Xulane and Depression: What Users Say

• Dra...
• June 9, 2020

For Birth Control "I was on the patch for 3 weeks, and every day I was EXTREMELY nauseous. My breasts were extremely tender and swollen. I already struggle with migraines, and I had a consistent migraine while on this patch. I also was extremely tired and fatigued daily and also had mood swings terribly. Depression and anxiety were also at an all-time high while on this medication. I had no sex drive, and sex was no longer pleasurable. I usually don't write reviews, but honestly, reviews have been helping me navigate the best birth control method. I have literally been off the patch for less than 48 hours and already am feeling better from the side effects. Some might say it was all in my head, but whenever I applied the patch, that area of my body would tingle and itch, so I know the effects can quickly change. Would definitely say it helps with not getting pregnant, but if you are at all sensitive to headaches or medication, I recommend a close watch."

• Any...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 24, 2020

For Birth Control "I went on Xulane patches when I was 17. I am now almost 21 and have been on them regularly since. I did not particularly notice any side effects right away, but any that may have been could just as easily be explained by the stress of leaving for college. However, my problem lies in this last month. Life got hectic, and I forgot to apply a new patch after my period for about 3 weeks (I’ve always been regular with them prior). I noticed in this time that I felt better and more “myself” than I had in years, and that despite being on no other medication, my depression symptoms seemed to nearly all go away. Now, the common symptoms listed on here report low to no chance of depression or mood changes, but in retrospect, it only popped up for me when I went on Xulane and went away just as quickly when I accidentally went off of it. Have any other long-term users experienced this or something similar?"

• 007...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 26, 2017

For Birth Control "Xulane was my first experience with birth control. I had been on the patch for a little over 3 months. I experienced many common (and rare) side effects. However, they either dissipated within a couple of weeks or became manageable. This last month, though, I began to heavily battle depression to the point where I was very anxious and having suicidal thoughts. I also used to have flawless, clear skin. Pimples began to cover my face even with a super diligent skincare routine. My depression did not seem to subside either. As soon as I got the okay from my doctor to take the patch off, my skin began to rapidly bounce back, along with my mental health. It's been a week since being off Xulane, and it's such a relief to be rid of it!"

• Can...
• August 10, 2018

For Birth Control "I was on this patch in my twenties and went on it again after my second child was born. I have been back on it for 2 months. I suffer from migraines in general, but being on this makes them last so much longer, especially around the time I’m due for my period. I also have anxiety, and this is also so much worse. I have also put on 5 pounds. I am feeling extremely depressed, and I’m probably taking the patch off and switching."

• Myr...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 19, 2023

For Birth Control "This patch drove me crazy during the almost 2 months I was on it. Initially, I had to change it every couple of days due to minor discomfort like itching or sliding. However, right from the start, I began experiencing pregnancy-like symptoms such as tender nipples, nausea, and bloating. I'm not exactly sure when it began, but I used it for a whole month, had my period, which allowed me to take it off for a week, and then continued using it for another week or two before realizing the impact it was having on me. It caused me to vomit unexpectedly. It was strange because I would randomly feel nauseous and throw up whatever I had eaten or drunk, or sometimes just foam or bile due to an empty stomach. The migraines were absolutely unbearable! I could hardly tolerate light in my eyes or loud sounds without my ears ringing and my head throbbing. I also experienced severe mood swings, loss of appetite, sadness, and a feeling of being disconnected from myself. Finally, one day I removed it before taking a shower and forgot to put it back on. Surprisingly, I immediately felt different the next day. I would never use this patch again. I feel like a completely new person now."

• Jul...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 17, 2018

For Birth Control "I used to take Ortho Evra when I was younger and was completely fine on it. I thought I would have a similar experience on Xulane. I ended up with severe mood swings, depression, and anxiety, to the point of crying every day for weeks. I had low libido, was tired all the time, my vision became blurry, I lost my appetite, I had severe headaches, and loss of balance. I’d wake up in the middle of the night from sweating so much. I tried to let my body get used to the high amount of hormones in this product, but I couldn’t take it anymore. I didn’t feel like myself, and it was affecting my marriage. I am now making an appointment with my doctor to see what other options are out there. I’m happy this drug has worked for some of you ladies, but I would be careful if it starts affecting your mental health like it did mine. I feel relieved not being on it anymore."

• imm...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 21, 2022

For Birth Control "I’ve been on Xulane for 3 years. Xulane has high estrogen levels, so when I first started, I lightly bled for about a month, and after that, my period has always been regular. It helped so much with my acne. I have realized one period will be a light flow with bad cramps, and the next will be heavy with no cramps. I am more emotional and moody. I get depressed once in a while, but I have good support people around me, so it’s nothing but a lay-in-bed day. Just recently, after a few days of wearing a new week's patch, where the patch is will get itchy and red randomly, like an allergic reaction, and I’m not sure why. I saw someone else saying the same thing. But other than that, 10/10 on preventing pregnancy."

• Kay...
• March 22, 2019

For Birth Control "5 years ago, I started on Ortho Tri-Cyclen, and it worked out well until I got to college. Went through all the stress, emotions, and long story short, it made me crazy. Then, I tried the birth control shot for 9 months. Went great the first round, then started losing a bunch of weight, having my periods for a full 2 months at a time, and it made me anemic, and you guessed it-CRAZY. So I quit birth control altogether about 7 months ago. In those 7 months, I’ve had my period every day, along with heavy bleeding. Talked to my gyno, and since I’m busy with school and 2 jobs, I needed something I wouldn’t forget to take. She recommended this, so I gave it a shot. Had this on for a week. PROS: - immediately stopped my period, - don’t have to worry about missing it. CONS: - emotional - mental breakdowns (at least 1 a day, for no reason), my boobs hurt SO BAD - my legs cramped up really bad almost immediately after I put the patch on - nauseous. & I'm not talking about normal nausea."

• Hay...
• December 21, 2016

For Birth Control "My first time starting any kind of birth control (just to regulate my period, not really as a contraceptive), and I could only last halfway through my third week. The increase in anxiety, depression, along with the pregnancy-like symptoms, were debilitating. I just took my patch off today because I couldn't take it anymore. I have terrible gastrointestinal problems, feel sore and tender, dizzy, have headaches, and the worst part is the nausea. It's been gradually increasing since I started and has finally gotten to the point where I can't leave my bed. My first patch fell off after three days, so I put a new one on my thigh instead of my side, and that made it not come off anymore, but the mix of mood swings and painful symptoms are too much."

• Ama...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 6, 2017

For Birth Control "Before I got on the patch, I was on the birth control shot. The shot was horrible, and it made me gain 20 lbs, and I had horrible mood swings that almost cost me my relationship with my boyfriend, as well as the extreme depression issues it gave me. Changing to the patch was the best decision I could have ever made. I'm much more calm and back to my normal self. This product is the real deal."

• pen...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 13, 2015

For Birth Control "After reading several other reviews, I've realized that every real major issue I've had over the past 7 weeks (how long I was using it) has been because of this thing. My anxiety and depression have been at an all-time high, the past three days I haven't been able to keep anything down, and I've definitely experienced the low libido several others have mentioned. After lying on the floor in nauseous agony and reading the reviews, I tore it right off. I don't want to say I'm already feeling better, but honestly. This is my first time using BC other than condoms, and I chose the patch because I knew I would have trouble with the pill. But after my experience, I wish I had chosen something different. Would not recommend."

• Kat...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 3, 2018

For Birth Control "First thing I would say is that every birth control reacts differently to everyone, so don't let a bad review stop you. I read a lot of negative reviews about Xulane but decided to give it a try. Now this is my first time ever on BC, and bear in mind it's been a whole week. The first side effect I noticed was that my anxiety and depression were like 10,000x worse. The nausea is slight but bearable. I found that if I start to feel nauseated, I eat something light, and it typically goes away. I also experienced a loss of appetite, but I think it's just my body adjusting to the hormones. Oh, and this BC makes me extremely fatigued! But so far, this BC is okay for me. I'll give it the full 3 months to see if the side effects go away."

• Ash...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 19, 2021

For Birth Control "This is the worst birth control ever! I never suffered from anxiety or depression until this birth control was prescribed to me. I would literally feel out of place and disconnected from the world around me. I would sit in bed and bawl my eyes out with my husband. It was affecting my sleep because it caused chills while having it on the 1st week. By the 2nd and 3rd week, I'm drenched in my sweat at night. I'm sick and tired of washing my bed sheets every day during the 2nd and 3rd week. I never suffered from acne but now I'm on long-term medications to treat severe acne. This pain caused extreme sweating that caused severe Hidradenitis Suppurativa flare-ups, which cost me so much money with a dermatologist. I have severe scarring thanks to this stuff. It should be illegal. So you think that's all it does to some people? Try chronic thyroid complications that leave you feeling like you can't breathe or swallow because the gland is severely swollen. Weight gain double time. AVOID!"

• Anonymous
• August 9, 2015

For Birth Control "I started taking Xulane when my insurance stopped covering Ortho Evra. The first month was fine, no side effects, irritation, or pregnancy scares or anything, but then the second month I started experiencing nausea, cramps, my period was late, and then I had the absolute worst depression and even started losing touch with reality. I thought I was going crazy, but since I stopped it, I've felt completely fine. Did prevent me from getting pregnant, but the mood swings were not worth it anymore, will have to move on to the pill."

• HJa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 15, 2019

For Birth Control "I’ve always been a super outgoing and happy person, but when I took the birth control pill, I became depressed. So I decided to try the patch. It was okay for the first few months, but I slowly started feeling less and less like myself. I became super depressed, and my sex drive basically went away, and I gained quite a bit of weight while I was on this as well, and so I decided the negatives outweighed the benefits. On the bright side, I didn’t get pregnant, and I’ve always struggled with acne (even when on the pill), but it went away when I was on the patch. I’m considering going on it again, I just don’t want to be depressed."

• Bou...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 27, 2016

For Birth Control "My first time taking birth control, and I chose the patch. I was prescribed Xulane. I hate it. I already had a slight acne problem, it didn't improve it. It made my breasts tender all the time. I was spotting for a whole week, which was expected. The main issue from being on this patch was my mood swings. I felt depressed, sad, I was crying for no reason, and then I would be happy again. My boyfriend hates it because of my mood swings. I've been on it for 3 months, but not anymore."

• Bou...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 27, 2016

For Birth Control "My first time taking birth control, and I chose the patch. I was prescribed Xulane. I hate it. I already had a slight acne problem, it didn't improve it. It made my breasts tender all the time. I was spotting for a whole week, which was expected. The main issue from being on this patch was my mood swings. I felt depressed, sad, I was crying for no reason, and then I would be happy again. My boyfriend hates it because of my mood swings. I've been on it for 3 months, but not anymore."

• AKR...
• November 22, 2016

For Birth Control "Nightmare! I was on the Xulane birth control patch for 2 full months. I have felt like a complete zombie with no energy at all. I can feel depression, anxiety, and mood swings getting worse. I'm starting to get headaches and nausea, which I have never experienced before. The patch doesn't stick very well on the skin. I've gotten rashes, and it's always itchy at the site. I'm giving up on birth control because the crippling mental side effects are not worth it. I'm going back to condoms forever. BEWARE, the mental/emotional side effects sneak up on you over time."

• ver...
• June 26, 2015

For Birth Control "I could tell this patch wasn't for me after two months of being on it. I had every side effect you could think of: mood swings, depression, nausea, vomiting, stomach aches, chest pain, shortness of breath, headaches, tingling in my feet and hands, aching in my arms and legs. It got to the point where I was so concerned I had to go to the emergency room to make sure I didn't have any blood clots and that I wasn't in danger of having a stroke or heart attack. Turns out I was okay, but they took me off the patch immediately. I'm only 22, but I smoke, so I guess that could be why I had such a bad reaction to it. I'm disappointed it didn't work for me because the convenience of not having to take a pill every day was nice. Oh well."

• Ann...
• October 15, 2018

For Birth Control "Been on and off this BC for about a year now. My periods seem to have shortened tremendously, and my breasts literally increased cup size. I suffer from migraines, and surprisingly, I haven’t had much of an episode on this. I have noticed, however, a change in my sex drive, which is not all that great now, and a HUGE change in my mood and behavior. I pretty much feel like I am dealing with postpartum depression all over again. I cry randomly, I’m sad a lot more than I can digest, and I literally get angry without warning. It’s really a love and hate thing for me, but the fact that my boyfriend and my daughter can notice a change in me overall, I think this is doing more harm than good. Deciding to take it off during my next period. If you have any anxiety or history of mental illness such as depression, please do your research, this is definitely not for everyone."

• Yas...
• August 11, 2016

For Birth Control "I switched from the Nexplanon implant simply because I heard of a recall on it, and I couldn't take the constant dizziness and headaches. I used Ortho Evra before, and it was lovely, but this isn't at all. The first night, I felt like I couldn't sleep. With that being said, I was up for 3 days with absolutely no sleep, walking around like an insane person. Severe pain (hunger pangs) that I think contribute to the weight gain, nausea, and breast pain. I took it off. I tried it again, and the physical side effects have faded somewhat, but depression, anxiety, and mood swings are back in my life 10 times worse..."

• Let...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 18, 2022

For Birth Control "This birth control will give you nonstop headaches (no med will take it away), a lot of anxiety and depression, loss of sexual desire, a lot of anger, a lot of thinking, moody, nausea, bloating… worst BC ever."

• Lei...
• June 11, 2016

For Birth Control "When I started Xulane, I had many reactions. I experienced severe mood swings, and Xulane increased my depression and anxiety. I also experienced redness and itching at the application site, which stopped happening about a month later. I experience nausea, headaches, and severe cramping during times of suspected ovulation. My breasts increased in size, and veins are more prominent. They are also more tender. Sex drive has also decreased. My period comes at the expected time and sometimes lasts 4 days to 6. All in all, I like the idea of not having to remember an oral contraceptive every day! I change it three times a month and the fourth week I leave it off. All forms of birth control have their weak points, but I think Xulane works for me."

• Emy...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 6, 2018

For Birth Control "This is the worst thing I have done to my body. I have been on this patch for a year. The first few months I didn't notice any major side effects except for the itching. Then I started noticing that I was very irritated and anxious for no reason. Again, I didn't suspect that it was due to the patch. Now, a year into it, I realized it's all due to this stupid patch. I had never been like this. The mood swings and irritation got so severe that I was becoming a completely different person. Constantly tired and depressed. Stay away from this patch. I do not recommend it."

• no ...
• August 14, 2016

For Birth Control "I started Xulane in May 2016, all was good. I get very nauseous at times, dizzy, backache. This month I've been feeling very bloated and upset stomach. I took it off for a while because it made me very depressed, and a zombie. I normally have lots of energy, now I am a bum, lol. Ok, I have to force myself out of bed. Increase in breast size, that's a plus so far, but everything else I hate. Can't wait to get back on copper IUD."