Junel Fe 1/20 and Anxiety: What Users Say

• kiw...
• June 23, 2021

For Birth Control "This was my first time on any birth control, so I was prepared for the worst, but honestly I had a good experience. First day I experienced some nausea. I have had on and off GERD, and in the first two weeks, I noticed I was feeling symptoms similar to when it flares up (bloated, burping a little stomach acid up, mild nausea). Nothing some Alka-Seltzer Gold couldn't fix :). It subsided after the first two weeks. The week before my period, I tend to have mood swings, increased anxiety, and be very sensitive, but I was doing better than usual on Junel Fe. I also feel like it reduced a bit of my anxiety. I chose not to skip my period, and I usually get debilitating period cramps, but Junel Fe pretty much erased them. I did not experience any changes to my skin, weight, or appearance. I think the reason why this site has overwhelmingly bad reviews is that those who had a bad experience feel more inclined to share it than those who had a good. Talk to your doctor for what is best for you. :)"

• Anonymous
• May 9, 2021

For Birth Control "If you’re taking this and feel like you’ve lost your mind, it’s not you, it’s this god-awful pill, I promise. Never in my life have I had any sort of anxiety/depression until I started this pill. Every month, I noticed my anxiety increasing, which eventually led to several panic attacks with disassociation that lasted for weeks. I came on here and realized it was these pills. I stopped a month and a half ago and finally have started to feel like myself again. I realize everyone’s body reacts differently to the pill, but please discontinue this at the first sign of any mental side effect, and do not keep going like I did. It got to the point where I felt suicidal just to escape how miserable I was feeling. Never in my life have I felt like this. I am hoping to save someone’s life by this review. If you’re feeling like I did, please stop this pill and know it WILL get better. Give your body time to rebound from these toxic hormones. This pill needs to be pulled off the market NOW."

• doe...
• June 3, 2021

For Birth Control "I got on this BC in March 2021 after my Nexplanon expired. I am a newlywed and even though my husband and I want to have children, I want to wait at least a year to have a baby. My PCP decided to put me on Junel so I can stop at any time. Symptoms the first couple of weeks were cramps, sore breasts, headaches, and fatigue. Today marks 3 months on this BC, and I will not continue taking them. The non-stop crying, panic attacks, anxiety, arguments with my spouse, sadness, and depression are out of hand. I lay in bed last night and wished I was dead. I have so many suicidal thoughts and felt like I was going through some tough times in my marriage, but after reading all these reviews and being able to relate to these other women, I realize I'm not crazy. I've been feeling so alone in my dark thoughts. I was scared I would end up in the hospital sooner than later. Listen to your body, please, and if any of this relates to you, please consult your doctor. YOU ARE NOT ALONE!"

• HWo...
• February 17, 2021

For Birth Control "I was on Junel FE 1/20 for two years with no issues at all. My heavy periods were finally light, and I rarely got cramps. When COVID hit, Walgreens told me that this birth control was on backorder because the manufacturer was changing the formula. Transferred my script to Giant Eagle because they had a big supply. November 2020 rolls around, and I start having a period in the middle of the pill pack. It caused me so much anxiety and money because my doctor ordered all these tests to see why I was bleeding. Was becoming severely depressed with the darkest thoughts I have ever had in my life. I would cry for days for no reason. I felt so 'out of body.' After three months of on-and-off bleeding, horrible anxiety and depression, and a host of other symptoms, my husband made me go off this pill cold turkey. All my symptoms are now gone, and I feel so much better. This pill should be taken off the market for sure! Whatever they changed is messing with so many women."

• Aan...
• August 7, 2020

For Birth Control "If your doctor prescribes this to you, tell them you need a different one and do not take it! This birth control made me so depressed I felt life wasn't worth living. I would cry uncontrollably and for no reason, had anxiety worse than I ever have, and it made me physically sick. I had my son in April 2019, started taking this 6 weeks later. After 4 months of progressively getting worse and worse, I finally realized this was causing my debilitating depression. I started calling counselors and psychiatrists because I thought I was going insane. The same exact thing happened to a friend of mine and the same exact way, so I really don’t think it’s a coincidence. I read the reviews before I started taking but figured everyone reacts differently to different things. If you’re reading this, please don't take it, it can't hurt to just take a different one. I’m filing a complaint with the FDA in hopes it can be removed and hopefully save someone else’s sanity and maybe even possibly their life!!!"

• vme...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 19, 2021

For Birth Control "I am writing this because I almost lost my life to this drug. Junel Fe should NOT be prescribed to people with a history of any mental health issues. I have never had mental health issues so bad until I started it. I felt so insecure and physically ugly. I disassociated for almost two months, which if you know what dissociation is-it's terrifying. Crippling anxiety and depression to the point where I had to quit my job. Every month my anxiety got worse and nonstop panic attacks and feeling depressed even though I had never felt depressed. I became suicidal as well and was hospitalized for it. PLS DO NOT TAKE THIS, IT IS NOT WORTH THE LIVING NIGHTMARE IT PUT ME THROUGH."

• Lav...
• January 30, 2021

For Birth Control "I was originally prescribed Junel Fe 1/20 birth control due to my very painful cramps, bleeding, and after finding out I have anemia. The first month, there was spotting for a couple of weeks, but then it went away. The cramps and bleeding definitely got better. This felt like a relief, and I thought I was on track to making my life better. Unfortunately, halfway through my 5th month, I decided to stop taking these pills. I was experiencing very severe anxiety and depression. I normally am a pretty anxious person, but I typically deal with it in my own ways. However, this was the worst of my life. I felt suicidal. I was worried about everything. I had a panic attack. I couldn't sleep well. My family and co-workers were noticing a change in my behavior and mood. It wasn't good. After I stopped taking them, a few days later, I noticed I felt a lot more level-headed and less anxious. I really hope that others don't have to go through what I went through. I'm hoping this review might help someone out there."

• Man...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 25, 2020

For Birth Control "I took Junel Fe 1/20 for one year. I had never been on birth control before starting Junel. When I first started it, I experienced very mild nausea, so I took it at night right before bed, and that fixed that problem. My periods have always been short but very heavy, 3-4 days with medium-heavy bleeding. Junel didn’t really affect that, but it made my breasts extremely sore. It cleared up my acne, only a small breakout during the placebo week. But let me tell you... the emotional roller coaster has been a nightmare. It didn’t start until about 3 months in. I would not be able to sleep at night and just cry out of unexplainable anger or sadness. I would get really, really angry for no reason. Dwell on things that made me upset and become so irritable I couldn’t express what I was feeling because I didn’t even know where it was coming from. Anxiety and depression worsened the longer I was on Junel. It was terrible. I’m onto something new and probably won’t go back to Junel."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 3, 2019

For Birth Control "I have been taking this pill, Junel Fe 1/20, for about 9 months. The first 3 months were the worst, with mood swings, depression, and anxiety. My body took 3 months to get into a groove, but after that, it's been smooth sailing. No weight gain, acne cleared up, light and painless periods, and no pregnancy scares. I would recommend! Don't let the negative reviews scare you. Everyone's body is different and will react differently depending on how you take care of your body."

• Tan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 13, 2021

For Birth Control "Started this birth control to help with cramps, bad lower back pain, and to regulate my period. First 3 months I had bad anxiety, mood swings, and my periods would start the week before the brown pills and then zero period during the brown pills. I was just about to switch pills and figured I'd give it 1 more month. Then, it all changed overnight. I no longer have any mood swings, and I think it actually has helped with any anxiety. I have no abdominal cramping, no lower back pain. I will still get hot flashes and night sweats right before my period starts though. This is the first pill that has lessened my period. Now if I wanted to, I would probably only have 1 full tampon day and then spot for 3 days. At this point, I am very happy that I stuck with it and hoping each month will continue to get better. I have now taken for 5 months."

• Sar...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 2, 2021

For Birth Control "*Please read* 28-year-old female - I went on birth control for the first time over 1 year ago. A few months into taking Junel Fe 1/20, I began experiencing severe anxiety, frequent panic attacks, and intrusive thoughts. I improved my diet, went to therapy, acupuncture, deleted my social media accounts, journaled more, meditated daily, and none of it healed me. It did not make sense. I decided to read reviews on this birth control and found multiple sites/read over a hundred reviews of women experiencing something similar. I stopped taking this pill the following day, and it's now been 1 month. The extremity of anxiety has subsided - no more suffering mentally, emotionally, and physically. I wish I had done research prior to taking the pill my gyno recommended. This should not be taken, especially if you have existing mental health issues."

• Dem...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 29, 2019

For Birth Control "After experiencing breakthrough bleeding on Tri-Sprintec, my doctor switched me to Junel Fe. The first 2-3 months, I had no side effects and was experiencing normal periods. By the end of month 3, I went off the deep end. My anxiety and paranoia have been so unbelievably horrible for the past 3 weeks, and my skin is the worst it’s been. I’ve never been one to suffer from anxiety or depression, but this pill is no joke ruining my life. My stomach is consistently in knots, my heart never stops racing, and I’ve had to seriously force-feed myself due to not having an appetite. The only time I feel normal is when I’m sleeping. Thank God I came on here and read others' similar experiences because I was ready to check myself into a psych ward. I’m 5 pills into my fourth pack and have to stop taking them. I’d rather have my period for a month straight than take Junel Fe. If you end up trying them, don’t worry, you’re not going psychotic. It’s just these hideous pills!"

• blu...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 22, 2019

For Birth Control "I'm on my 7th month of this pill, and it has been great. The first month was a little rocky, I broke out a lot and had really bad anxiety and depression, but it went away after the first month! Everything has been good from there. My periods are SUPER light and last 3-4 days. They used to be heavy and last up to 7 days. I also rarely get cramps anymore, and when I do, they are bearable. It hasn’t affected my sex life, and I’ve always been anxious/depressed, but this pill hasn’t made it worse. Also, not pregnant! So it works."

• Nat...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 8, 2020

For Birth Control "Ever since I started taking Junel Fe, I’ve been having mood swings, and I would get really irritated easily and emotional at times. It's only been a month, and I am going to stop taking it. I know I should give it more time to work, but I cannot deal with the dark thoughts. I’m anxious more and feel depressed. My mental health is more important than this."

• Jac...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 18, 2019

For Birth Control "Within days, I felt my entire mood begin to switch. I have never had dark thoughts like I began to have when taking Junel Fe. Extreme anger isn’t even the best to describe it, you can tie your own shoes the wrong way and it would make me mad. Anxiety at an all-time high where my mind would run wild or I would even be sometimes too anxious to get out of bed or out of my car to go into work. I didn’t gain any actual weight (sometimes water weight), but I always felt heavy, bloated, and downright disgusting. The mood changes and water weight aren’t even the worst. I would experience a lot of “breakthrough” bleeding, but it wasn’t spotting, it was a full-on period, and HEAVY!! It was like a monster period, super heavy and would last for days!! I also experienced cramping randomly throughout the month and not just close to/during my period. I do not recommend this birth control unless you want to start turning green and become the Hulk."

• Han...
• February 15, 2019

For Birth Control "I was switched from Microgestin due to insurance (I was on that brand for a year and NEVER had any side effects). The second I started Junel, I turned into a different person. I'm just going to break down my symptoms by month: Month 1: nausea, two weeks of breakthrough bleeding, migraines, sore and swollen breasts. Month 2: bloating, spotting, headaches, bowel problems, increased appetite. Month 3: EXTREME anxiety and paranoia, worse bloating, mood swings, leg cramps, abdominal cramping. Month 4: lower back pain, uterine and stomach cramps, intense bloating, mood swings, even worse anxiety. Literally thought I was pregnant this month because I didn't have any bleeding whatsoever and because my stomach hurt constantly. Do not take this pill if you have anxiety or depression. It has made me stress about pregnancy more than when I was relying on the pullout method. The ONLY plus side is that my withdrawal bleeds are super light and my acne (sorta) cleared up. I hate this medication."

• Kan...
• March 3, 2020

For Birth Control "I’ve been on Junel Fe for about 5 months and haven’t found the relief I was searching for. The first month went on without a breeze, but since then it’s been a disaster. My cramps have lessened but still are a nuisance and require medication to allow me to function properly. My cycle is completely irregular, I haven’t had a period while on my placebo pills the entire time I’ve been on Junel. I bleed on my active pills each month, and it’s still not regular or consistent, which terrifies me, thinking my birth control is not effective. My mood is ALL over the place, and my anxiety has been through the roof. My skin has sorta cleared up, but I contribute that to me not wearing makeup anymore. I contacted my doctor to change pills. This was my first time using birth control, and this experience was far from what I wanted. I kept giving it time so my body could adjust, however, I didn’t want to suffer anymore. Hopefully, I can find something that really fits my needs and doesn’t make things worse."

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 3, 2020

For Birth Control "I am almost through my third month of Junel Fe, and I feel a lot better than I did when I was taking Taytulla. On Taytulla, I developed a phobia, had anxiety attacks regularly, and experienced the worst depression of my life! After taking a year off from birth control, I am taking this, and my periods are very light, my cramps are not as painful, my acne is GONE, and no depression and minimal anxiety."

• Riy...
• November 11, 2019

For Birth Control "I feel compelled to write a review after my horrible experience with this drug, Junel Fe 1/20. I’ve taken it for a year and have just stopped. The first month, I was plagued with intense nausea and headaches, which subsided. After that, I started having severe anxiety, panic attacks, mood swings, crying spells, and chalked it up to several life changes (moving, wedding, etc.). However, my condition worsened, and I was at a therapist weekly who diagnosed me with depression. By this point, I felt like a shell of my former self and decided to stop taking the pill, as it’s the only medication I’m on. I’ve been off for 2 weeks and can see notable differences in my temperament and energy levels. I can’t wait for it to completely flush out so I can be myself again. Please don’t take this drug as long as I did if you face any of the above."

• Smo...
• November 20, 2016

For Birth Control "This birth control gave me the worst anxiety and turned me into a crazy person. Do not take it. Every time it was my off week, I became less anxious and felt so much better. I've been off it for a month now, and I'm back to normal and no longer have terrible anxiety."

• Mir...
• February 12, 2020

For Birth Control "The 1st month on Junel Fe 1/20 was fine, and the only side effect was breakthrough bleeding. 2nd month, I had a panic attack where I experienced disassociation (I have never experienced anything close to this before) and intense anxiety. I figured that it was just the result of dehydration and stress, but in retrospect, I should’ve considered that my birth control may have been the cause. 3rd month, I felt anxious, extremely depressed & hopeless, and had no appetite. I had times of disassociation, which was frankly terrifying. This is not like me. Towards the end of my 3rd month, I decided to stop taking birth control. I am four days off of it and have started to feel a bit better. My doctor told me that these symptoms stem from birth control. I suggest considering different options if you have a history of mental health issues. I know everyone’s body reacts differently, so this is just my experience. I am sending you all love & sincerely hope this birth control works for you."

• Coc...
• April 8, 2019

For Birth Control "My OBGYN prescribed this specific pill for me because I haven’t been on birth control since I was 19 (I’m 25 now). He said it would be easygoing for me because it’s basically the mildest form of BC I can take. My first month on the pill was rough, I felt so nauseous, especially the hour before I’m supposed to take my BC. I had constant headaches & tender breasts (the doctor warned me of that & said it should subside after the 1st month, it didn’t). My breasts grew after the 2nd month on the pill, but my anxiety also heightened. I had 3 panic attacks during my 2nd month. I was thankful that my period was lighter. Haven’t had sex since I’ve been on the pill, I’d say it has lowered my sex drive only because it’s made me so depressed, anxious, and forgetful that I don’t even think about sex. I’m too moody. The 3rd month was awful and I hit a real low, I’ve become more critical of myself and unhappy with everything in my life."

• McK...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 26, 2023

For Birth Control "I tried this medication for 2 years, and the negative effects didn't start until about 6 months into taking it. I experienced irregular periods, with only one occurring every 3-5 months. Additionally, I suffered from terrible anxiety, irrational fears, chest pains, mood swings, and prolonged periods of agitation for no apparent reason. I completely lost interest in sex, had night terrors, and felt paranoid, especially regarding personal safety. I ended up making several visits to the emergency room, believing I was having a heart attack, only to be told it was just anxiety. My stomach was upset every day for over a year, starting from the time I woke up (6 AM) until around 2 PM. (I took my pill at night before bed.) These side effects affected all my personal relationships because I constantly avoided being around people. After being off the pill for over 3 weeks, I have finally started to feel more like myself. Week by week, I noticed significant improvements. My sex drive has returned, my mind feels clear, and I am genuinely happy again. I am no longer overwhelmed, and I have regained my patience while losing the constant irritation I used to feel. It's important to share your story and experiences."

• Elg...
• September 13, 2019

For Birth Control "I have an existing history of anxiety but cannot put into words how terrible this pill made me feel. So anxious I would cry multiple times a day over NOTHING! Extreme anxiety and anger over the smallest things, followed by an emotional breakdown, a horrible pattern of self-hate. Anxiety so bad I couldn’t eat, and when I did I’d have acid reflux. So emotionally sensitive it took nothing to send me over the edge. My vagina was so sensitive and dry it itched CONSTANTLY. So dry I couldn’t even have sex without lube, which in turn gave me even more irritation. My vagina would swell randomly, I had brown sludge with chunks of pink tissue coming out of me the entire first month. Got bacterial vaginosis three times in the 2.5 months I was on this pill and had to go on antibiotics 2x. As soon as it would heal, it would come back so easily. I have just switched to a lower estrogen pill and looking forward to seeing if I can get myself back again. DO NOT TAKE THIS PILL!!"

• ABa...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 17, 2018

For Birth Control "Before I started this medication, I had read reviews of it, and I was horrified. It's now been a year and four months that I've been on Junel Fe, and I honestly haven't encountered any issues. Before I was on birth control, I was depressed, had anxiety attacks very often, always tired, had my period for at least six days, and had a lot of cramping. I never had any issues with having acne. Ever since I started, I feel like a whole new person. Zero anxiety attacks, no longer depressed, very light periods that last three days (at most), no cramping at all, and still no issues with acne. I constantly see reviews that other people leave saying that they're constantly nauseous or having headaches or gaining weight, but I personally haven't had any of these issues. Although this medication doesn't work well for some people, it works perfectly for me! Don't let other reviews discourage you. I almost didn't start using this medication due to the bad reviews I had read. I'm also glad I'm not pregnant."