Ortho Tri-cyclen Lo

[Liz]

I'm not sure if this thread goes here or not.

I was wondering if anyone else is on this BCP and what are your experiences with it? I took another form of bcp for 5 years, but took a break for medical purposes. Two weeks ago, I started taking ortho tri-cyclen lo after a year and a half of no bcp. I have been having the nausea, mood swings, and crying over the dumbest things. Just emotional in gerneral.

When I first started taking bcp about 6 years ago I had a horrible time trying to find a pill that worked for me. I went through about 5 different brands before finding one that worked for me. I asked my gyn about that same pill and he recommended Ortho Lo. He said if I didn't like it then he would give a RX for the other one. The problem he said is that the pill I was on is considered "old" and there are much better bcp out there now that I should try such as Ortho Lo.

I know that it takes about three months for your body to 'get used to' the new pill, but I just want to know if anyone else experienced these symptoms or others? What are your views on this particular pill?

I've looked on their website, but it only answered the general questions.

Thanks for your support and info,
Liz

[UTChick]

Liz~

Back in the fall of 2003, I was switched off of OrthoNovum 777 (which I had been on for 7 yrs) because I was told it was old and there were better ones out there. I had never had any side effects on 777, BTW. I was put on Ortho Tri-cyclen and it made me very sick. Usually the first week of each pill packet I had nausea every morning really bad--so bad I called in sick to work once or twice and I never call in sick to work. So, my dr. switched me to Ortho Tri-cyclen Lo because he thought the other's hormone levels were too high for me. Well, the nausea was reduced to about the first 2-3 days of every pill packet, but I started experiencing break-through bleeding. So then I was put on Yasmin and I still experienced a little of the nausea. After 13 months of trying 3 different BCP, I went off completely in Dec 2004. I don't really understand why they took me off my original BCP because it really worked well for me--no side effects whatsoever. I don't know what is considered 'old' about it--I never got pg while on it and had no side effects!

Don't know if this is much help to you, but these were my experiences on the different kinds.

[Liz]

Thank you for posting. It helps to know that I'm not the only one going through this.

[shopaholic]

I am on ortho-lo and I am happy with it. Although this is the first BCP I have tried. At first I did experience BTB but now I have been on it for 10 or so months and my body has adjusted just fine.

I haven't experienced any other side effects though.....except now my bras/bikini tops do not fit!!!!!!

[princessjasmin]

Have you tried the patch it worked fine for me for 2yrs. and no serious side effects!

[Sherb]

Liz : Mood swings, crying at the drop of a hat? Yep. Had those symptoms while on OTC-lo. I think there at the end, I was crying at least once a day over absolutely nothing - no fights, no sad movies, just every now and then out of the blue, I would cry.

I went to see a different doc (bc I changed insurance) and she put me on Mircette (kariva is a generic). Worked wonders. She said the mood swings and crying are common side effects to cyclical BC like OTC-lo. Mircette is a constant low dose and worked fine for me for a while. I have recently come off of it bc my blood pressure became elevated. But my emotional stability was wonderful!

[Liz]

Yes, Kariva was what I was on, but it is considered an "old" pill. I will give this a shot but if it doesn't get any better I will call my gyn. It was great for me. After trying so many that failed Kariva worked with not too many side effects.

I have not tried the patch. Does it irritate your skin? I have sensitive skin.

I'm so glad to have the support of you all. I feel so stupid about being so emotional.

For those who were on Ortho Lo how long did it take for your body to adjust to the pill? Is there anyone that switched off of Lo? If so, how long did you wait before switching? Does the crying & mood swings go away?

[keska]

I also had problems after switching to Ortho-lo. I tried Yasmin and that didn't work for me either. I finally went back to Mircette. I'm much more emotionally stable on Mircette.

[dollface]

I was on OTC Low for about 6 months and I had to switch to Yasmin. I am the first to admit that I can PMS with the best of them, but damn - OTC made me moodier then ever!

[littlemia]

Ugh, I hated this pill. I had taken Loestrin 1/20 and its generic for quite a few years but had a few small side effects, so my gyn suggested OTCLo. Huge mistake. I knew after the first month that this pill sucked but I decided to stick out the "three month for my body to be accustomed phase". Stupid me. I had weight gain, horrible periods and cramps, and increased ectopic (extra) heart beats. Once I got back on Loestrin, everything was back to normal (although it took me awhile to lose the weight I gained on OTC).

I know lots of people do great with OTC Lo , but if it doesn't feel right to you and you had success with another pill, don't put yourself through misery. Everyone's body is different; either ask for a prescription for your old pill or try another.

[Liz]

Thank you all for your advice!

Is there anyone that is still on OTC Lo? I've been on it for 2 weeks. Should I wait to see if I adjust to it or should I just stop taking it? I'm not using it 100% for birth control. It's mostly to regulate my period and severe cramps.

I really appreciate everyone's support!

[shopaholic]

Thank you all for your advice!

Is there anyone that is still on OTC Lo? I've been on it for 2 weeks. Should I wait to see if I adjust to it or should I just stop taking it? I'm not using it 100% for birth control. It's mostly to regulate my period and severe cramps.

I really appreciate everyone's support!I have been on it for 10 months and still currently on it.

I am not any more emotional than I was not taking BC pills. I don't just cry out of the blue. I do notice that I still have PMS the week before, but I was like that pre-BC

[Liz]

Hey! Thanks for sharing your experience with this pill.

[SaphirimalMei]

For those who were on Ortho Lo how long did it take for your body to adjust to the pill? Is there anyone that switched off of Lo? If so, how long did you wait before switching? Does the crying & mood swings go away? I was a complete basket case for the entire 3 months I was on it. Sore boobies, bitchy, tired, weepy, low sex drive. It was awful! Plus I had breakthrough bleeding all the friggin time. Well, then my doc switched me to Ovcon 35, which was not much better in the moody department, but made my periods a whole lot better (less BTB). I lasted for another 3 months on that pill before I said forget it and stopped taking the pill totally.

[Rippy1010]

Wow. This thread was very interesting to me. I switched to OTC-Lo, and have been doing okay with it. I wonder if it's because I switched from OTC to OTC-Lo? Hmmmm. The first month I did have the BTB, but I chalked it up to a totally non-related, reproductive medical problem that I was having. Did not have any problems the second month ... was a little emotional on my PMS week, but chalked that one up to the fact that I'm getting married in 19 days and have been under a lot of stress.

[shopaholic]

Forgot to add....my boobs are very very sore...mos of the time now.

Before it would just be during PMS....now it seems like they are sore 2 weeks out of the month. Maybe thats because they are ballooning up!

[PeanutButter]

I have had bad experiences (LOTS of break through bleeding) on two lo-dose pills - OTC Lo and Yasmin. OTC has been just fine with me.

I tried three or four BCPs when I first when on (about five years ago) before finding OTC. About eight months ago, my doctor switched me from OTC to OTC Lo.

In addition to the breakthrough bleeding, I got horrible breakouts when I switched from OTC to OTC Lo. I stuck with OTC Lo for six months and it never got better, so two months ago I switched back to OTC.

I think it does take three months for your body to adjust - I am still re-adjusting to OTC, so I wouldn't think you would give up on OTC Lo until its been more than three weeks. Then again, if you are totally miserable...

[Liz]

Hey! How long do you all think I should wait to see if it's the adjusting period or if this pill is not for me?

[acire01]

I've been on so many different kinds of pills, I've actually lost track of the early ones. I know I tried Loestrin, Micronor, OrthoTC-Lo, and finally OTC. I had to keep changing due to my headaches, and annoyances with BTB. I didn't care for OTC-Lo, at all. My headaches were worse, breast tenderness, moodiness, you name it, I had it. So I switched over to OTC, and I'm feeling fine.

I've got a tiny problem, concern though. Maybe someone could help me with it. I was pretty bad at taking my pills this last pack, I missed one, then took it the next day (like they tell you to). Then a few times I was late taking them, and one day I noticed I must've taken two in a day. Anyhow, I ended up getting my period a week early (so during the 3rd week of the active blue pills). Green pills should be starting today. Do I go ahead and take them as usual, or should I just start a new pack, since I've already had my period? Anyone else had this issue come up? I called my employer's nurseline and he (the RN who answered my call) told me to just keep taking them the way I should and then call my doc in the AM. Ok, only problem with that is, it'll be a day late to start a new pack. Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!

[Rippy1010]

acire01 ~ I think that I would probably start the new pack with a clean slate and go from there.

[Kristy]

I was on OTC for 2 years, then switched to OTC Lo when my doctor told me the regular OTC was being discontinued. I've been on it for about a year now, with no problems. It actually made my periods a little lighter than regular OTC, but other than that, no side effects.

[ManteoChik]

I was on Lunelle (the every month shot) for about a year. I didn't really like it because I never had a period. So when I first went on the pill I was on Ortho Tri Cyclen and never really had any problems with it, I was on it for another two years. When they came out with the Ortho Tri Cyclen Lo my Dr. suggested that I switch b/c it has a lower does of hormones so I did switch and I LOVED it! My periods only lasted around 3 days and they were super light. I used to get cramps so bad I would curl up into a ball and couldn't move for days, when I went on OTC-Lo I never again had a cramp!

Just a few months ago my dr. told me about a new pill called Estrostep (she is really into trying new things) and asked me if I would be willing to try it. I stared taking it b/c I'm pretty open to new things, but I hate it! Since I'm away at school and don't get to go home often I've just stayed on it, but I'll be home in two weeks for a about a month and I plan on going back to my Dr. to get put back on OTC-Lo. When I went on estrostep I started getting cramps and spotting in between periods. I just really didn't like it at all.

To me, your body shouldn't change just because you are on BC. With OTC-Lo my periods were regular, no cramps, no spotting, I really liked using it.

[Liz]

Hey guys! Just wanted to update. Thanks to all of you for posting your experiences. It has helped me get through this. For about 5 days I haven't cried or had major pms symptoms. *Cross your fingers* I'm supposed to get my period today, but DH said he didn't think so b/c I wasn't having any pms. LOL. I'm not sure if my body is adjusting to the pill after not being on anything for so long or what. Maybe it's just taking a break. :D Time will tell. I'll update when I have news. Thanks for sharing!

Liz

[filmgirl7]

This thread has been very interesting to me, as I just started Ortho-lo on sunday. I wasn't sure what to expect, but so far everything is fine. I'm curious to see if I will have BTB or any other symptoms that are abnormal for me. I've been on Yasmin and then Desogen, and never really had any problems except that with Desogen I got bad headaches the days right beforemy period.

Anyway, I'd be curious to hear any other stories about Ortho-lo. Anyone else love it or hate it? :confused:

[Rosebud]

I was on OTC for quite a while, but the longer it was on it, the worse side effects I had. I had really bad depression/anxiety episodes several days a month, like clockwork, right before my period. Lots of crying, not wanting to get out of bed. It took me forever to figure out that it might be linked to my BCP. Once I did, my Dr. switched me to OTC Lo and the problem went away immediately. Thank goodness... it wasn't fun.

[dusthappy]

This thread is great. I have been on Enpresse for over a year and for the past four months have had horrible depression prior to my periods. My BF is at the end of his rope with the crying out of the blue, I am too. So since my prescription was up, I contacted to GYN for a pap and RX, and she suggested Yasmin. It is supposed to help with PMDD, which is pretty much what I have. But now I am concerned about btb, in no way do I want this. Heck, if this doesn't work, maybe I will just get on some Wellbutrin for my pms. lol

[Pamela]

I've been OTC-lo for a while now and haven't had any problems with it.

[miaclear]

I was on OTC for a few years and switched to OTC-lo a couple years ago when my periods were getting heavy. I've never had a problem with either of them as far as sore breasts, PMS, general moodiness, or weight gain go. I'm surprised to hear that a lot of people are having problems.

[filmgirl7]

This is my second month on Ortho-lo. Last month was completely normal, but this month has gone haywire, and for no reason that i can think of. I started BTB last Wednesday (week three) and that has gone on every day since then. My period should have arrived this coming wednesday, but I anticipate it happening monday. I'm already crampy and spotting.

Now i'm concerned...if the body thinks the period started last week, surely it's possible that I would ovulate some time around saturday or sunday before starting the new pill pack. Yes? What do you all think? I told FH we should abstain for the next two weeks just in case. Did this happen to anyone else?

[Liz]

Hey! Now that I have been on it for 2.5 months my body has adjusted. For a while there I thought I was going to lose it! LOL. I do still get really moody just before my period. Even more so than when I wasn't on BCP but so far the severe ups and downs that I experienced are gone. For now I'm going to stay on it.

[Liz]

I'm glad I stuck it out for the first three months because now I love being on ORTHO TRI-CYCLEN LO. But I have a question for you ladies...

If I skip the last week of inactive pills and start my new pack right away is there a chance of getting pregnant? I don't see any infomation on this on their website. I have skipped my period a few times in the past 5 years and it hasn't been a big deal because I wasn't with DH at the time. But now I am wondering if we should use other birth control? Any clues?

[SingleWhiteFemale]

Liz (great name by the way :D ), I'd think not. I mean, look at Seasonale. From noperiod.com:There are published papers about skipping periods and so far there have not been any safety problems. As a matter of fact it is possible the pill could work better to prevent pregnancy if it is taken every day instead of taking a week off each month.ETA: I've been doing the continuous use thing for a few years, albeit with a different BC pill/method, and I've never been informed I may have a higher chance of pregnancy that if I took it 3 weeks active/1 week non-active vs 3 weeks active/3 weeks active.

[Liz]

Okay thanks! :) I didn't think so but I wasn't sure because I hadn't heard anything about a risk of getting pregnant when skipping either but I just wanted to see if others knew thing about it.

Any other opinions?

[harkinna]

Does any one know where I can find more information about the patch? Does anyone like it?
THanks!

[BumbleB]

Question for anyone who has experienced weight gain - Was it significant weight gain? I've been on OTC Lo for 2 years and have had the hardest time losing weight, and it seems every cycle I am gaining weight that won't go away - which was never an issue before. Anyone else experience this?

[amd218]

I used to be on Ortho-Lo, and I didn't mind it (no real side effects that I could really pinpoint). But, it didn't really make my periods lighter, and I was anemic, so I had to switch to Estrostep.

Anyways, to answer your question about skipping the pills -- I'm not sure what the chance of pregnancy is if you skip your period. I would think that it's still pretty safe, but I'm no doctor. Maybe you can just call and ask the office to be on the safe side?