December 24th
2008
12:49 PM
I used loestrin for a little over a year. The first 6 months of taking this pill were great. I had a 1-2 day period which was wonderful. After 6 months I started with this abnormal discharge that was itchy. The itching turned into burning and everything down there would get swollen and red. I was tested for every STD there is and everything was negative. The doctor did find yeast a microscopic exam every time I was there. All these symptoms started in the second week of pills each month. I am now using the nuvaring and praying that the same thing does not happen with this. Did/Does anyone else have this problem?
-- By perkychickotwo | Reply | (2) replies | Private Message me
October 7th
2008
8:30 AM
I have been taking Femcon FE for almost 3 months and I am glad to say I am not going insane. Up until last night, when I read every posting on this site I truly thought I, whom never suffers from a moment of being irrational thought I would go and see a doctor. Almost every feeling of hatred, depression and irritability that I had been feeling of late (the last two months) was described exactly here. Whew. I saw a posting that one person believed that the pharmaceutical companies actually gave kickbacks to the physicians. Well, as a former member of the woman's health care facility here in my town, it is true. Nice dinners, bottles of this and that, new cars, vacations and so on... Ortho McNeil pharmacies (No, I don't work for them) is the ony company, that it seems to me, that can say that side effects are not the norm. Warner Chilcott, the makers of FemCon FE have many women up in arms over the Loestrin 24FE and FemCon side effects. I paid no mind to this but the more and more I am exepriencing these effects and are hearing of them the more and more I am believing that perhaps these brands should come come with a warning on the side of the box on a big white label that says,"May ruin all of your relationships, may cause you to unnecessarily check yourself into a nuthouse and may cause severe mind and mood altering effects.Please buy stock in a sanitary napkin company before using."
Now the first month was great but for the past 2 1/2 months I have been bleeding every eight days. Now this is not "normal bleeding" but clots. So horrible. Oh, were you thinking of having a lovely romantic dinner? Muhahah, with Warner Chilcott FemCon Your breath will be great but pregnancy will never come between you and... oh wait, you are going to have your period forever...
July 19th
2008
1:00 PM
Just an update from some of my previous posts. As back ground, I had a need for birth control beginning about a year and a half ago. It was time for my annual anyway, so I asked my OB/GYN of over 20 years what my options were. He mentioned that there were two pills for women "of my age" (42 at the time)...Yaz and Loestrin 24FE. He mentioned that he had heard less about libido issues from his patients on the Loestrin, so I opted for that. 5 months into it, I had an episode of I'm not sure what...felt like I was having a stroke...rush of heat, extreme dizziness, headache the next day...went to my GP on Monday and found out that my BP was slight elevated (I'm normally on the low side) but what was alarming was that my cholesterol was way up and my blood sugar was off the charts. Although high cholesterol runs in my family, no one has ever had any blood sugar issues. Stopped taking the pill right away, retested my sugar in two weeks and it was back to normal.
My OB/GYN said NO NO NO, no more pills...let's try an IUD. two months later, went back since I had my next cycle and I got the Mirena. I spotted for like a month and a half straight. Lots of bloating, headaches. As the months progressed, I started having anxiety issues (again, never happened before), had severe cystic acne (always had good skin), bloating to the point that I looked the way I did when I was 5 months pregnant, headaches every single day, extreme fatigue, blurry vision, complete inability to concentrate, mental fog, insomnia and my libido was in the toilet.
Went back for my annual in Feb and had it removed (I had it for 5 months at this point). Dr was wonderful, said that he had been hearing of these side effects more and more from his patients. He said that we'd give my body a break and then consider a Paragard with my next cycle. I feel the fog lift before I get to the parking lot. Next cycle never came. Hot flashes and heart pulps start in March. Gets worse and worse. Have my hormone levels tested...they indicate post-menopausal. Have the blood work repeated first week of June...confirmed post-menopausal at the age of 43. No family history of this. Start on an estrogen patch and within 2 weeks start feeling a lot better, flashes gone. Am taking Prometrium 10 days each month to protect against uterine issues. At day 8 I really start getting dizzy. I am obviously very sensitive to any progesterone although this natural version is more tolerable.
From the time I had the Mirena out, however, ALL my side effects are gone except that my vision is still worse...having my annual eye exam in 2 weeks. The concentration issues, insomnia, fatigue, anxiety...all that GONE. Libido is almost back. Very distinct diminishing of symptoms once the Mirena was removed.
If Mirena works for you, that's great. It's good at least that you are aware of issues others have had so that if it happens to you, you know that it could be the Mirena, contrary to what some doctors say. My doctor has been wonderful and never doubted me. I wish everyone had such a doctor! Just trust your intuition and take care of yourself. No sense jeopardizing your health, relationships, etc just to maintain this type of birth control. I apparently don't need birth control any more....not certain why I blitzed through menopause so fast...could be related to the hormonal assault on my body in the past year between the pill and the Mirena.
Bottom line, take care of yourselves and don't be dismissed if you feel that something is just not right!!
-- By red1964 | Reply | Private Message me
April 3th
2008
12:48 PM
90% BLOCKAGE OF MY SUPERIOR SAGITTAL VEIN IN MY BRAIN..... HUGE BLOOD CLOT IN MY BRAIN DUE TO LOESTRIN 24FE...AND 4 OTHER SINUS VEINS WERE TOTALLY BLOCKED THE CLOT HAD BEGAN TO TRAVEL DOWN INTO MY RIGHT JUGULAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ALL DUE TO LOESTRIN 24FE .... I ONLY TOOK IT FOR 6 WEEKS.... I THANK GOD EVERY SINGLE DAY THAT I AM ALIVE!!!!!! LADIES AND ANYONE THAT HAS A LOVED ONE THAT IS TAKING THIS OR ANY OTHER HORMONE BASED BIRTH CONTROL PILL:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: PLEASE READ BELOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR HAVE HAD SIMILAR THINGS HAPPEN TO YOU PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME…… GOD SPARED MY LIFE FOR A REASON SO EMAIL ME @ ****** please ****** if I can help I am here I am only an email away…. May u be blessed…. Also there was a woman they told me that got married went out on the floor for her first dance with her husband and collapsed she too had a blood clot in her brain but wasn’t as lucky as some of us may and have been so if u have a headache and are taking these pills, please it is better to be safe rather than sorry…. We all have too many people that love us and will miss us and be so hurt if we were to pass away…. Please listen to your body, if it is rejecting these pills then stop taking them….. I don’t even know u but this world doesn’t deserve to loose you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
****** ....................... I was placed on Loestrin 24fe Feb. of 2007, after taking it for a month and a half I got a sudden and terrible headache on a Tuesday at lunch and no matter how much Advil or Tylenol I took it wouldn't go away, well finally I went to the 24hr urgent care center at about 1a.m.Thursday morning. after 3 shots of morphine that didn't work, a Dr. (MALE) trying to tell me that it was just a migraine (from birth control and I should switch to the Depro shot) and I didn't treat it fast enough, so I had to stick it out, mind you they had given me three shots of morphine by this time and my head still felt like it was going to explode. needless to say he discharged me and the nurse that was caring for me said against her better judgment she was letting me go home but grabbed my hands looked me square in the eyes and made me promise ( swear to GOD ) if I didn't feel any better or my headache got worse by the morning I would go to the nearest E.R and demand that they scan my head because at this point she said you don't have to tell me that the medication isn't relieving the pain I can look at you and tell you it isn't working... long story short.. I kept my promise to her and ended up back at the E.R less then 12hrs later ( AND THAT IS WHAT SAVED MY LIFE, HER MAKING ME PROMISE TO SEEK MORE CARE) they to put me in minor care and said it was just a migraine headache, gave me morphine again (Which didn't work this time either) until I gave the run down of being at the urgent care center just a few hours earlier and the nurse making me promise to make them scan my head because her concern was what was causing the headaches that wasn't responding to the morphine?? Finally the Dr. (Male) listened to me and ordered a cat scan, said something looked abnormal the Dr. moved me to the real E.R. and then ordered an MRI then B4 they could wheel me back to my room in the regular hooked back up to my i.v. the wheeled me back and did MRV's with and with out contrast. A neurologist came and gave me my diagnosis and told me i was lucky to be alive that I was at extreme risk 4 seizures and strokes and that i needed to notify someone at home of what was going on. I was admitted from the e.r directly to ICU. My diagnosis was Superior sagittal venous thrombosis. I had a 90% (blood clot) blockage of the main vein that runs down the center of your brain (Dr. say its from the Birth control) feel free to write me with any questions, just be careful, with any birth control choice that involves hormones. theres more to this story I am not some crazy lady I am very lucky to be alive and would never want anyone else to go through the hell I have been going through since April of this year.my email address is ****** Thank you again Nurse ***, Fl for saving my life..... You are truly one of God's angels walking among us. Check this out below... I cut this from a posting on the internet about cerebral venous thrombosis which they also refer to the blood clots of the veins in ones brain. take care, hope to hear from you soon. Headache is the most frequent symptom in patients with cerebral venous thrombosis. However, patients presenting with headache due to cerebral venous thrombosis are uncommon. The association between oral contraceptives and cerebral venous thrombosis is well known. We report the case of a young woman who was admitted to our department for sudden onset of headache. She had been taking oral contraceptives for 6 months. Early pharmacological approach with analgesics failed to alleviate symptoms. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed thrombosis of the posterior and middle thirds of the superior sagittal sinus (SSS). Because the patient was oligosymptomatic, medical treatment with high-dose heparin was started. A clinical follow-up showed headache regression after 2 weeks of therapy. Subsequent MRI showed partial re canalization of the SSS. The patient continued oral anticoagulants for 3 months. Eighteen months after discharge, the patient was symptom-free. We conclude that new, persistent or atypical headaches in patients taking oral contraceptives should be carefully evaluated for cerebral venous thrombosis.
-- By luk_e_2b_l_ive | Reply | Private Message me
December 13th
2007
10:44 AM
Well my doctor gave me sample and prescription for the Loestrin because I'm currently on the NuvaRing and three of my friends became pregnant on the Ring. I don’t want that since my son is only 1.So I decided to try this but won’t start until next month. I emailed this site to my husband and he told me if I take the pill that he is moving out. I have enough mood swings already..LOL...So there fore I'm back to the drawing board on to fine a type of birth control that wont give me MORE mood swings,wont give me acne,wont make me gain weight and want make me feel sick. Can anyone give me any suggest of birth control that will just prevent me from getting pregnant and help clear my skin.
-- By destyne1 | Reply | (3) replies | Private Message me
December 4th
2007
3:54 PM
Wow, I'm glad there is a place where women can discuss their side effects with this pill. Only, I'm very shocked that so many women have been so sensitive to the hormones and other ingredients. I've been on Loestrin 24fe since April of 2006. My periods have gone from 3 days (the first month) to non existent (month 18). I've had a very light period for the past year, but this is the first month (18) that I have not had a period. I've had all the following symptoms: steady headaches, nausea, sore breasts, increased breast size greater than a cup (that's a positive) BUT that's about it. I've been able to keep the weight gain off by exercising 90 minutes a day, 5 days a week. I rarely drink & keep a strict diet. Yes, I've had the mood swings, but attributed them to a combination of factors: graduating college, moving to a new state where I knew no one, and transitioning from college life to business professional. I truly feel that exercise decreased my mood swings to something manageable & kept me from gaining any weight.
It does bother me that I have entirely missed my period this month, but the bigger issue is physicians who prescribe the pill are not telling me these things. I've read the instruction page from the manufacturer and the pharmacy, but not one mentioned a missing period until this site. Thinking that your preggers is some added stress on its own. Plus, while I hate my period, it is comforting to get it every month. Natures reminder that your not pregnant. Being nauseous and not having a period is not fun. I've thrown more money away at unnecessary pregnancy tests since going on Loestrin 24fe.
So for the most part, I recommend the pill to all of my friends. I do stress to them that they need to keep their exercise and diet habits in check, because it is very easy to gain weight on this pill. (A much needed thing for me; I've always been under weight! But not after Loestrin 24fe)
*As for women discussing lower sex drive; the reasoning behind this is because the progesterone attaches itself to your natural level of testosterone. Your testosterone levels having something to do with your sex drive. I'm not a doctor, I just read a lot.
-- By alw3355 | Reply | Private Message me
November 30th
2007
1:43 PM
90% BLOCKAGE OF MY SUPERIOR SAGITTAL VEIN IN MY BRAIN..... HUGE BLOOD CLOT IN MY BRAIN DUE TO LOESTRIN 24FE........... THANK GOD I AM ALIVE!!!!!! PLEASE READ BELOW ....................... I was placed on Loestrin 24fe Feb. of this year, after taking it for a month and a half I got a terrible headache on a Tuesday and no matter how much Advil or Tylenol I took it wouldn't go away, well finally I went to the 24hr urgent care center at about 1a.m.Thursday morning. after 3 shots of morphine that didn't work, a Dr. (MALE) trying to tell me that it was just a migraine (from birth control and I should switch to the Depro shot) and I didn't treat it fast enough, so I had to stick it out, mind you they had given me three shots of morphine by this time and my head still felt like it was going to explode. needless to say he discharged me and the nurse that was caring for me said against her better judgment she was letting me go home but grabbed my hands looked me square in the eyes and made me promise if I didn't feel any better or my headache got worse by the morning I would go to the nearest E.R and make them scan my head because at this point she said you don't have to tell me that the medication isn't relieving the pain I can look at you and tell you it isn't working... long story short.. I kept my promise to her and ended up back at the E.R less then 12hrs later, they to put me in minor care and said it was just a migraine headache, gave me morphine again (Which didn't work this time either) until I gave the run down of being at the urgent care center just a few hours earlier and the nurse making me promise to make them scan my head because her concern was what was causing the headaches that wasn't responding to the morphine?? Finally the Dr. (Male) listened to me and ordered a cat scan, said something looked abnormal the Dr. moved me to the real E.R. and then ordered an MRI then B4 they could wheel me back to my room in the regular hooked back up to my i.v. the wheeled me back and did MRV's with and with out contrast. A neurologist came and gave me my diagnosis and told me i was lucky to be alive that I was at extreme risk 4 seizures and strokes and that i needed to notify someone at home of what was going on. I was admitted from the e.r directly to ICU. My diagnosis was Superior sagittal venous thrombosis. I had a 90% (blood clot) blockage of the main vein that runs down the center of your brain (Dr. say its from the Birth control) feel free to write me with any questions, just be careful, with any birth control choice that involves hormones. theres more to this story I am not some crazy lady I am very lucky to be alive and would never want anyone else to go through the hell I have been going through since April of this year.my email address is ****** Thank you again Nurse ***, Fl for saving my life..... You are truly one of God's angels walking among us.
Check this out below... I cut this from a posting on the internet about cerebral venous thrombosis which they also refer to the blood clots of the veins in ones brain. take care, hope to hear from you soon. Headache is the most frequent symptom in patients with cerebral venous thrombosis. However, patients presenting with headache due to cerebral venous thrombosis are uncommon. The association between oral contraceptives and cerebral venous thrombosis is well known. We report the case of a young woman who was admitted to our department for sudden onset of headache. She had been taking oral contraceptives for 6 months. Early pharmacological approach with analgesics failed to alleviate symptoms. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed thrombosis of the posterior and middle thirds of the superior sagittal sinus (SSS). Because the patient was oligosymptomatic, medical treatment with high-dose heparin was started. A clinical follow-up showed headache regression after 2 weeks of therapy. Subsequent MRI showed partial re canalization of the SSS. The patient continued oral anticoagulants for 3 months. Eighteen months after discharge, the patient was symptom-free. We conclude that new, persistent or atypical headaches in patients taking oral contraceptives should be carefully evaluated for cerebral venous thrombosis.
-- By luk_e_2b_l_ive | Reply | Private Message me
November 29th
2007
10:57 PM
I'm 48 and my doctor has given me three months supply of Loestrin 24Fe and a prescription for a year. I'm diabetic and have trouble with my blood sugar control with Glucophage XR. She said it wouldn't interact with any of my meds, but when I looked it up, it said it would reduce the effectiveness of Glucophage. After reading all your posts, I'm throwing these and the prescription in the trash. I'd rather have erotic periods than have to start using insulin or die from a stroke. I'm already overweight and depressed so I don't think I need any more problems. Thanks for all your testimonials ladies.
-- By kcpaull | Reply | Private Message me
October 21th
2007
8:49 PM
I JUST started Loestrin 24 Fe (day one) and have been reading many articles and websites (anything from the literature in the research journals to the Mayo Clinic posts). I have just read through this entire site and took in all the feedback from the women who have shared the side effects. I have NEVER taken BC until now. I am trying it to keep monthly bleeding and mood swings to a minimum. BUT, I see some serious side effects (depression, acne, weight gain) - these seem worse than just dealing with the monthly symptoms and taking some pain relievers.
Should I STOP? Any advice from veteran birth control users?
Michele
October 4th
2007
6:16 PM
I Started taking BCP after my 3rd child was born in April, I am on my 5th pack of Loestrin 24fe. The first 2 packs I really thought I was pregnant again! Morning sickness, and my periods were literaly 1 spot of brown and that was it!! Now that I am on my 5th pack I have technically had only 1 period on these pills and that was around the 1st of Sept. I am one week into this new pack and never even spotted during my "brown dummy pills"! Anyone else not having periods on this pill? I am concerned that this is not healty, God gave us a period for a reason right???? Is it not necessary or do you think this is okay? Very concerned bcause I do not want to get pregnant right now but do not want to be unhealthy either...PS I have not taken any birth control since 1998 so I don't even really know what's available now days!!
-- By caseyt843 | Reply | Private Message me
September 24th
2007
8:17 PM
I was placed on loestrin 24fe Feb. of this year, after taking it for a month and a half I got a terrible headache on a Tuesday and no matter how much advil or tylenol i took it wouldnt go away, well finally i went to the 24hr urgent care center at about 1a.m.thursday morning. after 3 shots of morphine that didnt work, a Dr trying to tell me that it was just a migraine (from birth control and i should switch to the depro shot) and i didnt treat it fast enough, so i had to stick it out, mind you they had given me three shots of morphine by this time and my head still felt like it was going to explode. needless to say he discharged me and the nurse that was caring for me said against her better judgment she was letting me go home but grabbed my hands looked me square in the eyes and made me promise if i didnt feel any better or my headache got worse by the morning i would go to the nearest E.R and make them scan my head because at this point she said you dont have to tell me that the medication isnt relieving the pain i can look at you and tell you it isnt working... long story short.. i kept my promise to her and ended up back at the E.R less then 12hrs later, they to put me in minor care and said it was just a migraine headache, gave me morphine again (Which didnt work this time either) until i gave the run down of being at the urgent care center just a few hours earlier and the nurse making me promise to make them scan my head because her concern was what was causing the headaches that wasnt responding to the morphine?? Finally the Dr. (Male) listened to me and ordered a catscan, said something looked abnormal the Dr. moved me to the real E.R. and then ordered an MRI then B4 they could wheel me back to my room in the regular hooked back up to my i.v. the wheeled me back and did MRV's with and with out contrast. A neurologist came and gave me my diagnosis and told me i was lucky to be alive that i was at extreem risk 4 seizures and strokes and that i needed to notify someone at home of what was going on. I was admitted from the e.r directly to ICU. My diagnosis was Superior sagittal venous thrombosis. I had a 90% (blood clot) blockage of the main vein that runs down the center of your brain (Dr. say its from the Birth control) feel free to write me with any questions, just be careful, with any birth control choice that involves hormones. theres more to this story I am not some crazy lady i am very lucky to be alive and would never want anyone else to go through the hell i have been going through since April of this year.my email address is ***** check this out below... i cut this from a posting on the internet about cerebral venous thrombosis which they also refer to the blood clots of the veins in ones brain. take care, hope to hear from you soon.
Headache is the most frequent symptom in patients with cerebral venous thrombosis. However, patients presenting with headache due to cerebral venous thrombosis are uncommon. The association between oral contraceptives and cerebral venous thrombosis is well known. We report the case of a young woman who was admitted to our department for sudden onset of headache. She had been taking oral contraceptives for 6 months. Early pharmacological approach with analgesics failed to alleviate symptoms. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed thrombosis of the posterior and middle thirds of the superior sagittal sinus (SSS). Because the patient was oligosymptomatic, medical treatment with high-dose heparin was started. A clinical follow-up showed headache regression after 2 weeks of therapy. Subsequent MRI showed partial recanalization of the SSS. The patient continued oral anticoagulants for 3 months. Eighteen months after discharge, the patient was symptom-free. We conclude that new, persistent or atypical headaches in patients taking oral contraceptives should be carefully evaluated for cerebral venous thrombosis.
November 1th
2006
11:29 AM
If you have any information about a possible class action suit please let me know. I was on Yasmin for 6 months and my family suffered so. My marriage was at risk and my poor 2 year old son was effected. I was like a person I didn't know. The anxiey was so servere that I would check to see if my doors were locked like 3 times before going to bed. I thought I was having a complete nervous breakdown. I was so sad all the time it was terrible. I just came off the Yasmin and my doctor put me on Loestrin 24fe and I'm only on it a week and feel like myself again I can't believe it. Anyone taking Yasmin who feel like they are having a breakdown please get off of it ASAP!!!! I told my doctor I needed Xanex and he said no you just need to get off Yasmin. Feel well, Christine
-- By fuzzle22 | Reply | Private Message me
July 23th
2009
9:08 AM
YES! I have been on Yasmin and now Yaz for the last four years or so; and recently I wanted to try something else, due the headcaches I was having with Yaz. Sad to the the Loestrin 24fe was not for me. Just started back on Yaz yesterday, and the headaches have returned. Looks Like I will choose to stop oral contraceptives al together. (I am almost 39 and have been on OC off but mostly on for almost 20 years)> Hope this helps someone.
-- By chahn001 | Reply | Private Message me