Aviane and alesse

I loved alesse when i was on it then the pharmacist changed it to aviane and i told my mom they gave me the wrong one so she called and they told her it was the same thing. well since i ve been on it i ve been so sick. nausea, headaches, and tired all the time- no matter how much i sleep or how much medication i take to try and make myself feel better i don't. its horrible and i have an appointment Monday to switch to yaz but i really don't want yaz, i m hoping i can just get the normal alesse that i was on before cause i had no problems what so ever with it.

I've been taking Alesse since I was 15 (I'm 24 now), and my pharmacy switched me to Aviane as the generic last year. Since I was switched, I put on at least 30 pounds, look and feel bloated no matter what I do, and my face has suddenly sprouted bad T-zone acne. I had NO PROBLEMS when I was on Alesse, but thanks to the generic, I look like a fat, bloated, walking pimple! I went off of it for a month thinking I wasn't going to be sexually active -- lost a good ten pounds and looked/felt GREAT -- and now that I have a new partner went back on it... in just a week, I've gained seven pounds, my face looks really bloated, the acne is back, and I'm EXHAUSTED from doing nothing. My appetite is like a grizzly bear too. This is the WORST pill on the market, girls. Try something else. I'm going to Planned Parenthood and asking for a prescription for Yaz... don't have insurance at the moment, so it might be expensive (compared to the $25/generic Aviane), but at this point I couldn't care less if I start looking and feeling better! Girls, I advise you to STAY AWAY FROM THIS PILL.

I started taking Aviane on Sunday, and i have been on it for 4 day now. just in the 4 days i have become a NUT CASE. i warn every girl not take this birth control. I was fun, loving. optimistic person and after I took it, I have been very irritable, borderline depressed, and very sensitive. There is no good outcome to this birth control. Hopefully I'm not pregnant, stupid birth control!

I was on Alesse for years and did fine with it, then took a pill break. When I decided to go back on the pill for my PCOS, I wanted Alesse but was told they don't make it anymore so I am forced to take Aviane. Since I started taking Aviane 4 months ago, I have gained 5-10 pounds, feel bloated and heavy, have no sex drive, and just feel kind of "blank" a lot of the time emotionally. I wish I could get Alesse back!

I was on Alesse for 3 years with no troubles except the occasional acne breakout. I got switched to Aviane a year ago and I hate it. I just went back to Alesse for several reasons.

1: My blood pressure rose from 110/70 to 160/80 in the year I was on Aviane. I'm only 24 and although I am overweight, my blood pressure has always been on the low side of normal. In the week I went off Aviane, my blood pressure dropped to 145/70. It's still high but it had gone down in just a week. My doctor's handling of this prompted me to switch doctors, too- instead of recommending I lose a bit of weight, he just prescribed a blood pressure medication which can't be taken with birth control pills.

2: Mood swings. Big time. I used to work in fast-food and having 20-30 customers lined up wouldn't bother me on the Alesse, but on Aviane I was really short with my coworkers and if we got a busy rush, I'd get cranky in about 3 orders. Not to mention, I'm a veterinary nurse and sometimes you just can't save an animal no matter how hard you try. Normally I have a very thick skin and I could leave work issues at work. I noticed, and so did my boss, that I would be very depressed and near the point of tears if we had to give bad news, whereas before I would be professional but sympathetic, as opposed to nearly breaking down in front of clients now.

3: Decreased sex drive. I'm glad I'm not the only person with this problem but it caused a LOT of trouble between myself and my ex. I used to have a high libido and now...I might be aroused once or twice per month.

4: Migraines. I'd usually get them once or twice a year, depending on how stressful work was, but now I get them if I spend more than 2-3 hours at any activity. It sucks to get a migraine when you're fishing!

5: Sleeplessness/insomnia & restlessness. I put those two together because when I DO get to sleep, I toss and turn and I'm fidgety all day. I might get to sleep at 3 AM and I have to be up by 6 AM. On my days off, I might get to sleep by 5 AM and not get out of bed until 11 or 12. I've got no energy at all and it takes me a long time to be really aware of what's going on around me.

I think the only reason I've lost weight on this pill is because I've stepped up my workout routine to get some energy. Otherwise, I'm sure I'd have gained weight. I'm relieved to find that I'm not the only woman having troubles with Aviane.

I've been on birth control since my early 20's and now I'm 39. My most current bc was Diane 35 which was not bad. I was scared about the risks of using birth control after the age of 35 so changed to a lower form of birth control-Aviane. Was suppose to have Alesse but was given the generic Aviane. I've gained weight so most likely due to my bad habits, old age due to a lower metabolism. I'm sure I'm at my max weight of 120. I've been feeling horrible in the dressing rooms when I'm trying on clothes and my stomach seems to be more "muffin top" than normal. Also, feel very bloated all the time...thus, a spa rep had asked me how many months I was(might have been the type of top I was wearing but...) I just went on the scale at a gymn I was trying out and to my shock I had gained 10 pounds? I haven't eaten that much different lately...is it Aviane? I think it's time for me to get off bc..

Hi There :)
I went to the doctor 2 days ago and was prescribed alesse, but the pharmacy gave me aviane instead, as my mom's health insurance only covers generic brands. Now I have a 3 month prescription sitting in front of me, and after reading about all of these negative experiences, I don't know what to do! this is my first pill (I'm 17 - 18 soon) and I really don't want any negative side effects. My main reasons for going on the pill were skin problems, and that I have horrible cramps that put me out of commission for 1-2 days every month.

I cannot believe I happened to find this page today!! Thank GOD!!

I was looking up reasons for being exhausted and irritable (which I feel I am ALL the time lately) and thought- maybe it has to do with my birth control pill. After reading these posts it sounds to me that it does!

I have been taking Aviane for 10 months now- prescribed Alesse after the birth of my daughter but was given Aviane by the pharmacy because it is a generic that is supposed to be the same as Alesse. I have been depressed, irritable, unable to sleep, overly exhausted, spotting for 3 weeks, and am beginning to gain some weight. I brushed the depression off because I thought it was my hormone levels returning to normal after the pregnancy. Unless I have postpartum depression (which I don't feel I do) then my hormones should have stabilized by now!

As for the weight gain- I'm not eating any differently than usual- maybe less do to the stress of being in school part time, being a mom and wife, and working, so this gain is not typical for me. Generally, when I'm stressed I lose a few pounds.

My irritability is out of control! Since I've been on Aviane I have been angry and mean. My reactions feel out of control. I can't count the times I've told my husband that I don't know why I'm acting the way I am and that I feel my "freak outs" are beyond my control. I have destroyed some of my husband's personal property as well as my own during fits of rage. When I pull myself outside of these situations I say to myself- who the hell is that person because It's not me. I used to be very laid back, easy going, and rarely angry in the past.

Every night I wake up at least 3 times on my own. My daughter sleeps through the night so I can't attribute my lack of sleep and night waking to her. I can't seem to get through the day without a nap. Sometimes I take two because I feel so tired.

All of these behaviors are so uncharacteristic to me. Before I had my daughter I was a competitive soccer player and enjoyed running, hiking, and biking. I traveled the country working as an archaeology field tech where I would work 10-12 hours outside all day, sometimes walking 4 miles or more a day in the hot summer sun. I enjoyed life and was light hearted and funny. I would never raise my voice to the people I care and never considered myself someone with a temper. Sadly, for the last 4 months I have been walking through life wondering what is the matter with me and wondering why I couldn't get myself together. I never even thought to research the side effects of my pill!!

Thank You EVERYONE for posting your thoughts or problems because it has helped me to see that maybe this pill isn't for me!! I am going to stop and will post again in a few months to let people know if my life has changed for the positive since quitting this monster of a pill.

I was on Alesse for years to regulate my hormones and it worked very well. The pharmacy automatically changed it to Aviane when this product came out. For the first few months I didn't notice any changes in me, but during a physical my doctor told me that many of her patients were going back to Alesse because of problems with Aviane. I guess I forgot about what she said for a while because I was fine, but since then my periods alternate between almost no cramps/no flow one month, to unbearable cramps and super heavy flow the next month. I get many pimples one or two weeks a month on my face and chest (on Alesse I would always get just one face pimple per cycle), I am nauseous two weeks a month (last month I called in sick for two days in a row because of it), most of the time I have a dull pain behind my eyes, and around the 3rd week of each cycle I have horrible personal itch issues, sometimes leading to yeast infections. I had a light bulb moment yesterday, realizing that this could all be due to Aviane. I am going back to Alesse no matter the cost.

I feel like such an idiot. I'm usually so careful about new things. When I was prescribed Alesse 3 years ago I researched all the side effects, but I never had a problem. About a year ago, my pharmacy offered me Aviane, and since the pharmacist told me it was exactly the same as Alesse I figured I might as well save a few bucks. I trusted the pharmacist, and never thought to research the side effects since I believed it was the same. Now I know I was so wrong. I never connected the side effects until recently. I have noticed thinning hair around my temples for about 6 months, and it wasn't until I googled that expecting to find that its a normal part of aging (even though I'm only 25) that I came across so much about Aviane. Then reading everyone else's experiences, I realized I hadn't connected all the other side effects to this generic brand. I had rapid weight gain the first 3 months and have been unable to lose it no matter what I do. The depression, low sex drive, acne, and practically constant yeast infections I think now are all connected to Aviane. After reading this yesterday, I went straight to my pharmacy and switched back to Alesse. Even though it cost me $25 with my health plan (2 years ago it only cost $6 so I wonder if my plan pays less because of the cheaper alternative) I don't care, I just want to be healthy and sane again. Thanks for sharing your stories, they made me realize there was a problem and I can't wait to start my new pack tomorrow and see what happens.

*JENN*

Let me start by saying WOW ... I've been on AVIANE now for roughly 6 months or more yet have been on Try cyclin and Alesse in the past. I went in expecting to get Alesse, came home to notice it was Aviane (Pharmacist must have switched without saying anything), didn't think anything of it and just started taking the pills (thinking it doesn't hurt to try a new brand, to not let your body get too immune to a certain kind). However I have had nothing but problems and have finally decided to research it more.

For the first few months, if I were to miss a pill i'd spot for the rest of the month (nothing like having your period for 30 days) ... I've gained at least 15 pounds which is ridiculous as I play for 3 indoor soccer teams, bounce on my trampoline daily and can not seem to shed any pounds (only gain).

I'm waking up frequently throughout the night, have had heart palpitations, my hair is thinning, have had more yeast infections in the past 6 months than I've had in my life, etc... Luckily my sex drive hasn't decreased (thank god) but I have noticed its more painful during sex (vaginal dryness) and now reading all these posts things are starting to make A LOT more sense.

Luckily as well i'm able to control the irritability and depression however it does come quite frequently.

OH also not to mention the acne, I wash my face twice daily and seem to be getting acne quite often.

Other symptoms i'm experiencing are:
Dry mouth, no motivation (even to play sports and that's a passion of mine), lack of confidence, bloating, increased hunger, heart palpitations, memory loss, etc...

I'm going to look at switching IMMEDIATELY!!
Thanks girls for all your posts ... helped me figure out what my symptoms were caused from :) Good luck to all you!

I started taking Aviane maybe a week ago and i've never felt like this in my entire life. At work yesterday I just wanted to snap at everyone, and today i woke up with a horrible headache. I'm dizzy all the time, my vision is is weird, I'm getting pains and numbness in my right leg and arm, I feel very weak, I'm getting very bad pains in my chest and shortness of breath, i'm nauseated and I'm so grumpy and sad all the time. Today i've wanted to just cry for no reason. This was bothering me so i looked up the side effects on the package and i have most of the severe side effects. This scares me so much ! I stopped talking birth control almost a year ago because i was very forgetful, i was on alesse, so this time they gave me this pill because it was cheaper (even though i am fully covered) I was concerned and questionable about it but the assured me that it was the same as alesse just generic. well i'm going to stop talking it as of now and going back to my doctor.

I haven't had ANY problems taking Aviane. I've been on it for almost 4 months now. I don't know why everyone else is having so many problems with it? Aviane has actually decreased my appetite of sweets, which has made me lose about 10lbs. My Period only last about 3 days, and it's way lighter than what it was w/o BC. Also, Aviane helped my face acne A LOT! I was on a different BC before this and it made me EXTREMELY crabby/mood swings and it didn't help with the bleeding..it made it worse. I'm satisfied with Aviane and recommend it to anyone.

I took Alesse 3 years ago with no problems, Aviane is horrible. I've been on it for a week, thought I'd tough it out. Forget it. Anxiety, increased heart rate, irritability, depression, negativity, intense nausea and heartburn, weight gain, increased hunger, insomnia, bloating, dry eyes...you name it. The only issue is that I can't find brand-name Alesse anymore, pharmacies say it hasn't been produced since 2007, is this true? Anyone know if or where it's available? Some of you are writing in 2008 and seem to be taking Alesse, any help is appreciated!

I have been taking Aviane for a month now. I have noticed extreme fatigue and more irritability than normal. I am 22 and have not had the best luck with birth control in the past but it is suggested that I take it as I have already had one ovary removed due to ovarian torsion. BC can help prevent more cysts from forming. This pill was given to me in place of Alesse which is what my Dr. prescribed to me. I am so discouraged with how tired I am. I have lost all motivation to work out which is something I normally enjoy very much. Last night i picked up another pack of pills for this month, but after reading all of this I am very hesitant to even take them. After a week of Aviane I go my period unexpectedly in the middle of my pack of pills, which has never happened to me. I had planned to just skip the week of sugar pills since I had juts had my period for a week or so, but now I think I will just stop taking them which I know is not a good idea. I just can't stand to feel this exhausted all the time anymore. It is making my life so much more difficult than it needs to be, and not to mention that I feel sad and hopeless and can not understand why. Yesterday I woke up and just started crying! This is not normal...even if it is a new pill and my body is not used to it yet.

My pharmacy switched me from Alesse to Aviane because my insurance company will only cover generic brands if available. I was hesitant at first but the pharmacist assured me that they were the same. After a week of taking them, I started to have panic attacks in the evenings, difficulty breathing, face would start to tingle and feel numb, and was very irritable during the day. I would start to feel really tense and annoyed during meetings to the point that my body felt like it was vibrating.

I couldn't think of any other valid reasons as to why I was experiencing these symptoms over the past week because nothing else in my life has changed. My life is very stress free. I decided to look online to see if these symptoms were related to Aviane and was very comforted to see that a number of people experienced the exaxt same type of symptoms.

After informing my doctor of the switch, she rewrote me a prescription indicating 'no subsitituions' so my insurance company will cover them. I've never had a reaction like this to any type of medication before, I'm glad that's all it was. Thanks everyone for your posts!

I am almost finished with my second week of starting Aviane, generic for Alesse which I was originally prescribed for. Before this I was on Yasmin for almost two years and never had a problem until this past December. I suddenly having some sort of anxiety attacks or something. I would get chest pressure, constricting throat as well as a lump and was feeling miserable as it would come at different times and unannounced. I had an EKG, chest x-ray and cat scan of my chest to make sure everything was fine and I didn't have clotting in my lungs- and everything came back perfectly normal. It's hard for me to say if my experiences are really anxiety or not, and if they were connected to the pill, as I didn't really give much of a break between Yasmin and Aviane. I don't feel so bad anymore, and occasionally I will have slight chest pressure or a strange feeling in my throat and that's all. However, with Aviane I've definitely noticed extreme bloating and I feel ten times as full after I've eaten a normal amount, and in the evenings I get an upset stomach and overall ill feeling, like mild nausea but no vomiting. I have appointments soon to have a thyroid ultrasound and to see an ear,nose and throat specialist. Other than that, I do plan on taking a break from birth control after I get my period just to see if my symptoms have simply been the pill all along.

I could not be happier for coming across this site. I truly thought something was wrong with me. My pharmacist mentioned that there is a cheaper generic version of Alesse called Aviane with the same ingredients available. After a few days I began to have tingling in various parts of my head, I would call that unusual headaches and would become dizzy for no apparent reason. I began to have palpitations and have anxiety even when sitting at home. My sleeping has been turned upside down and I now wake up at least 3 times at night. Nothing has changed in my life since I began Aviane only 9 days ago, however physically there have been many changes. How is it that the pharmacists claim that the two versions are the same when so many of us are having such radical changes?

I set out this morning to do some internet research on women's hair loss and I am SO glad that I ended up here. My hair has been thinning slowly but surely - most noticeably right at my hairline and I'm pretty distraught. I have no history of baldness on either side of my family and I know this isn't a genetic issue. Anyway, I ended up on the American Hair Loss Association website which lists birth control as a culprit (never considered this - I'm 28 and I've been on the pill for 12 years). This made me decide to look into the side effects of my birth control which just happens to be...AVIANE (I didn't even know the name - that's how aware I was.) This is starting to sound like beating a dead horse, but I was on Alesse for 10 years with NO problems whatsoever. From 2006-2008 I was put on a generic form because I was under military healthcare. They basically gave me whatever generic they had "in stock" that day so I didn't even stay on a consistent generic birth control, which is bad news. I just thought I was turning into a crazy, emotional bitch who hated life because I moved away from my home and family for my husband's military career. I actually learned to make peace and manage it...until the hair loss. Call it vanity but that's where I draw the line. This part is key: I didn't see the consistent hair loss until I got on a steady stream of AVIANE. Once my husband got out of the military, I went to a regular obgyn but opted for the generic form of Alesse (so the say) just to save money (at the time I still haven't put it together that it's the bc that's been making me unhappy.) I've been on just AVIANE since July 2008 and started noticing hair loss around September 2008, have seen no regrowth and I think it's getting worse. That search led me here and I am so glad it did - on top of the balding, the last few months I have been moodier than normal, have small fits of rage (that fade quickly, thank god), have been mildly depressed and unable to really enjoy life, I've gained about 5 pounds without a lifestyle/diet/exercise change, I've had more cystic acne (although daily exfoliation has helped this immensely) and lo and behold, 2 days into the placebo week and I feel GREAT. I have one more week on this month's pack - I'm making a doctor's appointment on Monday and I am DONE with AVIANE.

i have been on aviane/alesse for about a year. i have noticed any side effects really. i took it because i have endometriosis which is heavy irregular, painful and emotional periods. the pharmacy keeps switching me back and forth from aviane to alesse which is suppose to be the generic brand. but lately i have noticed that alesse makes my cramps come back and i lose weight, while aviane makes me gain weight but feel better. i have noticed with both i get angry, but briefly, and its a million times better than when i would faint cuz of the pain, and take so much Tylenol that i wud hallucinate. i recommend anyone sick of trying so many brands of birth control pills, and sick of finding different side effects with each try Chaste- Berry (tree). its natural and amazing, but WARNING..it does increase fertility. but it has really helped. the brand i use is VITEX by lorna handerhaeghe. but if you really want to keep with birth control stay with the same one for least six months if your side effects are not bad. they do go away once your body adjusts. also some side effects may be because you are missing some vitamins that you need. ask to get tested at your doctor or naturalist. you would be surprised. for those that live in dark and dreary winter climates, most of us miss some vitamin D. a lot of us miss calcium which makes it possible to absorb vitamins. you can get your medical insurance to pay for chaste berry if you get a letter from your doctor.i wish you all luck!

Wow, this site made me feel so much better. I was on ortho tri cyclen lo for 3 years with no problems. I had great skin, no cramps, no headaches, nothing.. but the price went up and my insurance changed and eventually I couldn't afford it. I went to my doctor and they put me on Aviane 28. I HATE THIS PILL. Tomorrow is my last pill and then I am done with this. I have been so INCREDIBLY TIRED that I can't even stand it. I've also been having awful headaches and minor problems with contacts and vision. I am so glad that I came to this site because I thought something was majorly wrong with me. I can't believe this pill is so bad! So many people have commented (not just on this site). I already went to my doctor and demanded to go back on Ortho, despite the cost (went to Planned Parenthood and got on one of their plans for people who have no income, aka a student like me so now my pills are free!). If you are thinking of trying this pill, I don't suggest it, it's really not worth it. Oh, and on top of it, I've had bad nausea too, something I can't seem to shake! Good luck everyone :)

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!!

Yeah I don't know why physicians just put us on this Aviane because its "cheaper" than Alysse. Mine told me it was basically the same thing but it's obviously not because I've been breaking out in zits like crazy ever since I went on it. I also got harsh mood swings, intense fits of anger (broken furniture can attest to this) and it comes completely randomly; one tiny thing can set me into a fit of rage. I had previously been using Alysse since I was 16 (I'm now 22) and it worked perfectly - didn't have harsh breakouts, my moods were normal, didn't gain weight. I've been taking Aviane for more than six months now and the zits (which are often huge and painful) haven't gone away :( I wash my face day and night, haven't changed my diet at all... So I can only assume it's because of hormonal changes - which only leaves Aviane.

I'm definitely switching back to Alysse - hell I'll pay the extra five dollars if it means a clear complexion and my/my boyfriend's sanity!!!

I was really happy that a little light went off in my head and I decided to research Aviane and Alesse. I have suffered from depression in the past and that is why my family physician had prescribed this low dose birth control. As I am approaching menopause years this was intended to level out hormones as I was beginning to experience increased troubling and symptomatic times of the month. I am only half way through my second packet and I have just experienced the worst week I have had in a long time. I didn't want to get out of bed, I am desperately sad, anxious about the future, crying uncontrollably, and have had an outbreak of pimples the likes of which I have never had in my life. Oh, did I mention hot flashes? I thought the tightening waistband was the depression and inertia, and I thought the depression was due to the regular suspects this time of year; lessening daylight hours, ANOTHER birthday on the way, dysfunctional Christmas to mention a few. This was no regular bout of seasonal depression I realized while crying last night for Will Farrell's hard luck in Taledega Nights.

I've just returned from the pharmacy and the pharmacist agrees with my decision to stop taking the pill immediately and contact my doctor first thing tomorrow. I hope there is an alternative pill, but after the week I just had I think I can put up with a day or two or bitchy rather than an entire month of being a fat, cranky, pimply, curled up ball of useless.

Thanks for having the information available, it seems like there are more stories than not about what I have experienced.

I just found this website tonight and I cannot even tell you how much relief I am feeling right now. I was on Alesse for over 2 years with zero side effects. A few months ago my pharmacist told me it switched to Aviane but that it was basically the same thing. Here is what I have been experiencing since I started taking Aviane: weight gain, COMPLETE loss of sex drive, headaches, brown blotches on my face, mood changes, changes in my sleep patterns and hair loss. I was seriously concerned something major was wrong with me, especially because I was on Alesse (the "same drug") for years with no problems.

Thank you to all the women who posted on here. You are definitely helping out so many women who aren't sure what's wrong with them.

My pills are now in the garbage and I am phoning every girl I know who was on Alesse to warn them about Aviane. I'm so angry that I was misinformed, and I honestly thought I was losing my mind, or severely ill.

Now that I've read all these postings, I feel like a million pound weight lifted off my chest. I am so excited about my mind and body returning to normal!

Thank you so much for your post. I as well, was switched to Aviane (as it's cheaper) and have noticed a HUGE lack of sex drive. I'm in my "sexual prime" and couldn't understand what was going on. My fiance actually thought I was cheating on him because I'm just never in the mood. I haven't noticed a bitchy side to myself but as well have been bloated and couldn't figure it out as I've been eating better. Just the other day I told my fiance that I'd go on the net to see what I could find out about Aviane and man am I shocked. I only wanted to see what the different ingredients were in Aviane as opposed to Alesse. I just got a 3 month refill but will no longer be taking these after this package is done. Thank you all and hopefully many more women will see our posts and realize that they aren't going crazy...it's their birth control pills that are changing their lives.

Sorry to repeat this post, but I wanted to make sure people know about it. I replied to a 19 yo who sounded perfectly ok with being on this pill, and it made me shudder. Here's what I told her:

I was looking for information about class action suits against the makers of Aviane, and I ran across this web page. When I saw your post, I just had to respond. Who knows, it might save your life.

My 17 year old daughter was on Alesse, then Aviane ( the latter for over a year) for a total of about 2 1/2 years, for acne. On Nov. 19, 2007, she was alone at home, and did jump roping for exercise. After jumping for about 5 minutes, she collapsed. Over 2 hours later, her brother came home, found her barely responsive outside, and called 911. She had had a stroke. She was in the hospital for 1 month, in rehab for a month, and then came home. It's been a horrendous nightmare. She couldn't say more than 1 or 2 words for a few weeks, and spent about 3 weeks in a wheelchair. Gradually, she learned to walk again. Now she walks pretty well, but she still has almost no use of her right hand. She can't move her fingers at all except for a weak grip. For you medical folks, it was a left MCA stroke. Her cognitive function was massively affected. She is relearning speech,math skills, writing, etc. All of her friends left her, except for one who was very negative, and an alcoholic. Finally, we encouraged her to let that one go, and make room in her life for some quality friends.

There's much more to the terrifying journey that this has been. We feel fortunate that she continues to recover. I wish someone had warned me about the pill. I thought only fat, old, chain-smoking people got strokes. Now I know better.

If any of you find out about a class action suit against this company, please let me know.

Thanks,

WH
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I have been on Aviane for about 6 months now, and hating it! I took Alesse for four years with not one problem. Same case as everyone else, I got switched to Aviane as it was "the same" and cheaper. I thought I was turning into a crazy person the last few months! I am very easily irritated, and snap at stupid things(never the case for me) I have TOTALLY lost my sex drive and have gained weight. My poor boyfriend has had no idea what to do with me and my irrational behavior and lack of desire. I am seeing my Dr. next week and asking to be put specifically back onto Alesse. Aviane is NOT the same as Alesse as is obvious by all these comments! Stick with what you know and don't let them switch you to generic versions of birth control!

i started aviane because of horrible cramping, i would miss class because i would be constantly crying, not sleeping, and uncomfortable bloating. also the protection of pregnancy benefits. ive never been on a pill before.
i am in the middle of my 3rd week of aviane, alesse's generic. i only see my boyfriend during the weekends bc of distance, and -before- i started i had great sex drive, and never had a problem getting in the mood.
since beginning aviane, i have had cramping, like during a period for the majority of being on it. i have no sex drive whatsoever and cant even get wet after hours of foreplay, and that's never been a problem.
i take my pill at 8:15, and ive only been about an hour off twice.
im also a lot more easily angered and stressed, crying over stress and crying when getting yelled at which i usually don't do so easily, not being able to stop crying
i cant exactly call my gyn. because im not planning on going back to her, we didn't get along, and i don't know what to do..
i also think im beginning to get a yeast infection, and i haven't had sex at all since beginning the pill so i do not think it could be anything else.

Hi Ladies- I promised I would post to let you know how I am doing WITHOUT Aviene. I posted the Sept. 10 comment entitled Thanks ladies because I felt your posts have helped me.

I stopped taking the Aviene on a Thursday and all side effects stopped and no new ones occurred. All is well, I enjoy life without being a freak show.

In a DAY AND A HALF WITHOUT AVIANE MY HEALTH RESTORED.

I mentioned the 20 pound weight gain within a few weeks, by the following Tuesday I lost 9 pounds and today is the 26th and I lost 15 pounds. No anxiety, no irritation, no face issues (in a week it cleared up), no mood or energy issues, no excessive thirst, burning of eyes, chills, fever, rashes, itchy -nothing. I was allergic to it and my body wasn't breaking down the coloring agents etc whatever the hell is in there b/c it's not like you get a box or product descriptions. This isn't personal comments, I spoke with pharmacists, doctors, doctor friends, nurses etc. I work at a hospital I have great resources to share with you.

Whatever your side effects are, let's do this. Let's listen to our bodies, listen to experiences and draw your own conclusions.

I know my body, I know myself, and I know my life changes, mood changes, physical changes were due to this pill.

Please consider when being worried about what will happen if you quickly go off it that the consequences of staying on it are more severe. For me, and for many of us, the side effects didn't stop but kept adding and if you are reading this and are just curious or feel something is off with you do not take it any further. I am sharing that I am not a sensitive person and do not experience side effects... and I completely broke down physically and mentally from the amount of side effects and had to self defend.

Many of your comments helped and let's face it if you read that some ladies lost their hair... come on... obviously something is wrong with this pill.

Take care ladies, my sincere hope is that my post will help you, as you have helped me.

So you know, I went back on Alesse and all is well. My drug company didn't cover Alesse but ALESSE HAS A PATIENT CARD FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT HAVE INSURANCE AND FOR THOSE WHO DO BUT THE COMPANY DOESN'T COVER ALESSE RATHER THE GENERIC AVIANE. Your patient Alesse card you get will cover the difference that your insurance company may not. I paid $ 2.89 for my monthly prescription which is less than if the insurance company covered it. Check with your pharmacy location site if they participate in the program and it is not hard to find one that does.

You may not like Alesse, I can only share my experience with Aviane that did make my life a living hell. Happy to be OFF it!

Please take care and self defend your situation and reach out to those around you.

I have been on Aviane since January. I started taking it for extremely painful cramps that induced vomiting and dizziness. I wasn't taking it for birth control, acne control, or anything else. It worked wonders for my cramps. I had a regular period, no spotting, and no excruciating pain. That being said, the rest of my life was awful. I break out like crazy, put on a little bit of wait (nothing to really complain over), and worst of all, I have been in a hazy slump since I started taking it. I wouldn't say its been depression, but it is definitely a fatigue that I can't shake. I don't care about my friends or boyfriend or family until something or someone makes me aware of my blatant rudeness and apathy and then I burst into tears and cry for a whole day. Its awful, and I plan to not start the new pack on Sunday. I'm cutting birth control entirely and hoping it will change things. Has anyone else done this? I'm kind of scared of the side effects of stopping...

Ladies! I think it is wonderful that we are sharing our experiences here and helping one another. I felt it is necessary I share my experience as well. Thank You to all you ladies who have posted. You have helped me.

Got Aviene from my pharmacist saying 'it's same as Alesse, it's cheaper and the drug company covers this versus Alesse.' How dumb of me not to research this despite the fact this came without a box and instructions.Where is this made? Read up on it etc... things one would do BEFORE trying something. I did not do this and this has cost me.

I noticed changes as you all say you did as well. I have been taking the pill for 3 months. I work out as much as I can so about at least 3 times a week, I had a energy loss, I felt in an unexplainable way, just tired and irritated by the day. No, this is not normal for me. I got a great deal on a scale and stood on it and couldn't believe a 20 pound weight gain. This was not exactly a surprise since my clothes don't fit well and I am very uncomfortable. However, this still didn't make sense b/c I have breakfast and it's not junk, toast coffee or eggs with it or serial. For the last 3 months I made healthy lunches, I cooked ahead so took fish, chicken, rice, whole wheat sandwiches, orange juice, water, milk to work. No junk, no pop, no over eating. Had fruits and veggies. I was glad I was keeping up with this but to gain weight from it? I have a full time and a part time job keeping me busy and this life style, what I did for the last 3 months always included weight LOSS not GAIN. I am pretty pissed about this. (Of course, I am on Aviane, we are all pissed off, haha but not really haha right?) I have major issues with my face, considering I am using the same wash... no change...Anyway.. you're all seeing something doesn't' make sense. I have actually had bloating. Major bloating. 3 weeks. Never had this before. I took over the counter aid, that did help. I am 30 I never took over the counter aid.. let's not mention what I took but it helped.

Listen everyone, get off this pill. I will never take this pill again. I have 4 left this month and forget it I'd rather get my period tonight and anticipate change to occur.

On my way home, as usual of late, I tried to figure out WHAT is wrong with me. In conversation with a cooworker I mentioned the 20 pound weight gain and all and she said 'so much in such little time?' I was thinking about it on my drive home... I am at 2 new jobs and have stress but... to gain this much... and it dawned on me. I CHANGED MY B.C. It HAS TO HAVE something to do with it. I came home and goodled. You can't find anything on Aviane but negative comments. You go on Alesse... oh! a company website at least shows up.

Thank you Ladies... I believe I am having the same reaction as all of you did and I do sincerely Thank everyone for taking time out to post. You have helped me and I do think this B.C. is the reason for my current state.

I'll post in a week or two and then after a month to provide an update.

Take care Ladies!

I started dating my now husband over a year 1/2 ago & started taking Alesse for 6 months. I had no bad side effects & everything was great those 6 months but I didn't renew the prescription because remembering the pill everyday is a hassle... Dumb mistake! I got a 3 month trial of that new NuvaRing thinking it would be great not to worry about the pill. Wrong again, I had the worst breakouts. mood swings, numbness in my face/arms & total lack of sex drive brought on by constant pain during intercourse with painful tenderness lasting days after.... So I asked to be prescribed Alesse again but the pharmacy ended up giving me this Aviane since my coverage is for generic. I don't know how to explain it really, don't know if it's just the switch but I my period lasted about one day. First it was dark (nearly black) hardly blood at all but congealed! Than later that night I had some cramping & a flow of blood. That was it. The next morning I woke up to find my labia majora was painfully red and swollen. (Now I have never been sexually active before my husband and a few months after we started having intercourse I asked him to get checked with me & both came back clear so as far as I know there is nothing unknown that can be causing this!) I am going to call my doctors office today & hopefully speak with a nurse... In the meantime I refilled my prescription for Alesse & will dish out the extra money..

I only just started taking it (Avaine) yesterday, and everything is fine so far; nothing out of the ordinary is going on. I'm 19 years old, healthy, have mild acne around my period and usually terrible cramps and mood swings, I don't know if this will benefit me in those areas or not yet. We'll see though, from what I've been reading this might not turn out so well but I think I will keep an update going on here when any side effects or benefits arise.

i have been on aviane now for two months almost, i am experiencing acne breakouts again..... i have always had acne and been taking medication to help control acne.. i also was on alesse acne not to bad had been on it for almost 2 yrs... then pharmacy switched me to aviane and my skin is always blemished with pimples never clear, i don't like this bc pill at all.... anyone experiencing frequent breakouts since making the switch to aviane? also not to mention that my legs feel heavy most days the calf prt anyone ?

I was switched from Alesse to Aviane in February due to my drug plan's preference for generic drugs. I have experienced serious bowel problems specifically inflammation and extreme pain. It is interesting to note the issues that others have had with sex drive as I have suspected for some time that Alesse (and I continue with Aviane) that it was affecting mine. I have also noticed a that I am much quicker to irritation and anger in recent months.

I used Aviane for a month and a half now and I see nothing wrong with it. It did not make me sick, I THINK I did notice a swing on my mood while I was on my period not a serious one but I was more emotional when Im usually not - hopefully it was just a bad week but other than that this pill did not affect my emotions towards more positive or negative. I did take Alesse for the two first weeks and they made me sick the first week where I felt like puking up and just sleeping all day - I was worried to go on the pill again, but Im glad I picked this one its a close form of "Alesse" but this one did not make me sick or feel any weird up and downs towards my emotions. Also my period came right on the 2nd non-active pill and stopped 1-2 before I had to start the active ones again. It doesn't mess up the cycle which I was also happy about! Anyway try it out I think it work great for me!

Iv been on it for not even 2 weeks now...i got my period again...a week after i just had it...iv had severe abdomen pains after sex, my sex drive has gone to like zero. my boyfriend feels like he almost has to force me to have sex...im getting freaking fat! i have uncontrollable acne and my skin is peeling, my back aches constantly? am i crazy or is this medication just plain crap?

I've been taking Aviane for about 3 months now and its horrible, I had been taking alesse for 5 or 6 years until my drug plan decided to switch to a cheaper pill. With Alesse no side effects at all, but with this Aviane there are lots. I am always tired, headaches, pain behind my eyes and chest pain, which is not normal!!!! A few days ago I stopped taking the pill and I am starting to feel much better. Although this drug may be cheaper its not worth taking, I'd rather take nothing than this pill.

My pharmacist also switched to Aviane and told me that is was the same thing. I think that it has affected my bowels as now I have cramps there too. I feel crappy all the time. I also suffer from nausea in the morning and have thought that I was pregnant. I was on Alesse before that with no problems. I stopped taking the Aviane and asked specifically for the Alesse. Now my body is in some kind of limbo and I feel really low. I thought it was just me but I am "happy" to hear that it is not in my head. I think I will come off all BC for a month or two and try again,

started out with taking alesse. first two month was really miserable constantly felt like crap. loss of appetite, major mood swings (which is very unlike me), loss of sex drive. 9 months later im now on aviane. haven't had any problems with it what so ever. def stick with one BC for at least 4 or 5 months - its gets much better from then on. ^_^

I was on alesse for 3 months, and loved it.
before I got one migraine every time around my period, but when i went on alesse, the migraines stopped.
After I finished my 3 packs, the pharmacist said hey do you want to try avaine, its the EXACT SAME, just cheaper
i said "Exactly?" and he said yes

so hey. why not save some money

Eventually i got a migraine, and then another one, and then another one,,.. and then another one ,... and again.. another one

long painful story short- if one pill is working for you- don't switch even if its a better price

I started Aviane about 2 weeks ago because they stopped Alesse. I had my period and started the Aviane 28 that Sunday, and haven't had sex at all since my period and I feel pregnant. My stomach is hard, and I can't suck it in; for the first week I had almost morning sickness, I was very nauseas, and threw up the first day I took them. I've also been tired and getting headaches.
I'm actually scared that I am pregnant, but I don't see how it could be possible, seeing as I've had my period. Has this happened to anyone? Please let me know - I'm going to take a pregnancy test soon because I'm so worried. Hopefully it's just the pills!

I was taking Alesse for like 4-5 months and was fine now my pharmacist gave me Aviane and said it was the same thing i only did one month and i developed serious side effects . I'm only 18 i have No sex drive at all . I'm always sad cry for absolutely nothing and loss weight, no appetite I've stopped it its almost been a week and i sleep better feel more like my self but i still have no appetite and no sex drive how long does it take to come back ??

okay so I am new the B.C and I was taking Alesse for about 3-4 months and once i started on the fourth month I started to get terrible nightmares and they never seemed to go away, first I thought it was because I was stress but the thing was I wasn't stressed I just started going out with my boyfriend and my family life is not bad, so I didn't understand it till I told one of my girlfriends in class and sje told me that there was some bad stuff about Alesse, so I was going to switch. But yesterday my pharmacist dropped off my pills and it wasn't Alesse it was Aviane and I was like what ... but I took it anyways because I have really bad cramps that come with my period and such so I took it for the first time this morning with out knowing what it was about. My doctor didn't even tell me about it. so I decided to go look on the internet to see what it was about... and now I don't know I mean I have a bad enough time with my normal period let along it getting worse because of this pill. I really don't want that to happen to me, like I am only 16 so i don't worry about the sex drive stuff but mood swings I don't want that to screw up my new relationship with a great guy.
So if any one can tell me the straight facts and help me out because I don't know if I want to go to my doctor and ask her to switch me before i even get to the end of the pack.... so please any help would be great.

areas that help would be awesome in is
what pill to go to if I do switch
what are the main side effects
what is the best thing to do if I do get these side effects

Well i have been on Aviane for almost a week now and i have noticed a change in my sex drive it has decreased and even when i try "she" is completely dry. Also I noticed that I have a "I don't really care attitude". I was on Levora first and i had no problems like the ones above but I switched because I would get a yeast-infection every time i stop taking them to get my cycle! Now i am just confused and don't know which way to go. I have tried the Depo shot (bleed for three months), and the ring (bleed on and off for two months). Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

I've only been on Aviane for about a packet and a half, and I'm already not liking it. Hence why I am on this sight looking up info. I have experienced the anger out of no where, never feeling happy, and just feeling like i don't care. It's starting to affect the relationship with my finance. It's also decreasing my sex drive. I no longer want to be intimate or "huggy-kissy". Granted I am waiting till marriage, I'm on the pill to get used to it before I get married and to help my PMS. It does help the PMS symptoms (heavy bleeding, cramps, etc), but last time it was like 2 weeks early and I think it's about to be another week early. My boobs are ALWAYS sore...even when I'm off my period. And I sleep on my stomach which makes things hard sometimes. My face has cleared up though. No severe weight gain yet...just a little maybe. I may wait to see if the affects get better as I go through the next packet, but from the reactions of some of the others it wont. SO i'm probably switching Monday

I took Alesse for a long time, until it became back-ordered. After that I took Lutera and had some weight-gain and mood swings, then my pharmacy said that was back-ordered. They had me switch to Aviane and I had immediate side effects. I've become very dizzy, especially in the morning when I wake up and when I lay down at night. I've had constant spotting and I've became very angry. I'm going to try Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo to see if this will work!

I was previously on Alesse for 2 years with no problems but recently(3 months ago) my doctor switched to the generic Aviane. I have been so angry and emotional, it is wrecking my relationship. I had no idea it was because of the pill until I mentioned it to a friend and she told me about this side effect. I wish my doictor had told me. Everything else is great I have a very light period that only lasts about two days, and no cramping.

I was taking Aviane for the past three months and hated it. I was on Alesse previously and had no problems. Since the first pill I felt like I had a yeast infection. The yeast infection continued the whole three months. No matter what I did, yogurt, monistat, it persisted. I also had a strange uncomfortable feeling in my vagina - it was horrible. My skin cleared up the first two months, the last month I got a cystic pimple. The last month I got my period and it was really heavy and painful.