Sprintec symptoms and conditions

The experience is not with me, but my daughter, who is a sufferer of PCOS and experienced acne problems She's been on Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo since January 2007, and received positive results for acne and regulating menstrual cycle, with minimal side effects. Since being switched to generic tri-lo sprintec (July 29), she's experiencing lethargy, some headaches, moodiness, acne, and slight depression, which is very unlike her. What I recommend to everyone on this website is to submit adverse event to the pharmaceutical company, Teva. They should have a website and or a call line for presenting your concerns. I will be doing this because this drug definitely needs to be reported and possibly pulled from the market.

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

My Doctor also told me that these pills were the answer! I am 49 years old and as soon as I went on the Femcon pills I noticed cramping in my calves. Not severe charlie horse type, just the nagging soreness like if you worked out too much. It made it painfull to walk or run. I also had severe headaches. I stopped this pill after just 4 packs and demanded that my Doctor find me something else. She kept telling me that headaches, feeling sick to your stomach were "normal" effects of this pill and would go away after 6-7 months! What is with these Doctors? Why would you prescribe such a pill? They must get kickbacks. I had no insurance, so these things cost me $65 a month. I had to be firm in the fact that I wanted off these pills. I am now on Sprintec and have no problems.(and only $9 month!) I had no adjustment period like the Doctor said I would have with Femcon. I felt great from day one and even lost the 5lbs I put on when I was on Femcon!

I am about to start Yasmin. I'm a little scared after having read all of this, but talking with my doctor today encouraged me greatly. I have been on two other kinds of birth control (Sprintec and the NuvaRing). Both gave me such terrible side affects that I have had to quit them. I have always been an extremely healthy person and I've never been an emotional person either (Im very even tempered normally). But since I've been on both of these, I've felt like I was going to pass out, been so tired but unable to sleep, nauseous, massive headaches, changes in every part of my body (dryness - everywhere - itchiness, hair growth changes, dropping sex drive, skin break outs, shortness of breath, heavy periods, extreme cramps and abdominal pains, muscle soreness and random shooting pains.) it has been terrible and my husband (while he's been an angel) is about as exhausted as I am. My emotions are across the board...I have cried several times a day and been angry and moody just as often.

My doctor told me today that my specific set of hormones may not be a fit for any type of birth control. He said there is a small percentage of women who are like this - our hormones will reject anything that messes with them. He suggested that I try Yasmin, because the hormones are supposedly more natural. He said they should match up with my natural hormones better so my body won't reject it and cause all those nasty side effects. He saidnif this one doesn't work, he's going to fit me for a diaphragm.

Did anybody else's doctor tell them something similar before they started this one? How has it gone?

I just started taking Sprintec on Sunday and it is now Friday. 3 days into it i felt lightheaded, I feel almost spaced out. Nothing seems to make me happy, I am cranky, i have headaches and my head just feels fuzzy. I finally realized by today that it must be the new pills. I am going to stop taking them and see by next week if it makes a difference. I feel very depressed and just not me. So far, i don't like these new pills.

I was taking Femcon for 6 months. During this time, my sex drive was terrible. I was unable to have normal sex due to dryness in my vaginal area. I've never had this problem before in my life. My fiance noticed a difference in my body during sexual intercourse while I was taking the pills. We knew that this was something unusual, because we have been together for 4 years now. I contacted my doctor and she advised that I come off the pill and try Sprintec. This is my first month on Sprintec so I hope that it is a whole lot better than Femcon. After all, I don't need a problem with satisfying my fiance' or my own personal needs.

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 am 34 yrs old and new to oral contraceptives. Have been on Loestrin 24 Fe for about a month and a half and have noticed the following symptoms: shortness of breath, sore/tender breasts, vaginal dryness, extremely dry patchy skin (from otherwise having very oily skin), 2 periods in one month, hungry all the time - which has lead to overeating and weight gain, feelings of despair - lots of crying and mood swings, periodic tingling sensations in feet and lower legs.

My first period on the pill was shorter and pain was dulled, but second time the period was longer and had pain every day of my period which is unusual for me.

I think its time to jump off the Loestrin 24 ship...

I'm so glad I googled side effects of Yasmin and found this site. All of the sudden my mood swings for the past almost YEAR make sense. I started out fine. The pill was great, and I haven't had to worry about acne at all. Of course I gained a few pounds, but not too much. However, I'm a pre medical student trying to study for the MCAT this summer. I've been SO tired and drained and majorly depressed that I just can't seem to concentrate. I feel like I'm always crying over the stupidest stuff (AKA: no reason at ALL), and my grades are starting to suffer. Hopefully now that I've read this, I can stop taking this pill and see an improvement. It's just not worth the depression. I'm 22 right now, and until recently had never had a suicidal thought. I was starting to panic, because I couldn't identify the cause of my depression. I'm a good student, have lots of friends, and have the most amazing boyfriend and family. Life is good, I shouldn't feel this bad. Now that I have a clue as to what this may be, I can fix it.

I'm happy to annouce I'm off Yasmin as of today. Did anyone else have melasma? I have both large, faint patches on my forehead, as well as dark, smaller spots on my lower cheeks. Will they go away on their own or will I need to use some type of exfoliant/bleach?

Lisa, Virginia, thanks for your words of encourgement & advice!

Keila