Feedback on Ortho Tri-Cyclen, page 121

About Ortho Tri-cyclen®

If you’ve used Ortho Tri-cyclen®, please help others by adding your feedback. What would you tell your best friend about this product? Please remember that we do not give medical advice. That is for your local health care provider, who is familiar with your medical history.

Subj: Could I be pregnant?
Date: 7/16/2008
I’m only on my 1st month of Ortho Tri-Cyclen but I’m about to be on my 4th “green” pill that allows me to have a period and I haven’t started yet. My boyfriend and I had unprotected sex in the first week of me starting the birth control and we’ve also had unprotected sex while I’ve been on an antibiotic for a urinary tract infection which I just heard can make the birth control less effective. Could I be pregnant?

Jessica

AskDocWeb: Yes, either of the above actions make it possible to get pregnant. You may want to consider using a pregnancy test kit.

Subj: I broke out really bad
Date: 7/17/2008
Hi! I have just recently started taking ortho tri-cyclen lo, I am still on the first package. I have always had flawless skin and no problems with it, but just this week I broke out really bad which has never happened before…is this caused by the pill?

Tricia

AskDocWeb: Just changing your birth control pill can produce acne in the first three months because of the change in hormones, it takes time for your body to adjust. If you find that it continues beyond the first three packs then it may be due to the pills.

Subj: Breakouts
Date: 7/20/2008
I have been on YAZ for the past two months and I’m having some breakouts. I want to switch to Ortho Tri Cyclen to clear up my skin. Will it make it worse first then get better?

Eva

AskDocWeb: No, just a gradual improvement in skin condition.

Subj: Difference between Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo and Ortho Cyclen
Date: 7/21/2008
I have just started taking Ortho Cyclen, and would like to know the difference between that and Ortho Tri-Cyclen. Mainly, I would like to know which is stronger, and which has more hormones. Also, I would really like to switch to Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo. I am curious to know if it is REALLY different from Ortho Cyclen. On Ortho Cyclen I have experienced bloating, headaches and huge mood swings.

A.G.

AskDocWeb: One difference is in the amount of progestational compound norgestimate. Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo has a lower amount of hormones. Ortho Tri-cyclen® is stronger because it has more hormones.

Subj: Breasts were sore and tender
Date: 7/24/2008
I actually just started taking ortho-lo about a week ago (Sunday) and by Friday I my breasts were very sore and tender and I was experiencing extra discharge. by that Tuesday I stopped taking the pills. It’s now Thursday and my breasts are not as sore but I’m still having extra discharge. Was it the pills?

Mya

AskDocWeb: Yes, breast tenderness and changes in discharge are both side effects of starting Ortho-lo.

Subj: Major mood swings on Ortho Tir-Cyclen
Date: 7/24/2008
Does Ortho Tir-Cyclen cause horrible mood swings all the time? to the point of crying whenever I get upset. My boyfriend and I were so happy. Since I started taking this. I’m more clingy and have major amounts of mood swings at the drop of a hat. What can I do?

Sarah

AskDocWeb: Any time a side effect becomes unacceptable you can discuss it with your doctor and we suggest you do that.

Subj: I want my sex drive back
Date: 7/24/2008
I have been taking Ortho-Novum 7/7/7/ & it’s generic Nortrel 7/7/7 for 20 years now. Is it safe to stop taking this pill? I have low sex drive and I want to have my sex drive back. FYI, my husband is ‘fixed’, so no worries about pregnancy. I am on the pill to have regular periods, but noticed the last 2 years, I have had low sex drive. Please advise if you have any advice? Thanks,

Maria

AskDocWeb: Because your body changes over time, taking birth control pills should be reevaluated periodically so talk to your doctor. After 20 years of taking the pill to regulate your periods you may not need it now. And, getting your sex drive back is a great way to improve your relationship.

Subj: Fatigue
Date: 7/27/2008
This has worked great for my acne, and light periods, first couple days though I had night sweats, and fatigue. I still am tired a lot and fatigue and this is into the fourth month. Is this normal? Can it be from the pill?

Maggie

AskDocWeb: No, it is not normal and since it has continued into your fourth month, you should check with your doctor.

Subj: Started breaking out
Date: 7/27/2008
I have been taking ortho tri cyclen low for about 5 years and I just started breaking out about 8 months ago and it wont go away. Could the birth control be causing this? I am so frustrated. My doctor just wants to keep giving me creams for my face, but I don’t think it’s my skin. Can the birth control just change how it reacts with my body like that? I was thinking of changing to Yaz, but I have been on ortho for so long I am afraid to start something new.

Sarah

AskDocWeb: It is more likely to be the result of changes in your body, stress level or diet. You may have to resign yourself to trying something new because many doctors prescribe a change in birth control pills every five years or so.

Subj: Usually straight hair dries curly
Date: 7/28/2008
I have been taking Ortho Tri Cyclene for about 10 years now. Lately I have noticed that my usually straight hair, dries very curly. Could this be a side effect of my years taking the pill?

Patty

AskDocWeb: That doesn’t seem likely and we’ve not heard of that happening.

Subj: Problems while taking ortho tri cyclen lo
Date: 7/28/2008
I smoke using ortho tri cyclen lo tablets and I have been cutting down but one night I was smoking a cigarette and both legs went numb, heart has been pounding since, I have had stomach problems, weakness and shaking, pain in my right leg and its finnally stopped since last night its now 1 45 the next day what should I do? And am I experiencing heart problems because of smoking on the pill? Or could I be pregnant?

Shelby

AskDocWeb: Of course you call your doctor. You could have heart problems caused by smoking but you could also have heart problems because of the pill, especially if you are over the age of 35. When smoking is combined with birth control pills, the risk of cardio-vascular problems is multiplied several times. There is also a small chance that you could be pregnant but that chance is very small.

Subj: I’m ready to have children
Date: 7/28/2008
I’ve been on TriNessa for about 6 months now. But I’ve decided that I’m ready to have children. What’s the best way to get off of the birth control? I need HELP cause I’m ready to have children but I don’t want to bleed for ever. And how long should it take for me to get pregnant after coming off of the birth control. Please help me on this. I want children what should I do???

Bianca

AskDocWeb: You might check out something called a DivaCup. It takes the place of tampons and is reusable. It may be advisable to wait awhile after stopping the pills before trying to get pregnant until you start menstruating regularly. There is no way to know how long it will take to get pregnant since it varies so much from individual to the next.

Subj: Breakthrough bleeding, spotting, skin problems, anxiety and emotional stress
Date: 7/28/2008
I’ve taken ortho tri-cyclen lo off and on over the past year. I had to stop taking the pills for a month since I missed three in a row and had a three week long period! Now that I restarted taking the pills this month I’ve had horrible side effects that I never had before -breakthrough bleeding and spotting, skin problems, and severe anxiety and emotional stress. Should I switch to a different pill?

Ali

AskDocWeb: When side effects start interfering with your daily activities, it is time to talk to your doctor about alternatives. Don’t wait until things get severe before taking action.

Subj: Is it possible for me to get pregnant
Date: 7/29/2008
I have been taking ortho tri cyclen lo for I think maybe 5 months. I stopped taking it because I’m switching doctors and I want a different birth control. I will be off all forms of birth control for only one month until I go to the doctor and get put on a different birth control. Is it possible for me to get pregnant during that one month off the pill?

Elizabeth

AskDocWeb: Unless you use a backup form of birth control, yes.

Subj: Took two pills
Date: 7/29/2008
Hi- I have been taking Ortho Tri Cyclen for a few years now, and when I went to take my pill yesterday, I accidently took a week three pill (from a different pack) instead of a week two pill, I then took the week two pill so in total I took two pills. Do I need to use a back up method of birth control?

Amy

AskDocWeb: If you took two pills in one day you should be fine. The back up method of birth control is for when you miss taking pills.

Subj: Switching birth control pills
Date: 7/29/2008
I have been taking Ortho-Tricyclen for about two months and have gained like 7 pounds, within the first 2 months, I’ve also felt a continuous bloated feeling and have had my period for 2 weeks straight. Is this any of the side effects of using this type of birth control, and Can you switch to another birthcontrol directly or do you have to quit taking it for a while and then start a different kind?

Karli

AskDocWeb: There is no wait time between stopping one and starting another. An example would be to finish the last pill in the old pack the day before starting the first of the new kind.

Subj: To Laney
Date: 7/30/2008
Just to let you know, I had heart palpitations and shortness of breath as well as low blood pressure problems when my doctor put me on YAZ. I stopped it after a month for those reasons–they only got worse the longer I took it. I just started on Ortho Tri-Lo (about a week in now) and my symptoms have gone away. It may just be the wrong synthetic hormone for your body. My husband is a biochemist and told me that there are different synthetic hormones in each pill…all dirivatives of estrogen and progesterone, but different from pill to pill. You have to find one that is compatable with your body chemistry and find the dose that is good for you as well. YAZ was wrong for mine but works fine for other women. So far, Ortho Tri-lo is doing well for me. Do talk to your doctor soon though–those symptoms are considered more serious than say, nausea, etc. and you need to find another pill. Good luck!

Christi

Subj: Failure rate?
Date: 7/31/2008
I have been on oral contraceptives for close to 10 years without lapse. Started with Ortho tri-cyclen and now have been on Tri-sprintec for the last several years for economic purposes. What is the failure rate after this many years of use when one uses the pill correctly without flaw and taking no other interfering meds/supplements? Concerned with sexual activity at mid-cycle without use of barrier. Is the risk still concidered 1% or less? And should I worry if being sexually active at mid-cycle?

K

AskDocWeb: The failure rate is still 1% for perfect use and 5% for those who do not use it exactly as directed. And don’t worry about being sexually active mid-cycle, that time period is included in the failure rate. Read more feedback


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