Ethinyl estradiol / norethindrone and Anxiety: What Users Say

• Lau...
• July 3, 2020

For Birth Control "PLEASE READ IF YOU STRUGGLE WITH MENTAL HEALTH!! I was on Lo Lo for a little over a year and a half. Overall I didn’t have bloating or acne or irritability, which was great, however, I wouldn’t get my period for months at a time (wasn’t pregnant but definitely had a few scares when it wouldn’t come). It helped my cramping and PMS symptoms when I did get my period though, which was great. BUT DO NOT BE FOOLED! I struggle with depression, anxiety, and panic attacks, so I never connected the dots that this birth control made it worse. I didn’t realize Lo Lo was making me critically depressed up until the last month, I had MAJOR suicidal thoughts and immediately stopped taking it and within a couple of days, I didn’t have those thoughts or crippling depression. I would not recommend it in the slightest if you struggle with mental health to begin with, as I do. I am currently taking a different birth control pill, and I feel back to my normal self."

• 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!"

• Emi...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 2, 2023

For Birth Control "Obviously, some of these symptoms could be related to other issues… but I firmly believe this pill is ruining my life. I’ve been on it for over a year now, and I have never in my life been more depressed, anxious, irritated, or exhausted. My skin has been so dry (and breaking out). I’ve gained a TON of weight. I have zero sex drive. I won’t get my period for 4 months, and then randomly I’ll get the worst one of my life that lasts 10 days, and I’m practically bedridden, and I am tired ALL THE TIME. My boyfriend literally calls me “sleepy bish” because I’m always so tired and moody and mean for NO REASON. I know everyone is different, but I felt I had to share in hopes it saves other ladies out there from the same miserable experience I had :("

• Kat...
• May 8, 2019

For Birth Control "I started taking Junel because I was on Lo LoEstrin and had horrible anxiety, mood swings, and was miserable. I took it for 5 years because it was the only birth control that didn’t make me super sick! I got on here to read the reviews and was horrified and almost didn’t take it. I'm SO GLAD I DECIDED TO TAKE IT ANYWAYS. I’m 22 years old, 5’5” tall, and about 110-115 pounds when I’m not on birth control. Now I’ve been on it for almost 2 months and have not gained any weight, my boobs may have gotten like half a size better. I’m 113lb in the morning and 115lb at night. On Lo Loestrin, I was a constant 120lb. My crazy moods are better. I don’t have acne like everyone says in their reviews (I take biotin every night and have been for months because my acne is pretty bad). I’m not a heavy bleeder, and this pill has worked great for me. I am literally the most sensitive person to anything hormonal, so if it can work for me, don’t be afraid to try it because of bad reviews!"

• Ste...
• June 1, 2020

For Birth Control "I was extremely skeptical to start taking birth control. I have struggled with pretty severe anxiety, depression, mood swings, and suicidal tendencies for a long time. After reading many negative reviews of a variety of brands, I was very reluctant to try it. I've been taking Blisovi 24 Fe for a month now, and I am shocked by the results. I am the happiest and most even-tempered I have been in a very long time! I no longer have mood swings, I have not had any suicidal thoughts, and my depression and anxiety have slowly faded away. I have been prescribed actual anti-depression/anxiety meds in the past, which only made me worse, so I am so shocked that this pill actually helped me! I don't think there's any telling how you will react to the pill or a certain brand of it until you try it. But if you are scared to, don't be! I'm so happy I decided to push past my fears and give it a try! Worst comes to worst, you can just stop taking it."

• Roa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 16, 2019

For Birth Control "*PLEASE READ* I never put reviews for medication I have been on, but I wanted to WARN all the girls who have to be put on this generic pill for some reason. I used to take Lo Loestrin, and it was amazing, however, my insurance stopped covering it, so I was given Larin Fe. WORST MISTAKE OF MY DAMN LIFE... At first, I didn't have any symptoms, but within a month, I've hit the darkest of spots in my life: insomnia, shakiness, HORRIBLE anxiety, breakouts (not severe), acid reflux, lack of appetite. Sadly, there was not a single day in that month where I felt normal, I was going crazy with mood swings, depression. I barely could leave my bed, I even had several panic attacks. I wish I could say a positive side to this drug, but THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING POSITIVE ABOUT THIS DRUG. Believe these negative reviews, please, and if you don't feel any side effects right now, the second you feel it, please switch to a different birth control. It won't get any better waiting."

• LDa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 24, 2021

For Birth Control "After being on Junel FE 1/20 for forever, I had to switch pharmacies. The new pharmacy gave me Aurovela (which is supposed to be an appropriate substitute) without even consulting me. DO NOT let them make this switch on you if you already have issues with anxiety and depression!!!"

• Tri...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 26, 2020

For Birth Control "LADIES. If you have had a bad pill experience, I hear you. Comments on how even if you’re having side effects like bad periods, migraines, weight gain, anxiety, or depression that “you haven’t been on it long enough to tell” need to stop. It absolutely isn’t ok to invalidate someone’s experience because they didn’t go through the 3 months of hell that is somehow a standard. If you’re having these side effects, they aren’t ok and your body is trying to clue you in. I was on birth control for 5 years, Lo Loestrin for over half of that. I thought the “good luck on not having your life ruined!” mentality was ok. Then the anxiety, depression, and ER visits hit. Nearly a year of my life was gone. It landed me on Prozac temporarily. I’ve never had mental health issues before in my life. I’m 5 months off the pill and am now feeling more like myself. My message is this: listen to your body. If something isn’t right, whether it be after a week or a year, it isn’t. Trust yourself."

• Lys...
• November 29, 2014

For Birth Control "If you're going to take this medication, I highly recommend you monitor your moods and be honest with yourself if you feel like you're out of control. I have been on this medication for two weeks and have the most tumultuous two weeks of my life. Hypersensitivity, crying spells, anger, depression, anxiety - I've been a crazy woman. It only just dawned on me that it has to be the medication. I wish I would have stopped taking it the minute the craziness started, it would have saved me a lot of tears and time!"

• jon...
• March 2, 2020

For Birth Control "I am a healthy 20-year-old. I've only been on birth control for a little over a year now. Previous to Junel Fe 1.5/30, I was on Blisovi. But last time I went to get my prescription filled, they gave me Junel instead. I've just completed my second pack. In this second month, I've really been struggling, these past couple of weeks, I am nauseated every day, usually at night. I've lost my appetite completely, I rarely eat anymore. This is REALLY starting to worry me. I'm losing weight, my breast size has increased. I have terrible anxiousness, and I feel so in my head, depressed with scary dark thoughts (not like me at ALL). I also feel very detached/unemotional. TMI, I don't think I'm pregnant, but I've been having irregular periods, they come close to the middle of the pack instead of during the inactive pills. My periods are all dark blood (black and brown) and usually very clotted-looking. I'm not bashing this pill, I just don't think it's really agreeing with my body. I hope this helps someone!"

• 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!!!"

• Pet...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 29, 2019

For Birth Control "My doctor decided to put me on this pill because I was basically having 2 periods a month taking Beyaz. I honestly knew nothing much about Lo Lo before taking it, but my doctor told me she had high hopes giving me this pill. So far, I’m halfway through my second pack and haven’t had any negative symptoms. I suffer from anxiety and depression, and neither of those have gotten worse since I’ve been taking this pill. I’m also super petite and work out daily, so weight gain is always a concern for me, and if anything, I’ve lost a couple of pounds since I’ve been on this pill. I wanted to share my experience because I do see there are a lot of negative reviews, and I wanted to share my positive one. The only reason I didn’t give this pill 10 stars is because I haven’t gotten my period since taking it, and although I love not having one, I am sexually active, so it makes me a little nervous. But all in all, so far, so good. I’m 26 for reference."

• ALa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 5, 2020

For Birth Control "Horrible. Do not recommend. At all. Save yourself. Just started month 3, and it has been AWFUL. So glad I found this. I've had about every side effect but abnormal bleeding. Haven't been able to have sex for over a month because of vaginal dryness/inability to get wet/loss of interest (just ended month 2 yesterday). Sex was great until this pill! My side effects: major vaginal dryness (going on 3 months), no sex drive/interest/pleasure, breast tenderness/PAIN/enlargement, nausea, headache, bloating, fetal-position cramps, mental changes/mood swings, trouble concentrating, tired/weak ALL of the time, irritable, anxious, discouraged. I could go on. I was starting to question myself, my body, my mind, my relationship, felt like I just could NOT get better. I'm disappointed it took me so long to realize this was the only change. Good thing is I'm not pregnant, but hard to get pregnant when you can't have sex."

• 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."

• Jjb...
• October 4, 2020

For Birth Control "READ IF YOU HAVE ANXIETY. I started this BC because my OB boasted about it being “low hormone” and helping my anxiety even out a bit from having too much estrogen in my previous BC pill. I started it with high hopes and quickly felt my anxiety skyrocket within days. I’ve always struggled with mild anxiety and this BC spiked it to the worst it had ever been. I tried sticking it out, but I made it one month on this pill and said, “I’m done.” I had horrific anxiety, crying spells, I had panic attacks (which I never had), and overall felt horrible. I now have the IUD Kyleena and I wish I had gotten an IUD all along. Never again will I go on the pill. They messed my body up. Not worth it. Please be careful when deciding if BC pills are right for you. I wish this brand would be removed from the market."

• loi...
• September 27, 2019

For Birth Control "I decided to switch to Lo Loestrin Fe after being on Beyaz for 2 months. I felt fine at the start, but by the week before my period, I began to feel really down. Then one day, I had a panic attack. This has never happened to me before. It freaked me out, so I stopped taking it altogether. For the next month, I felt okay, but by my next period, all hell broke loose. What followed was a month of extreme anxiety. I felt as though I was in mourning. I had multiple panic attacks. I went to a doctor and was prescribed Xanax. I began looking into psychiatrists and researching anxiety meds, thinking I was broken for life. I took time off work and devoted all my energy to trying to get better. I am pleased to say that 2 months after stopping, I finally felt like me again. This pill traumatized me and greatly disrupted my life. It's especially dangerous for women who are prone to anxiety/depression. If you are experiencing something similar, just know that it will be okay and things will get better."

• Ple...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 2, 2021

For Birth Control "I started this birth control 4 years ago, and my side effects got worse and worse every year I was on it. I’ve never suffered from anxiety, and it made me literally so miserable. Stressed every day to the point where I’d start to shake and get nervous over nothing. I never knew what was causing this. My cramps were also so bad: pelvic pain and mood swings. I’d cry for an entire day and then be fine the next. Muscle aches as well due to my anxiety getting so bad. I also would become incredibly nauseous a few days before my cycle, sometimes, I would even throw up. There were nights where I would constantly just sit in my bathroom from a panic attack. I also got aggravated incredibly easily. I got off of this pill. Please do not take this. Believe every side effect. It got worse and worse every day I took it, and I never thought it could be my pill making me this miserable. The only thing it did for me was prevent me from getting pregnant."

• Bri...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 10, 2020

For Birth Control "I started taking Blisovi after my pharmacy switched me from Taytulla. I was only on it for a month and a half. Aside from the fact my skin was completely clear, the side effects were horrible for me. I gained some weight, and my mood swings were horrible. I've never in my life experienced severe anxiety until taking this pill. I genuinely thought I was going crazy. I never struggled with panic attacks until this pill. Every morning I woke up anxious. I also experienced really bad cramping and pelvic pain, and mild breast tenderness. I ended up convincing myself I was pregnant. I’ve been off of it for a week now, and I feel like my normal self. I’d be cautious on this one."

• Fee...
• June 9, 2019

For Birth Control "Taking Blisovi Fe 1/20 as my first time birth control. 1. No weight gain, if anything, I've lost weight while on this, not saying it's due to the pill, but that's the only thing I've noticed about my weight. 2. No hair loss, my hair has been fine. 3. My face cleared up of little pimples I used to get throughout the month. 4. My periods are 3 days at the most and are light. 5. I've noticed an increase in my sex drive. 6. I've always been on the smaller side when it came to my boobs, they've gotten bigger since I started taking this pill. Nothing crazy, but enough to notice a difference. Downsides. 1. I'm bipolar, so this pill did mess with my anxiety/mood pretty bad the first two months, but once I got past the adjustment period, it's been good, occasionally, it can get to be a bit much, but nothing I can't deal with. 2. My cramps haven't changed, they're still just as painful. 3. During my period, my breasts get super tender to the point of being uncomfortable in my bra. Hope this helps. ✌"

• BCh...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 23, 2021

For Birth Control "This is the 3rd time I have attempted to take birth control. I have severe ovulation issues, and my doctor thought trying a “low dose pill” would help. Aurovela Fe is absolutely awful. I’m on my 2nd month, week 2 of the pack, and I’ve never experienced anxiety and mood swings this severely in my life! Sobbing, crying, even having emotional breakdowns. I have GI issues already, and this pill has made them even worse. And the breast tenderness?! I thought they just hurt, but my significant other even mentioned how much larger they looked. Oh, and the bloating is also severe, like really bad. I’m 31, and I’ve never felt like my life was spiraling out of control until I started taking this. I’m not even giving it a chance to “level out.” I will be stopping cold turkey. If I could give this zero stars...I would give it a negative 5."

• Mer...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 14, 2021

For Birth Control "DO NOT TAKE THIS PILL. This is my first ever drug review. I was on this pill for only 9 days. This pill gave me severe anxiety and intrusive thoughts that I am still dealing with almost a month after, although they’ve gotten a little better. This was the worst pill I’ve ever taken in my life. I had fatigue, heavy chest, random pains in my body, severe depression, I could not think or form a thought, anxiety, and fear. And I developed scary intrusive thoughts I never had before. My libido left, and I also experienced dryness I never had before. Only in 9 days! It was awful! Quit this pill and do not take it. Most of the side effects have left, but I’m still having the fear and OCD and I’m scared it screwed me up permanently."