Loestrin 24 Fe and birth control

I have been on loestrin for 2 months now. For the past month I have been an emotional wreck, and for the passed week I have had anxiety, heartburn and stomach cramps just below my ribcage. My lower back is killing me and my stomach is spasming. I just took my last birth control pill this morning and start the reminder pills tomorrow. I totally don't feel myself. I haven't got my period since i've been on it. My doctor put me on it because I was bleeding abnormally heavy for me two weeks after my period. I really want to not start a new pack, but i'm nervous that i will bleed heavily again. the anxiety is causing me no to sleep.................I hate this pill

I'm 22 and had been on a generic of ortho-low and although I hadn't experienced any of the mood-swings, upset stomach, bleeding etc...I lost all desire to have sex. (Sex was impossible unless we used lubricant and even then it wasn't very enjoyable since it really wasn't what I wanted to be doing.) I stopped using the birth control and I went back to normal, but wanted to try something else so I started on loestrin 24. I bled for almost a week during the 2nd week on it, my breasts have been painfully tender, but more importantly...I have no desire to have sex...again. Poor boyfriend! He knows it's not really me...or anything he's "lacking" in that's contributing to this, but neither of us is happy with this situation. Any suggestions?

OK Girls I have ONLY been on this pill for 3 weeks and I have been an emotional basketcase! I mostly feel anxious, really irritable, and also I'm crying over EVERYTHING! My boyfriend and I both had to leave the house and go our own ways for a couple hours today because I was acting like a literal "crazy bitch"! I picked him completely apart. It could all be coincidental, but this is the only thing I have changed in my life and I can honestly say I feel like shit. Mr. Doctor gave me 3 months worth because I switched jobs and she didn't want me to have to pay for birth control. Oh trust me ladies, next month, I will be paying for birth control. I want my old pills back! 4 more days!!!!

I am 24 and have taken several different kinds of birth control. I wanted to switch to something with the least amount of hormones or side effects but this stuff is horrible. I keep thinking I'm pregnant because my boobs are giant and constantly sore, I'm a total crazy bitch and I feel like I'm going to yack all the time. I'm definitely switching to something else. This stuff is ruining my body.

Okay, I am 16, have never taken any birth control,and I am in my 3rd week of Loestrin. My doctor told me that if i started the pill on the first day of my period (august 1) that i would not have to wait to have UNPROTECTED sex, but to be safe, my boyfriend and I waited until august 7th to have sex, we also had sex on the 12th. Around the 15th I had some light pink discharge that lasted for 2 days...this worried me a little but i did not think much of it. Soon after that I started having back pains, cramps, nausea, headaches, my breasts are swollen, VERY tender, nipples are larger/darker, you can see the blue veins in them also. I have been picky about foods,discharge has increased, and have had terrible heartburn and have been extremely emotional. I have also had pains in my knees and ankles, and smells make me very sick to my stomach. I am very worried that I am pregnant.....but I am not supposed to get my period until the 28th so I have to wait...if anyone has been pregnant or had these symptoms on Loestrin PLEASE let me know....Thanks!

I think it is interesting the symptoms that you mention here. I have been on birth control pills since the age of 19. I am now 28. Over the past year I have had similar symptoms. I have been on so many different BCP's that is is hard to keep count. They don't seem to work the way they claim to. The last BCP I was on was orthotryciclen. While taking these I began to experience severe heart palpitations. So bad that they would wake me up at night. Because I wasn't sure if it was an anxiety attack or just being in my head I decided to ignore it. Four months passed by and it seemed to get increasingly worse. I had enough and decided to go to my PCP. She wasn't really much help either. Although I was tested for Mitral Valve Prolapse, which I was told affects younger women my age. There was nothing found. What I thought was interesting is I really felt that it was the birth control pills, but I couldn't find it as a side affect on the information that was provided in the box. The tech who was doing my echocardiogram began to tell me she also experienced the same feelings and found out it was her BCP. Once she confirmed what I thought was right, decided to stop taking them. After three months the symptoms began to disappear. I figured it was just the particular brand. I began to take loestrin 24. I started to feel the same symptoms again, just not as severe. I would feel my heart beat when I would like down in my back and my stomach. My heart rate would reach 90 to 100 sometimes. I know this is not normal. When I visited my gyno yesterday she told me it was impossible that it was a result of the BCP. Maybe it was just anxiety and or perhaps I should get checked out by a cardiologist. That is serious stuff when you are talking to a young person about getting there heart check out. I think if there are any other women out there who are experiencing any similar symptoms should speak up. So these doctors won't keep telling us it is all in our heads and help to take care of this problem.

I went on Loestrin 24 Fe about 5-6 weeks ago to try and lighten and/or alter my cycle. I compete in sprint triathlons and had one coming up in September when I calculated that I would be on day 2 of my regular cycle (day two has been a ridiculously heavy day for me over the past year...I am 39 and possibly heading into menopause?). Doc said to start Loestrin either first Sunday after onset of my period or the first day of my period. I started on the Sunday, mid-ish cycle of my regular period. I never stopped bleeding. The bleeding did get lighter than a normal period for me, but I have been bleeding for almost 6 weeks now and the last three days have been severe. I am absolutely stopping this pill. I have read too many negatives about it and not only has it made me bleed more, I believe it has made me incredibly mean (usually a happy go lucky girl) and I am so tired and having trouble getting motivated to train, which I normally LOVE to do. Instead of helping me get through the triathlon, I am now thinking I have to back out because I am weak and can't sustain the stamina necessary to continue training at the appropriate level. And my husband and kids want their "nice" wife/mommy back. I've been really short tempered, bloated and lethargic. As I type this I realize and can't believe how much I have changed since I began taking it. Definitely not worth it especially since I wasn't using it for birth control (husband had a vasectomy 2 years ago!) Also, I have noticed a major drop in libido.

Does anyone have any information about how long it takes to return to normal after stopping this nasty drug?

Susan

I have been taking Loestrin 24 for about 8 months and I did not have a period for almost 5 months. Now I have had two this month. I have experienced anxiety and depression and I am normally a level individual. I do not want to go without Birth control but I feel I can't take this one anymore, I just want a clear mind back.

I have also been scared that I'm pregnant with Loestrin 24. I have had headaches everyday, nausea, cramps, major mood swings, my sex drive has significantly decreased, my gums bleed a little when I brush my teeth and sometimes I wake up with dried blood on my teeth. My periods barely last a day, and I wouldn't even say I was bleeding. I took a pregnancy test and it came back negative. I'm thinking about calling my GYNO now and asking her to switch my birth control. I have never found a BC that is perfect for me, but these are the worst side effects I've ever had with one.

I have previously posted on this site about my experience with Loestrin 24 Fe, and decided I still need more insite and advice about this birth control medication. I have been bleeding for eleven days. Now it is very, very light and heavy in mucus. Is this a normal thing for the pill to cause? I began to take this B.C. because I needed to stop bleeding!

OMG Ladies I guess I am not crazy after all. I been taking Loestrin 24 since March and everything was ok the first 2 months, but then I stopped getting a cycle completely. I don't know why I have stayed on it so long OH and the mood swings my boyfriend thinks I'm bipolar. I decided to do some research and came across this website and wow I have I found some interesting information about this birth control.

I'm 25, on birth control for the first time and I am just finishing up my first month on Loestrin Fe (I was on Yaz for one month before that). I am a bit concerned that I'm set to start a new pack tomorrow and have not had a period, not even spotting. I haven't really had any of the side effects some are describing of weight gain, chest pain, or hair loss. Maybe a bit more acne than usual, but I had expected that since this is only my second month on The Pill.

However reading your experiences I'm beginning to wonder about the mood swings. I have been EXTREMELY pissed off this month, anxious, and stressed, and in general a horrible person to be around. It's like I'm 15 again going through "that stage." It's awful, and I'm quite embarrassed by my childish behavior though I can't seem to help it. I've attributed it to other factors (which, who knows?) but reading your experiences makes me wonder if this pill isn't contributing. I'm definitely going to pay attention; if this continues for another month I'm going to change to another pill. Ugh.

I'm also wondering if I'm going to get my period back? I began taking birth control to control my normally heavy bleeding and severe cramps. Not to eliminate my period entirely!

The worst birth control i have ever been on in my life. I started this pill about a month and a half ago and its been hell since. First off, I gained 15 pounds in a month. I talked to my doctor and she said that it does increase appetite but the pill itself should not make you gain more than three pounds from water weight. BULLSHIT. I am constantly tired, moody, and anxious. My appetite is crazy, i am always starving and feel like i haven't eaten enough. My boobs are uncomfortably larger than they have ever been and are always sore. I am mood swing central and its like my brain is switching gears constantly, one second happy, the next angry and miserable. I am finishing up this months and will be going off the pill completely. Its not worth it to have all these unhealthy side effects.

im 17, and i started on loestrin 24 fe about 5 months ago. at first everything was completely fine and normal. then about 2 months ago everything flipped. i started getting the biggest mood swings of my life. i would start to scream and yell and throw the biggest temper tantrums about the smallest things ever. i flip out and start fights with my boyfriend everyday about the smallest most stupidest things ever. my lifes been a complete living hell for the past 2-3 months. at first i thought it was just me but after reading all these comments from you ladies i feel completely relieved. i just got off the phone with my uncle who owns an auto body shop after making an appt with him to get my boyfriends car fixed due to one of my temper tantrums when i broke his window and rear-view mirror and after finding out that will cost me about 400 bucks i hungup and called my gyno and made an appt to have my birth control switched. good luck to everyone

i'm 17 and this is my 2nd birth control that ive tried. its 5:35 in the morning ive been up since 2:00 because of this damn birth control. ive been on it for a month and a half, the first month was fine..i didn't get sick or feel any different and my period only lasted 3 days. but when i started it the 2nd month after my 1st period on it, it changed ...i had to get up every night at 3:00AM and throw up and i was dizzy all day......i wanted to see if it was really the birth control that was making me sick because i'm also taking other pills. so i didn't take my birth control one night to see if i would still get sick and i didn't, i sleep so good it was great ^_^. but i took it again tonight .....just to make sure and again i feel like crap .....i think i'm done ...i hate this birth control i'm not taking it anymore!!!! yay i feel better just thinking about not taking it anymore :]

I wanted to know if anyone got their period twice a month? I have a two and half month old. I didn't know if it was a side effect from the birth control or if this was normal after giving birth.

I am going bald after taking Loestrin 24 Fe for only 3 weeks. My hair is coming out in clumps. I thought my hair dresser had done something wrong, I started eliminating possible causes and decided to read the information packet when I realized that loss of scalp hair is one of the side effects at the bottom of the list. I have large bald spots in my head of normal thick healthy hair and the hair on my head now look very unfamiliar. I know I will have to start wearing a wig within another week.
I am so disappointed because I was starting to feel happy that I haven't experience any of the usually side effects of birth control pills and was thinking that I would give it the 4 month trial that my doctor suggested. I am a 43 year old woman trying to take this pill for bleeding control after ruling out other causes for my bleeding, now I think I am over trying pills.

hi i have just started taking the pill and had a few questions that i cant find answers to. i started taking the pill about 2 months ago now (in the last week of june) and i was wondering how does it work with having sex. should i still be using a condom during the first 7 days of my period or what? i cant find this answer anywhere and i don't know. the loestrin website only tells you about your first month but not the following. also i got my period twice during the first month about a week apart, is that normal?

After reading these experiences others have had I feel like I'm not crazy for the first time in a long time. I have been on Loestrin for about 11 months, it is the first time I have taken birth control and I am 20 years old. Since starting this pill I have gained about 20-30 pounds, and figured it was just due to a change in my lifestyle. However, no matter how much I have worked out or changed my diet I just can't seem to get rid of the weight. I have had many of the other side effects too, like terrible anxiety, shortness of breath, unexplainable chest pain, terrible stomach pain, and I get extremely angry at the drop of a hat. My boyfriend has said that if my emotions continue to be this out of control he won't be able to handle it anymore. I have tried to control myself, but no matter what I do I feel like I am not myself anymore. I become dizzy for no reason and I have developed some type of acid reflux, has anyone else had this issue? My period is irregular even after 11 months; some times I have it for a week and a half, sometimes not at all, and my period was very regular before starting this pill. I am going to the gyno next week and was wondering if anyone had suggestions for another pill that does not cause so much turmoil.

i'm 26 and this is the first time i've ever taken any birth control. for the past 2 1/2 yrs, i've had my period every month and a half, then every two months, and the last period was three months late. after many visits to the gyno - ultrasounds and blood work, i gave in to the idea of trying this out for a short period of time to get my periods jump started again. i've been on loestrin 24 for 4 weeks now. i had a period after the first week of pills, i've been nauseous 90% of the time, i have unexplained pains in my chest and i've been crying more than usual. i've felt depressed, anxious, and have severe mood swings - all of these things are more than normal and i thought i was just loosing my marbles. after reading this site things make sense now and i'm going to stop taking it. my gyno says how i feel is normal but that my "emotional" part has nothing to do with the bc. there's no abnormal stresssors in my life as of late but maybe trying a different bc might help.

I am 17 and i was prescribed loestrin 24 as my first birth control pill. I've been on it for less than a week and i can't stand it and neither can my boyfriend! I have had a period from hell with has been 5 days in counting, I bleed so much i get dizzy when i stand up and my legs feel like 1000 lbs i can barely move them. Also i had diminished sex drive and raging hormones (bad acne, emotional hell) so i have decided to stop taking it. I called my gynec. and she recommended the opposite, and told me to get a blood test to check my iron levels and to see if i was pregnant! I'm almost positive i am not but not shes got me worried and i go for the blood test today. Loestrin ruined the second half of my summer but after reading all these other ladies tales i am very glad i decided to quit now. Thank you for opening my eyes, i realized it probably won't just go away in a week. I stopped it yesterday and i feel better already.

I have been on Loestrin24 since March 2008 and have been hospitalized once, in the emergency room once and suffering since. About two weeks after I started taking Loestrin24 in March 2008, I had what they thought was a TIA or, a "mini-stroke" and was put in the hospital. I was seeing a rainbow-like aura, had a splitting headache (for only about 30 minutes), became extremely confused, my blood pressure jumped up to 168/93 (stage 2 hypertension) and I couldn't speak for a few hours. Of course, they hospitalized me, ran all kinds of tests and found there to be no medical reason for a mini-stroke and the neurologist cleared me so, I was sent home with no mention of the fact that it could be the Loestrin24 that was causing it and, yes, my husband did tell them I was taking it. Two months later, I was back in the emergency room with the same symptoms. However, this time I recognized the symptoms as the same ones I'd had before and we immediately headed to the hospital. I was not hospitalized this time and the ER doctor said it was a migraine (there's a migraine that causes stroke-like symptoms) and that it's possible it could be the Loestrin24. Well, I'm taking the birth control pill because I have incredibly painful periods and was trying to be able to live a normal life. Without the birth control pill, I literally have to plan my life around my periods. So, not wanting to believe it was the Loestrin24, I continued to take it because, I hadn't had a period since I started taking it. That, alone, was worth it for me. But, last night while watching TV with my husband, the worst symptom hit me. It was like someone took a sledge hammer and slammed me in the forehead with it! I was wracked with such pain in my head that my hands flew to my forehead and I was screaming/crying. My head hurt so badly that I was would not have been surprised if I was actually bleeding from my eyes and ears. This morning, I'm still having the ringing in my ears and I could sleep for hours. I have contacted both my ob/gyn and my family physician and both of them said to stop taking it immediately.

Also, like I've read in several postings here, my sex drive is completely gone. And, when I do give in to my husband and have sex, my heart feels like I'm going to have a heart attack. The sudden splitting headache has actually come on during sex, too!

I certainly do not want to go back to the debilitating pain of my periods but, I can't live like this, either!

I recently began taking Loestrin 24 Fe because I actually stopped having my period. I have lost 80 pounds over the last 2 1/2 years. The Doctor explained that the weight loss had affected my hormone levels and advised me to take this pill. However, she also assured me that I would not gain weight. I have been taking the pill for two weeks, and I have already gained 4 pounds. I am a faithful Weight Watcher member and looking back over what I ate the past 14 days and how much I worked out - the weight gain does not seem possible.

Doing some independent research, this pill has the lowest levels of estrogen, supposedly meaning that it shouldn't cause weight gain like other oral contraceptives with higher estrogen levels. However, the scale shows different results and I also feel like I am retaining water. I don't want to appear "vain," but I have worked very hard for a very long time to lose 80 pounds. I do not want to see it creep back on because of medication, especially when I am only using it for regulation, not pregnancy prevention.

From reading earlier postings, I know some other people have had similar experiences. Did your Doctor change the type of birth control? Did you simply stop taking the pill and lose the weight? Does anyone have any advice? I really appreciate the help!

I was put on Loestrin three weeks ago, and after being on it for 2 and half I've taken myself off of it. I've been on the pill for 7 years and was on Yasmin before I switched because I was having break through bleeding. With Loestrin I have been an emotional wreck, I can't go anywhere. I cry almost over anything and sometimes for no reason at all, and not a couple of little tears, sobbing hysterically. I had to stay home from an entire day of classes because I literally could not get out of bed the cramps and headaches were so bad (on the verge of a migraine which I never get). I've gained 7 pounds in these two and half weeks, I eat all the time. I am on adderall and usually have to make myself eat because I have no appetite, now it's all I do. It made me horribly anxious and depressed, and I didn't want to be social at all (not like I could because I would probably cry). This pill is awful. I also had spotting within the first week and bad spotting. I've been breaking out on my face more then I ever did before I was on the pill. I do not recommend this pill to anyone I much rather not have the positive side effects of birth control then take this.

Hi I just got prescribed Loestrin 24 Fe and well I have not had any luck with birth control pills. I had mood swings (the pen would fall on the floor and I would start crying like there is no tomorrow), I gained weight, had shakes, and I had diarrhea for the 3 months that I took the pill. I stopped taking it after 3 months and it took me about 4 to 5 months to get back to normal. Hopefully Loestrin 24 Fe will not give me such side effects. Any advice on what time I should be taking these pills?

Just an update on my last post, I got a response from my doctor and may possibly have an answer for some of you. It's pretty simple; if you are having breakthrough bleeding and are taking your pill correctly (same time every day) you may just need a higher dose of birth control. This is for those of us who have been on the pill for more than three months, just make sure you give your body a chance to "get used to it" first before you call your doctor.

i started taking Loestrin FE just under a month ago. i havnt gotten to the brown pills yet for my 1st period on it.
since i started taking it ive noticed that ive been pee'n 2 times as much as i normally do..
my gums bleed slightly when i brush my teeth and in the afternoons i get nauseas and light headed..i get really week and after a few minutes it goes away.
ive taken a pregnancy test and its came back negative (i took it today)
but idk

what do you guys think?
plz let me know

I've been on Loestrin 24 Fe for about a year, my periods were never only 3 days and they were barely periods. They were very weird and painful!

I became a royal bitch and my skin was ok but I have always had great skin so when I got a blemish or two I felt that it was because of the pill. To top it all off I gained weight on it so I started restricting my diet and working out harder. My weight didn't go down at all, but I didn't gain. As soon as I stopped taking the pill my working out and eating little helped me dropped 5 pounds (it has been 2 weeks). I'm thinking the pill didn't allow me to lose weight.

I also had a diminished libido which sucks because I like sex. It was only the last week on hormones, I was crazy for sex but only then.

I decided to get off the pill because I was hating myself on it and now I see the beginning of bad acne. I haven't had my first period off the pill yet but I have a feeling it won't be pleasant.

I am almost to the end of my 2nd pack of Loestrin24Fe. I have no thad my period since I started it!! At first I was nervous thinking I was pregnant. Not pregnant. Just not getting period. My breasts have been so tender and sore to the touch. I have never have breasts tenderness like this in my life. At first I thought all of this would eventually go away. I am trying to remain patient. I am thinking maybe after the 3rd pack I will be back to normal again. I don't like the fact Im missing my period because skipping periods boosts the odds of breast cancer.etc. I am bloated and feel disgusting. I don't think its good to keep switching birth control pills. After reading all the posts I see there really isn't a happy medium. Women either have their periods for months straight or not at all. Ahhhh!! I think this is giving me mood swings as well. I have never had a problem with my skin. In fact I get a pimple about once every two years! All of a sudden I am noticing some minor breakouts on my forehead. Not pimples just bumpiness! I guess Im not alone.

I have been on loestrin 24 fe now for 6 months. it is the only birth control I have ever tried. For the first 2 months, I had a continual period. Once the bleeding stopped I noticed that I had UTI's weekly which have declined but I still have regular uti's. In the 4th month of taking the pill I started to notice the mood swings that have been with me since. Crying for absolutely no reason. The feeling of being unable to control my emotions. DEPRESSION! which I have never experienced in my life. Anxiety and wanting to be alone and yet sad because I am lonely....Inability to concentrate and reason with myself. Inability to be my normal positive self. Needless to say I am getting off this pill. I have already spoken with my doctor and received a new prescription today. All I can say is that if this is what birth control is like........ Forget it! I will try this one other pill, but if I still have symptoms like these, I am switching to condoms.

I am 35, and my doctor recently prescribed me Loestrin 24 Fe to regulate my periods. (I was bleeding/spotting for almost 2 weeks out of the month) and to help with my PMDD. Well, I just finished my 2nd week of pills, and let me tell you, I feel horrible. I'm bloated, have gained 3 lbs(I'm on Weight Watchers, plus exercise 4 times a week) , have insomnia (I've never had a problem sleeping) I am extremely moody (just ask my poor husband and kids) and have more pimples now than I did as a teenager. Since I"m not taking the pill as a form of birth control, (my husband has had a vasectomy), as of tomorrow, I am finished taking this pill. I would rather deal w/2 weeks of bleeding, than the the emotional/physical roller coaster I have been on for the past 2 weeks. Just my opinion..hope this helps someone!

Hello Ladies...There are so many comments that I could not get through them all. I am in my 3rd month on Loestrin 24 Fe. The first month I thought that I just had to be pregnant too based on all the symptoms I was having. My period has yet to start when it is suppose to start or finish when it is suppose to finish. The second month I thought that I actually was having a 3 day period but about a week later I started bleeding again for about a week. My cramping has been a lot worse as well. I know that you are suppose to give your body time to adjust to it, but I am not sure I can wait it out with this pill.

My doctor told me before I even started taking this pill that no birth control pill is perfect and that they pretty much will all give you some type of negative side effect from nausea to weight gain to dryness to lack of sex drive. I appreciated her honesty. My thought is that when picking a birth control pill its like picking THE LESSER OF THE EVILS. My fiance and I would rather not get pregnant right now, but I feel like a different person and I miss me.

*****

BAD.... I hate it, and you should too.
I was on other BC pills in the past and they also cause the same side effects on me, I took them for 4 years and I quitted, four month later a got pregnant, two month after giving birth I had to get my gall bladder removed ( also a side effect of birth control). I started back on birth control because I in a serious relationship now and we don’t want to have kids at this time.
This pill is giving me lots of problems. I love to have sex with my boyfriend to the point I though I was a nympho and now my sex drive is BAD.....We start very good, and after a few minutes.....I get very dry and that’s the end of it. I hate it. My BF is the hottest men in the world (to me), and we had very good sex, we were like rabbits lol, I always had one or two orgasms, always natural lubricated. Now I get dry and we have to stop, I started the pill a month ago, I take it everyday at the same time, my breast is itching (I guess its growing) as the rest of body too, back pain and very irritable. I'm ready to quite, I’m going to try the IUD or the ring, Today I have the worst migraine and yesterday I had very bad mood swings all day, for not reason, I was seating in a meeting and all the sudden I want it to scream and run and just go off at everybody but a seat there and talk my self out of doing it, by telling my self it was the BC and I need it to come down cuz its nobody’s fault but the stupid hormones, I cry this morning also for no reason. IM DONE WITH THIS PILL. I won’t even recommend to my enemy.(migraines, mood swings, vaginal dryness, low sex drive, back pain, nausea, hungry all the time, breast tenderness, and I guess with all that depression its just natural)

I'm a couple weeks into taking this Loestrin pill, after being on Seasonique for about 3 months, and I'm nervous about it. I'm in a monogamous relationship with my boyfriend, he uses condoms , and I'm on birth control , but I'm experiencing nausea in the morning, weird food cravings, unpleasant cramps, headaches, but still light blood spotting. I was absolutely terrified that I was pregnant, but after reading these other entries, it seems mildly common to 'be pregnant' for a month. To be safe I'm getting a pregnancy test, but I'm hoping that the chemicals in the Loestrin doesn't mess with the test. I don't think I dig these pills very much if this is going to happen every month.

I have been on bc for 7 years and Loestrin 24 for over a year now and finally found the perfect remedy to my irregular (sometimes 2 week long) periods. This is pretty much the only thing I love about the pill. However, It makes me feel a lot better that so many people are experiencing the many negative side effects that I have been getting from this darn pill. My frequent headaches are getting to be unbearable, I constantly feel so bloated and feel like my weight slowly creeps up despite a distance runner. I think I must be retaining so much water. I went on the scale one morning, then ran about 12 miles, then the next morning I gained about 6 pounds...i am a very healthy eater as well. It's just so mind boggling to me that this tiny pill can have such drastic effects on one's body. And depression is another big thing. I am also constantly depressed for no reason and snap at people for no reason.
But the big issue for me is probably my weight. I am really considering going off birth control completely. I just started a new pack this past Sunday...does anyone know if I can just stop cold turkey, or do I have to wait till I finish the pack?

WEIGHT GAIN!! Holy Cow!... I've weighed 115 lbs for the last 4 years of my life. I started on this new pill last week and in the past WEEK that I have i gained 6 lbs!!! It's not like I changed my lifestyle or decided to become a fast food junkie either. All factors are constant. I went to the gym today and I when I stepped on the scale I almost had a heart attack. I noticed I was bloated and everything was fitting tighter ( I just thought my fiance did laundry again and shrunk everything ). Has anyone else had weight gain from this pill? I have been on other pills, Yasmin, Alese, etc in the past and this never ever happened. Will this go away after the first month??

I took loestrin 24 for two months.my doctor recommended it because im low in iron and it's supposed to give you shorter pieriods(haha).In reality I had my pierod two weeks before it was supposed to start and then again on the last week of the month.
I experienced hair loss crying and severe depression,when i no reason to be sad or depressed.I stopped taking loestrin two weeks ago. I feel almost back to normal.
I have never had such bad side effects from a birth control pill.this whole experience has really opened my eyes about taking birth control or any medicine with out really looking into the side effects first.

I have been on Loestrin 24 for 4 months now and hadn't had any big problems with it until I get to the sugar pills for me to have my period. I have had the worst cramps that I have EVER had in my life. I've never been on birth control before I began taking Loestrin, so I'm not sure if this is normal. My periods are shorter, but the pain is unbearable. I started it this morning and I have been in bed all day long in excruciating pain. I almost drove to the hospital but decided to hang in there. Has anyone else had a similar problem? I haven't gained too much weight except I've gone up an entire cup size in my bra which I didn't mind too much except that my boobs hurt almost constantly now if I don't have a bra holding them up! My main concern is the abdominal pain. Any thoughts?

i am 100 lbs and i have a moderate appetite and cant gain weight im just really petite. I have been on YAZ ,Yasmin, and also Ortho Tri Cyclin lo, i have no sex drive on that so i have to stop it. i have never really gained weight on any of them but Yaz made me moody and have bad periods.. i am switching to Loestrin24 but After reading all these posts im so scared to start this pill! does anyone have similar body type or reactions that could help me out before taking this pill on Sunday?!?

I am 19 and was on Loestrin 24 for about a year and just switched to YAZ 3 days ago! I went on birth control because my periods were so awful..i was having a period every 2&1/2 weeks. So, I was hoping that going on this pill would make me regular. Well, from the very beginning it was like I wasn't on anything at all. They say it takes a while for your cycle to become regular, so i waited a few months and my period stayed messed up! Throughout the year I was spotting so much..I can't tell you how much money I spent on tampons. Not only was the spotting and 5-6 day period annoying, I just was not myself. About a month after starting them I was a wreck. I couldn't eat, little things upset me and made me feel depressed. I would cry uncontrollably, and I blame a lot of it on the pill. I really don't think it was right for my body. The month before I switched, I had three periods. I'm not talking about spotting, I mean 5 day long periods. I got cramps, headaches and even backaches. I felt awful. This pill may be good for some, but i sure HATED it and am happy to be trying something new.

I have been on Yasmin for 4 months,but had to switch to Loestrin. While on Yasmin my periods were very regular and timely directly down to the day. This month i took loestrin each day on time, and used back up methods. There was only one "slip up" and even it would make it almost impossible for me to be pregnant. i've taken 4 pregnancy test and each reads negative CLEARLY .However im almost a week late for my period according to the loestrin pill pack , and i'm beginning to get nervous because i'm still waiting on my period! Can switching brands of bc cause you to miss a period, anyone experienced this?

After reading all these posts I am shocked I didn't do research on this bc sooner. I got off the pill last July and developed an ovarian cyst. My gynecologist suggested I go back on the pill to try and dissolve the cyst, well that hasn't happened...I still have one on my right ovary and it isn't big enough for them to remove. I do not want to stay on bc but my doctor insists that I do to get rid of the cyst. I have had terrible side effects from Loestrin that I never had when I took Apri....I stopped taking Apri due to the high level of hormones. I have had really bad acne and dryness of skin even though I moisturize, I have been randomly crying over the stupidest situations, and I get side cramps a lot. There are a lot of things that are going on in my life that are positive and ever since I started taking this bill I keep getting down. I wish there was another way to get rid of this cyst! I hate taking birth control....anyone know a better one to take?

Hey all! I've been on Loestrin 24 for an entire month (just finished my pack today) and things have been smooth. No tender breasts, no weight gain, no depression, nothing! ***EXCEPT I still haven't got my period! I'm almost completely positive I'm not pregnant.. my boyfriend and I are extremely careful. What's weird is that I keep expecting to get my period because I'm getting the usual signs I get right before my period..

**Has anyone else experienced no period on this birth control???

I've been a pill taker for twenty years (maybe more). I switched to loestrin FE in November. I realize that any bc takes the body some time to adjust but this has been pretty brutal. I gained 12 lbs and I cannot get it off no matter how much I work out and/or don't eat. I'm depressed too yet I have a beautiful life. My doctor says you sometimes need a year for your body to adjust to a new pill... I don't know if I can wait that long. My kids think I have lost my mind because I cry so much. I too think irrationally a lot more than in prior years. I will ask my doctor about this next week. It seems like this pill might have serious effects on the thyroid? Most of the symptoms described are also associated with hypothyroidism.

All of what you have said and then some. I have had depression that's unexplainable, very dry, peeling skin on my T-zone, eye twitching, headache, stomach problems, bloating, loss of sex drive (that's one form of birth control,) breast tenderness that is more severe and longer lasting than before and irritability. I have never felt this out of sorts before and my decisions and reactions to normal situations have been erratic and unreliable. I tried to rationalize my behavior and acknowledge that I would experience changes with the intake of hormones, but this pill makes everyday feel like a train wreck.

Hello everyone,
I just filled a prescription for Loestrin 24 and wanted to know a little more about this pill since I have never taken birth control pills b4. I have not started to take the pill as of yet, after reading these blogs I am a little hesitant to start taking them seeing all the complains against this pill. can anyone recommend a good BCP, with little site effects.

Strange but for me as well....(I am on my fourth pack...just finished it yesterday) Four weeks ago almost (May 2nd) I got pain in my back around my kidney as well....I am calling the doctor this morning because this weekend I was barely able to move my back hurt so bad! I don't have any other side effects of a kidney infection so then I started to think.....maybe it is my birth control and wah la....apparently....I have also had the other symptoms such as my breast enlarging (wasn't going to complain about that!) but the tenderness is miserable and I also have had the weight gain ( i got a trainer for Christmas and started working out with him right when I started these pills and kept gaining weight! I still am...It is very frustrating but at least I know why now!) and I am very moody and tired! Thank god for postings! Good luck girls and hope everyone finds a pill that works for them! I sure hope I can!!

I was put on Loestrin24 Fe to control bleeding until such a time as I could have surgery. I took the first pill and started experiencing a sever mood swing right away. I became angry and depressed. My breast were tender. after a month the Anger and Depression were out of control. I was as hateful as I have ever been. My relationships were effected by my extremely negative attitude (which is completely out of character for me) and my sex drive well there was none. I suppose that is one method for birth control.... I started to notice fatigue, couldn't get out of bed had no energy, tightness in the chest and shortness of breath. Blood Clots...NOT FUN... NOT SAFE...

I noticed my old self returning almost immediately after stopping the pill. I don't think I cracked one smile the whole time I was on them. I am glad to be off and I will never take birth control again.

Please please if you are having sever symptoms. Shortness of breath and chest pains. DON'T WAIT to be TOLD to get off of them.... GET OFF OF THEM and GO to the ER immediately. YOU are talking about your LIFE...

Ok im really really REALLY glad i found this site cuz i was starting to freak out a little bit. i've been on lo24 for 2 months and im about to start my 3rd pack and my boobs are huge, i have random cramping, and my period isn't normal (which was the problem in the first place, a.k.a. what lo24 was supposed to fix). i started freaking out cuz i thought at first i could be pregnant, which would not make sense since im obviously on bc. but if these are normal side effects to the pill, im definitely a lot more calm now. im still getting a test done just in case, but im a little less worried thanks to you guys. and yea ive been gaining weight too, about 10 pounds already, and it sucks big time...if anyone knows of any other pill that might be better pretty please let us kno... :D thanks.

Has anyone experienced pain in the abdomen on the right side? Seems to have started when I started this birth control...sometimes it's under my last rib, and then there are days it hurts all the way down to my hip.