nonstop for 2 weeks now. Mood swings, crying spells, increased depression, sweating, weight gain, and bloating. I tried to stick it out for 2 months, but I am stopping this OCP ASAP."

• Anonymous
• November 7, 2018

For Birth Control "This one was rough. I’ve never felt more moody, depressed, and all around not myself on this pill. I stopped it after one month. Wasn’t even worth it. Everyone reacts differently, but my experience on this was terrible."

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 13, 2018

For Birth Control "Would not recommend this birth control at all. Regret ever taking it. I was on Lessina for about 6 weeks when I realized I needed to stop. I was constantly tired and wanted to sleep. My weight stayed the same, but I wasn’t on it long enough. I felt like my acne actually got worse - I had painful pimples that didn’t go away for weeks. On top of this, I started to lose my self-confidence and motivation. I did already have anxiety but was always able to control it, but on this birth control, my anxiety was terrible and I couldn’t control it - I had to hold myself from having anxiety attacks in school. I would easily get ticked off or upset over the smallest things. I started to experience depression and didn’t feel like myself at all on this pill. Forgot what it was like to feel normal and really happy like I used to be. DON'T TAKE THIS PILL."

• big...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 9, 2019

For Birth Control "I’ve been taking Lessina for about 7 and a half weeks. Ever since I started it, I have had a non-stop period, currently heavy, which is so disappointing because the downsides are not worth it. My acne has greatly improved. I was previously diagnosed with anxiety and depression, and being on this medication has led me to become paranoid for no reason and has led me to develop really dark thoughts along with suffering severe depression and anxiety (I am medicated for depression and was fine before I started taking this pill). I have also experienced heavy mood swings and bipolar episodes."

• Mh2...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 24, 2020

For Birth Control "I’ve only been taking Lessina for a week, and it has genuinely been the worst week of my life. It took me until today to realize it was my birth control. I’ve had anxiety/depression for as long as I can remember, but the suicidal thoughts I’ve had this week have been nothing like I have ever experienced. I’ve cried constantly and randomly for no reason. My poor boyfriend has tried to help. I threw up last night, haven’t been eating, I’m nauseous all the time. I will not be ingesting this pill a single day more. I genuinely almost checked myself into a mental institution, and I fully believe it has to do with this pill."

• Mon...
• August 6, 2018

For Birth Control "My doctor had originally put me on Aviane, but Walgreens gave me the generic brand, which was something else. They then stopped giving me that and switched me to Lessina, which I was taking for about a year. It was working great. I had no bad side effects. It wasn’t affecting my mental health. I’m actually trying to switch back to this now. Since I finished all of my refills, I went to a different doctor to get the same prescription. But they gave me Vienva. I’ve been taking it for two months now, and it’s made me really sad and unmotivated."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 3, 2017

For Birth Control "Literally the worst birth control ever. I was on Orsythia, and my pharmacy said this was the 'generic' version. My period was always regular, and my period came two weeks earlier this month. It also makes me break out and gained about five pounds. I have become very emotional and depressed, I was never like that. Now, I cry for everything. Do not recommend."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 3, 2022

For Birth Control "If you are reading this, this is your sign to NOT TAKE THIS!!!!! I started it for the first time this month. My acne is awful. My skin was so clear before and now it’s covered in pimples. My appetite increased so much. I was literally eating everything in my fridge. I'm so bloated all the time. Not to mention my depression was so bad the last week. I literally wanted to die. Please stay away from this !!!"

• luc...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 5, 2021

For Ovarian Cysts "I have been on Lessina for about two years (I'm 18 years old) for ovarian cysts. I've noticed my periods are much lighter and more regular, which is awesome, and haven't had a cyst rupture while on it yet. Though it does regulate everything, I've found that it makes me depressed and makes me gain weight. It works for cysts, but wrecks my body and mind more than I thought it would."

• Gen...
• September 7, 2015

For Ovarian Cysts "I'm on this medicine to help with a current ovarian cyst, but the side effects are pushing me to surgery if living like this is my option. It makes me feel depressed and ready to cry at the drop of a hat, angry, mean, antisocial, and it has absolutely killed my sex drive. I'm on my fourth and last dose because I'm not feeling like this anymore!"

• Ng1...
• October 5, 2018

For Birth Control "Initially wanted to go back on the pill because I experience pretty severe PMS symptoms within the 10 days or so leading up to my period that really prevent me from my normal, everyday functions due to a hormonal imbalance. Tried to stick it out for a little over 2 weeks but then couldn’t take it anymore. Was constantly tired, depressed, and anxious within the first few days. Experienced severe mood swings at the start of week 2, crying for no reason and then suddenly would get angry and snap. Had insane acne and cravings from the start that I couldn’t resist, leading to a solid 10 lb weight gain and painful blemishes, which only made the depression worse. Felt so self-conscious and didn’t have the motivation to work out, which is something I love to do daily, during the entirety of my experience. Needless to say, probably some of the worst weeks I’ve experienced in a while. Started to return back to normal within a few days of stopping."

• Ng1...
• October 5, 2018

For Birth Control "Initially wanted to go back on the pill because I experience pretty severe PMS symptoms within the 10 days or so leading up to my period that really prevent me from my normal, everyday functions due to a hormonal imbalance. Tried to stick it out for a little over 2 weeks but then couldn’t take it anymore. Was constantly tired, depressed, and anxious within the first few days. Experienced severe mood swings at the start of week 2, crying for no reason and then suddenly would get angry and snap. Had insane acne and cravings from the start that I couldn’t resist, leading to a solid 10 lb weight gain and painful blemishes, which only made the depression worse. Felt so self-conscious and didn’t have the motivation to work out, which is something I love to do daily, during the entirety of my experience. Needless to say, probably some of the worst weeks I’ve experienced in a while. Started to return back to normal within a few days of stopping."

• Ell...
• June 30, 2018

For Birth Control "I've been taking Lessina for about 4 months now. I used to take Seasonique, for whatever reason, they prescribed me awful birth control instead. I'm so moody and literally hate the world and myself. I cry all the time, honestly, I have the worst mood swings I've ever experienced. I stay so depressed that all I do is want to lay in bed and cry or sleep. I've gained 20 lbs from this and got some acne. I constantly have the worst crushing migraines I've ever had in my life. Just all around the worst experience. It works for preventing pregnancy, but it's not worth the emotional state it leaves you in."

• Sma...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 4, 2018

For Birth Control "I started this birth control pill after removing the Mirena. I was given this pill as the generic to what my ob/gyn prescribed. I wish I would've left it at the pharmacy! This is the WORST PILL EVER!!!!! Let's start with mood swings, weight gain, tender breasts, depression, decreased sex drive, and edema. I would NEVER recommend. I discontinued after being on the pill for 1.5 months. I actually stopped taking birth control pills altogether to allow my body a chance to get back to normal. This by far was the WORST experience with birth control."

• Jam...
• July 8, 2018

For Birth Control "I was recently switched to Lessina due to my other brand giving me constant anxiety and sadness. The first week of taking Lessina, I felt so great and hopeful that it wouldn’t bring the side effects that I read about in the reviews. Once the second week came along, it was rock bottom. I took one pack in total because I was trying to give it a chance, but I had to go back to my doctor to get it changed. It was the worst panic attacks and depression I have ever felt, even comparing my last birth control to it. I would cry so much that I would have to throw up, I couldn’t breathe or control my panic attacks at all. I’m giving it 3 stars because it actually helped clear up my skin, and I didn’t gain weight like many have said, so that was a positive. I highly do NOT recommend this birth control if you have any bad history of mood swings with other birth controls."

• Jam...
• July 8, 2018

For Birth Control "I was recently switched to Lessina due to my other brand giving me constant anxiety and sadness. The first week of taking Lessina, I felt so great and hopeful that it wouldn’t bring the side effects that I read about in the reviews. Once the second week came along, it was rock bottom. I took one pack in total because I was trying to give it a chance, but I had to go back to my doctor to get it changed. It was the worst panic attacks and depression I have ever felt, even comparing my last birth control to it. I would cry so much that I would have to throw up, I couldn’t breathe or control my panic attacks at all. I’m giving it 3 stars because it actually helped clear up my skin, and I didn’t gain weight like many have said, so that was a positive. I highly do NOT recommend this birth control if you have any bad history of mood swings with other birth controls."

• 805...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 24, 2017

For Endometriosis "I've been taking Lessina for less than 2 months now (for my pelvic floor myalgia) and I've had a horrible experience so far. At the end of the first pack (around the 2 white pills), I started my period and the first 2 days were fine (other than the fact that I'm constantly in pain), but the 3rd day was terrible. I went through 6 pads, with a bunch of clots, mind you, I've never had clots with a period before. So I had to go to the ER, where they had to give me IV fluids and pain medication because the pain I had was so much worse than just the usual periods I get. They told me it was from the BC and I should be switched right away. I also suffer from depression as it is, and I just haven't been able to pick myself up. I've been on so many BCs, and nothing helps."

• Anonymous
• April 5, 2018

For Birth Control "Was on this birth control for four months. I am a pretty optimistic, look-on-the-bright-side, happy girl, but this stuff completely changed that. I became very moody, very gray. Very depressed for no reason. It worked, but the side effects were not worth it. It made my head feel very cloudy and made me feel like I was stuck in my head. I ran out of my fourth month and didn’t have a chance to go get a refill right away, which turned into a huge blessing. My head started to become clear, and I began to feel like myself again. Needless to say, I will be looking for a new bc."

• Jac...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 31, 2018

For Birth Control "WORST BC EVER! I had used this after giving birth to my son. I would get really bad nausea that would last a week and would make me think I'm pregnant every month, it would do that, then I would get my period. I've had horrible depressed thoughts and just a horrible, horrible experience with this pill. I didn't gain or lose weight. Did have some acne blotches every now and then."

• ros...
• September 8, 2011

For Birth Control "I have gained weight, and my depression has gotten worse. I had the Mirena before, so there is no comparison."