Feedback on Ortho Tri-Cyclen, page 94

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: Bleeding
Date: 7/20/2007
I’ve been using tricyclen lo for the past 6 months, everything has been going well until my last period. I’ve been taking the pills as the instructions say but when my period came back a week and a half after my last period, I didn’t know what to do. I kept taking the pills in order, the bleeding stopped after 5 days but then two days later it started again. I threw out this package of pills and started a new one the Sunday after this. The bleeding stopped but again only a week later it has started again. Should I ask for a different form of birth control or just continue on a new package?

Kathy

AskDocWeb: You need to consult with your physician, the pills shouldn’t be doing
that.

Subj: Question about ortho tri- cyclen
Date: 7/21/2007
I’ve been on the pill for about 3 months. The first two months went fine. I felt fine and my periods came when they were suppose to. I’m a Sunday starter and I’m at the end of my pack and I still haven’t had my period yet. I missed a couple of pills by hours not a whole day and I had unprotected sex quite a few times. I was wondering if I should be worried or not?

Jenny

AskDocWeb: Since the first two months were just fine, you are probably okay. Being only a little late with the pill should not cause a concern about being pregnant. On the other hand you might want to do a home pregnancy test just for your peace of mind.

Subj: Yasmin isn’t working great
Date: 7/21/2007
I have been on Yasmin for about a year and it just isn’t working great for me as far as cramps, skin, etc. So my doctor wants me to try Ortho Tri Cyclen-Lo. So I am supposed to start it tomorrow BUT I leave for vacation on Friday and I really don’t want to be sick from it. I never had any side effects on yasmin as far as vomiting or nausea goes. What are the chances I will from this pill, should I risk it or just wait another month to start it? Any feedback would be great, thanks!

Jaimie

Subj: Skipping the placebos to avoid a period
Date: 7/22/2007
I am taking ortho-tricylen lo and didn’t want my period on vacation. I didn’t take the placebo pills and just started a new pack. I always get my period on the Wednesday of the week I take the placebos. I figured I was just going to miss my period. However, I started my period Friday of the week I started the new pack of pills. Is this normal? It is Saturday night and still have my period. I thought is could have been spot bleeding but it is a full period. Thanks for your help!!!

EA

AskDocWeb: Yes this can happen, skipping the placebos to avoid a period is not a good choice.

Subj: Lybrel and Seasonique
Date: 7/22/2007
I just switched from Ortho-Trycyclen-Lo to Yasmin, I was on O-T-L for 10 months, had mood swings but figured that was typical, the last 3 months however – I had a week of bleeding the week before my period and the week of my period-so 2 weeks out of the month I was bleeding. I have only been on Yasmin for 8 days, I have gained 3 lbs. and was wondering if this is normal and also wanted some info on the pills, Lybrel and Seasonique to get rid of the periods and mood swings all together-as well as the weight gain.

Mandy

AskDocWeb: To our knowledge, there are only four “no-period” birth control pills on the market in the US: Seasonale, Seasonique, Yaz and Lybrel. After Seasonale came out, Yaz was introduced; Yaz is essentially the same pill as Yasmine by Bayer (drospirone and ethynil estradiol), only repackaged for extended use. Seasonique is an updated version of Seasonale. It reduces periods to four times a year. Seasonale is the same levonorgestrel and ethynil estradiol, only repackaged. Each package includes 84 active tablets and 7 blanks. That would last for 3 months, and four refills will last for a year.

Lybrel is new, it was just approved by the U.S. FDA earlier this year (May 22, 2007). It’s the first birth control pill that is designed to eliminate women’s monthly periods by supplying an active dose of hormones every day. Where this pill differs from other contraceptive pills is that there are no placebo pills. It is classified as a low dose, continuous, non-cyclic combination oral contraceptive. According to Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, the manufacturer of Lybrel, 59% of women taking Lybrel stopped bleeding after 6 months of use. Lybrel contains 90 microgram levonorgestrel and 20 microgram ethinyl estradiol.

The good news: By eliminating menstruation (with Lybrel), the hormonal levels will gradually stabilize which will result in a reduction or elimination of bloating, cramping, irritability, headaches, tender breasts, and other various aches and pains.

The use of Lybrel could also save you money because you wouldn’t have to buy feminine hygiene products or period-related medications to treat headaches and other PMS symptoms. Studies report that women on Lybrel had less nausea, breast pain, PMS and associated complaints.

The safety and efficacy of Lybrel is supported by two one-year clinical studies, enrolling more than 2,400 women, ages 18 to 49. Of course no one knows what long-term effects may show up later.

The bad news: There are some disadvantages that you need to consider:

You loose your monthly sign that you are not pregnant.
You loose your monthly assurance about your continued fertility.
You loose your monthly assurance of your femininity.
The low doses of hormones used in Lybrel may cause breakthrough bleeding (unexpected spotting).
Women who have never been pregnant and are taking Lybrel may not recognize pregnancy-related symptoms if get pregnant. (1 to 8 percent of oral contraceptive users become pregnant each year)

According to Dr. Daniel Shames, a deputy director in the FDA’s drug office, about half the women enrolled in studies of Lybrel dropped out. Many did so because of the irregular and unscheduled bleeding and spotting that can replace scheduled menstruation.

Some medications may interact with Lybrel. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any medications, especially any of the following:

Troleandomycin – the risk of serious liver problems may be increased
Azole antifungals (eg, ketoconazole) – may decrease Lybrel ‘s effectiveness or increase the risk of Lybrel’s side effects
Aprepitant
barbiturates (eg, phenobarbital)
bosentan
carbamazepine
dexamethasone
felbamate
griseofulvin
HIV protease inhibitors (eg, ritonavir)
hydantoins (eg, phenytoin)
modafinil
nevirapine
oxcarbazepine
penicillins (eg, ampicillin)
phenylbutazone
primidone
rifabutin
rifampin
St. John’s Wort
tetracyclines (eg, doxycycline)
topiramate or troglitazone – they may decrease Lybrel ‘s effectiveness, resulting in breakthrough bleeding or pregnancy
Beta-blockers (eg, propranolol)
corticosteroids (eg, prednisolone)
theophylline
tizanidine – the risk of their side effects may be increased by Lybrel
Lamotrigine – its effectiveness may be decreased by Lybrel

This is not a complete list of all interactions that could occur. Ask your health care provider if Lybrel may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

Subj: Need directions
Date: 7/23/2007
I am taking tri-cyclen-lo 21’s and yesterday I took 2 pills, I took one than later on I couldn’t remember if I had took my pill or not and wasn’t thinking to just look on the package but today I notice that I had took 2 of them yesterday and I was wondering if that means I can’t have un protected sex for 7 days or am I still protected for today even though I am not taking one today, but since I took 2 yesterday would it still keep me protected for today or should I use a condom for the next 7 days? I have another question, sometimes I forget to take the pill on time so as soon as I remember should I take it or is there only a certain number of hours after the time you were supposed to take to take the pill or do I just wait till the next day and take two pills? Thank you,

Shandina

AskDocWeb: The directions say to take the pill as soon as your remember, don’t just skip it and take two the next day. If you didn’t take a pill the second day at all, you do need to use a condom and be extra careful for the next 7 days. Please take the time to read the directions.

Subj: Vomiting?
Date: 7/23/2007
I haven’t had any real problems with the pill, just some breast tenderness…but if I had vomiting one time can that affect the pills effectiveness?

Kara

AskDocWeb: If you threw up the pill, yes.

Subj: Really paranoid
Date: 7/23/2007
Hi. I just started taking tri cyclen and I’m now on the green pills (taking the second one tonight). I’m really paranoid cause I haven’t gotten my period yet… I had a Sunday start and haven’t missed a day and had sex just a couple of days ago and a couple of weeks ago for the first time. Should I be concerned?

Vanessa

AskDocWeb: If you just started taking the birth control pill for the first time then you have cause for concern. Do a home pregnancy test to find out, and then another one a week later. Good luck.

Subj: Emotional and moody
Date: 7/23/2007
I have been taken trinessa for about 4 months. I don’t feel like my self, I am very emotional and moody. Could this be from the trinessa pills? I stopped breastfeeding my daughter at the same time I started trinessa, could it be from that too?

Melissa

AskDocWeb: More likely it is from the Trinessa but you don’t have to put up with going through this, consult with your physician.

Subj: Will it go away?
Date: 7/23/2007
I started Orth TRi-cyclen for a week now, I have been breaken out on my face, chest. Will it ever go away?

Keri

AskDocWeb: Give it time, your body is going through hormonal changes right now. Use some good over the counter acne products to give your skin a boost. Read more feedback

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