ALESSE Reviews (ETHINYL ESTRADIOL; LEVONORGESTREL)Average Rating: 2.5 (179 Ratings)Filter ResultsCompare ALESSE with similar:
Type: Brand name discontinued; available as generic
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Results are sorted by Date added. Key to Ratings: 1=LOW (I would not recommend taking this medicine.) |
More on ALESSE: Reviews Summary | Drug Safety Information
| RATING | REASON | SIDE EFFECTS FOR ALESSE | COMMENTS | SEX | AGE | DURATION/ DOSAGE | DATE ADDED |
| 1 | Contraception | This drug almost killed me. Please be careful, and know the side effects of this drug so you can be watchful, as they tend to sneak up on you. | After never having a depressed day in my life, this drug made me suicidal after about two months. I had a complete personality change, hated the people I loved the most. It has been two years since I have been off this nightmare pill but still struggle with depression. I know this mood change was due to feeling 100% better 48 hours after being off the pill. However, each time I have PMS all the horrible feelings from this pill come back. | F | 26 | 3 months | 5/6/2006 | 1 | PREVENT PREG | TERRIBLE moodswings-- and all i did was cry--- but i did lose some weight, which could be attributed to my headaches and nausa. | F | 23 | 60 days | 5/4/2006 | 1 | birth control | severe depression and anxiety. I found myself rocking back and forth on the floor weeping uncontrollably. I have taken Paxil for 11 years for depression/anxiety, have been stable for all that time. One week after starting Alesse, I felt like I did before the Paxil. Terrifying. | My doctor's response was that the mood swings would stop once my body got used to the drug. There was no way I could continue long enough to find out. Three or four days after discontinuing Alesse, I was back to normal. and FURIOUS that I had not been told about the potential disabling side effects! | F | 39 | 10 days | 4/28/2006 | 2 | Contraceptive | Extreme breast swelling and tenderness; DECREASE in libido; mood swings. | The decrease in or disappearance of my libido was the most disturbing side effect. In that way, I suppose, it was a very effective birth control. | F | 26 | 3 months | 4/20/2006 | 2 | Birth Control | Almost all androgenic side effects, but mood swings and depression were the worst Breakthrough bleeding - menstruation for 2 weeks | F | 23 | 7 months | 4/12/2006 | 1 | contraception | spotting (see comments) - acne - and worst of all, became PREGNANT. **Took this pill meticulously**. | Spotting supposedly sign of inadequate pill. No pms, no mood swings, light flow. Pregnancy! Obviously discontinued and opted for other brand. | F | 35 | | 4/10/2006 | 1 | Birth Control | Bad Acne and psycho-mood swings. Was on for 3 months and after each period was over, experienced mad itching and pain in vaginal area. Was unable to have sex because of the pain and experienced vaginal discharge that was unlike a yeast infection. Each month doctor would take tests and could never figure out what was going on. That is even more scary than the problem I think. | Has anyone had the same symptoms? Please email me...concerned. If so, what BC did you try after this? Was there success? | F | 26 | 3 months | 3/30/2006 | 3 | | 3/11/2006 | 2 | Birth Control | Within my 5th month I had abdominal bloating and cramping, breakthrough bleeding (constant, as heavy as a regular period with blood clots, halfway through the pill pack). More pimples and slight headaches (daily). | Seemed to have worked for the first 4months but then true side-effects occured within my 5th month. | F | 26 | 5 months | 3/9/2006 | 2 | acne, pregnancy prevention | Migraines, numbness of my hands/feet, nausea | At first I loved this pill, then I started having severe migraines almost daily and my feet and hands were constantly numb. As soon as I stopped taking this drug all of my symptoms dissappeared. It also didn't help my skin at all. | F | 25 | 1 years | 2/21/2006 | 3 | regulate period | breast enlargement, dryness, extreme depression and anxiety, moodiness | the first month or so were alright but anxiety and depression increaded greatly in the next couple of months, it became unbearable. i seriously thought there was something really wrong with me but then i talked to some people and read some of other peoples side effects and found out it was the pill. i am getting off of this pill right away, i honestly cant take this complete change in me and my moods. if anyone eles is feeling extreme depression and anxiety i suggest you find a new birth controle pill like i am. | F | 17 | 4 months | 1/18/2006 | 5 | regulate periods/birth control | no side effects!!!!! | I have had absolutely no side effects on Alesse. This is a very low-dose pill and I haven't had any spotting. No weight gain, no mood swings, no fluid retention. I am definetely staying on Alesse. | F | 32 | 2 months | 12/21/2005 | 4 | birth control | Overall I liked this BCP. It really increased my sex drive - which was a bit much for my boyfriend at times. It didn't cause any weight gain. Only problem is the high androgen content may increase acne. I didn't have a problem for years on this, but then out of nowhere started having breakouts again. I switched off alesse thinking it may be related. | The generic version aviane, was cheaper and seemed the same to me. | F | 27 | 3 years | 12/15/2005 | 3 | hormone imbalance | This was the first birth control pill I was able to tolerate. No bothersome side effects for nearly three years except very rare breakthrough bleeding. Recently I've been having breakthrough bleeding every month, so that my period lasts for 2 - 3 weeks out of the month. I've also been having cramping and PMS symptoms starting very early in the pack. | I would say this is a good pill for women who have trouble with headaches and other things with higher dose pills. I am told breakthrough bleeding is very common. I will be switching shortly. I'm not looking forward to testing more pills. | F | 25 | 3 years | 11/28/2005 | 1 | Birth control | Moodiness, Depression, very irregular periods (timing and length) | This pill and my body chemistry did not mix. It was the worst of the handful I tried. | F | 20 | 3 months | 11/6/2005 | 4 | F | | 10/27/2005 | 4 | birth control | nothing at first... but after 3 years: diminished libido, acne, and practically non-existent periods | This pill was great for the first three years, then I started having some very annoying side effects. For example, my skin became very oily, eventually causing pretty major break-outs. My sex drive also diminished almost entirely, and while I was pretty happy with my light periods at first (3-4 days) it started to get a little nerve-wracking when they were less than a day long. But Alesse was completely effective at keeping me baby-free, which was the main goal! I also never had any break-through bleeding, bloating, nausea, or any other PMS symptom. I've since switched to Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo and I've already noticed a difference in my skin and sex drive; I'm still waiting to see if my periods become any heavier. | F | 21 | 4 years | 7/28/2005 | 5 | birth control | I love these pills. My periods are lighter and are not as long. If you do forget to take a pill, however, there is a good chance of having some quick spotting. I recommend it though. | F | 19 | 1 years | 7/20/2005 | 5 | birth control | None. | Really great pill (and I've tried many). No side effects at all. Helped clear my skin. | F | 26 | 2 years | 7/6/2005 | 1 | contraceptive | Terrible acne, was on accutance to get rid of acne (which it did) went on this for four months, and my skin was absolutely horrible. | F | 20 | 4 months | 7/1/2005 |