Feedback on Ortho Tri-Cyclen, page 65

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: Playing tricks?
Date: 9/7/2006
I have been taking Ortho Tri-Cyclen for quite awhile. I’ve been off and on with this brand of contraceptive as well as another brand (that I cannot recall at this moment), for years. Usually when I stop taking the pill I will, at latest receive my menstrual cycle three days later. My body works like a clock. For example, if I don’t take the pill on Sunday (beginning of a new pack) I will receive my menstrual cycle on Wednesday. I’m really stating to worry now because it’s Thursday and still no sign of a period. I actually started my last cycle the week before the sugar pills. By the end of that pack of BC my period was almost non-existant. My period has been really irregular over the last couple of years and I’m not sure why. Also, problem at hand, should I be worried? I have not used another form of contraception and have been sexually active. However I have heard it takes some time for the pill to actually leave your system. Without too much more confusion, is there a possibility that I could be pregnant or is my body just playing tricks on me? Respectfully,

Jessica

AskDocWeb: If you can honestly say that you’ve never missed a pill, there is little reason to worry. Since your periods have been irregular over the past couple of years you might talk with your doctor about changing birth control pills.

Subj: Breathing problems and cramps
Date: 9/7/2006
I have been on Ortho for a little over a year and ever since I have had breathing problems and my cramps got so much worse that was the whole reason I got on was to make my cramps easier to handle I thought they were bad before they are horrible now! But ya, I have had shortness of breath and I’m not sure what to do!
Samantha

AskDocWeb: Birth control pills should not cause shortness of breath. Consult with your doctor about this. It sounds like you should have an O2 test done and maybe a chest x-ray.

Subj: Tri-sprintec?
Date: 9/8/2006
Before when I used ortho tri cyclen it made my skin crystal clear…after 3 years of not using it I told my doctor I’d like to start using it again…well my pharmacy gave me tri-sprintec. Its only been 14 days since I’ve been taking it but my face seems to be breaking out more than usual. It also says in insert that it may cause acne to improve or worsen…so what I’m asking is tri-sprintec even equal to ortho or do I want the real thing?
Tonya

AskDocWeb: It sounds like you want the original. Many report here that the generic Sprintec does not help with acne.

Subj: Late taking pill
Date: 9/8/2006
Hi, I have been using tricyclen lo for about a month and I was like two hours late in taking my pill, is there a possibility that I can be pregnant? How late is late, after 12 hours, please explain to me. Thank you and can excessive eating change the effectiveness of the pill after taking it cause it gave me a big appetite and made my leg numb.

Kim

AskDocWeb: Taking your pill a couple of hours late is no reason for concern. About 8 hours after your regularly scheduled pill the amount of protection provided starts to decrease. When on schedule you are 98% protected from pregnancy. You lose a percentage point or two of protection every hour after the 8th hour that you are late taking your pill. This is not an exact explanation but rather a generalization to give you an idea of what happens when you are late taking your pill. The later you are late taking it, the less protection you have.

Excessive eating doesn’t change how Ortho works. We doubt very much that the leg numbness was caused by over eating or the birth control pill. However, you may want to talk with your doctor about the leg numbness because it could indicate an unrelated problem.

Subj: Ortho Tri-cyclen lo causes extreme moodiness
Date: 9/9/2006
I have been extremely moody since starting Ortho Tri-cyclen lo two weeks ago. Everything bugs me and I can’t stop crying. The pill made me so annoyed and upset at my boyfriend we even broke up because I thought it was the right idea. Then two minutes later, my mind was racing about how much I missed him and needed to be back with him even though everything he did had bugged me. This was all in the two weeks and I was almost driven crazy from this pill.

Jane

Subj: Depro Shot
Date: 9/11/2006
I can’t comment on tri-cyclen yet, I’m starting it in 6 days however my doctor recommended it the most since I told him my bad experience with depro shot. So, I would like to share my opinion on Depro Shot. I got one shot (its good for 3 months) and I felt like hell. Now I have no allergies and never had problems with any kind of medicines, pills etc before. But with the shot I was on my period for the WHOLE 3 MONTHS!! Not normal period where I’m on heavy bleeding every day, because sometimes it was spotting. But being on your period every single day for 3 months just makes you extremely tired. I was very irritated, I fought so much its not even funny and it was all my fault! I didn’t even think it was the shot! I never had any other side effects but extreme bleeding, irritability, and tiredness. Still very dangerous and uncomfortable in my opinion. Turns out the shot is pretty new and they never got the chance to test it properly…little detail they forgot to tell me!
Viktoria

Subj: Ortho Trycylen lo acne problem
Date: 9/11/2006
I’m 18 years old, and I am on Ortho Trycylen lo, and I’ve noticed that my face has broken out badly. I’ve been taking it for about six months, but around three months ago I stopped taking it for about 4 days, and started a whole new pack. Is acne a side effect of the pills, or is it just me stressing out? I’ve also noticed that I have a brown discharge instead of blood during my green pill week…is that normal?

Jessica

AskDocWeb: Many women who are on Ortho Lo have complained about their acne becoming worse. Some use over the counter acne products but others go to a dermatologist because their acne becomes so bad. The brown discharge should be discussed with your GYN because that is not normal.

Subj: Symptoms from coming off the pill?
Date: 9/12/2006
Are there any symptoms from coming off the pill? Since I stopped the pill I have been experiencing bad nausea everyday which is highly unusual for me and sometimes even vomiting. I also get full very easy and feel dizzy and light headed too. These seem like pregnancy symptoms but I think it would be impossible for me to be pregnant. The symptoms started approximately 2 weeks after coming off the pill and they still haven’t stopped weeks later.

Brandy

AskDocWeb: It is possible that you are pregnant. You should have a pregnancy test done to rule that out, unless of course you have not had sex. If that’s the case you need to talk with your doctor because you should not be having these symptoms.

Subj: Depressed, anxious and paranoid
Date: 9/12/2006
I’ve been looking around for website on ortho tricyclen lo to see if others are having the same side effects as me. I was on it for 2 years, got off for a year, and now I’m back on. I feel sick every morning, I’ve constantly moody, depressed, and/or anxious and paranoid. For no reason. I feel like I’m going crazy. I want to give it time to adjust, but I don’t want to feel this way for months more on end. What should I do?

Julie

AskDocWeb: Your alternative is to talk with your doctor about changing the birth control. Many women find such side effects unacceptable.

Subj: Period hasn’t showed
Date: 9/12/2006
I’ve been on ortho Tri- cyclen lo for four months now, and my period has been like clockwork until now. I’ve taken all my pills like I normally do, but I’m on my last inactive pill and my period hasn’t showed. Is this normal past the three month period?

May

AskDocWeb: Yes, this can happen if you are under a lot of stress or have been ill. If neither is true for you then you might want to talk with your doctor.

Subj: Not sure about continuing with ortho tri-cyclen lo
Date: 9/13/2006
I started taking ortho tri-cyclen lo a couple weeks ago. I am now taking the green period pills and I definitely want to switch to something else. I was told that this pill would reduce bleeding and cramping, well this is the heaviest period I have ever experienced (so bad I have stayed home from school for 2 days) and the cramps are the worst I have ever had. although I do like that my breasts have grown and I have no acne at all anymore. I have 3 more months worth of pills and I am not sure I want to even bother taking them.

Annie

Subj: Stopped Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo and feel better
Date: 9/13/2006
I have been on Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo for a little over two years. I stop taking the pills about two weeks ago and feel much better. With the pills, I experienced mood swings, irritability, depression and nausea. I do not recommend the pills. I am going to switch to another form of birth control with less side effects. I didn’t realize the symptoms I was experiencing was from the pills until I stop taking them.

Louise

Subj: Insurance coverage
Date: 9/13/2006
I saw that AskDocWeb continually refers on this site to Ortho Lo as a generic drug, and Ortho Tri-cyclen as the name brand drug. However, Ortho (Tricyclen) Lo is just the low-estrogen version of Ortho Tri-cyclen. Both are made by Ortho Labs, and if insurance covers one, it will cover the other.

Rachel

AskDocWeb: It might seem like that would be the case but all insurance companies don’t do things the same way. Even coverage within a particular company depends on your policy. Several women have reported that their insurance won’t pay for anything but generic birth control pills.

Subj: Chances of being pregnant
Date: 9/14/2006
I have been taking tri sprintec for about 6 years and I finished the last pack a week and 4 days ago I had sex about a week and again week after I was wondering is there a good chance I could get pregnant? After taking them for so long.

Patricia

AskDocWeb: Yes, you can become pregnant and could be pregnant.

Subj: Desogen, Trinessa hair loss
Date: 9/14/2006
I am 34 years old and have been on birth control for 10 years. I am currently on trinessa. Over the last 3 years I have been experiencing hair loss. I was on desogen 28 day and switched to trinessa. Do any of these have anything to do with hair loss? I have had iron and thyroid tests done and they were ok. Should I ask for a hormonal test? Please let me know.

Dawn

AskDocWeb: A dermatologist would be the one to tell you what tests you need to find out why you are losing hair. Read more feedback


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