Ortho tricyclen lo symptoms and conditions

after reading all of these posts it has made me feel ten times better. I have also had almost every symptom listed. I started taking this pill four months ago for the first time and for almost the entire first month I had spotting then when it was time for me to get my period it never came at all, although I did have cramping throughout. I have never been a very emotional person and since being on this pill I have cried almost every day and has had almost no patience for anything. Recently I have started having terrible nausea if I drink any alcohol at all. I have also had bloating and upper abdominal pain. My boyfriend has noticed a complete change in my personality since I have been on this pill. Although he is completely supportive and knows that it is just all the hormones I have realized that it is not worth feeling like this and I am going to have to change pills. I am constantly paranoid that I am pregnant because I never get my period and if I do it is so light I forget I even have it. If anyone has switched and has any recommendations for a better method please let me know.

How is everyone having such bad effects if it just came out 2 weeks ago? i always take ortho lo and they just handed me this new pill....im really concerned...

Well I went to pick up my RX for my birth control refill of Ortho-Tricyclen Lo today that I've been on for about 5-6 yrs now and was given the generic Tri-Lo Sprintec. After reading all these posts, I'm skeptical to start on it. I fear getting acne and gaining weight, gaining boobage not so much (but you usually do if you gain weight). Any thoughts on what to do. I already opened up the package looking for information and ingredients, but what do to. Should I go back tomorrow and ask for the regular and just pay extra?

Please share your thought asap.

Thanks

JJ

I'm not sure, but since I have started taking Yasmin 3 weeks ago, I am perspiring like crazy! The weather is changing towards summer, and there's been a lot of rain and humidity, but my perspiration is beading down my forehead all the time, it's gotten to be quite embarrassing. I don't see perspiration as a side-effect, however, I don't know what else could be contributing to it but Yasmin. I used to take ortho-tricyclen-lo, but I experienced a lot of break-through bleeding - for instance, last month, my period spotted along for 2 weeks! So, now I'm on Yasmin and I hope to get my period soon so I can see what it's all about.

I am 27, married, and have been on birth control continuously for four years (right before we got married). I have been on Loestrin 24 Fe for five months and just stopped three days ago. I thought there was something wrong with me. Our whole marriage I've had sex drive issues, depression, tiredness, feeling sick all the time, and headaches. All of it got even worse on Loestrin 24. In talking with a co-worker and then doing research a few days ago, it occurred to me that my these problems could be a result of the synthetic hormones I've been taking in the form of birth control. Prior to Loestrin 24, I was on Ortho-Tricyclen, Ortho-Tricyclen Lo, and Yaz. I suffer from endometriosis and have problems with severe cramps and bleeding. My Gyn thought Loestrin 24 would help, with fewer inactive pills. Since taking Loestrin, the side effects mentioned above have gotten worse. In addition, I have had cystic breakouts on my chin and neck, horrible vaginal dryness, fluctuations between nausea and ravenous hunger (I've gained 8 lbs. in five months!), chest pain, muscle and joint pain that gets to be almost unbearable, moodiness, anxiety and paranoia issues, and hot and cold flashes. I think Loestrin 24 should be taken off the market. I've only been off of it for three days and already feel a bit better. My husband and I are now researching natural family planning. No more synthetic hormones for me. Keeping your body's estrogen levels so artificially high all the time is bad news. Not to mention it is a leading cause of breast cancer.

Ortho Tricyclen Lo is the WORST! I've been on it for about 4-5 months now and it has changed my personality to the exact opposite of who I am! It has made me SEVERELY depressed, mood swings are off the chart, almost ruined my relationship because of how negative and sad it made me. No sex drive whatsoever! This is a very bad pill, I don't even know why it's on the market.
My doctors just prescribed me Estrostep Fe, I have good expectations with this one. So long as I get my sex drive back (going from having sex almost every other day, to maybe once or twice a week thanks to Ortho) and my bubbly happy personality back, I'm happy.
I don't care if I have tender breasts...I just want my sex drive back!!!

DOWN WITH ORTHO!

Ive been taking this for almost 3 months im about to take my first placebo pills in 4 days. the first month was amazing, i had no problems and my boobs even got a little bigger which made me happy. Around the 2nd half of the 2nd month i started getting the brownish discharge and i have it every day...i don't have any problems with sex drive..and the discharge doesn't bother my husband because it seems to go away until a few hours after we have sex and it never seems to get heavier. Ive always been a little underweight no matter how much i scarfed down everyday.. and i gained a few pounds so i look much healthier. I used to take ortho-tricyclen lo and i had pretty bad mood swings and they seem to be about the same now..so maybe im just naturally a moody bitch sometimes. Im going to keep taking this for at least the rest of the year until i either balance out and get better or something gets worse and i cant take it anymore.

I am sooo glad that I found this website!!! I have had so many of these symptoms, unfortunately for a lot longer than some of you other women. I've been on Aviane for about a year. The pharmacy automatically gave it to me instead of Alesse. I have a very stressful job as a 911 dispatcher so I though most of the side effects were from stress. I read an article in a magazine about how birth control effects your sex drive and started doing some research..... come to find out its not from stress!!!! I called and made an appointment with my doctor immediately!!! Although she told me that the symptoms that I had aren't normally caused by birth control, she switched me to Ortho Tricyclen Lo. It has already made such a difference!!! The mood swings are gone, Im not overly emotional or angry or erratic. I don't explode at the drop of a hat, I feel soooo much more mellow and in control. My sex drive has come back in full force!! My husband and I have had more sex in the last month since I've switched pills than we've had in the past like 6 months. He too has noticed a lot of changes and definitely agrees with me that it is worth it to pay the extra money each month to have a good pill and have me feeling better. I wish I would have thought about switching birth controls sooner. Aviane is terrible!!! It will make you into a craaazzy person!!

OK....so ive been experiencing spotting and clotting since August...i went to see my dr and he put me on ortho tricyclen lo it wasnt working so he put me on provera for 2 weeks n it didnt work....a trip to the er n here i am on my 2nd month of FemCon 3rd row of pills and im already experiencing bleeding it happened last month also......stomach pains n nausea....make for a long day.....and the weight GAIN.....My MOODS r terrible....my husband has learned to brush it off but I can cry bout the smallest things i feel depressed....and want to rip someones head off for no reason.....I hate birth control in the first place.......i Dont know whats wrong with me...anybody have any advice..........

I just got my doctor to prescribe a new bc for me because of my side effects(headaches, emotional wreck, and missing period). She put me on ortho-tricyclen lo. So far so good. I would recommend it all of you who are not happy with loestrin.

I have been on Aviane for a month now. I switched form Ortho Tricyclen Lo, which was pretty good, except i got really bad headaches and stomach aches. Acne was under control, cramps were gone, lost some weight, and period was regular.

On avianne, only in this one month, ive experienced many of the side effects noted above. I haven't had acne in the past year, and it suddenly came back. Ive gained weight, and I eat a lot more. I get back pains, which ive never had. Cramps, depression, mean attitude, fatigue, ive been getting night mares, and i wake up a lot in the middle of the night. I plan to go through with it for another month, but if the symptoms don't lighten up, I think ill switch.

I have been on this for a few years now and I am thinking about switching to something else or going off completely. I'm 34 and I have been the pill for 15 years. At first, Loestrin 24 was great - 3 day light period. But overtime, my period went to 4, to 5, to 6 days. Now it's 7 days of heavy bleeding as if I'm not taking anything at akk. I've gained weight, like 20 lbs, that I can't seem to lose. My fiance and I dance so I'm usually in shape. But over the last year, even dancing as much as we do isn't keeping the weight off. I'm emotional all of the time. I have a heart murmur, which my OBGYN admits is probably caused by the pill. One thing I can say is my acne is under control, which basically is the only reason (besides shorter periods) I am on it since my fiance has had a vasectomy. It's hard to know what to do when the doctor's really don't know either. It's all trial and error since every patients hormones are different. But, this 7 days of heavy bleeding is for the birds. I might as well not be on anything! We Are All Just Ginniepigs.
Indecisive in Indiana,

I am 18 years old and have been taking Loestrin 24 for about 7 months now. I started taking the pill because I was sexually active and was having extremely long and painful periods. The first few months of the pill were fine, I had some minor bloating. However, I was happy with the pill for the most part. The little acne I had cleared up and my periods were almost non-existent (12 hours of a light brown spotting at most).

Now, for the past three months I have been struggling with depression and anxiety. I could not figure out what was happening to me because I had never had emotional problems like this before. Given, I am prone to depression (both my mother and father have been diagnosed). Nevertheless, I am starting to wonder if the hormones in Loestrin 24 have triggered my depression symptoms and made them worse since they were NEVER a problem until I went on this pill. Previously, I was on Ortho Tricyclen Lo and did not have any emotional side effects whatsoever.

Also, I am pretty much fed up with this pill after today. A few days ago, I suddenly began having chest pains and a numbness/tingling on my left side (arms, legs, face). Feeling nervous, I went to the doctor today. They gave me an EKG which was normal (thank goodness). However, they have ordered me an MRI for tomorrow to see if I have suffered from a stroke! My doctor said that he thinks that then numbness pain is more likely caused my depression/anxiety. Depression and anxiety that I think were caused by this pill.

I can't stand these pills and I refuse to finish this pack. Enough is enough already! Has anybody else suffered symptoms similar to these and if so, what was your outcome?

i started to take yaz 6 days ago after reading all the benefits of this pll. Before yaz, I was on Ortho Tricyclen lo and I am so sorry I switched. Within these 6 days, I was moody, feeling so much nausea, and I am having terrible stomach cramps. I stopped taking this pill and want to know if these symptoms will subside, and when can I expect to get my period. I have always been regular. I hope I feel better soon, this is so out of character for me.

My doctor switched me to Femcon Fe because I was experiencing breakthrough bleeding after taking Ortho Tricyclen/Ortho Tricyclen Lo for 8 years. I have taken Femcon Fe for 2 months and really dislike it. My breasts have grown almost a whole cup size, which may sound great, but they are always sore. I have gained almost 10 pounds, with no change in diet, and have been moodier and more fatigued than usual. Worst of all, I have had scant, barely existing periods these past 2 months. Seriously, I do not even need to wear a tampon/pad. My spotting on Ortho Tryclen Lo was heavier than my periods on Femcon Fe. This pill is not for me!

I am 17 and have been on ortho tri-cyclen lo for 2 years now I never really notice until I started having sex I wanted to do it for about the 1st 4 times than after that I never wanted sex, me and my bf had gone without sex for like 2months and every time he wants to do it I say I don't want to he says I never want to than it starts a huge fight, so we basically fight all the time. We have been together 11months yesterday. I don't know what to do I am really thinking its because of the pills, I get WAY moody, and I cry a lot. I'm always cranky and tired. I'm only 17!! I should want to have sex lots of sex not have no sex at all what is wrong with me? could if be the pills ? I have been on them for a long time now but I never really thought that it would be birth control to cause all of this.someone please reply.

I posted a question to anyone who used Tri-Sprintec before, but now it's been several months & I'd like to let everyone else know how it's worked for me! Tri-Sprintec has been the best birth control I've ever taken. I have been on other birth controls over the years, and up to this point Yasmin was good but I still had some side effects. I've just started my fourth month on Tri-Sprintec, and I feel more like myself again. I don't have any crazy mood swings, my skin has cleared up, my periods are regular again & my appetite has gone back to normal. I recommend Tri-Sprintec to anyone who is looking for an affordable & reliable birth control (it's offered at the Wal-Mart pharmacy for $9 a month if you don't have insurance.)

I have been on Femcon FE for the past 2 months, going on my third. My Doctor switched me from Ortho Tricyclen Lo to this because I had severe breakthrough bleeding for 3 weeks. I have to say I think the positives might outweigh the negatives for me. I have had some headaches, but I usually have them so its nothing new for me. I have been moody, but again, thats sort of a given so I don't really think its too bad but I will try to monitor it more closely next time. I love that my breasts have grown and I have had better skin since I went on this. I will definitely keep a closer eye on my health this month though to determine if I should stay on this. Thanks!

Hi all, I'll be finishing up my first week on Loestrin this Sunday. My OBGYN put me on this due to overlong periods and bad cramping. This is my first experience with a BC, so I'm a little bit nervous about it. For the past several days, I have been getting really nauseous. It's not a constant thing, one minute I'm fine and the next I feel like I need to dart in to the bathroom. I'm not too worried about any weight gain because that is something that I could probably use, but the nausea is concerning me a bit. I have to go back to the gyno sometime next week, so I can probably ask about it there, but reading the comments on this page has got me a little bit nervous. Should I try to wait it out and see if things get better, so should I quit while I'm ahead?

I have been on this pill for almost 3 months. I switched from Ortho tricyclen Lo. Now that I am on Femcon Fe, I haven't had any periods or spotting the entire time. Has anyone else experienced a similar problem? Is it just from switching pills?

Hello,

I read about how YAZ birth control pill affects the body and psych and I am now scared. This is my 2nd day of YAZ (I've never been on birth control pills ever and I am 27 years old), it's all new to me but after reading all these negative posts about Yaz I don't know what to do. Before the birth control pills, I was depressed, annoying, serious weight problems - 210 lbs :~~((, low energy, low libido, always tired, terrible migraines every 2nd day, ridiculously increased appetite and excessive hunger, hair where it shouldn't be, menstrual blood clots, excessive cramping etc
I have all these problems for 3 years now and now that the family doc. put me on YAZ birth control pill I am even more scared - mainly of more weight gain, it would be a tragedy for me, I am fat enough already and what's worse I can't lose the weight, exercise doesn't help, diet doesn't help, NOTHING. Will YAZ birth control pill worsen my already tragic condition? I just don't know what to do and what to believe ... I appreciate any advice or help you can give me ... Thank You to all!

hey i am 19 yrs old and i have been on yasmin for 2 yrs. Never really thought i had any side effects till last week. I all of a sudden lost some of my sex drive. Since then i have not been myself at allllll. I feel like im crazy. Like i am here but my emotions arent. I feel different around my boyfriend of 2 and ahalf yrs and i feel different at work and at home. I'm just driving myself insane wondering if somethin is wrong with me. The only thing i can think of is my birth control. I also have rediculous anger problems now. I freak out over nothing..start yelling and screaming and crying. I have had heart palpatations and an upset stomach for a few days and it happens off and on..but mostly i just DO NOT FEELLIKE MYSELF ..Have any of you experienced any of that?

I have been on Desogen for 6 years, within the past 4 months i was switched to Apri. I just now realized that maybe all of these emotional problems i have been having are from this pill. i was somewhat depressed in highschool when i started taking it. so i have figured that this whole time i am just a depressed person. i went off antidepressants cuz i didn't like how i felt and now that i am 22 and i still have this crying all the time crap (that i thought i had mostly just inherited from my mother even tho my sister doesn't have it) i get some days even weeks were i am sad depressed. i always over analyze things which i have heard could be a symptom. So now i am doing all this reseach and i found that in the Side effects of desogen that it says "stop taking this medicine and consult a doctor if you experience any signs of depression (sleep problems, mood changes, etc..) WTF!! can i say that seriously i can't believe it.. and now i am just waiting for my doc to call me back. i dont know if i should quit completely or switch. in a way i would like to quit because i want to know who i am.. what i am normally like! its been 6 years!!! o my goodness phamecuticals are evil!

Hi everyone,

I had written a few weeks ago about my bad reaction (horrible depression and anxiety) to Loestrin 24 Fe and my hesitancy to start Yasmin. After reading a lot of what you all had said, I asked about Yaz (which actually has gotten FDA approval for PMDD). I've been on it for almost three weeks with none of the crazy emotional side effects of Loestrin - and Ortho Tricyclen Lo and Nuva Ring come to think of it. My only side effects are swollen breasts and perhaps thirst, but the latter could be from my allergy meds.

Of course it's only been almost one cycle, so time will tell. I'd prefer to not take anything, if not for horribly painful periods and cysts. For those of you with PMDD - look into it!

E

Hi,

My doctor just prescribed me Yasmin and after researching a bit, I'm not certain if it's for me. I was on Ortho Tricyclen Lo for about 5 years and started having more irritability, anxiety, and depression in January of this year. I tried nuva ring for a month and it was unbearable (as was the nausea). Back on Ortho Tricyclen Lo and a few months later I bled for a month. I went off the pill completely and learned how horrible my periods are and also that I tend to get ovarian cysts. After my last period I said f-this and started taking Loestrin 24 fe. I'm finding after this first month that my anxiety is much worse. I've always been panic-attack prone, but it ebbed during my months off the pill. Now back on...they're back.

I have three options:
1. keep with loestrin for a few more months
2. go off completely, bad periods and all
3. try yasmin (regular, not new).

I'm asking to see if anyone on here reacted similarly to ortho lo, nuva ring, and loestrin but maybe reacted well with yasmin (or reacted especially bad to yasmin). I just don't want to do anything to make my panic worse.

I'd love to hear any input. Thanks!

E