Loestrin 24 Fe and birth control pills

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'm in the middle of my third month on Loestrin 24 Fe. I used to be on Estrostep years ago, before I had children, and now am on this because of the low dose and my age (37). The first month, there was some staining near the end, then a lighter period (mine used to be 7-10 days, around 5 oz of fluid). On Loestrin, it's about 4 days, only a couple of oz. However, month 2, in the first week of pills, I took one pill about 8 hours late, then a few days later, took a pill about 6 hours late. The day of the second late pill, by two hours after I normally took the pill, I was cramping pretty badly and started bleeding like a full period. The bleeding lessened over the month, but never went away. Light period following. Now, on month 3, about 2 weeks in without having been late on any pills, I have had spotting the last few days and light cramping. Plus, the one time my husband and I had sex about a week after my period, there was some brownish blood afterwards, which he hates. So basically, he now refuses to touch me.

I have also noticed being more emotional, like I felt the two weeks after giving birth, crying more easily. I think that might be lessening now, though.

I am going to call my doctor to see if he recommends trying it one more month. I do remember that it takes around three months for a person's body to get used to oral contraceptives, although the first pill I was ever on (Ortho Novum 7-7-7) made me bleed lightly the entire six months I was on it, and when I switched to Nordette 28 that problem was solved. I just know that I can't have this spotting continue since my husband is so sensitive to any hint of blood, and I don't relish the idea of never having sex again. NOT the way birth control pills are supposed to work!! ;-)

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 going bald after taking Loestrin 24 Fe for only 3 weeks. My hair is coming out in clumps. I thought my hair dresser had done something wrong, I started eliminating possible causes and decided to read the information packet when I realized that loss of scalp hair is one of the side effects at the bottom of the list. I have large bald spots in my head of normal thick healthy hair and the hair on my head now look very unfamiliar. I know I will have to start wearing a wig within another week.
I am so disappointed because I was starting to feel happy that I haven't experience any of the usually side effects of birth control pills and was thinking that I would give it the 4 month trial that my doctor suggested. I am a 43 year old woman trying to take this pill for bleeding control after ruling out other causes for my bleeding, now I think I am over trying pills.

Hi I just got prescribed Loestrin 24 Fe and well I have not had any luck with birth control pills. I had mood swings (the pen would fall on the floor and I would start crying like there is no tomorrow), I gained weight, had shakes, and I had diarrhea for the 3 months that I took the pill. I stopped taking it after 3 months and it took me about 4 to 5 months to get back to normal. Hopefully Loestrin 24 Fe will not give me such side effects. Any advice on what time I should be taking these pills?

I am almost to the end of my 2nd pack of Loestrin24Fe. I have no thad my period since I started it!! At first I was nervous thinking I was pregnant. Not pregnant. Just not getting period. My breasts have been so tender and sore to the touch. I have never have breasts tenderness like this in my life. At first I thought all of this would eventually go away. I am trying to remain patient. I am thinking maybe after the 3rd pack I will be back to normal again. I don't like the fact Im missing my period because skipping periods boosts the odds of breast cancer.etc. I am bloated and feel disgusting. I don't think its good to keep switching birth control pills. After reading all the posts I see there really isn't a happy medium. Women either have their periods for months straight or not at all. Ahhhh!! I think this is giving me mood swings as well. I have never had a problem with my skin. In fact I get a pimple about once every two years! All of a sudden I am noticing some minor breakouts on my forehead. Not pimples just bumpiness! I guess Im not alone.

I have been on bc for 7 years and Loestrin 24 for over a year now and finally found the perfect remedy to my irregular (sometimes 2 week long) periods. This is pretty much the only thing I love about the pill. However, It makes me feel a lot better that so many people are experiencing the many negative side effects that I have been getting from this darn pill. My frequent headaches are getting to be unbearable, I constantly feel so bloated and feel like my weight slowly creeps up despite a distance runner. I think I must be retaining so much water. I went on the scale one morning, then ran about 12 miles, then the next morning I gained about 6 pounds...i am a very healthy eater as well. It's just so mind boggling to me that this tiny pill can have such drastic effects on one's body. And depression is another big thing. I am also constantly depressed for no reason and snap at people for no reason.
But the big issue for me is probably my weight. I am really considering going off birth control completely. I just started a new pack this past Sunday...does anyone know if I can just stop cold turkey, or do I have to wait till I finish the pack?

I've been a pill taker for twenty years (maybe more). I switched to loestrin FE in November. I realize that any bc takes the body some time to adjust but this has been pretty brutal. I gained 12 lbs and I cannot get it off no matter how much I work out and/or don't eat. I'm depressed too yet I have a beautiful life. My doctor says you sometimes need a year for your body to adjust to a new pill... I don't know if I can wait that long. My kids think I have lost my mind because I cry so much. I too think irrationally a lot more than in prior years. I will ask my doctor about this next week. It seems like this pill might have serious effects on the thyroid? Most of the symptoms described are also associated with hypothyroidism.

Hello everyone,
I just filled a prescription for Loestrin 24 and wanted to know a little more about this pill since I have never taken birth control pills b4. I have not started to take the pill as of yet, after reading these blogs I am a little hesitant to start taking them seeing all the complains against this pill. can anyone recommend a good BCP, with little site effects.

Ok im really really REALLY glad i found this site cuz i was starting to freak out a little bit. i've been on lo24 for 2 months and im about to start my 3rd pack and my boobs are huge, i have random cramping, and my period isn't normal (which was the problem in the first place, a.k.a. what lo24 was supposed to fix). i started freaking out cuz i thought at first i could be pregnant, which would not make sense since im obviously on bc. but if these are normal side effects to the pill, im definitely a lot more calm now. im still getting a test done just in case, but im a little less worried thanks to you guys. and yea ive been gaining weight too, about 10 pounds already, and it sucks big time...if anyone knows of any other pill that might be better pretty please let us kno... :D thanks.

Would never take Loestrin 24 again!! Gained 10lbs in short period of time, periods were not shorter, and lost a lot of hair. Where are the benefits?? There were none. I have been on birth control pills for five years and have never had these problems!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can't lose a pound either. Horrible pill!!!

Im 22 and started Loestrin 24 Fe a month and a half ago after not using birth control pills for about 2 years. I don't remember my body ever responding so severely to birth control. I have never had skin problems at all, I don't think I've had a single breakout since I was like 15. Then last week I noticed my entire forehead had completely broken out, I wanted to cry. I thought it was maybe from using a bad sunscreen but this morning I realized my chest and back are broken out too.

The second problem is weight gain and bloating. I'm 5'2 and normally weight around 120 and am very active. I'd say I've gained at least 5-7 pounds. I've also been far more emotional than I usually am.

I made a Dr. appointment for tomorrow because there's no way I'm sticking with this. After doing research it seems like Yasmin and the Otho-Evra patch might be other option. I'm mostly worried about weight gain when it comes to birth control, does anybody have any suggestions? I'd appreciate it.

Guys, as an explanation: Birth control pills work by using hormones to basically trick your body into thinking it is pregnant. When your body thinks it is pregnant, it stops releasing eggs. This "trick" prevents you from getting pregnant. The problem with this is.. your body thinks it is pregnant, and you can get some of the side effects.
I've tried a variety of pills over time. I think the different pills just affect each person differently. The doctors usually ask you to wait 3 months to see if the symptoms settle down. If they don't, or if it really bothers you too much to continue, call them up and tell them what's going on! They can switch you to another pill.
I had endometriosis and have to be on the pill. If I didn't have this condition I wouldn't be on any birth control... it has never agreed with me and I have had weight gain every time (more or less depending on which pill). The only one that worked for me for a while was nordette. That said, after waiting through weeks of nausea, I have adjusted to Loestrin, and like it. I am waiting to see if the weight gain tendency goes away, as well..

This was my first time taking birth control pills. In the beginning everything was fine. I have been on the pill for about 5mths now. Just recently I started bleeding for no reason at all. (not to mention it is 8 days before my wedding) I am nowhere near the time I am supposed to start. Plus I am gaining weight, I am bloated, and I am eating like a pig. I’ve had to have alterations 2x in the last 4 months. I have been emotional, sensitive, depressed, and impatient and everyone was saying it’s because of the wedding but I knew something was wrong when I started having trouble breathing. I didn’t know any better because this was my first time on birth control pills. I went to my long term doctor today and she suggested that I keep taking the pill even though I now have what appears to be a goiter. Hypothyroidism (An enlarged thyroid (goiter) I have an ultrasound scheduled but I’ve learned today that Estrogen increases the body's production of a blood protein that binds thyroid hormone to it, making it inactive. This may have lead to weight gain and my irregular cycle. I am stressed and I do not know what to do. The only good thing is that I do not bleed heavy but there is slot of cramping now and stomach pains like you wouldn’t believe. I now have high blood pressure, shortness of breath from my thyroid, back and stomach pains from the cramps, bloating, and I’ve been bleeding for 5days. It starts then stops, then starts, and then stops. Sadly my doctor will not give me any medicine and I don’t know when it’s going to end. Those little devil pills have really put me in a terrible situation for my wedding and honeymoon. I’m now seeking a new physician and I don’t know if I will ever take birth control pills again. For all of this, I could have just continue to purchase a few extra pads a month.:(

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.

Yeah, well I've never been on any birth control pills in my life and I'm 26 years old. I just started my second week of them and it appears that I am having some kind of period now. I'm bleeding as you would on a 3rd or 4th day of a period. In addition, I was working out at the gym a few days ago when I had a sharp pain in my upper chest. It caused shortened breaths for a minute, but I've never experienced this before. I also have out of control hunger usually starting around 4 in the afternoon and lasting until I eat something of a significant portion. I refuse to gain weight, so I am working out regularly but if I see this stuff is putting on a pound...I will be done!!! I am only reading negative about this pill. I will take myself off of it if this persists. Good luck ladies!!!

I'M 19 YEARS OLD AND IVE BEEN TAKING BIRTH CONTROL PILLS FOR A FEW YEARS NOW. I'VE TRIED MANY DIFFERENT BIRTH CONTROL PILLS AND LOESTRIN IS BY FAR THE WORST! I'VE BEEN ON LOESTRIN FOR A MONTH AND A HALF NOW AND I' VE EXPERIENCED ALMOST NONSTOP BLEEDING AND I'VE GAINED TEN POUNDS. IN ADDITION TO THAT I'V GOTTEN A LOT OF PIMPLES WHEN I'VE ALWAYS HAD PERFECT SKIN. I'M STOPPING LOESTRIN RIGHT AWAY!!!!!!!!

I am 46 and was given Loestrin to stop excessive bleeding for the past 4 weeks. Within days I had the most horrible cramps, back pain, heavy bleeding, emotional distress. Doctor wants to do an ablation or remove uterus. talk about distress. took me 10 days to realize my problems really began after taking Loestrin. I was about to undergo the ablation he was pushing for. (Which I've heard more terrible things about). Stopped the pills. Loaded up on vitamins and iron and within one day felt alive again. three days later the horrible cramps stopped and the bleeding is almost gone. Now I remember how much I hate prescription drugs. I will resist all forms of hormones, birth control pills and the like from now on. I was never one for heavy bleeding. I was told repeatedly that this is normal at your age. I still don't believe that one.

My doctor just prescribed Loestrin24Fe because I've been having mysterious pain in my pelvic area for almost a year now. Abdominal and pelvic sonograms and CT scans have not found anything but my gyn felt that taking birth control pills might help. I've always considered myself fortunate because I've always had normal periods, very regular cycle, little to no cramps, and mild headaches during 1st day of my period. After reading your postings, I'm deathly afraid of taking these pills and think that they, like some other drugs I've tried, will do more harm than good to my body. Thank you everyone for your feedback. I think I will explore some holistic doctors and see if I have better luck. Thank you and stay healthy everyone!

I have had the worst time on this pill...gained 29 pounds in less than three months. Terrible mood swings, depressions, nightmares and just a general dissatisfaction with everything in life. I am 28 yrs old, and this was my first experience with birth control pills...because of this pill, I am not sure I'll ever get back on any oral contraceptives. More than all the others, the weight gain despite my numerous efforts to regulate my weight has been the hardest for me to deal. As of tomorrow, I will no longer take this horrible little pill.

The ladies who are bashing this are obviously uneducated on BC pills. There are so many different types of bodies and so many types of BC pills. It just all depends on how your body works and deals with certain BC pills. And when you find it you'll know. Don't bash on it just because it doesn't work for you DOESN'T mean that it isn't gonna work for other people! OH and also I don't know why people say that you can gain weight from BC pills? I talked to my doc and she said that stuff is NOT true. Unless she is wrong but I personally don't believe BC pills do that to a womans body.

hey there pica peach, how can u call people a slut just because they want to use birth control pills to not get pregnant and not married? that is their right and its not for u to judge them in any way. i am sorry that u have the condition u do and had the horrible ordeal happen to u. but just as u i was abused as well but thats not for me to go and be rude to anyone else about it or use that just to say what i want to people. Dont ridicule people for the things they say, everyone has their own opinions. They tell people not to use the pill because they dont want other to experience what they have, its only natural reaction after a pill can cause horrible side effects to them. This isnt a place to argue and be cruel or judge anyone for that matter, this is a place where people go to look for answers on their questions and try and get any feedback they can.

has anyone suffered from postpartum depression put on the pill to see if symptoms go away and was feeling worse? I swear this pill did me in. I am still dealing with ppd but it has been a month now that I stopped loestrin 24 and I feel so much better. I still have rough days though not to bad. I swear I am ready to file a lawsuite on this company and my doctor who kept pushing it down my throat instead of getting to the bottom of it they madi it worse with this pill. Good luck to everyone. I hope you do not have to suffer as long as I did

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 have been on this pill now for about 4 months, and i finally know why i am gaining so much weight. It seems to be getting worse everyday! also, i have been having extreme mood swings. everyone notices and it is even interfearing with my boyfriend of over a year. i dont reccoment this birth control to anyone. (unless you are trying to gain some weight!) :D

I had an awful experience with Loestrin24 FE. I am 33 and was prescribed it to regulate my cycle and ease severe PMS symptoms.

I had to quit Loestrin after only four pills, and it was enough time to cause a real mess. Besides experiencing the extremely angry mood, I developed a severe chest pain and shortness of breath. Also, my ankles became unbelievably swollen because of the fluid retention.

I ended up at the ER twice the same week, as I was thought to have developed a blood clot. A clot was ruled out, however the chest pain and shortness of breath lasted for about a month, until I was finally diagnosed with ASTHMA, which was believed to have been triggered or caused by the pills.

Whether I was already asthmatic and Loestrin just made it extremely worse or whether I developed asthma by taking Loestrin, NO WARNINGS ARE GIVEN TO ALREADY DIAGNOSED ASTHMA SUFFERERS, as other birth control products do.

Some of the symptoms were gone after I stopped taking them, but my health is definitely not the same after Loestrin.