Feedback on Ortho Tri-Cyclen Page 8

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. You can use the form below to add your comments, feedback or Ortho Tri-cyclen review.

Subj: Bled for 28 days
Date: 7/27/2004
For my first month on the pill I bled for the full 28 days straight. The only reason I stopped was because I called my doctor and she said to just stop and move to the next package, where I promptly stopped. Other side effects I’ve experienced are major mood swings, breast tenderness, fatigue/lethargy and some acne.

Dawn

Subj: Other options
Date: 7/27/2004
I have taken Ortho Tricyclen Lo for almost one year now and I am about to go inquire about other options in birth control. The first 2-3 months I gained a few pounds … I also found myself not acting normally … I am very moody, irritable, unhappy … I just don’t feel like myself … I hope another pill will be better.

Pia

Subj: Birth control – Ortho Tri-cyclen Vs Trinessa
Date: 7/30/2004
To people who are considering Ortho tricylen: I’m 32 I’ve been on Ortho tricyclen for approx. 8 years. Ortho tricyclen has always worked really well for me, I have never gained weight on it, my period used to be really irregular and heavy and the pill regulates it. (I still get cramps but not as badly) Additionally it helped to clear up my skin. A few months ago I heard that they had come out with the generic version of Ortho tricylen, I asked my doctor to switch me over to it thinking it would be great to save money. She prescribed me Trinessa. I took Trinessa for 4months, during which time I had my (period?) for a duration of 2 weeks. The first 3 months, I had constant bloating, bad cramps, mood swings and bad acne. My body did not seem to be adjusting to the new medication. Finally I had my doctor switch me back to Ortho tricylen. Two months later things are pretty much back to normal.

Rachel

Subj: Ortho Cyclen and Hashimotos
Date: 7/30/2004
Has there ever been a connection between Ortho Cyclen and Hashimotos? I was on a trial of Ortho, and the next doctor visit they checked my thyroid levels, then put me on Synthroid, but I didn’t have any symptoms of a hypothyroid (and I still don’t). I can’t seem to find any relation on the internet. I would love any input.

Juju

AskDocWeb: Some Hashimoto’s patients have no symptoms (and some require no treatment). Hashimoto’s disease is an autoimmune disease. It is sometimes known as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, autoimmune thyroiditis, or chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis. In Hashimoto’s, your antibodies react against proteins in the thyroid, causing a gradual destruction of the gland. This destroys the thyroid’s ability to produce hormones. Since Ortho Cyclen affects your hormone levels, the two have that connection.

This is one of the diseases that cause hair loss. In many cases, the onset of Hashimoto’s will be accompanied by fatigue, weight changes, depression, hair loss, muscle/joint aches and pains, infertility, recurrent miscarriages and other symptoms.

Hashimoto’s usually involves a slow and steady destruction of the gland that results in the thyroid’s inability to produce sufficient thyroid hormone — the condition known as hypothyroidism. As the disease progresses, there can be periods when the thyroid revives, causing temporary hyperthyroidism, then returning to hypothyroidism. The cycling back and forth between hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism is characteristic of Hashimoto’s disease. Many people with Hashimoto’s disease end up hypothyroid, the situation where the thyroid is either underactive or totally unable to function.

Hashimoto’s disease is the leading cause of hypothyroidism, but other causes of hypothyroidism include: surgical removal of all or part of the thyroid as treatment for nodules, goiter, hyperthyroidism, Graves’ disease, or thyroid cancer, radioactive iodine treatment (RAI), use of antithyroid drugs (such as Tapazole or PTU) to reduce thyroid activity, or use of certain drugs, such as lithium.

Subj: Constant lower pelvic discomfort
Date: 7/31/2004
I am 40 years old. I used to take Ortho-Tri Cyclen(regular) for about 3 years. I really didn’t notice any severe side effects. My skin is always beautiful (I’ve had moderate acne since high school) but since I began taking Ortho Tri(regular) my skin has cleared up tremendously. My doctor switched me to Ortho-Tri Cyclen Lo back in March 2004 and I have noticed some disturbing chances since the change.
1. Increase in stomach size and weight gain. I’ve gained about 15lbs since March.
2. Constant lower back and lower abdomen along with pelvic discomfort (pain)
3. I cannot stand or walk for any length of time without feeling extremely tired and a heaviness in my abdomen. I feel like my whole uterus is going to fall on the ground.
4. I hate the BLOATED FEELING ALL THE TIME. Some days I feel like I’m about 5 months pregnant. I can’t button my clothes around my midsection any more, it’s extremely uncomfortable.
5. I too have the brown discharge..It doesn’t look like blood, so what is it.
6. Since taking Ortho Tri Lo, my fibroids have flared back up and they have increased in size.

7. I too, have mood swings, slight depression and I am sleepy all the time. I went to my ob/gyn doctor on yesterday, she is switching my pills(again). This time to just plain old ORTHO CYCLEN, I hope this doesn’t do a whammy on me.

Nadine

Subj: What is the difference?
Date: 8/2/2004
Can someone tell me the difference between ortho tri-cyclen and ortho tri-cyclen lo? Is ortho tri-cyclen lo still as effective against pregnancy?

Laurel

Subj: Short fused
Date: 8/2/2004
I have never had a period issue, it has always come every 25 days. The ortho-lo has not effected this either, I have it the same time every month. I have noticed that I have gained 5 pounds so I have started to exercise and eat healthier because it may be because I am getting older. I do have tender breasts two weeks before my period and they are sore but I think that is when I am ovulating. The only thing I am sure it has done is I am a little short fused at times but my skin looks great. I do not like this but I am trying to control it myself since this is the only method so far with the least negative side effects. I have used it now for 4 month’s and have tried Depo Shot and other birth control pills.

Linda

Subj: Advice wanted
Date: 8/2/2004
I have been taking ortho tri-cylen for about 2 months now and I’ve been noticing that my skin is extremely dry and I’ve been braking out on my chin area. My skin has never really been this bad and I haven’t broken out this much in years. Something else that I have been experiencing is being light head when I stand up too fast…this seems to happen a lot lately. I was also curious about how long it takes before my periods will be regulated. I am 18 years old and I was just wandering if these are common side effects of ortho tri-cyclen. If anyone could give me advice I would greatly appreciate it.

Ashley

Subj: Crazy side effects
Date: 8/9/2004
This is my first month on ortho lo. I was switched to it because I suffer from horrible migraines at least once a month. So far I haven’t had a migraine, which is good, but the other side effects are crazy. I have gained at least 5 lbs since I started this pill. I have felt sick to my stomach, even vomited a few times, for at least a week now. I am very, very vulnerable. My mood swings are so dramatic I feel awful for anyone around me! I was wondering if these symptoms can be blamed on the new pill. The doctor switched me right away, and never told me not to have sex at all after switching. I just want this feeling to go away!

Stacy

AskDocWeb: Unfortunetly, it takes about three months to become adjusted to this drug.

Subj: Looking forward to clearer complexion but
Date: 8/10/2004
I am 23 years old and have never taken any birth control pills before and I am about to start on Othro Tricyclen Lo as soon as my next period starts. I am looking forward to getting a clearer complexion however some of the side effects I found listed on this site have left me a little fearful now of what side effects it might have on me.

Ruby

AskDocWeb: There are legitimate concerns involved with taking any prescription drug. We believe you should be fully informed to know what you are getting into. Letting you know what those concerns are, is one of the reasons for this website.

Subj: Has anyone noticed a pattern?
Date: 8/13/2004
I have been taking Ortho-TryCyclen-Lo for about 4 months now. I came to this page in search of any comments on anxiety, edginess, moodiness. Today it is at an all time high for me, and it finally occurred to me that maybe it is due to this pill. It is not happening all the time, so maybe it is during a phase of the pill cycle. I am also approaching my period, which only intensifies the issue! I can see from other comments here that this has been happening to others. Has anyone noticed a pattern — does this happen throughout the month, or during a phase, etc?

C

Subj: Spotting in the third week
Date: 8/14/2004
I’ve been on ortho Lo for 2 months now and I just decided to try and skip my period last month. I did it successfully but now I’m on my third week of my new pack (the dark blue pills) and I’m getting spotting is this normal? I’m a little worried and I’m wondering if I will get my period on time next week once I’m on the placebo pills. If anyone knows anything about this please help! Thanks.

Sally

Subj: Common side effects
Date: 8/14/2004
I’ve been on Ortho Tri-cyclen for years. Last month my gyn switched me to Ortho Tri-cyclen Lo and since then I have been experiencing mood swings, depression, severe acne, and a lot of bloating, as well as a scratchy throat. Reading the other comments on this page and seeing the common side effects others have been having has made me feel a little better and I’m really hoping it’s just the initial switch that is causing all this. Please tell me these symptoms will go away within the next couple of months!

C

AskDocWeb: We can’t say for sure if these side effects will go away but, for most women, it takes about three months for your body to adjust. Whatever symptoms you have at the end of that three-month adjustment period are likely to continue.

Subj: Getting off the pill to lose weight
Date: 8/17/2004
I was on ortho tri-cyclen for 2 years then got off for 5 months because I gained around 10 pounds. When I got off the pill, all the weight went off so I decided to try Lo.. Unfortunately the weight came back after 3 months. So now I am going to get off of Ortho Tri-Cyclen all together.

Christine

Subj: Many side effects
Date: 8/19/2004
I’ve been on tri-cyclen for a little over a month now. After reading the posts on this site I have decided to get off it as soon as possible. I have experienced many side effects such as; depression, mood swings, paranoia, weight gain, loss of sex drive and appetite changes. I’m so happy I found this site, now I know I’m not crazy.

Lauren

AskDocWeb: Before you stop taking the pill, talk to your doctor about having blood taken for a rubella titre test.

Subj: New Ortho lo user
Date: 8/20/2004
I just started taking ortho lo and my skin started breaking out really bad. I don’t know if it is from the pills or not because my skin never did that before. Also I feel like I have gained weight and my period is lasting longer than usual.

Cherie

Subj: Happy to see
Date: 8/24/2004
I have been on Ortho-tri cyclen lo for about 6 months and was seeking others who have experienced the breast increase. I was happy to see that some have. My measurements have gone up nearly 2″. I also feel moody and short tempered, I really didn’t think this was related to this pill until reading other peoples experiences. Thanks.

DC

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