Feedback on Ortho Tri-Cyclen, page 135

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: Overall experience with birth control
Date: 4/13/2009
I’ve been on birth control for about 3.5 years. I started off with Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo and didn’t really experience any bad side effects. I got on it to clear up my skin, which was a success. I didn’t gain weight, my boobs didn’t get bigger. My periods were shorter, lighter, and regular. After about 1.5 years on the pill, I switched to the Nuva Ring because I got tired of trying to remember to take the pill everyday with an irregular college schedule. No side effects there either. A couple months before I got married, I switched back to Ortho Tri-Clyclen Lo and it was a breeze. Because of the expense of birth control, my husband and I are planning to get off of it. After reading through some comments, I see that some people have reports of being dry even when aroused and a low sex drive…I’m hoping this is due to the pill. Overall, the whole experience with birth control was good.

Jenny

Subj: Slight spotting
Date: 4/13/2009
I have been taking ortho tri cyclen lo for about 8 or 9 months and stopped taking it. Is it normal to have slight spotting because I went off of the pill?

Samantha

AskDocWeb: Yes, spotting is a common occurrence when discontinuing the pill.

Subj: Unprotected sex?
Date: 4/15/2009
I started ortho tricylen lo on the 4th of April(Saturday). I have unprotected sex that following Monday which was the 6th. I though I read in the directions that its effective as soon as u talk it on a day one start…I’m confused…and scared. Could I be pregnant? I’ve taken it every day since…what would it do if I was? Please any feed back is much needed.

Michelle

AskDocWeb: For a Day 1 Start you do NOT need to use a back-up form of birth control with Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo since you are starting the pill at the beginning of your period. It is those who use the Sunday Start that have to use a back-up form of birth control such as condoms or spermicide.

Subj: Period is lasting longer than usual
Date: 4/17/2009
I have been on ortho tri-cylcin lo for almost 2 years. I’ve never had any problems with it before. However, this month, my period is lasting longer than usual. I’m at a little over a week. Granted, it’s mostly light, but this is not how it’s ever been. Could it be because I started taking my pills a day late and took the first early Monday morning and the other at my usual afternoon time? Should I go get checked out?

Abby

AskDocWeb: It could be because you were a day late in starting your pills. Breakthrough bleeding can occur anytime that you change the schedule on which you are taking the pills. This is usually an adjustment situation and typically is not serious.

Subj: Migraines
Date: 4/18/2009
My 11-year old daughter is on Trisprintec, and had slight migraines before the pediatrician put her on them. The pediatrician gave her a perscription for OrthoTri-cyclen but the pharmacy gave her Tri-Sprintec. She has been on this for a week and has had a migrance every other day. Had to miss 2 days of school it was so bad. She was perscribed birth control pills due to having a period 45 days straight. So. Should we change to the Tri O instead of the Tri-S, in hopes her migranes diminish?

Kelly

AskDocWeb: Tri-Sprintec is a generic version of Ortho Tri-Cyclen. In a small percentage of cases (less than 3%) Ortho Try-Cyclen has been known to cause migraines. If she is taking any other medication, check this list for possible causes.

Subj: Am I safe?
Date: 4/19/2009
I’ve been on ortho tri cyclen for 3 weeks now, started my 4h today, my boyfriend came in me… am I safe?

Mary

AskDocWeb: As long as you are taking them as directed you are protected after the first seven days.

Subj: Scared of getting acne
Date: 4/19/2009
I have been taking ortho-tricyclene since I was 13 and now I am 25… I would love to stop the pill but I am scared of getting acne. Also I am worried of weight gain? What can I take to help if I get acne?

Tasha

AskDocWeb: Many times acne can be avoided by taking a few simple precautions . If acne becomes a problem there are prescription drugs like Retin-A that work well and have the added benefit of keeping your skin looking young. As for weight gain, most women have an easier time losing weight once they get off birth control pills.

Subj: Acne has gotten horribly worse
Date: 4/21/2009
I’m on the generic ortho tri cyclen, trinessa, and I’ve always had very little acne, it would get worse right before I start my period, but since I’ve been on this pill I feel like my acne has gotten horribly worse. It’s to the point where it’s very embarrassing. Is it from the pill? Also, I’m 19 and everyone said my breasts are done growing but they do feel really sore, is the pill making them grow or are they just tender?

Megan

AskDocWeb: Several women have posted about an increase in cup size and that is typically accompanied by tenderness. Sometimes generics are exactly the same and sometimes they are “brand equivalent”, which allows some difference in bioavailability. Some doctors have complained that this difference can be up to plus or minus 20%.
There are many complaints that the generic doesn’t help with skin conditions (rash/acne) as much as the original Ortho Tri-cyclen. One woman wrote, “If they are the same chemical makeup, there shouldn’t be hundreds of women with major mood swings, weight gain, pregnancies, acne, and nausea when we all had no problems with Ortho TriCyclen.” (See Audrey’s post TriNessa side effects)

Subj: Condom while on birth control?
Date: 4/22/2009
I didn’t realize it at the time, but after reading all the feedback, I think this pill is what’s making me irritable. Major mood swings. My period has always been like clockwork. Same time every month lasting 4 to 5 days. I’ve only been on it for 2 months and my last period was about 4 days early and lasted for about 9 days. I have a question though. This is the first time I’ve been on birth control and I’m not really sure how it works. Is it okay to not use a condom while on birth control? Or for the male to finish completely w/out pulling out w/out a condom? I’m not sure, we’ve talked about it, but still don’t know how risky it is.

Kat

AskDocWeb: The ability to have sex without a condom and still prevent conception is the main reason for taking birth control pills. There are times that you need a back-up form of birth control such as when first starting the pill, missing two or more pills in a row, or taking antibiotics, but other than that, unless you need to prevent the spread of a disease, condoms are not needed.

Subj: Hypothyroid condition
Date: 4/22/2009
I am 22 and have been between Ortho Tri Cyclen, Tri Sprintec, Trinessa, and now back to Ortho Tri Cyclen throughout the last 5 years. Tri Sprintec and Trinessa both gave me problems with spotting and a lot of weight gain and problems. My doctor then put me back on Ortho Tri Cyclen Lo and I have been very moody, emotional, irritable and depressed. Is it possible that if I get off the birth control these symptoms will stop? Also, do I have to let my doctor know I’m getting off the pill? How soon after being off the pill could I get pregnant? Another issue of mine is that I have a hypothyroid condition that may very well affect pregnancy as well as a cyst that my PCP believes was caused by all the hormones in my body from the pill. I now want to stop taking the pill since my boyfriend and I do want to get pregnant. Is that recommended? I really want to have a baby but I’m afraid of the effects of having a hypothyroid condition as well. Will my thyroid condition be a hindrance to my wanting to get pregnant? Thanks!

Joanna

AskDocWeb: Because of your thyroid condition you may want to discuss the pros and cons of quitting birth control and conception with your doctor. If your periods were irregular before starting the pill then your doctor may want you to delay conception for a few months after discontinuing the pills.

Subj: Was it in effect yet?
Date: 4/22/2009
My boyfriend went in me only 9 days after I started using ortho try cyclen lo is thier and change I could be pregnant? Like was it in effect yet?

R

AskDocWeb: If you were taking the pills as instructed then you were protected from getting pregnant.

Subj: Generic Trivora
Date: 4/23/2009
Currently I am on Ortho Tri Lo. I recently got off my parent’s insurance and I am on my own. My insurance will only cover the generic brand. I didn’t want to switch because I have been on Ortho Tri Lo for 5 years and have not had any problems. Is there any difference b/w Ortho Tri Lo and it’s generic brand? My main concern is the possibility of gaining weight.
Rachel

AskDocWeb: We have seen several reports of extreme weight gain with Trivora but others have just the opposite, weight loss. By the way, Trivora is a generic for Triphasil, not Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo.

Subj: Chance of being pregnant?
Date: 4/24/2009
My boyfriend and I were messing around and he went in once or twice without a condom then we used one. It’s has been ten days since and I start my period next week. I’m so stressed. What is the chance of my being pregnant? Also I have been taking the pill for more than three months.

Jinny

AskDocWeb: If you have been taking the birth control pills as directed then you can relax, it is highly unlikely that you would be pregnant.

Subj: extreme headaches!
Date: 4/25/2009
Ortho Tri Cyclen produces the most extreme headaches! I thought they might go away as my body got used to the hormones, but 8 months in when I started dressing like the unibomber with dark glasses and a hat while INSIDE my house just to block the painful light, I realized it had gone far enough. Even when headaches weren’t extreme, they were usually a constant dull ache that could at any moment suddenly morph into a migraine. I was starting to overdose on Tylenol and Advil. I’m off now, thank God. Nothing is worth that misery!

Carla

Subj: How long will it take?
Date: 4/25/2009
I just finished my third pack of Ortho Tri-Cyclen, and I am so done with it! I have seen no improvement in my acne, and I am an emotional wreck! I am constantly experiencing mood swings and irritability. The only good thing that I can say about it is that I have extremely regular periods. If I stop taking this pill, how long will it take for me to feel like myself again (i.e. no mood swings or irritability)?

Nancy

AskDocWeb: The mood swings and irritability may last from one to three months as it takes awhile for your hormone levels to return to normal. Read more feedback


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