Xulane and Itching: What Users Say

• Hon...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 14, 2016

For Birth Control "I started the Xulane patch two months ago. I have to say that it has been a great experience so far. I myself read through these reviews before starting the patch, and I was terrified of the experience I would have. I have not gained any weight. I have not had migraines or even mild headaches. The patch does not itch, nor does it leave a rash or any type of bump. It does leave a residue on the outer ring from where it catches your clothing and collects fuzz. I have not experienced any nausea. It has been smooth sailing. My period is drastically lighter, and I don't get ill or experience extreme cramps. I have to say I'm a huge fan of the patch. It has even increased my sex drive because I feel so comfortable now that I have it."

• Sag...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 5, 2020

For Birth Control "The patch was effective, however, it was itchy and hard to know if it was working because a lot of times it would fall off partially. When it fell off, I would be one week short, and it was hard to get a new pack. My insurance wouldn’t cover it, and there was a miscommunication between my doctor and pharmacy. The timing of when to put a new one on if there is an issue is very confusing. I had a few rashes. Wouldn’t recommend."

• Jes...
• October 20, 2016

For Birth Control "This medication works great. My cycle has never been regular, but on this, I can pinpoint the day I start and end my cycle. I do get headaches the first day I put on my new patch, so I just take Advil as a preventive, and that seems to do the job most of the time. This does help control acne as well, and I have not experienced any weight gain, and I have used it for over a year and a half. The patch site can itch, but my skin seemed to get used to it after a month or so. I use it on my lower back above my pant line and switch sides weekly. This seems to be the best spot, except when I get asked what it is. Lol! I was on the Depo shot for a year and absolutely hated it, and can't remember to take a pill daily, so this is a great alternative."

• Wow...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 19, 2019

For Birth Control "I first put on the Xulane patch on my right arm and immediately felt nauseous. Every time I put the patch on after a patch-free week, I feel nauseous. It feels terrible. I've been craving everything and starving! I had just gotten off of Larin Fe pill and moved onto the patch, and I deeply regret it. Also, it's left a rash, and everywhere I've put it has been burning, oozing, and it is itchy. I have only been wearing this since October."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 23, 2017

For Birth Control "I have been using Xulane for the past three years. Within the last 3 months, I have been itching under the patch like crazy. I get these painful bumps underneath them, and it keeps a fever while the patch is on it. I figured maybe it was a bad batch and would go away. Then the patches started falling off way too easily. I got a hold of my pharmacist, who treated me like I didn't know what I was doing, and said that only the manufacturer can help me. Xulane, I absolutely loved your patch until now. But I have to change to another product because whatever you did to the adhesive is tearing up my skin and is so itchy it makes me feel crazy."

• Rob...
• March 14, 2016

For Birth Control "I love the patch! I have used it for 6 years and no problems. I use it 3 weeks on with 1 week off. I never had any side effects like being itchy or red marks. The only issue I've had is when I go to the beach, the salt water wears off the stickiness, but I always bring an extra one due to knowing that happens. I've never had a problem getting pregnant from using it. I think it's great, I've never gotten pregnant while on the patch, but once I took it off, it took me about two months to get pregnant. I love it and will continue using it."

• 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."

• Hig...
• August 2, 2016

For Birth Control "I was on OrthoEvra birth control patch for eleven years before a generic was available. Now that Mylan Xulane is the only birth control patch available for the past two years, I have been forced to use this. I have never been so disappointed in my life. I never had any problems in eleven years with the OrthoEvra brand. The patch never itched, came off, or caused cramping. Absolutely no side effects. When I was forced to switch to Mylan Xulane birth control patch, I immediately started itching around the patch site (no matter where I put it), and it always resulted in a rash. A quick shower could make this patch fall off. It is absolutely devastating. I am now also bleeding between periods. I'm currently searching for alternative birth control."

• Tay...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 16, 2022

For Birth Control "I was on Depo (the shot) years ago and finally tried this as I was looking for something to control my heavy flow and cramping. The first side effect I noticed immediately was that I was sensitive to the adhesive and became so itchy when the patch was on. It would partially peel a lot. The first 3 days with it on, I had terrible migraines, which continued until I decided to get off of it 3 months later. It is the highest form of synthetic estrogen birth control, so always keep that in mind when deciding whether or not to use it. My doctor told me I could feel free to skip a period or two, so I did. And then my body basically decided to have a period anyway with my usual heavy flow and painful cramping. Even when it wasn’t my 'period week,' I would still have mild to painful cramping just about every day. Didn’t gain any weight, but I was only on it for 3 months. Loss of sex drive for the last 2 months I was on it. In my personal opinion, this was just as bad as the shot."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 24, 2017

For Birth Control "I recently switched from birth control pills to the patch. I wanted to be on something that I didn't have to remember to take every day, and because I have PCOS, the patch was my next best option. I was a little wary of it because I looked up reviews and saw that many women got ill within the first couple of days of being on it. Luckily, I haven't had that experience. I think that the main reason is because I went from a pill very similar to the patch. I didn't give the patch a 10 rating because it can get a little itchy (it feels like you're wearing a Band-Aid), and sometimes it makes me nervous that it's going to fall off. Overall, no side effects so far, and I'm so glad that I'm not having to remember to take the pill every day."

• mad...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 16, 2019

For Birth Control "This Xulane patch caused issues because whoever makes it sucks at quality control. I’ve gotten multiple patches that aren’t as sticky as they should be, and they’re not expired and have never been opened. I can’t just go to the pharmacy to replace them whenever this happens. This Sunday was the last straw, I’m getting an IUD. I went to change my patch and the new patch wasn’t sticky at all, it came off immediately. I had nothing on my skin. I opened the only other patch I have, and the same thing, so I’m done. It also made my cramps more painful and last much longer, and it gave me major headaches, sometimes migraines. I didn’t gain weight, but sometimes the patch would itch to the point where I’d accidentally scratch myself to bleeding."

• pug...
• February 28, 2017

For Birth Control "I have been on this almost 4 years, but I do not remember any side effects when I switched over from a pill. I have had acne since I was 12, but now I get maybe one pimple when I'm on my off week. I have not experienced weight gain that I attribute to the patch. My main complaint is my libido does not exist anymore, and sometimes I get moody, but I feel like that is normal for women. I personally have had a great experience with it and am thankful that it has been free for me! The application area is itchy sometimes, but it's not a huge inconvenience."

• 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."

• jul...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 7, 2019

For Birth Control "I was so scared to try Xulane because of all the side effects I was reading about, but since being on it I’ve gotten almost none. I’m on my second month using the patch, and I only feel slightly nauseous sometimes, and I’ve actually lost some weight. It does get a little itchy sometimes, but all the “side effects” I get are totally bearable."

• and...
• May 10, 2017

For Birth Control "I have used this product for the past three years without issue until the last few weeks when the site where the patch was applied became itchy. As time has gone by in a few weeks' time, the skin underneath gets extremely itchy. I removed it, and the skin underneath was left raised, purple, and with peeling skin. It has been 2 weeks, and my skin is still purple, and the skin has not healed. I tried it on my back, and yet again the same thing. I have a red square with leather-like skin. I had to call my ob-gyn and ask to be changed to another product. I can't walk around with damaged skin. Hoping that eventually the skin will heal. Horrible product!"

• Jul...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 9, 2015

For Birth Control "This is the best birth control I've had. It's so easy to remember, and you just slap it on and don't have to worry about it for a week. It cleared up my skin significantly, made my periods shorter and lighter, and helped with cramps. I gained about 6 pounds, but for me, that was helpful and went up about half a cup size, but again, perfectly okay with that! The only bad effect I've seen is a little skin irritation where the patch was when I take it off. A little lotion, and it goes away though. Only spotted one day. Love this!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 6, 2017

For Birth Control "This was my first birth control I’ve tried. The first 24 hours was fine, but then I noticed my arm was sore where the patch was, that lasted about 2 days and then went away. I had the patch on for 1 week and was extremely nauseous to the point where I couldn’t eat anything, but also felt like I was starving. Skin is a little irritated where the patch was, the nausea was excruciating, and I ended up just taking the patch off. A couple of hours later, I already felt better."

• I...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 26, 2015

For Birth Control "I love the patch. I was on the Depo, and it made me miserable. I was bleeding for 3 months straight till I switched to Xulane. This will be my third month using the patch, and the only con is the nausea, skin irritation around the area, and having to reapply it because of clothes or showering. I have gained weight, that I don't mind, but I can't stop eating! I plan on staying with the patch. Highly recommend."

• 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."

• Gan...
• June 28, 2019

For Birth Control "I was on the pill for about 4 years before deciding to switch my method of birth control and went with the patch. I figured it would be much easier, but I was so wrong. I put the patch on my upper left back, and within 1 day of having it on (not even a full 24 hours), I started noticing hives on my left under boob. I figured it was my bra and thought nothing of it. The next day, I had the same hives scattered around the left side of my back. I was having an allergic reaction to the patch! After doing research, I found that many people on the patch end up having similar reactions, some immediately after trying it, and others after months or years of use. Allergic reaction aside, the patch itself and the surrounding area become extremely itchy, and you need to be careful not to damage/take off the patch when dealing with it. I had no problems with the stickiness or keeping the patch on, it was relatively easy. Ultimately, I decided to take the patch off on Week 1, Day 6."

• Dee...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 21, 2018

For Birth Control "This is the worst patch ever! I’ve been on it for 2 weeks, and I have these bad rashes on my skin where the patch was located. It itches so bad! It doesn’t stick well! The words come off the patch once you touch it! I didn’t have these problems with my other brand!"

• 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."

• Wei...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 12, 2017

For Birth Control "Started/switched to the patch in Feb 2017 @ 229 lbs after giving the NuvaRing. Slight itching at patch site (buttocks), noticeable mood swings, and came off one time. Menstruation consistent, took patch off Sunday, the end of Week 3, and by Wednesday, the menstrual period arrived. No spotting in between. I started a weight loss program and lost 13 lbs in one month (June 2017). On Monday of Week 3, I started spotting (20 days post last period) and it was consistent at every use of the bathroom. Only a panty liner needed. Called GYN, said it's normal, weight loss triggers hormonal changes and to use the patch as usual. Week 4, no period, new patch cycle. Skin itching insanely! Patch site swelled up as if I was branded. Week 6, pregnant with #5! 200 lbs less effective, says label."

• Jes...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 21, 2022

For Birth Control "I started using the patch about 3 months ago. It has been a horrible experience, it itches so much and leaves a burn-looking mark on my skin. I had to go back to my Dr so he can give me something else. I was going to be full of patch marks all over my body."