Loestrin 24 Fe and sleep

I've been on the pill for about 7 days, and yes, I know it takes awhile to adjust, but I really didn't expect to be cramping so much, or for there to be breakthrough bleeding every day. The pills are making me bloated and giving me gas; I have to take pain meds each night to sleep since the cramping starts around bedtime. How long should I give the pill before I give up on it?

Wow, after reading everyone else's side effects, I feel a little bit more normal. I just started the pack last Sunday, and the past couple of days I have been very emotional, angry, and crying for no reason. Also, my boobs are so swollen and sore! It's incredibly painful. I couldn't sleep last night, but I don't know if this is due to the pill or not. The doctor just put my on it to regulate my period, do you guys have any suggestions for different birth control that won't destroy my body?!?!

I'm 21 years old and I have had the WORST experiences with Loestrin24 Fe. DO NOT TAKE THIS SATANIC PILL. Seriously. This was the first birth control I was ever put on. My doctor put me on it because she said the low dose of estrogen would help my bad cramps (but I really think she was just trying to promote this new pill...because when I started it it was still pretty new). I started this pill before I turned 21, this past March, and for the first few months the only things I noticed were spotting when I didn't take it at the EXACT time everyday (which I soon set an alarm for and did take it at 9 am daily) and also, my breasts definitely got bigger and I didn't have as many breakouts as I used to. I also experienced being really depressed and upset for no reason or being really angry for no reason. After a few months, I started to get headaches a lot more often, have vivid weird dreams that I would remember the next day, I had trouble going to sleep at night (insomnia)...and I looked these up to see if they were symptoms of this pill...and they are. The worst was when I PASSED OUT the day I started my new pack of pills 2 months in a row! I just went to my doctor and had several tests done and they said that they were not positive, but it is a possibility that the passing out was related to my birth control. I passed out the day after the 4 placebo/iron pills (that I did not take, which could have also been a factor) which was the day I started my new pack...when your estrogen shoots up. I take my pills at 9 am and I passed out around noon in both cases. I switched to another birth control last month, but now I am completely off of birth control because the new pill made me lose my appetite and I just do not want to deal with putting these things into my body. I do NOT recommend this birth control to ANYONE. This pill should not be prescribed, especially after reading about how a large percentage of women have such awful experiences with this pill. I'm so excited to be DONE with Loestrin24 Fe and done with birth control in general. To me, birth control is not worth feeling awful all the time and having weird side effects when I could be living problem-free otherwise. I just wanted to share my thoughts and experiences and I hope that perhaps others will have better experiences with this pill than most of us seem to be having!

At 32 years old, this is my first experience with birth control and I have to say that I'm completely miserable. I'm eleven days into my first pack of pills, have been bleeding (like my regular period, maybe even worse!) since Tuesday, and decided this morning that i'm DONE. I'm taking this pill for contraceptive reasons only - and if I keep taking them, I won't need them anyway because my boyfriend will surely have dumped me. I'm moody, I'm tired, I have headaches, I can't sleep, my cramps are horrible today (and I've never had cramps in my life), and this out of control blood loss is a little concerning. I called my doc's office yesterday to see if I can stop abruptly, and they told me to finish the whole pack and THEN stop - but I cannot take one more day of this nonsense. My biggest concern with stopping midway through my pack is that I'll be really screwing up my cycle, but something is definitely already screwed up, so how much worse can if really get? Does anyone have any experience with just stopping birth control abruptly, and if so, what should I expect? THANKS!

I have been on Loestrin for 1 year and 4 months. This is my last month because I am changing to Ortho-TriCyclen. At first, I thought my symptoms were common: nausea, headaches, cramping, spotting. After the first 3 months, nothing changed. I began to notice that I was having 2 periods a month and that continued till this month where I am waiting on my period to start (I am 2 days late). After reading this blog, I noticed that I was experiencing other side effects and I didn't associate it with the pill. I have gained 15 pounds over the year, hungry all the time. Moody doesn't begin to describe it. I have thoughts every period of divorcing my husband, I'm miserable. I just figured I was going through a low point. My husband has noticed that I am not the same person he married. I was once very outgoing and energetic but now I just want to sleep and be alone. I hope that my slight depression is due to the pill and that changing it will help be bounce back.

i have been on loestrin24 for about 2 months , its the worst thing in the world!! i was on yaz for 3 years and i started feeling sick about two years in i had anxiety, depression , my hair was falling out and i read blogs about the pill and decided to get off i called my doctor and she gave me loestrin24 , my sex drive is so so bad,my boyfriend noticed it right away! i have nausea,headaches, dizzy spells, blackouts, and worst of all im 27 years old and have never had acne until now!!!! im on my last active pill and i will not continue the pills ...... i would rather have a 5 day heavy period then take this i feel like im dragging all day long and all i wanna do is sleep this is so not worth it !

I wanted to make sure I updated my post as I had a very bad experience with this birth control pill. I posted very serious suicidal thoughts, severe anxiety, no sleep, etc and after 5 days I called my doctor. He ran a few tests and noticed that I had developed a rash that I had paid no attention to. I was sent over to another doctor who confirmed that I was allergic to an inactive ingredient in the pill. My "side effects" were getting worse simply because the more I took the more I was reacting. I was immediately admitted to the hospital and given IV fluids to flush my body and shots to counter effect the allergic reaction. I have not taken bcp in over 15 years and there was no way to know about this in advance. I feel 100% better now, not taking any bcp at the moment and was thankful for the cramps that I woke up with this morning! : ) I guess from my story is make sure you are informed, I didn't call my doc, wanted to see if it would pass and was not aware of the "severe" side effects. I would have been told after day 1 to stop taking them had I been more informed. My experience is very unique and was in no way a direct result of the birth control pill name, but only of one of the inactive ingredients. Best of luck to everyone!

I'm 29 years old, and this is my second time trying Loestrin 24 FE. I took it a couple of years ago, and stopped. I couldn't remember WHY I had stopped, until now. My side effects are probably mild compared to what some women experience (as I can see from reading these posts), but still, they have caused me to have to take the day off work today, which I am not happy about. I'm on my fourth week of the pill, and just a couple of days ago I started the light bleeding. Although the bleeding is light, the sensation in my uterus has been terrible - almost the feeling of having cysts burst. Stabbing achiness that has lasted for a couple of days, and caused me to lose sleep (Not something that I normally have with a regular period). I have also been more bloated than usual, (which seems to come and go), I've been slightly nauseous, and have had this dull headache for the past couple of days. (Whether the headache is simply due to lack of sleep, I have no idea, but I normally don't EVER get headaches.) I realize that it takes a few months to adjust to the pill, but I sure hope my symptoms aren't going to continue on this way or get worse, as I understand some women have experienced. Comparing how I feel to what others are reporting here is helping. I realize it's not just me, and it's not just in my imagination. We'll see how the next couple of months go.

I am on day 5 of Loestrin 24, I do not read the "pamplets" that come with medicine simply because if I read it I will get it, power of suggestion is what my doc calls it. My boyfriend noticed almost immediately my mood swings, I thought I had the flu, I cry all the time and last night, after 4 days of no sleep I planned out my own suicide in my mind, even what I would write in the letter to my parents and my new niece. I layed beside my boyfriend and convinced myself he was cheating on me, he was seeing someone else and I got up, woke him up and started throwing his clothes in the backyard. I have full blown anxiety attacks and cry all the time. I am sick on my stomach but starving at the same time, my head is splitting wide open and I am waiting on a call rom my doctor right now. I called in to work "crazy" today, thank God my boss is very understanding and I will never take this pill again in my life. This is scary and as I sit here now I'm still not sure how long this feeling will last

Last Night was my 8th day on the Loestrin, and this morning I put 2 and 2 together. I am 21 years old, I don't drink or smoke and have been on BC for the past 3 or so years. My first BC was Ortho and never had any problems with it at all it actually helped with my periods. Since I lost my insurance coverage from my parents, I told my doctor that I would like to continue BC usage at my last annual 2 weeks ago since it was 3 months of no BC and there was no period until that week, which I must say I have had cysts in the past and this was the worst painful period so far. He told me to go on Loestrin since It's the cheapest effective BC so I decided that was fine as long as effective was above the price! which he assured me. Well since I have taken Loestrin I have not had a decent night sleep! I lay there for hours and it will be 3-5am and then I will fall asleep with waking up every so often after that constantly until the alarm goes off. The lack of sleep, fatigue from, and I have noticed some extreme dips into depression with mood swings. I am afraid to continue based on just the lack of sleep. I don't need any other negative symptoms and I cant handle this much more longer. after the second night I told myself to take some sleeping pills because I cannot get into a bad habit and they did nothing! I did always take Ortho at night (no problems) SO I will try a week of taking them of a morning to see if there are any differences before I call it quits on this one, but if I don't see better sleep/or see different symptoms I wont like then this one is just not for me.

i have been miserable taking these pills..first week of 2nd pack..couldn't figure out why my boobs were killing me in the first pack and then the debilitating fatigue (i am going to lose my job if this keeps up--i come home at lunch and can't do anything but sleep for an hour! in addition, as soon as i get home at 5 i have to rest again,.so not me and so NOT able to continue this way)..i also have had 2 weeks of major headaches with the first 2 characterized as the worst i can ever remember. I am not a person who has issues like this...I am 41 and never been on BC. I started because the older i get the worse the periods and pms are and longer...heavier, more intense moodiness and pain. I am convinced as of tonight that i think i rather have all that back. I can't do this. I left a message for my doctor after reading 2 days worth of blogs now i know its not a flu, pregnancy or the 'weather'. I was also having hard time breathing (felt like i couldn't get a deep breath so i had to really inhale and i looked like i was having an attack..i thought it was the humidity here in the NE...now i know thats from these damn pills). I also did not get my period the first brown pills till the Sunday i started my new pack and it lasted only a day.
If i didn't read this site, i was convinced something major was going on like a brain tumor or something. i need to get off these pills.

I'm a 37 year old mother of two who is fortunate to work in an OB/GYN office and have different BC's at her disposal. In the last year or so, I've tried Yaz (only stayed on for a month or so and quit due to weight gain and fatigue), the NuvaRing (had yeast infections) and now have just finished my 1st pack of Loestrin 24 FE. I have had spotting all month (enough to use a light tampon), severe mood swings (like a want to tell people off in a bad way!), severe fatigue (want to sleep right as I get home and be a couch potato) and WEIGHT gain (which I HATE!). I am in great shape and wear a size 6-8 but now feel more comfortable in a size 8-10. I know that you should give any BC at least 3 months to work but I don't know if the pros outweigh the cons. Also I did noticed a decrease in sex drive and the drive to want to exercise. I feel horrible after I eat and and feel constantly bloated even when I wake up in the morning and haven't eaten yet. I'm on the fence about staying on this BC.

I've been using Loestrin for 3 years and my doctor is switching me to Yaz because I've been having problems with depression a week before my period and during my period. I'm not sure if it is stress with school or my job but my sex drive also decreased majorly since I've been on the pill. I feel tired all the time no matter how much sleep I get, and it seems like I don't feel like doing much anymore. I start taking Yaz next week so I'm hoping Yaz will help with my side effects but Loestrin just wasn't working for me.

This is my second pack of Loestrin 24, and I am not sure if I like it..Last month was very light spotting, but not a TRUE period, and this month I didn't even get my period. I was on ortho low before, and my period was light as it is. My gyno recommended that I be put on Loestrin, as I was having a lot of stomach problems. NOW, I'm not even getting my period. Should I be worried? Reading everyones posts makes me feel a little better that we are sharing similar symptoms. I am cramping, and I feel like my period should be here, but it's not!

I know this is long, but I could really use your help, so I would appreciate you taking the time to read through to the end. (thanks :-) )

First, I want to thank everyone posting. I needed to read this stuff because I'm absolutely terrified of what's happening to me. I'm on the second week of my very first pack of Loestrin- my very first birth control pill EVER. I didn't want to start, but my OBGYN encouraged me to, once I told her I had 8 day long episodes of clots, cramping, vomiting and just sheer misery once a month. She said this would help if I'm sure to take it as recommended.

So I took the first one the Sunday after my period started, at 8:45am and have taken it religiously since. I have not changed my diet or routine. I exercise and eat fairly well. And there are no particularly stressful factors in my life. I am also quitting smoking- just down to 2-3 a day instead of 10 or 15.

Now that I've been doing this for 2 weeks, I think I would rather suffer what I had before. At least it was predictable! I have been bleeding for 5 days now. And this is NOT my time to be on my period. I'm sad and tired. I have back pain and on-and-off cramps. I have nearly no sex-drive. My boyfriend and I had sex at least 4 times a week and I masturbated on the nights we didn't. And although he is INCREDIBLY supportive, I can tell he feels lost and helpless around me. I don't want him to touch me, hold me, or even breathe on me! Normally, we are very affectionate and I am active and fun. Now, I just want to be left alone. I feel fat, unwanted, dirty, depressed...the list goes on.

I feel as though there is something seriously wrong with my body, because I shouldn't look or the feel the way I do or bleed like I am. I called the doctor and she said that I should give it till the end of the month. But 1 month is a long time to live with a depressed quality of life. 1 month is a long time to cry yourself to sleep with alcohol and Motrin.

I feel angry that the best the medical society can do is give us something that is trial and error, fully aware that it may hurt us, though temporarily, and make the lives of the people around us miserable. I am concerned the even my doc is in the pocket of some pharmaceutical company to give me a drug that she said would help and has only hurt.

Or maybe I'm just paranoid...

Anyone have any encouraging reasons why I should continue this? My sister, who was on Ortho for a while and DIDN'T like it, suggests that I stick out a little longer and I trust her opinion, but would like more. I'm open to suggestions or comments. (Especially if you know a way to stop my period so I spend less days of the month on it than I am on...)
Thanks :-)

I'm on day 4 of Loestrin24Fe. I've never been on birth control before. I haven't had any side effects. I've had mild headaches this week but I think that's because of being off of caffeine, not the birth control. It seems so far so good. I'm keeping a journal of everything. How much sleep I got, what time I took the pill, what I ate, how I long I worked out if I did, what I'm eating, recording any weight change, watching for bleeding or anything and even recording headaches and vivid dreams. The only two things I've noticed are that every night since the first day I took the pill I've had really vivid dreams that I've been able to remember hours after waking up. And my sex drive is increased as well. I'm a 22 year old virgin getting married in 85 days and the desire for sex has been heightened in the last 4 days - and it has nothing to do with it being the week before or week of me period because that ended a couple days ago. So, that's all I've got report so far. I'll write again down the road and update on how it's been.

I just started my second pack of pill yesterday and I don't know if I like these pills. I am taking zoloft also for anxiety and my side effects are horrilble. I have had a hard time falling asleep (I literally have to lay in bed with my eyes closed for hours before falling asleep), I have terrible nigh sweats and wake up drenched in sweat, I sleep all day long, I have horrific nightmares which I never had before, and massive headaches.
I am not sure if I want to stay on the pill, I know it is only my second month and it takes a couple months to regulate but the side effects are ruining my social life. I feel like a zombie.
About the third week in my first pack i started spotting (or what I thought was spotting). It lasted 8 days, and my normal period was only 6 days. I bled just as much as on my normal period and has severe cramps as well. The only reason I got my 'period' was because I was about an hour off on taking my pill the previous day. It is pathetic.
Has anyone else had these symptoms? Or have any suggestions on better birth control pills.?
Oh and I am 18 years old.

I started the pill two days ago because I don't get periods but maybe 2-3 times a year, and my gyno is trying to take care of my cysts. I've tried Yaz, but I had an allergic reaction to it (a rash all over my body), and I've tried NuvaRing, which, after I removed, gave me the most painful period I've ever had. I'm currently being tested for polycystic ovarian syndrome, endometriosis, and probably ovarian cancer.

So far I haven't been able to sleep, I've been having crazy hot flashes, and my ovarian pain is more severe than ever (left side, I have a 2cm cyst). I've had headaches as well, but I'm not sure if they're because of this pill. I'm hoping that these symptoms will dissipate in a few months, but if they get worse, I'll probably stop taking it.

I am 20 and I have been on Loestrin 24 Fe for almost 6 months now. Before that I was on Lybrel for almost a year. I started taking Lybrel because I had always had awful periods to the point where I would sometimes faint from the pain of the cramps and would pretty much couldn't function normally. Lybrel was fine for the first couple of months but I began to spot after 6 months and decided to try a different one. I was put on Loestrin and like other pills I have been on I had intense mood swings, felt more anxious, depressed, and had night sweats for the first 3 months. I had light periods, 2 or less days and then about 3 months ago, I stopped getting a period all together. I have had no spotting and recently I have started to have cramping around the time I should be getting my period, breast tenderness and bloating. These are all symptoms I have had on past BC too. I take my pill every day around the same time and have never missed a day. I like not getting my period but it does concern me a bit because my doctor didn't tell me that I would not get a period at all, he actually warned me that I probably have spotting for a while. Does anyone else not get their period on this pill?

This is my third week on Loestrin 24 Fe and it may be my last. For the past 5 days i have had the worst fatigue of my life. I cannot focus on anything, I'm just always in a daze and feel the need to sleep every free minute . Also, spotting started this week and may be turning into my period? There has been nausea also. And on top of all that my mood is uncontrollable, i balled, not cried, myself to sleep two days ago. What is going on, Is all this normal and will it go away if i stick with it?

I'm on my first pack, and last night i started using the first brown pill. I don't think this crap is working for me at all. From what Ive read almost every one is getting the same symptoms as me. I thought I got my period last Saturday, but its the next Sunday now. Ive had it non stop for 8 days. I don't know if this is my period of if im just spotting. On the first few days I had ridiculous cramps and i didn't feel like doing anything but lay around. The cramps have gone away but the bleeding is still occurring. Its getting old. I also developed a canker sore on my bottom lip about a week ago. I usually never get them except once or twice a year. and Ive been super tired at night and get barely any sleep at night and wake up the next day and be full of energy. But I really don't like bleeding this much. My friend who is on this also said she had her period for a month. Now that its summer i don't want to have to worry about it while im at the beach or in the pool. if this lasts much longer i think im going to quit.

I started taking loestrin in nov 08 i was on my period all of Dec 08 and parts of jan Then i stopped and my periods started regularly and i started bak on it and as soon as i get off my period i go right bak on it and my periods last 7 days not 3!! and its making me extremely emotional and on top of it all i don't get sleep at night but in the day time it makes me extremely drowsy this pill is a piece of shit anyone know anything better??

I had a hysterectomy done two weeks ago they put me on Loestrin 24 fe for hormone therapy the only side affect I have been having is that I am having a hard time falling a sleep at night. But during the day though I don't feel tired at all I feel full of energy so the sleeping at night isn't that bad.

I am 42 years old and started taking Loestrin in January to regulate my irregular period and I suffer from ovarian cysts as well. The first 2 months my body ached like I had the flu. I could not stand for my knees to touch each other as I slept, so I had to sleep with a pillow between my legs. My knees ached like I was about 70 years old with arthritis. I had lost 5 lbs by the time I got to the 3rd row of my 1st packet. My normal period only lasted 3-4 days anyway, so that did not change at all. However, last month, my period came 1 week early starting out with "spotting" or "breakthrough bleeding" for 3 days and what I assumed was my "period" last for 7 days and back to "spotting" for 3 days after that. I thought it would never end!!! I was about to go the ER and have them administer the shot that stops your period! On top of that, I suffered with severe lower back, knees, and lower part of my stomach pains that were almost unbearable. I also have experienced severe headaches (may be migraines) since I have started taking Loestrin. And sex, oh forget about it!! Sex has been painful to the point where I have to stop and lay in the fetal position for about 20 minutes before I can get myself together. What is that all about!!? My daughter who is 17 started at the same time I did with Yaz to help with dysmenorrhea and acne, and she's been fine!! (Except for a little weight gain!!) What is it about this pill that does this to our bodies? I said I would give it 1 more month (June) and see what happens. If my body and period go haywire this month, I will discontinue Loestrin and deal with the irregular periods!

where do i start.... I'm 16 and my doctor is having me take this because i get ovarian cysts ALL the time. i started about 3 months ago and i hate it. before i started taking it i was a very very bubbly person who did really well in school. now that i am taking it i have changed. my math grade went from a 90 to a 50 and i got very frustrated when i was trying to make up my work and i would end up either walking out of study hall i had with her or i would cry. i had no ambition to go to school and while was there all i wanted to do was sleep. i started fighting with my boy friend a lot more and everything seemed to either make me mad or upset quite easily. it is very annoying. and with my family history of cancer i have to be careful of what i take. i would almost rather deal with the pain i got from my cysts then to deal with this.

leg cramps, irritability, now a nagging pain on my left side during sleep.

This is my experience. I started using Loestrin 24 fe on May 2-09 and well I thought everything was going well but on the 10th I was feeling a little cramping but didn't think much of it cause well I had just gotten off my period. But when I went to the bathroom to pee n wiped I noticed that I was slightly spotting. So I thought to my self ok maybe some spotting is normal. But then I started to cramp more and actually started to bleed like a light period. I was a little freaked out cause well I had just finished my period a week ago. It's been such a nightmare cause I've been bleeding for 8 days now and cramping. I'm extremely moody I can hardly sleep and I can't take it anymore cause well can't really be sexually active if ur bleeding right??? So I made an appt. for Wednesday maybe my Gyno can give me something else cause this is definitely not working for me!!!

I took Loestrin 24 for 5 months before I saw any side effects. I’ve always been a cheerful, healthy person. I’m healthy. I run track for my college. Everything was going great until for some reason I just didn’t want to see anyone anymore. I was constantly tired and lazy. My sexual drive became zero and I would fight with my boyfriend for no apparent reason. It was terrifying. Almost two weeks ago, I had a panic attack for the first time in my life. I thought I was having a heart attack. My left arm, chest, and back hurt. I couldn’t sleep. I had heartburn. So, I decided to go home and talk to my parents who comforted me. They also saw a change in my personality. My mother and I wouldn’t argue anymore. She would just say something and I would cry. I was depressed and kept on having anxiety attacks. At first I thought it was from caffeine but when the symptoms still persisted, I looked toward the birth control. I completely stopped it last Wednesday. Now, everyday is an improvement. I am much happier than I was. I felt a difference around 2 days after stopping the pill. Never take this pill. It’s terrible and no one should feel the way I have in these past two weeks.

I have only been taking this pill for 6 weeks. I am 44 and was put on it to help with severe cramping (I would pray for death every month). I have not been on any type of birth control since I was 23. I also have never been pregnant (not by choice). I have read hundreds of reviews from users on different sites and do not see anyone having leg cramps (calves). They are so bad at times that they hurt the next day from cramping so bad the night before. I have called the nurse and am waiting for a call back. I also have noticed that I am way too emotional and it has only been 6 weeks. I'm just not sure I can wait out 6 more weeks. Every night just about now I seem to be sick to my stomach or have diarrhea. I have always had headaches so I can't contribute Loestrin 24 to that. I have gained about 5 pounds...which I certainly don't need. Like I said in the beginning, my most severe side effect is the leg cramping. I wish they would just do the hysterectomy and put me out of my misery!

I have been on this pill for 3 years now. my hair does NOT grow, i cry myself to sleep most nights, my body is always hurting, especially being a smoker. i never realized it could be the pill, doctors don't tell you all thats gonna happen! i don't like what it has formed me into. i just quit today.this pill is not good. ive never tried any other bc, but just the concept of tricking your body to be fake pregnant for years doesn't seem right.

I hate this pill! I have been on it for a month. I been getting bad back and hip pain and I am always tired, I can sleep for 12 hours just like last night and be up for 3 hours and want to go right back to sleep, I noticed my hair has been coming out when I get out of the shower and also when i brush it (more then usual), I'm gaining weight and that's bad for me cause I have weight issues and I can't stop eating! All I want to do is eat. As for my sex drive and moodiness its better then when I was taking ortho tri cyclen, with ortho tri cyclen when I was in the mood it would go away instantly, my moodiness was crazy I would break up with my boyfriend over the tinest things. I think I'm done with taking birth control, I didn't like either way I felt with either one.

Also I spotted for 6 days not even heavy, idk if I should take a pregnancy test or not. I called pph and they said it could be because I don't take my pills at the same time but they don't know. sometimes I miss one pill and ill take it the next day wit that day pill but I never take it at the same time sometimes I take it an hour or two later. Should I take a pregnancy test?!

Hi, this is my first time taking bc. I just started my second week and my period usally last 7 days. It is a little weird because i'm still bleeding.Its light and i have been cramping on and off during my period.I have occasional headaches and a bit of nausea.I get irritated for no reason and i am always tired no matter how much sleep I get.I'm not sure what to think and I'm a little scared after reading All the comments.I just don't like the fact that i'm still bleeding.

I was 42 when I started taking these pills (11/20/08). My periods were lasting me 7 days and I had severe cramps (not to mention having to sleep on a towel at night so I wouldn't mess up my sheets). The first month I started taking these pills, my period went down to 1 day and 1/2. Here's the bad part. I starting having yeast infections that OTC meds did not help. I was having to wear a mini pad everyday and every night. I got to where I'd cry at the drop of a hat, then I would get really aggravated at everything. I had NO sex drive. I finally stopped taking these and switched to Kariva 01/09. The yeast infection has stopped within 2 weeks. I know my period will be about 4 days now, but it's better than all that other stuff I was dealing with.

I am 24 years old and I was prescribed MICROGESTIN FE which is the generic of Loestrin. It was AWFUL! I took Yaz for about 2 months but it gave me such bad headaches I stopped. Other than that I've never been on birth control. That was about 6 months ago. So I started Microgestin and was fine for the first few days. On my eighth night I woke up feeling really nauseated. I went back to sleep but ended up waking up multiple times afterward to throw up. I threw up 4 times that day and had the worst headache ever. The whole day I just layed in bed sleeping or watching movies. It was awful. I was so weak I didn't even go get the mail. The whole week after I was slightly nauseated a lot of the time and really nauseated about once a day. I didn't have much of an appetite and I had crazy mood swings. I would be happy one moment and on the verge of tears the next. I broke out on my chin and cheek, which is really unusual for me. I stopped taking the pills on about day 14 and am so glad I did. I have had a slight period / discharge after that but am feeling a lot better. ~ S. from TX

this is my first time ever on birth control it is Loestrin 24 Fe and i'm still on my first pack however the past week and couple days have been hell! i had sex with my boyfriend and 2 days later i began spotting and a week and 2 days later i'm still spotting not to mention i'm sick frequently, constantly tired even when i get a good nights sleep, and i am always hungry i am due to get my period wed but i have this off feeling that i'm not going to get it if any one knows what is going on with can you please help!

Thank god i found this site, honestly i never had a problem with loestrin and thought it was great for my first time on birth control. well, a few months back (October) i had started spotting randomly during about the 2nd week of white pills then that bleeding lasted for about 2 weeks. when it came time for my regular "period" (brown pills) there was hardly anything there at all! now here we are months later after getting my period since then (November, December) with very light bleeding for about one day, i only had to use one or two tampons honestly. i was due to get my period this past week and NOTHING! i have been FREAKING out the past 2 days where i couldn't eat, sleep, or function at work because i thought i was pregnant. i have heard of some women getting pregnant on the pill so thats why i was so freaked out. i took a test today and it was negative but i just don't understand how i could have gotten my period every month since i have been on this pill for the past 2 1/2 years and this month i got nothing at all. my friend is on loestrin also and she has the same problem and her doctor told her as long as you take the pills everyday and if you miss one take it a.s.a.p. then you are fine. i am due for my anual exam very soon and i am definitely going to bring this to her attention because i had no idea this was a side effect. trust me i don't mind not having a period but i don't like being scared half to death either! not to mention even with my insurance this pill is so expensive!!!!!

I am on my second month of this pill, and just started my period, though I shouldn't since I am on the white pills.
The first month, I got my period about 3 times, and also spotting between. I was very, VERY moody and depressed, and ended up breaking up with my boyfriend because of this.
Now my emotional state seems a little more stable, but I am experiencing tons of physical side affects. Severe nausea (though perhaps this could be helped if I switch to taking the pill at night-- right now I take it at about 8 every morning), dizziness, SEVERE fatigue (all I want to do is sleep!), weakness, headaches, etc.
I keep thinking I should stick with it and see if I adjust and things get better, but as of right now I can't even function in everyday life because of this pill.

Today is my eight day on Loestrin and it will be my last day.

I'm 29 and have been off of birth control for over 3 years. I'm a stay at home mom of a very well tempered little boy, I workout every day, I eat very well, I take daily vitamins and I do not have a history of depression.

I decided to go back on birth control for multiple reasons, family planning, endometriosis and to help with mild acne. My gyno recommended Loestrin.

I took my first pill on the first Sunday after my last period, which also happened to be the same day I ran my first half marathon. Since then I can not sleep, I wake up all night. I feel nauseated for half the day, I'm scatter-brained, my skin is worse, I get crazy mood swings and I have gained six pounds in a week, I'm holding an incredible amount of water. At first I thought the half marathon was causing all of these things but it's been over a week and no improvement.

I will NEVER take this pill again.

I am 20 years old, and have never taken birth control before. My doctor just prescribed me to Loestrin 24 Fe. I have already taken my first week of pills. So far I've had extreme headaches almost everyday, I find it very hard to sleep due to restless leg syndrome(which I've never experienced before taking this pill), on the fourth day I felt sick to my stomach and actually threw up once, and worst of all(in my opinion), my already existing acne has now become uncontrollable. I haven't experienced any emotional changes or had any breakthrough bleeding yet, but i have experienced cramps, like I would if I were about to start my period. I am also eating more than usual...a lot more! I'm not sure if this is just my body getting used to the pill, or what. After reading all of these reviews, I am very scared(blood clots, mood swings, depression), and I'm not sure if I want to continue taking Loestrin any longer! Any advice or comments?!?!

I have been on Loestrin 24fe for the past three years. The first two years were great; no period since Dec 06, it's very rare that I have any spotting. Since June 2008, my health has gone down hill. I have had extreme weight gain (20 lbs), retaining fluid, fatigue,terrible migraines, memory has gotten poor, lack of concentration, depression has gotten worse, very very moody and will cry at the least little thing. I have also experience eye floaters and eye twitching. My dr. wants to change my BC to Yaz, but the horror stories are the same. At this point, I really don't know what to do. I have been on BC for 18 yrs total. When I first started taking Loestrin, it was wonderful.....up until last year. I am still taking it, not sure if I should switch to another type or totally go off of BC to give my body a rest.

I am currently on Loestrin 24, and have been for four months. The first month, I experienced breakthrough bleeding after two weeks, then it went away a couple days later and I had a very, very light period. Then, The second month, everything went well and I had a normal period. In the third month, I experienced a light period, again. Then, in the fourth month, i experienced the weirdest things yet. Now, keep in mind I was stressed out from moving, but I had a full-fledged period in the second week of my pills. Then, things were off and on because I kept on taking it late, or forgetting until the next morning, for three days. Then, because of this, I had a light, ovulation period again, like not even a period at all. Finally, when I did get to my brown pills, I did not even have a period, except for some spotting (again) on the last brown pill. i still have it now, although I haven't taken the first white pill of the next month yet. I am really quite aggravated, and worried that it isn't working and will not do it's job at preventing pregnancy. I have also been experiencing sharp headaches since taking the pill, loss in appetite for sex, moodiness, and bitchiness the day before I get my period, and most recently, for the past two nights, I have not been able to sleep.

I have only been taking loestrin 24 for a couple months. It was recommended to me by my doctor when I asked to switch from Yaz. When I was taking Yaz, my skin cleared up and it helped with my mood swings and PMS but I was getting yeast infections monthly (1 week before my period like clockwork). When I switched to Loestrin 24 it seemed to be better, I haven't had a yeast infection and I think it has definitely improved my sex drive. I have, however, recently experienced some mood swings and I have been very tired no matter how much sleep I get. It's just a little frustrating to be so negatively affected by something that is supposed to be beneficial!

Well, I have been on Loestrin for about two months now, and I have gotten my period 4 times. 2 of them were regular, and the other 2 weren't as heavy but lasted a few days. It is a very annoying side effect and not the only one I have experienced.

I am already a sensitive person, but now I'm crying and listless. I don't want to talk to anyone and I just want to sleep. I either am super emotional or don't display any emotion, and I am attributing this to the pill.

I also threw up this morning and had an upset stomach. I would almost think I was pregnant if I didn't have my period so much.

Lastly, I don't know if this is a side effect of the pill or not, but I definitely don't feel the same down there. I feel somewhat irritated and I just saw my GYN, got screened for all STD's and she found nothing...I really think that these issues are from this BC - there's no other reason that the last two months have been this bad for me.

I will stop taking this right away.

I have been on this pill for six months now and I'm starting to get bad heart palpitations. This has been happening since the beginning of this pack. My breasts are super sore and itchy (kinda like when you're pregnant). This has not happened in the last six months of taking this. I cannot reach an orgasm at all (since I started taking it) and my legs feel like "restless leg syndrome" when I lay down to sleep. I'm only 32 and will be very upset if this pill has given me heart problems. My heart feels like its pounding out of my chest.

HEY I JUST STARTED TAKING THIS MED AND IT SUCKS BUT MY DOCTOR WON'T GIVE ME ANYTHING ELSE I FEEL SO SICK AND MOODY I FEEL LIKE MY MOODS FLIP FLOP I CAN'T SLEEP AND I AM ALWAYS CONGESTED I HATE IT !!!!!!!!!!!! IS ANYONE ELSE HAVING TROUBLE SLEEPING ????????

Im 25 and i started taking the Loestrin after my surgery for Endometriosis in Oct. At first, didn't have too many problems, but it seems when I got closer to the bottom of the pack, I got sick and moody. Just though since I was about to start, adn after the surgery could be the after affects. Well, after reading everyones great information, I know now its from the pills. I never took any until all of this (endo). I took lybrel (which don't take that either, i bleed for two weeks) my husband and I live apart right now due to me finishing school, and you would think when I got to see him, I would be all over him... WRONG. now i know why. And lately, ive gained weight, (even though i started working back out) im crazy tired, i mean falling asleep at work and cant control it, and it doesn't seem to help if I get an energy drink. I get plenty of sleep. More then what I would be getting if I was up all night doing homework and was fine then. Just called my doctor and waiting for a call back. I talked to my husband, and since I have never really taken birth control now bec of the endo, we are going to ask if I can get off of it. Just havent had any good luck with birth control. Not worth the craziness. I really havent had the depression side of it, but again like others said, everyone is different, and Ive only been on it for 2 months. Ive tried the ring (horrible, kept falling out) and i have done the patch (which i loved until the news went around saying people were dieing from it, so i got off of it in 06, and haven't been on anything until now) so ill keep yall updated, good luck everyone on finding the right one, i think im going back to the old days, and say screw birth control....

I am so glad I came across with website. I thought I was going crazy. I started Loestrin 24 11 days ago with no side effects until 3 days ago. I then started experiencing anxiety attacks which I have never had before. Also the past 3 days I have been crying and totally stressed out for no apparent reason. I am so tired and just want to sleep all the time. I have had no tolerance with my children and I too wish I could just climb to the top of a mountain and stay there. I took my last pill yesterday and have just disposed of the rest. I am praying these symptoms resolve soon and I can go back to feeling normal. I am too scared to even try another bcp.

I've been on this pill for about 3 months and I have ALL of the same problems as everyone else. I am extremely tired all the time, Ive become depressed and all I want to do is lay in bed. Ive completely lost my sex drive and Ive gained about 15 pounds. I completely stopped working out which used to be a daily routine for me because I am so exosted and I sleep about 10 hours every night. I don't feel like doing anything and my skin is dry and scaly. I have pimples on my legs & back which i have never had before. and to top it all off i am anxious and extremely depressed. I am going off this pill now that I know what is causing everything, I have NEVER had any of these problems before taking this pill. Im going off BC completely.

I started the pill about 2 months ago..and wow do i regret it..when i first started it i had migraines that lasted for hours..i mean before i used to get them but it was when i was stressed out or something but they would go away..i barely ever got acne on my face and now i have huge red pimples that last for days on random places on my face..i have gotten my period like 3 times already and it sticks around for so long..lately i been feeling like everything in my life is wrong like no matter what i do it just gets worse..i don't even go out on the weekends anymore because im so tired..i sleep about 12 hours a night and im still tired..i go to the doctor and they tell me im fine that my immune system is fine and theirs nothing wrong with me..so i came to my conclusion that its the pill..its caused for me to be so moody that my relationship with my boyfriend has hit the worst..and now to top it off i started getting some weird rash type of marks on my body that tend to look like hickeys fading away..i got the last 4 pills to go and im done with them...i took them for 2 months and thats it im going to to try a different method..depression and anxiety and fatigue are not worth it..
so for most girls reading this blog think twice about it before taking this pill and if right off the bat you start struggling with these type of symptoms i recommend you stop taking them.

I have been on this pill for a little over a week. I started the pill exactly when I started my period and I am still having my period. Normally my period lasts 4 to 5 days MAX. But I'm getting nervous that it is day 9 and I am still bleeding. I have been extremely horrible headaches, back pain, and extreme fatigue. I was diagnosed with mono the other day but my symptoms also sound like what some people experience on this pill. I'm just not sure what's causing my horrible mood swings (I've cried myself to sleep every night for no reason...and I rarely cry over ANYTHING) and I've been very paranoid and bitchy towards my boyfriend. The first doctor I went to said I didn't have mono but I was diagnosed a couple days later by a different doctor. I'm starting to wonder which one is the correct diagnosis and whether my symptoms are actually from this pill. I don't want to completely throw it away yet because i'm not sure if it is actually the pill affecting me. But reading all these posts really scare me about it!
Most of my abdominal pains are around my pelvic area. I just don't understand why mono would target this area.