Loestrin 24 Fe and birth control pill

First of all, some people are right.... some birth control pills are different for everyone.. and i have to totally agree with TOWN...right on the button!
I had some nausea in the beginning, but hell..I have been on every birth control pill, Iud, depo fat shot, and they all still made me bleed heavy and cramp.....My family are heavy bleeders big time...My insurance finally approved Loestrin for me and this is a blessing in disguise! I have no periods! I may have occasional lil, I mean lil, spotting every now an then, but it is worth it. Sex drive? You can't get horny? Think of something... And every birth control pill there are chances of depression in every one, read. I have a tubaligation so I am only on this pill for period purpose only, but I am staying on it.

I have been on loestrin for 2 months now. For the past month I have been an emotional wreck, and for the passed week I have had anxiety, heartburn and stomach cramps just below my ribcage. My lower back is killing me and my stomach is spasming. I just took my last birth control pill this morning and start the reminder pills tomorrow. I totally don't feel myself. I haven't got my period since i've been on it. My doctor put me on it because I was bleeding abnormally heavy for me two weeks after my period. I really want to not start a new pack, but i'm nervous that i will bleed heavily again. the anxiety is causing me no to sleep.................I hate this pill

I think it is interesting the symptoms that you mention here. I have been on birth control pills since the age of 19. I am now 28. Over the past year I have had similar symptoms. I have been on so many different BCP's that is is hard to keep count. They don't seem to work the way they claim to. The last BCP I was on was orthotryciclen. While taking these I began to experience severe heart palpitations. So bad that they would wake me up at night. Because I wasn't sure if it was an anxiety attack or just being in my head I decided to ignore it. Four months passed by and it seemed to get increasingly worse. I had enough and decided to go to my PCP. She wasn't really much help either. Although I was tested for Mitral Valve Prolapse, which I was told affects younger women my age. There was nothing found. What I thought was interesting is I really felt that it was the birth control pills, but I couldn't find it as a side affect on the information that was provided in the box. The tech who was doing my echocardiogram began to tell me she also experienced the same feelings and found out it was her BCP. Once she confirmed what I thought was right, decided to stop taking them. After three months the symptoms began to disappear. I figured it was just the particular brand. I began to take loestrin 24. I started to feel the same symptoms again, just not as severe. I would feel my heart beat when I would like down in my back and my stomach. My heart rate would reach 90 to 100 sometimes. I know this is not normal. When I visited my gyno yesterday she told me it was impossible that it was a result of the BCP. Maybe it was just anxiety and or perhaps I should get checked out by a cardiologist. That is serious stuff when you are talking to a young person about getting there heart check out. I think if there are any other women out there who are experiencing any similar symptoms should speak up. So these doctors won't keep telling us it is all in our heads and help to take care of this problem.

I am 17 and i was prescribed loestrin 24 as my first birth control pill. I've been on it for less than a week and i can't stand it and neither can my boyfriend! I have had a period from hell with has been 5 days in counting, I bleed so much i get dizzy when i stand up and my legs feel like 1000 lbs i can barely move them. Also i had diminished sex drive and raging hormones (bad acne, emotional hell) so i have decided to stop taking it. I called my gynec. and she recommended the opposite, and told me to get a blood test to check my iron levels and to see if i was pregnant! I'm almost positive i am not but not shes got me worried and i go for the blood test today. Loestrin ruined the second half of my summer but after reading all these other ladies tales i am very glad i decided to quit now. Thank you for opening my eyes, i realized it probably won't just go away in a week. I stopped it yesterday and i feel better already.

I have been on Loestrin24 since March 2008 and have been hospitalized once, in the emergency room once and suffering since. About two weeks after I started taking Loestrin24 in March 2008, I had what they thought was a TIA or, a "mini-stroke" and was put in the hospital. I was seeing a rainbow-like aura, had a splitting headache (for only about 30 minutes), became extremely confused, my blood pressure jumped up to 168/93 (stage 2 hypertension) and I couldn't speak for a few hours. Of course, they hospitalized me, ran all kinds of tests and found there to be no medical reason for a mini-stroke and the neurologist cleared me so, I was sent home with no mention of the fact that it could be the Loestrin24 that was causing it and, yes, my husband did tell them I was taking it. Two months later, I was back in the emergency room with the same symptoms. However, this time I recognized the symptoms as the same ones I'd had before and we immediately headed to the hospital. I was not hospitalized this time and the ER doctor said it was a migraine (there's a migraine that causes stroke-like symptoms) and that it's possible it could be the Loestrin24. Well, I'm taking the birth control pill because I have incredibly painful periods and was trying to be able to live a normal life. Without the birth control pill, I literally have to plan my life around my periods. So, not wanting to believe it was the Loestrin24, I continued to take it because, I hadn't had a period since I started taking it. That, alone, was worth it for me. But, last night while watching TV with my husband, the worst symptom hit me. It was like someone took a sledge hammer and slammed me in the forehead with it! I was wracked with such pain in my head that my hands flew to my forehead and I was screaming/crying. My head hurt so badly that I was would not have been surprised if I was actually bleeding from my eyes and ears. This morning, I'm still having the ringing in my ears and I could sleep for hours. I have contacted both my ob/gyn and my family physician and both of them said to stop taking it immediately.

Also, like I've read in several postings here, my sex drive is completely gone. And, when I do give in to my husband and have sex, my heart feels like I'm going to have a heart attack. The sudden splitting headache has actually come on during sex, too!

I certainly do not want to go back to the debilitating pain of my periods but, I can't live like this, either!

Hello Ladies...There are so many comments that I could not get through them all. I am in my 3rd month on Loestrin 24 Fe. The first month I thought that I just had to be pregnant too based on all the symptoms I was having. My period has yet to start when it is suppose to start or finish when it is suppose to finish. The second month I thought that I actually was having a 3 day period but about a week later I started bleeding again for about a week. My cramping has been a lot worse as well. I know that you are suppose to give your body time to adjust to it, but I am not sure I can wait it out with this pill.

My doctor told me before I even started taking this pill that no birth control pill is perfect and that they pretty much will all give you some type of negative side effect from nausea to weight gain to dryness to lack of sex drive. I appreciated her honesty. My thought is that when picking a birth control pill its like picking THE LESSER OF THE EVILS. My fiance and I would rather not get pregnant right now, but I feel like a different person and I miss me.

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I took loestrin 24 for two months.my doctor recommended it because im low in iron and it's supposed to give you shorter pieriods(haha).In reality I had my pierod two weeks before it was supposed to start and then again on the last week of the month.
I experienced hair loss crying and severe depression,when i no reason to be sad or depressed.I stopped taking loestrin two weeks ago. I feel almost back to normal.
I have never had such bad side effects from a birth control pill.this whole experience has really opened my eyes about taking birth control or any medicine with out really looking into the side effects first.

Good to know. I started on Loestrin fe 2 months before my wedding. When the wedding day arrived my dress was a little snug. I had noticed that my breasts were getting larger, but nothing that seemed too out of control. I snipped out the cups the seamstress had sewn in to "fill me out" and away we went. However, I am now finishing up my 3rd pack and I have now put on 20 lbs in the 3 weeks since the wedding. At first I was thinking my eating might have gotten a little out of control (we stayed at an all inclusive for the honeymoon) but since returning my eating habits have returned to normal. Now, none of my clothes fit. I had to buy new bras because I have gone up two cup sizes. I am now a 36 DD, was a 36 C. The weight gain is particularly troublesome to me because I lost about 80 lbs 3 years ago and don't want any of it back!!! I am also experiencing fine bumps on my forehead and I haven't experienced acne since I was a teenager. I have also had difficulty with spotting...and it is so annoying. I will spot for several days, stop and then repeat the cycle over again. I was bleeding so much on my wedding day that I had to use a tampon, and I was on week 2 of the pack! I have not had a proper "period" yet. Luckily I have an appointment with my GYN in 3 weeks.
The last birth control pill I was taking, over a year ago, was Yasmin. But I noticed after about 2 months on that I was starting to experience symptoms of depression. I had just started a new job and didn't like it, and thought that that was the issue. After crying on the way to work everyday for 3 weeks for no reason it occurred to me that it might be the pill. I stopped taking it and nearly immediately noticed the tearfulness disappeared. Perhaps I am just one of those who can't tolerate the pill.

wow after reading your posts i feel much better!!! i thought i was losing my mind...i have terrible periods, full seven days terrible painful cramps, just periods from hell come to find out i have endometriosis and an ovary thats stuck to the vaginal wall my doctor put me on loestrin 24 and its been the pill from hell im constantly bleeding on and off, my right leg goes numb, i had healthy clear skin and now its really dry with fine bumps, my mood swings are crazy im happy then i want to cry, depressed most definitely, constant headaches and nausea after taking it and this is only my first month taking it, i also noticed that im always cold!!! i would rather put up with my painful period then this crap

I am 24 years old and I just starting taking Loestin 24 three weeks ago today. I have PCOD (polycytis ovary disease) which stops me from having my period for months at a time, December was the last time I had my period. I have never taken any type of birth control pill until now. The doctor put me on provera pills to get steady progestrone in my body, I couldnt take it. I had severe headaches, to the point that I thought my head weighed 1000 pounds. She took me off that and put me on Loestrin 24. I was fine the first two weeks,a slight migraine but no other sides effects. On Wednesday morning I starting spotting, but by the afternoon it was a full flow, with severe cramps. It is now Sunday and I am still bleeding and still cramping very bad. She told me that it will take 3 months for the side effects to go away, but I dont know what I should do? Should I stick it out the 3 months being that it has been so long since I had my period? Should I call the doctor and see if I should stop taking the pills and go on something else? I appreciate the advice.

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.

My turn...Ive been taking this pill for one week (first time ever taking any type of birth control pill). Ive never agreed with the whole concept ( I once had a heart defect; my mother had breast cancer; I have a history of depression ), and Ive been aware of the hormonal changes and side effects, but after 2 babies, both unplanned =o), and with a spouse who's 'sick' of the condoms, I decided to give the pill. So far I hate it. After just one day of taking the pill I became moody, depressed, crying for anything, and so irritable, even with my children. A week later I'm spotting (big time, not bloody, just brown); I'm cramping; nauseous; and Ive had a headache for 2 days now. I'm ready to quit this. I feel like I'm in my 1st trimester meshed with living through postpartum baby blues. Its horrible. Itd probably be tolerable if I were single, but I have to care for 2 kids under the age of 3, and I just don't have the energy to deal with this. Also, I just imagine the long term effects. These hormones causing all these crazy changes cant be healthy at all.

Hey everyone! My names Janelle and I'm 20 years old. I went on Loestrin about three months ago and am going to quite taking it. I have experienced just about every side effect mentioned above. From depression, breast tenderness, severe mood swings, increased fatigue, and increased weight gain. I am a very healthy eater and exercise almost six times a week. The exercise has helped with the mood swings a bit but has not helped with any of the other side effects. My plan is to stay away from birth control, exercise frequently and remain abstinent until marriage! I know this won't work for some of us so I would recommend taking another pill. I have also tried YAZ and that was MUCH WORSE. Probably the worst birth control pill out there!!!

I've been on Loestrin for over a year now, its been okay, I did the patch before and that was a NIGHTMARE! So I switched to Loestrin and since then i have developed horrible migraines, my doctor has given me an MRI for it. I actually never thought that my birth control might be causing this until I've read some of the postings up. I am also going on my third month with no cycle, I get very worried because, to me, thats not natural. A woman should get her period and I do not want to take something thats going to mess with that. I originally started taking it for the lighter periods because heavy periods run in my family.

I also have been experiencing mood swings and being depressed, but like before i never thought it had anything to do with my birth control. Its effecting my relationship with my boyfriend big time.Also lost of sexual drive, and thats annoying. Does anyone know of a birth control PILL that doesn't have so many horrible side effects. This is a freaking nightmare

I'm freaking out!!!!!!!!! SOMEBODY WITH THE SAME SIDE EFFECT PLEASE HELP ME....I was on YAZ since the summer and it sucked cuz I'd get my PD every 2 weeks....i finished my last pack on November, took December off and towards the end of the month i had unprotected sex so i had to take the PLAN B pills and three days later i got my pd. so everything seemed O.K.....theeeen i started on this jump off LOESTRIN PILL. I was supposed to have "protected" sex for the first month but towards the end of the month (when i was NOT supposed to be ovulating) i had unprotected sex and i haven't had my PD. for 2 months now....Last month i did a pregnancy test and it came out negative....I don't really have any "early pregnancy" signs....i feel fine but CAN ANYONE LET ME KNOW IF MISSING A PERIOD IS NORMAL? I'm just thinking that switching from a different birth control pill and taking the plan B pills might have messed up my cycle. Thanx.

I'm 17 and my doctor just prescribed me the pill yesterday. I'm not supposed to start until the Sunday after my period. I'm reading everyones posts and they're saying that they're not getting a period. What is the harm with that? I would love to not get my period. I'm not a sexually active person my parent just feels I should be on it. I've had sex once & I don't really plan to do it any time soon. So, I see no harm in not having a period (If I am not having sex...)

Okay after reading everyone's posts, I want to cry ha ha. I have just completed my first month of Loestrin24fe- I still haven't gotten my period- tomorrow will be a week. I feel like I have the symptoms- it's just not there. I expected this to happen since my body is confused with the change, however now I am nervous that I will not get it at all this cycle and it will just skip to the next. I was previously on Ortho Tri -cyclen Lo. I was nauseous a lot, the occasional migraine, my sex drive was not great, and I had some mood swing/depression problems. I went on Lexapro for that- decided to drop it since I became nauseous with that almost an hour after I took it each time and my sex drive became even worse. Doing that I thought my symptoms would go away. I still had nausea, still no sex drive, developed weird skin patch ( dermatologist said it was eczema, but very suspicious that it all happened around same time). Since my symptoms still existed I thought it was my birth control pill. That's why I switched to Loestrin....I'm still emotional, esp near my period, but I'm a girl, I expect that. What I am worried about, and from what I have read through these posts- is that the side effects you each describe are pretty much daily side effects for me and I might not catch it as something that I should be worried about. Is it also true also that this pill makes you gain more than others? On my previous pill, I didn't gain weight and I don't plan on exercising bc of this one. I know pills affect everyone differently, and I wonder if i go on another message board for another pill I will see the same responses.....I just want to hear from someone with a positive take on this pill. Telling me that you are fine, you just have to exercise and not drink, have no sex drive and deal with not getting your period sometimes, does not make me feel better.

Also, the past two times I have drank alcohol on this pill, I became extremely nauseous the next day. Normally this would be contributed to a hangover- but I didn't drink the amount that would cause one, compared to my past drinking experiences. The nausea sometimes results in vomit, otherwise it just lasts all day. I was wondering if anyone had this happen to them while they drank on the pill.

If brevity is what you're looking for, you're not going to find it here in my response. After readying through all these posts, I'm relieved to finally know I'm not alone and I'm not crazy for the side effects I've had. I'm just one of MANY!! So, here's my story and my experience.....

I've been on Loestrin 24 for about a year and a half now. At first, I thought my doctor had given me the miracle birth control pill. Literally, I've tried everything on the market since I was 17 before I was even sexually active. I had periods lasting heavily for 7-9 days. You name it, I've taken it. I'm now 33. Immediatly after starting Loestrin 24, I was recommending it to everyone I knew. I started having periods that literally lasted half of a day and with minimal bleeding. Soon, like clockwork, I was only having periods every other month. Every other month has now turned into a period every 3 or 4 months. Sounds great right? Wrong! Just keep reading. And no, I don't worry about being pregnant and not knowing (you were thinking it weren't you?) because when you have zero sex drive, you can't get pregnant. I'll get to that soon enough.

My doctor put me on Loestrin24 because I was having severe migraines during the "inactive" pills on normal 21 active pill OC's. At first when I started L24, the migraines reduced to just painful headaches, so I thought it was working. And, my boobs did get bigger, which was a plus-no complaints there! Now, my big boobs get painful and soar once a month and my headaches have gone back to 3-4 day full blown migraines. After reading about the cerebral thrombosis, I'm seriously considering having a cat-scan or an MRI, if my doctor will refer me. The last migraine lasted 4 days. I was so nausious I couldn't even stand up. My eyes felt like they were going to explode and the back of my head at my neck felt like a knife was stuck in me. These have been the worse migraines I've had, being on Loestrin 24. The migraines are so bad and last so long that they've scared my husband to death.

I'M DONE WITH L24!!! The worse side-effect (for my husband anyways) has been no libido, not even an ounce. When I voiced my concerns to my doctor (I'm a newlywed), she said, "that's the most common complaint I get." Well,duh, why didn't she tell me this in the beginning when she knew I was getting married?????? For fear of losing my husband, I agreed to try the regular Loestrin and all hell broke loose. My face broke out like a pre-pubescent 13 year old boy, my face was so oily I was embarrassed to not wear makeup, and I was so depressed about the way I looked and felt that my self esteem was gone. Needless to say, feeling as ugly as I did, sex was the last thing on my mind. I didn't want my husband to see my bare face, let alone my naked body. So, with no hope in sight, I opted to go back to Loestrin 24.

Can I just say, "Big mistake, BIG" so said Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman. Looking back and after reading everyone else's postings, I too now know why I've gained weight. I thought it was because I'm in my 30's now and don't have the energy and metabolism I had in my 20's. But looking around to my same- aged friends, they aren't having any weight problems. Nor are they on Loestrin 24. At 5'8", I've always weighed around 125-130 pounds since I started college in the early 90's, but after being on this pill over the last year & 1/2, I've gained weight. The weight gain reached a whopping 153 at my max. I've been dieting so I'm now down to 142 but I can't seem to go lower. I'm still at least 12 pounds more than I normally weigh and I'm a very small-framed person.

The worse side-effect that I've had to deal with is the acne. Typically most OC's help your skin. Well, my skin is horrible now. I'm 33 and there are days/weeks when I feel like avoiding going outside because my skin is so broken out. Not just pimples, but cystic acne and it's an embarrassment!! Needless to say I've had to do a few rounds of antibiotics and had to spend extra money on topical Rx's for my face. Now I'm getting ready to have some laser treatments for the acne & facial melasmas caused by Loestrin 24. The melasmas have just shown up over night here and there, regardless of how much sunscreen I apply to my face. In addition to the breakouts on my face, I've also had problems with acne on my back, which I NEVER had until I started Loestrin 24.
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Other side effects include horrible, strangely bizzare nightmares. I didn't realize they were abnormal until telling my husband about them. Being a newlywed not wanting sex and having disturbing dreams and nightmares, he thinks I'm weird at this point!! I don't know that L24 has caused these, but I've read some other posts about nightmares, so I'm thinking there's a common thread here!

Another common side effect I have that others have mentioned is crying so easily. Seriously, I could get a Oscar for the performances! If there are any aspiring actresses, this is your pill! I've always been a sensitive person, but one shouldn't cry in a public shopping mall at the sight of a kid in a wheelchair.

When I'm not having the nightmares and weird dreams, I don't sleep well. This is probably due to the nightmares and racing heart that awake me from the dead sleep. They say when you're dreaming, you are getting the much needed REM sleep. Believe me, I'd rather not be getting any REM sleep than having nightmares like I've had.

And now for the sex chat. They say women hit their sexual peak in their late 20's and early 30's and I did. I couldn't get enough of it. It's probably why my husband married me. Now, the poor guy is deprived nearly completely of sex. Of course, this is not a bad side effect for me, because by not having the urge, means not worrying about getting pregnant like some of the other people who posted have had the unplanned incident.

And once again I'll mention the headaches and migraines. They've been so intense, that if someone hit me over the head with a cast-iron pan, it would feel better. Like I initially said, I thought I had found "the one", the pill that had rid me of my 7-9 day periods. The only good thing about this pill is the fact that I haven't bought a box of tampons in over 4 months.

If any of you reading this are looking to reduce your period if not, miss it all together, then this is your pill. If you are anorexic and looking to gain weight, this is your pill. If you need an excuse to not have sex with your boyfriend or husband, then this is your pill. If you need a reason to miss an exam or cut class because of a migraine, this is your pill. If your goal is to one day win an Oscar for drama, this is your pill. If you want to park in the "mothers to be" up close parking spots, then once a month you can. You'll be so bloated you'll look 3-4 months pregnant. I'm not even exaggerating here. I was once asked if I was pregnant. You know how awful this is...Urgh!!! If you want to feel absolutely miserable, then this is the pill for you. The initial tease of "barely there" periods and clear skin is gone before you know it! Beware! I had a lot going on in the first six months of taking L24. We were planning a wedding, working a lot of hours, so I thought all my symptons were initially stress related. Once the wedding was over and work calmed down six months later, nothing changed. Thanks to everyone who posted before me, I now know what has been wrong with me over the last several months. I wished I'd found this sight long before now!! The periods have hardly existed, but even something about that makes me feel weird. I just finished my last pack!!!!

And the last concern I would like to mention in regards to pills like Loestrin 24 and others that have so many active pills you rarely have periods or have them every few months, is the overall health concern. To all of us currently or previsouly taking Loestrin 24, we need to ask ourselves...what are we going to find out next about this pill? Once it's been out for 4-5 years on the market we'll start hearing more of the complaints, strokes, debilitating side effects and so on. I mention this because one other pill I took a couple of years ago when it first hit the market was "Seasonale" and it was great for the headaches and reducing my period. Now, look at all the issues with Seasonale and similar pills...several women have actually DIED from them. I have to ask myself as well as you all reading this...are we going to be the next victim to the FDA's quick approval of a truly dangerous form and method of birth control? Will my sex-deprived husband have to read my name in the obituaries in the morning paper because his wife died of a stroke?

I'm seriously contemplating getting off OC's all-together. These billion dollar pharmaceutical companies have sales reps with degrees in communications or business going around pushing prescription medications!! Rarely do you see a drug rep who actually has a medical background. These sales reps with 4-year bachelor's degrees are convincing our OB/GYN's who've gone to school and completed residencies for a combined 12 years, that these drugs are safe and okay for us to take. My grandmother had a stroke at age 32 yet, my doctor said I was not high-risk being on Loestrin 24 despite the family history because that's what the drug reps say. WTF??

Here's what doesn't make sense to me in regards to the FDA. The FDA takes 10 years to approve a surgery and disc replacement that has been successfully conducted in Europe for 15-20 years. Meanwhile doctors here were continuing to do spinal fusions. Look at these poor people who suffer daily. The new surgery finally approved has now helped 10's of 1000's yet people had to suffer for years to get the new procedure? Yet, the same FDA will throw new drugs on the market in a year's time? What is wrong with the FDA? Oh, let me guess, the pharmaceutical companies are tied to politics?? You bet they are It's funny what waiving a few million dollars around will do and how quickly it will get drugs approved. Read on for a good reference and publically documented "donation".

I have to ask the makers of Loestrin 24, is this drug going to be the classic example of an overly needed redlight at a treacherous intersection? Will we have to see multiple strokes and female deaths before pills like Loestrin 24 and others are pulled from the market by the FDA? They are quick to put them on the market at the waive of a few million dollars toward certain politicians, yet, it's like pulling teeth to get them banned. You think I'm joking? I was at the National Democratic Debate two months ago in Charleston, SC. There were 3 major sponsors: CNN (the host), You Tube/Google (Provider of video questions) and Allergan. Which is the odd one? Yep, Allergan, you guessed it. Allergan is a major pharmaceutical company who's biggest product is ironically, Botox. Coincidence? I think not.

I guess I've rambled enough, but one final comment and I'm done. If you are reading through these posts because you are contemplating Loestrin 24, please don't even consider it. Don't do it to yourself. And, if you are a drug rep for Loestrin, shame on you for selling/supporting a dangerous product!!

I am just finishing my 2nd month of this pill. I have been on numerous BC’s since the age 17. I have had some good ones and some bad ones but usually the side effects that caused me to go off the pills was cramping and/or spotting. Recently I had been on Yasmin (not Yaz) for about 4 years. In the past year I had gotten over 10 yeast infections due to the Yasmin. Prior to this past year though, Yasmin was great. Anyway, my GYN switched me to this and I am on my second month. The first month it was like I had my period everyday for the month. I truly don’t know when I actually had my period. My poor husband, I kept telling him “I think I have my period again.” Then when I thought it was gone b/c nothing for a few days, it would come back. But I decided to stick it out. I called my GYN and the nurse said “try to stick it out for three months, it usually gets better.” So I am. And this month, its starting again. I am suppose to get my period in a week but 3 days ago I started bleeding again. But I also have been feeling very lethargic, depressed and I have gained weight. I actually did not even think it was because of the change in the pill until I came across this website today. But I truly have many of the same symptoms you all are talking about. Mostly, the tiredness, weight gain and depressed feeling. But I have others. I have NEVER been over 135lbs in my life now I am at 140 and I haven’t changed a thing. I certainly could exercise more, but that hasn’t changed. In fact, I have been trying to eat LESS to lose this weight but I keep going up. Now I am thinking it may be due to this pill. I am glad I came across this website. I am going to go to my GYN before the next month and say I want off. The one good thing is… I haven’t had a yeast infection since being on this pill! I was getting two a month at times! I am truly glad I came across this website or else I would have never known. Thank you all for sharing your comments about your experiences (both positive and negative).

This is my 2nd post to this med. I stopped taking it and a miracle happened. I am no longer depressed and have very little anxiety I also do not have anymore ocd thoughts. At first I thought I was suffering from ppd which I do have but I found out that bc pills can contribute to mood disorders. So all you ladies out there that are suffering with mood changes you might want to consider going off for a while. I feel so much better I cant even begin

I hate this pill. I have been on it for four months and have had two periods every month. I get my "first" period on my second week of pills and my "second" period at the normal time. My first period is pretty heavy with cramps...the works. The second is more normal and shorter. This pill is horrible. Also my breasts are swollen and I am tired all the time. I want to switch but am scared that I will just be swapping side effects with another pill.

I am 40 years old had been on the Depo-provera shot for almost one year for endometriosis and had NO side effects other than a significant (25 lbs.) weight gain. After complaining to my doctor about the weight gain he changed my prescription to Loestrin 24 Fe and told me that within approximately six weeks I should see that weight start to drop off. Well, I've only been taking this BC pill for not even a full month and I have significant side effects, such as: severe headaches every day, break-through bleeding, insomnia, fatigue, mood swings, bloating, extremely swollen and tender breasts which have increased a full cup size in just a month and am still continuing to gain weight by the week. I would NOT recommend this pill to anyone.

I've been on the pill for almost two weeks now, the first week I had no symptoms then on Monday I started bleeding and have been bleeding ever since. I hope the symptoms go away soon because I don't know how much longer I can take the bleeding espically since I just had my period less than two weeks ago.