User Reviews for Viorele (28) oral

I know everybody is different but this birth control was absolutely terrible for me. My periods were WORSE; heavier and more painful. Also, I've been the same size for over three years. My weight has never budged over a pound or two and I've gained ten very noticeable pounds. It made me tired literally 24/7, emotional, and most importantly I got extreme vaginal dryness. I've never had any of these problems and I was sure that the pill was the culprit. I took myself off the pills and slowly everything is going back to normal. Read More Read Less

I was also switched by CVS from Kariva. I had been taking it for years with no issues. Since starting Vioerele, I have had break through bleeding every month, sometimes for as long as my period with Kariva. I also have a much longer period now. It used to arrive like clockwork on a Tuesday, and be done within a day. Now comes more randomly and lasts for several days, with spotting for longer. I just called my doctor yesterday about switching back to Kariva, and was told it is supposed to be the same thing. CVS does now have Kariva, so you can get it there if you insist on it. I am. I was told by the pharmacist that the inactive ingredients in Viorele and Kariva are different but the active ingredients are the same. Not sure why that would affect so many of us....I don't even take this for birth control, but because I am peri-menopausal. It is supposed to even things out emotionally, help with acne, regulate my period, etc. Ironic that this switch is causing the same issues I had years ago that prompted me to start BC pills in the first place!Read More Read Less

CVS switched me from Kariva to Viorele a year ago. I have headaches for a year or so every month when I have period. I didn't even think it could be related to the change. I exercise regularly and weight was never an issue. But lately, it seems hard to control the weight gain. I thought it is because I am 40 and above. At 44, acnes still popped out around my chin. I finally told my doctor about the headaches. She thinks it may be due to the birth control pill change. I wish I could have paid more attention to these symptoms and told my doctor earlier.Read More Read Less

Total nightmare! I took Mircette originally, had to make the change to Kariva when it went generic. Took Kariva for YEARS and loved it - no weight gain, acne, mood, anything. Went into CVS one day to pick up my Rx and was given Viorele with no explanation. I can't even describe how much this stuff ruined my life over the past couple of months. Weight gain, crazy bleeding that had me terrified, irritability, depression. It has been a terrible rollercoaster ride. I was put back on Kariva after I complained at the pharmacy and started picking up from a new location and now I'm having a whole new set of problems - mainly water retention / weight gain. I don't even know what to do at this point. The whole thing has had a terrible effect on me mentally. I can't even believe there are all of these reviews and they are still giving this product out. It's like mind-boggling to me. So upset and furious with CVS. I don't even understand why they stopped giving out Kariva if it still exists. Now I have no idea how to correct this problem and get back to normal.Read More Read Less

My 15 year old daughter was put on these pills 5 months ago to treat poly-cystic ovarian syndrome. Her periods became normal within 1 month, but her overall health has declined! Her temperament is horrible, the cramps on her first day of cycle are unbearable(she never had cramps before-just irregular periods) and she keeps getting sick. She went from a child who maybe needed antibiotics once a year for a virus to having needed three different antibiotic prescriptions in the past 5 weeks. She takes her medicine, feels better by the end of the prescriptio and then relapses within a week and has to start all over again. Here's the worst of it - she went to Florida to play softball with her high school team this past week. She wore 100spf so as not to burn, and burned anyway. By the second day out in the sun she started getting what the trainer called a heat rash on her neck. After 5 days the rash is all over her body, itchy, swollen and painful. She takes benadryl and uses hydrocortisone and has no rash upon awakening in the morning. Within 10 minutes of being in the sun the rash is back and getting worse each time! I felt helpless because I wasn't with her and was depending on the trainer and coaches. After researching her medicines online I realized that it isn't heat rash but a sever reaction to the Viorele that never showed up before because this was the first time since taking it that she was out in the sun for more than a few minutes at a time - she doesnt play softball in the winter. Thank God she went to Florida or she would still be taking this drug and summer is right around the corner!Read More Read Less

I had been on Mircette for 3 years, and then switched to Kariva, which I was on for 7 years. Both of these worked exactly the same for me. My cramps had been so bad I couldn't move, but with both of those drugs, I had no cramps. I mostly took these pills for PMDD, which was largely mitigated with this. However, CVS suddenly switched me to Viorelle 6 months ago. Since then, my bleeding has become twice as long & much heavier. My cramps are the way they are without medication. And my PMDD is uncontrollable & unpredictable. Even more frustrating, I have had a persistent yeast infection for 3 months now. I do not know if it's related to the change in pills, but noticed someone else had a similar experience with the switch to Viorele. I finally found an osco that still carries Kariva & will be switching back tomorrow. This Viorele has been the worst drug experience I've had.Read More Read Less

I've been on Viorele for a year (noticed they switched to generic as soon as I went to order it from CVS). Everything's been fine. It's a low-dose pill so if you're bloating or having depressive episodes, perhaps they're attributable to something else? Just a thought. I love the CVS PMS pills - they definitely take the edge off (and reduce bloating). Give it a try!

The worst pill that I have ever taken in over 10 years on the pill. CVS swicthed me to this even thought my script was Kariva. Cramping, haedaches, naseaua and exhausted. I actually took a pregnancy test due to the above symptoms and upon it being negative I put it all together. I was fine until I started this script, am fine and do no experience any of the above symptoms the week of the sugar pill and then as soon as I start up again, I am sick all over. I have placed a call to CVS demanding a Kariva refill and am waiting now. If it is declined, I will switch to another pharmacy. This is the worst pill!!Read More Read Less

I've been taking Kariva and when I went to CVS they said it was discontinued and I had to now take Viorele. Well this is NOT KARIVA! I took this for a few months and had a continuous yeast infection that whole time. I found Kariva and went back to that, infection went away. CVS ran out and I had to go back to Viorele and the yeast infection came back. DON'T GET THIS PRODUCT!!!!

As previously stated, CVS switched me with no notice and I just now found out through this page that Kariva still exist. Kariva took all bloating and cramps away and my periods were always light and easily managed. Viorele is NOT the same! I bleed 7 days, cramps all throughout the month, my sex drive is down and my weight gain is up. I am moody and can't sleep, and it is disrupting my normal life. I read that you should allow a few months for your body to adjust. I have given Viorele 4 months. I'm done. Thank you to the previous posts about Kariva! Read More Read Less

I have been on Kariva for two months now, after having experimented with a myriad of other BC's. Kariva is the only one that has cleared my skin, made my awful cramps non-existent, and basically just stabilized my life. Of course, when I went to my CVS pharmacy to pick up my third pack, I was informed by the pharmacist that Kariva was being "discontinued" and that Viorele was "just the same" (despite being twice the price...interesting). From previous experience I know that, even if the hormone levels on both drugs are exactly the same, the drug will still likely affect me differently (e.g. I was on Lo-Estrin/Microgestin for a while, was surreptitiously switched to Junelle, and became the most depressed I had been in years. The symptoms stopped immediately after I switched back to Microgestin). In other words, there's no way in hell I'm taking Viorele. I called around to other pharmacies--Rite Aid, Duane Reade, Walgreens--and none of them carry Kariva and refused to order it. Apparently, according to a particularly sympathetic pharmacist at Walgreens, these chain pharmacies are *under contract* with certain drug companies to **only sell those companies' drugs.** Therefore, they lie to customers that Kariva is "discontinued." Kariva IS NOT DISCONTINUED. This same pharmacist suggested I contact an independent pharmacy that is not under contract, and, lo and behold, they already had Kariva in stock. In essence, do not believe these pharmacies. They are playing with women's health in order to make a buck. Do some sleuthing and take care of yourselves!Read More Read Less

I had been previously on Kariva for years, switched to try another method and in January asked to go back on Kariva. CVS didn't have it and insisted Viorele was the same. Since then I have spotted 4-5 days the week before my period, had a 6-8 period and have had constant headaches and sore breasts. They are so sore I don't want to be touched. My boyfriend commented that I havent seemed myself because I haven't been in the mood (which is not normal for me!)I have also been very depressed. Glad to now its not just me. I will be calling my pharmacy to have them order it in time for me to take for my next cycle. Enough is enough!Read More Read Less

A few months ago, my pharmacy changed Kariva to Viorele. Kariva was great and I saw results in just a few weeks (taking it for acne). Now that I am on Viorele, my faces has gotten extremely bad. I have sore huge pimples all over my chin, which is the area where you break out because of hormonal issues. My periods are heavy and longer than normal and I get cramps often. I feel like I constantly dont feel well while taking this pills. I would not recommend if for those who want clear skin or who have normal periods. Read More Read Less

I have noticed the horrible headaches and weight gain on this drug. Like everyone else, CVS switched me without informing me. I took it figuring it would be the same. Well, since I have taken this drug. I think I am 2 packs in, I have not gotten a period since The end of December. It is now beginning of March. I have tested negative on three pregnancy tests, but going to the doctor this week to get a blood test / ultra sound.. I hate this pill for 1. if it made me pregnant or 2. It made me stress out and worry so much. Read More Read Less

As many other reviewers on this site, I have been switched from Kariva to Viorele by CVS 5 months ago. Needless to say, it did not go over well: weight gain, migraines, bloating, etc... still persisting after the 3 months adjustment period. I am started to think that there is something to be said about name brands... I am going to take my chance with Mircette.

As in most cases, CVS switched me from Kariva to Viorele without any notice and it all went down hill from there. I have had the worst symptoms of depression as well as frequent headaches and not been myself since I started taking this drug. I'm very angry, This is not okay! I will be switching back to Kariva very soon. If you are taking this drug and not feeling the best, make the switch!

This is VERY interesting. I didn't know that many others were being affected. I, too, was switched from Kariva to Viorele through CVS with no notice. This is month 2 on these pills. I've started spotting 4-5 days before my period and my period, which was normally 4 days is now 6-7. I am very unhappy. Someone mentioned going to Walgreens so I might have to try another route to get Kariva.

I too was one that was switched from Kariva to Viorele and I was freaking out at first because my pharmacy didn't even inform me about the switch in the pill and I didn't notice until I got home. I read all the reviews on here and I wasn't going to take it but I figured I would give it a try. Honestly I've had no side affects and usually with Kariva I was ver emotional the week before my period but I've been normal. No side affects for me!

I was hesitant to switch from Ortho Tri Cyclin lo (which I've been on for 6 years) but my doctor assured me Kariva would be the right pill for me. The pharamcist at CVS told me it was no longer made, so she gave me Viorele instead. I thought I'd try it since I was switching pills anyway. WRONG. After reading these posts my mysterious symptoms all make sense now. So much bloating and gassiness the first 2-3 weeks. Headaches - I would wake up with the worst hang over of my life even after just one glass of wine, which has never happened to me before. Spotting in week 3. I called Walgreens - the pharmacist called her supplier and had it delivered for next day pick up. I am hoping the Kariva will work well, and none of these nasty Viorele side affects will return. Birth control is something that no pharmacy should be able to change without understanding the risks it poses to a woman's every day life. Read More Read Less

After having to switch gynecologists due to a move, my current doctor would not prescribe me my normal YAZ birth control due to all the lawsuits about it. She put me on this Viorele. I read all the reviews about it and got freaked out but decided to stay on it for 3 months to see. The first month was not great. My hormones were all out of whack due to changing from something with much more estrogen to something with less. After the first month of being on Viorele I have been fine. The only difference between this and YAZ is that my period is a little bit heavier at the beginning and it lasts about 5 days but I have only been on this 3 months and am starting my 4th pack now so my body could still be trying to get regulated on this new BC. I have not experienced dizziness, nausea, weight gain (I am an avid workout nut), restlessness, acne breakouts, or anything mentioned before except for moodiness in the first month. For everyone out there freaking out about it, my advice is to try it for 3 months if your health permits. If you only use it one month and complain to your doctor you need a new prescription, you are basically starting all over again with your body trying to get adjusted once again to different hormones. Read More Read Less