Aviane and hair loss

I have had the exact same side effects that most of you have reported. Hair loss/thinning at the temples, weight gain and more acne than I have EVER had in my life. I just threw the rest of the pills away today thank god I researched this and saw all of these wonderful, helpful comments. Now, I will need to see a doctor to see if my hair will come back.

I set out this morning to do some internet research on women's hair loss and I am SO glad that I ended up here. My hair has been thinning slowly but surely - most noticeably right at my hairline and I'm pretty distraught. I have no history of baldness on either side of my family and I know this isn't a genetic issue. Anyway, I ended up on the American Hair Loss Association website which lists birth control as a culprit (never considered this - I'm 28 and I've been on the pill for 12 years). This made me decide to look into the side effects of my birth control which just happens to be...AVIANE (I didn't even know the name - that's how aware I was.) This is starting to sound like beating a dead horse, but I was on Alesse for 10 years with NO problems whatsoever. From 2006-2008 I was put on a generic form because I was under military healthcare. They basically gave me whatever generic they had "in stock" that day so I didn't even stay on a consistent generic birth control, which is bad news. I just thought I was turning into a crazy, emotional bitch who hated life because I moved away from my home and family for my husband's military career. I actually learned to make peace and manage it...until the hair loss. Call it vanity but that's where I draw the line. This part is key: I didn't see the consistent hair loss until I got on a steady stream of AVIANE. Once my husband got out of the military, I went to a regular obgyn but opted for the generic form of Alesse (so the say) just to save money (at the time I still haven't put it together that it's the bc that's been making me unhappy.) I've been on just AVIANE since July 2008 and started noticing hair loss around September 2008, have seen no regrowth and I think it's getting worse. That search led me here and I am so glad it did - on top of the balding, the last few months I have been moodier than normal, have small fits of rage (that fade quickly, thank god), have been mildly depressed and unable to really enjoy life, I've gained about 5 pounds without a lifestyle/diet/exercise change, I've had more cystic acne (although daily exfoliation has helped this immensely) and lo and behold, 2 days into the placebo week and I feel GREAT. I have one more week on this month's pack - I'm making a doctor's appointment on Monday and I am DONE with AVIANE.

Yeah I don't know why physicians just put us on this Aviane because its "cheaper" than Alysse. Mine told me it was basically the same thing but it's obviously not because I've been breaking out in zits like crazy ever since I went on it. I also got harsh mood swings, intense fits of anger (broken furniture can attest to this) and it comes completely randomly; one tiny thing can set me into a fit of rage. I had previously been using Alysse since I was 16 (I'm now 22) and it worked perfectly - didn't have harsh breakouts, my moods were normal, didn't gain weight. I've been taking Aviane for more than six months now and the zits (which are often huge and painful) haven't gone away :( I wash my face day and night, haven't changed my diet at all... So I can only assume it's because of hormonal changes - which only leaves Aviane.

I'm definitely switching back to Alysse - hell I'll pay the extra five dollars if it means a clear complexion and my/my boyfriend's sanity!!!

I was on Aviane for about 2 years. During this time, I had very severe cramps during my period. This included majoe hot flashes, to a point where I would sweat! Just about every time I ate, I would have to go to the restroom with severe diarreha. All I wanted to do was to lay in bed, curled up in a ball, so nauseated from the pain! I was so miserable!! Not to mention my horrible mood. I was mean to everybody and I was so depressed that I would just cry for no reason. It almost caused my boyfriend and I to break up a few times because he couldn't take me anymore! Once my period ended, the mood swings ended, but I had no sex drive what so ever! It kept getting worse every month, and I am only 25 years old! So, I recently switched to Yaz. It costs a lot more, but so far is worth it. My sex drive is back, no PMS or mood swings! Cramps are very light and I haven't felt depressed at all. I am in such a better mood all of the time every day. Something else I noticed is that my sudden feelings of anxiety have disappeared! I thought it was just me, but now I believe that it was caused by Aviane. Also, It has made by breasts grow a whole cup size
with no weight gain! One more thing is that I used to have so much hair loss in the shower, and I thought it was from straightning my curly hair! Since I switched, it has dramatically lessened! Ooh! And one more thing...I have smoked for about 8 years...not a lot, just a few a day. Since I have been on this I have not had any cravings cir a cigarette.... maybe occasionally while having a drink or coffee. So maybe it is from Yaz as well! I am so glad I found this forum, and wish I found it sooner! Good luck everyone :)

I just found this website tonight and I cannot even tell you how much relief I am feeling right now. I was on Alesse for over 2 years with zero side effects. A few months ago my pharmacist told me it switched to Aviane but that it was basically the same thing. Here is what I have been experiencing since I started taking Aviane: weight gain, COMPLETE loss of sex drive, headaches, brown blotches on my face, mood changes, changes in my sleep patterns and hair loss. I was seriously concerned something major was wrong with me, especially because I was on Alesse (the "same drug") for years with no problems.

Thank you to all the women who posted on here. You are definitely helping out so many women who aren't sure what's wrong with them.

My pills are now in the garbage and I am phoning every girl I know who was on Alesse to warn them about Aviane. I'm so angry that I was misinformed, and I honestly thought I was losing my mind, or severely ill.

Now that I've read all these postings, I feel like a million pound weight lifted off my chest. I am so excited about my mind and body returning to normal!

Hi Ladies- I promised I would post to let you know how I am doing WITHOUT Aviene. I posted the Sept. 10 comment entitled Thanks ladies because I felt your posts have helped me.

I stopped taking the Aviene on a Thursday and all side effects stopped and no new ones occurred. All is well, I enjoy life without being a freak show.

In a DAY AND A HALF WITHOUT AVIANE MY HEALTH RESTORED.

I mentioned the 20 pound weight gain within a few weeks, by the following Tuesday I lost 9 pounds and today is the 26th and I lost 15 pounds. No anxiety, no irritation, no face issues (in a week it cleared up), no mood or energy issues, no excessive thirst, burning of eyes, chills, fever, rashes, itchy -nothing. I was allergic to it and my body wasn't breaking down the coloring agents etc whatever the hell is in there b/c it's not like you get a box or product descriptions. This isn't personal comments, I spoke with pharmacists, doctors, doctor friends, nurses etc. I work at a hospital I have great resources to share with you.

Whatever your side effects are, let's do this. Let's listen to our bodies, listen to experiences and draw your own conclusions.

I know my body, I know myself, and I know my life changes, mood changes, physical changes were due to this pill.

Please consider when being worried about what will happen if you quickly go off it that the consequences of staying on it are more severe. For me, and for many of us, the side effects didn't stop but kept adding and if you are reading this and are just curious or feel something is off with you do not take it any further. I am sharing that I am not a sensitive person and do not experience side effects... and I completely broke down physically and mentally from the amount of side effects and had to self defend.

Many of your comments helped and let's face it if you read that some ladies lost their hair... come on... obviously something is wrong with this pill.

Take care ladies, my sincere hope is that my post will help you, as you have helped me.

So you know, I went back on Alesse and all is well. My drug company didn't cover Alesse but ALESSE HAS A PATIENT CARD FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT HAVE INSURANCE AND FOR THOSE WHO DO BUT THE COMPANY DOESN'T COVER ALESSE RATHER THE GENERIC AVIANE. Your patient Alesse card you get will cover the difference that your insurance company may not. I paid $ 2.89 for my monthly prescription which is less than if the insurance company covered it. Check with your pharmacy location site if they participate in the program and it is not hard to find one that does.

You may not like Alesse, I can only share my experience with Aviane that did make my life a living hell. Happy to be OFF it!

Please take care and self defend your situation and reach out to those around you.

I have had lots of the side effects that most women described. The most severe for me was the dramatic hair loss that I suffered while taking, first Aviane in the beginning then being switched to Lutera really did'nt make much of a difference, however I have lost weight which was a plus, but the hair loss and restlessness made it a minus not to mention the depression and low sex drive. So I have decided to finish my last pack, then just completely go off of birth control pills and hope my cycle lightens up, otherwise I will try some Homeopathic remedy and see how that goes. Good luck to all, hope you find what works for you, sometimes you do have to experiment, before you reach that ultimate goal... Take care all...

I am 21 yrs old and I have been on Aviane for 1yr. now. This would be my third different BC. I was on the patch before taken Aviane I was having these side effects on the patch :dizziness, blurred vision and many more just to name a few. Since being on Aviane I have had a lot to side effect: depression moody, anger, (very bad) hair loss, slurred speech, loss train of thought, weight gain (about 15 lbs), decreased sex drive, headaches, severe cramping and other side effects. I wouldn't recommend this BC to anyone.

I was taking Aviane for 9 months - perhaps 9 months too long. I have experienced noticeable weight gain and TREMENDOUS HAIR LOSS. I USED TO have thick, curly hair. I have lost at least 25% of my hair since taking this pill. It is absolutely noticeable - even my hair dresser is shocked. I have checked the other misc prescriptions that I am on - allergies, acid reflux - and this bc pill seems to be the culprit. If you have not started this pill, think twice before doing so. I switched to another 'regular' pill a few weeks ago. I hope my hair grows back!

Hi,
My daughter was put on this pill as a hormone pill.She has had 3 cysts removed from her ovaries in 8 months. She is sixteen. My daughter is always hormonal around her time, however i would not give this pill to anyone...She has been evil,miserable, moody, hair loss, and her anger has been out of control.
Please think twice before taking this medication.My daughter has been just saying mom, I dont know why I am like this..We have been fighting terrible.Thank you for all the comments. I now ubnderstand..
Also in the begining all she did was sleep.
Any suggestions for better medication.The weight is also been a factor.She also feels very depressed like no one likes her in school.
Thank you

I am 18 years old and finishing up my 3rd pack of Aviane this week. I have tried other brands of birth control and had to stop after only a month of taking them because I had severe depression. My mood swings were horrible the first month but now they are less frequent. I just started college and there is a change in my diet so all weight gain I know is from my pattern of eating and not the pill. Since I've been on this pill I have never gotten my period during the 7 "reminder" pills, I get it 7-14 days earlier and experience pms symptoms for about 5-7 days before that time. On top of that, my periods are lasting 7-10 days on this pill. I feel like I only have about a week where I am not pmsing or on my period. I have noticed a lot of hair loss as well, to the point it's starting to embarrass me. I also get randomly angry for no reason.

Despite these major down points, I am doing better on this pill than other pills. I am less depressed than on other brands, I have no problems with my sex drive, and my mood swings are less often compared to other brands. I can at least tolerate these side effects. But in all honesty, I'm frustrated. This is the third brand of pills I've tried and I don't know if I should switch because I feel like I'm always pmsing or on my period. I feel like I have to choose between emotional side effects or physical side effects with birth control. I do not know if I should consider trying another brand or just accept that this is the best experience I can possibly get while on the pill.