Generic Birth Control

[ManteoChik]

I currently pay out the a*s for BC and have been for quite some time. Does anyone have any experince with the generic brand of your BC? I've been considering talking to my OB/GYN about it at my next appointment but that isn't until April. I checked out the website for my health insurance and have a list of all the brands of BC and their generic...including the one I'm currently on.

A friend of mine mentioned that you can ask your pharmacist to switch you? This seems strange to me, but she said that whenever she takes a prescription to the pharmacy they automatically ask her if she would like the generic brand instead....since it's always cheaper. I would love to knock the cost of BC down from $42 each month to in the $20's.

Anyone have any experience with this?

[myshel]

I take the generic of my BCP. I am prescribed Allesse by my OB, but the pharmicist always fills my prescription with Aviane. At all of the pharmacies I frequent (Wal-Mart, Target, Walgreens), they always just fill with the generic without asking. Really, it's okay because a generic can't be given in place of a brand name unless the FDA approves it so...

I would try the route of asking the pharmacist first about switching to the generic. If they can't, ask the OB next time you're in.

[SingleWhiteFemale]

A friend of mine mentioned that you can ask your pharmacist to switch you? This seems strange to me, but she said that whenever she takes a prescription to the pharmacy they automatically ask her if she would like the generic brand instead....since it's always cheaper. I would love to knock the cost of BC down from $42 each month to in the $20's. My Giant Food pharmacy has a sign out that state "to keep down health care costs, the generic will be dispensed unless the prescription states the name-brand is required by your physician."

From what I recall, the FDA requires the generic to have at minimum 80% of active ingredients of the name brand drug to be an acceptable subsitute. However, since it makes little cost difference to the manufacturing company (or for whatever other reasons they possess), most generics far exceed the minimum requirements set out by the FDA. They're more like 95-98% like their name-brand counterpart. The only forewarning I was ever given was that if you're taking the generic version, make sure to be taking the pill every single time at the exact time--suppossedly there's less wiggle room with the generic. Just info I recieved from 2 sex researcher/educators and one M.D. ;)

So... to sum it up best, yes, get the generic if you can! No need to waste money if you don't need to.

[Asha]

what kind of birth control are you taking? i don't think there is a generic brand for something like ortho tri cyclin.

[Baltimoregal]

Ortho tri cyclin has several forms of generic, and it is so much cheaper!

There is Trinessa, TriSprintec, and soemthing else i think. packaging and colors may vary, but that's it.


Edited to add: You can request generic at the pharmacy unless your doc writes : brand name medically necessary on the script.

[colz85]

I take the generic for tri cyclen....my mail order pharmacy took it upon themselves to switch me. It's called tri-previfem.

[ManteoChik]

Thanks so much for all the info ladies. I have been on Ortho Tri Cyclen for years and just last year switched to Estrostep, but I really don't like it and was planning to switch back to the Ortho in April at my next visit. I've already checked the website for my health insurance and it lists all the brands they cover and also their generic's along with the price. It looks like the generic will cost me HALF of what I pay now. :eek:

I guess my biggest question was about switching at the pharmacy, has anyone had experience? Can the pharmacist do that or do they need the okay from your doctor. I've *never* had a pharmacist offer it and my drugstore (Walgreens) doesn't subsitute automatically.....at least they don't on mine. I would love to make the switch and it would be much easier if my pharmacy could just go ahead and do it.

PS- I wish I'd known about this sooner, because I just picked up my new pack of pills today...ugh! As I was getting home I started to think about the generic and though I'd post here.

[SingleWhiteFemale]

Can the pharmacist do that or do they need the okay from your doctor.You shouldn't need permission from your doctor, but if you request it and Walgreens has any reluctance at all--tell them to call the prescribing physician to okay it. Around the next time you need a new pack, instead of refilling over the phone/e-mail, walk in there and request to speak to a tech or the pharmacist, tell them you want to do a refill, but you want generic. If they try to guilt you into keeping the brand name, just tell them you're trying to be a responsible citizen and keep down the costs of healthcare ;) I'm somewhat suprised they don't substitute... but not completely. One BC I was on I got the name brand. I was livid at that pharmacy for dispensing the wrong pills to me, so I went to another, and instead of my $25/name brand copay, it was a $10 copay--that's what I pay for generics. Why were they dispensing me the name brand when a gen3eric was avilable was beyond me, as I have other prescriptions there they automatically filled with generics. I guess some places have no rhyme or reason (I have a feeling somehow money must be involved.... it's a conspiracy I tell you ;) )

[ManteoChik]

SingleWhiteFemale I totally agre....it's a conspiracy! :) I've always really liked my OB/GYN and we have a good relationship, however, she seemed really adament about me switching to Estrostep from Ortho Tri Cyclen because she "thought it was a great BC". :rolleyes: I have not liked it since I've been on it and I'm ready to switch back.

[shopaholic]

wow, you pay $42 a month??!??

Does your insurance have a mail order program? Mine does and I pay $30 for 3 month supply...otherwise pharmacies charge $15 a month. Basically I am getting a month for free.

[PG-rated]

When I switched to mail-order, they started giving me the generic version, so now my dr. just writes the scrip for it. I've never noticed a difference, and I pay only $20 for three packs of pills. :eek:

[hockeybrat]

I am supposed to be on Levlen but my pharmacist (Walmart) uses generic (Levora). With my insurance, it costs $10 vs. $35 (I don't remember the exact cost) for the non-generic version.

[bookworm]

Mine substituted the generic automatically (and then when I went to mail order, I got a generic of the generic, or perhaps a different generic of the same brand).

[SimonsCat]

Does anyone out there have any experience with Trinessa? I was on Ortho TriCyclen for about 3 years, loved it, but my insurance stopped covering it and switched me to the generic (Trinessa). My period started a week early and is insanely heavy, and I am suddenly very moody and feeling completely crazy. I don't see how this can be an exact equivalent of the real OTC.

[SweetRed]

I was on Orth Tricyclene for years and pretty happy with it. Then my health insurance decided they would only cover the generic version (Tri-Sprintec) and when I sent in the mail order form for O-TC, they sent me the Tri-Sprintec instead.

Day 2 of that new pack was the first time I EVER called sick into work. I was horribly sick to my stomach, dizzy, and just plain-old felt like garbage. I called the doctor to see if I should stop it immediately, and they told me this might happen and if it didn't stop in a day or two to call them back. It did subside the next day, but so much for the generic being "equivalent."

A year or so later, the insurance company stopped paying for Tri-Sprintec and I went on the "new" generic. No symptoms changing this time around.

[SingleWhiteFemale]

Mine substituted the generic automatically (and then when I went to mail order, I got a generic of the generic, or perhaps a different generic of the same brand). I was up in arms about this once (the pharmacy that dispensed the wrong BC pills gave me these huge circular pills instead of my small flat ovals--so of course I was paranoid!). Different drug companies all make generics, and whose generic you're getting depends upon what the pharmacy ordered. It is enough to scare the garbage out of you if your regular drug no longer looks like the one you've been getting for years! Although, if you're unhappy with one company's generic, you can ask your pharmacy to get the generic brand you prefer. I complained, and lo and behold, the next week I get a call my prescription is in.... they ordered the small flat ovals for me :D

[Smilin13]

I'm currently taking Trinessa.
I've been on it for about a year now. I do notice some differences from the Orth Trcyclene, but nothing that makes me want to go back to paying the brand prices.

It is my understanding that the generics of Ortho came out around the beginning of 2005. My GYN (at PP) had warned me that it would be coming. She told me that if I started taking them and didn't like it that she would write brand only.

But like I said there wasn't much difference.

:)

[off2skl]

I guess my biggest question was about switching at the pharmacy, has anyone had experience? Can the pharmacist do that or do they need the okay from your doctor. I've *never* had a pharmacist offer it and my drugstore (Walgreens) doesn't subsitute automatically.....at least they don't on mine. I would love to make the switch and it would be much easier if my pharmacy could just go ahead and do it.


I work in a pharmacy and we generally ask if generic substitution is OK (some people do not like the generic for whatever reason). If your doctor originally signed in the "may substitute" line, or if there is only one line and they didn't write "DAW" then the pharmacy can substitute per your request if there is a generic avaialble. If your doctor wrote DAW or signed on the "dispense as written" line then the pharmacy will have to contact the doctor and have them authorize the switch.

[ManteoChik]

Thanks for all the great advice ladies. I checked my insurance website and it seems that what I'm on right now doesn't offer a generic. Even so, I was on Ortho Tri Cyclen for a long time and was never given the generic of that either. Thankfully, I have an appointment for my yearly in a couple of weeks and I plan on switching back to Ortho and hopefully getting it's generic. It's killing me paying $42 EVERY month when I know I could only be paying $20-25. I haven't been happy with my current BC but figured I would just stick it out...I'm happy to be changing.

[Sevilla]

One thing to be aware of is that your side effects may change going from brand name to generic (and vice versa). So be on the lookout for new/changing side effects the first few months after you switch. I know more than a few people who noticed a change in sex drive/moods/headaches/acne when they switched like this (some for the good and some for the bad, it just depends on how your body responds).

Generics are just as effective as the brand name though.

[SingleWhiteFemale]

ManteoChik, just a suggestion, but any chance you're a college student? I know that larger schools with health centers do get huge breaks on BC prescriptions. I have health insurance, but with some prescriptions as low as $4 for the name brand BC pills at the health center, I'm going to the health center! No joke, my NuvaRing runs $25 each on my awesome insurance... but only $10 per at the health center! Geez. Purchasing 18/year through there saves me over $250 over hitting up Giant!

[Liz]

I'm on Ortho TriCyclen Lo. My ob/gyn gives me birth control for free. I get about 4-6 months at a time. Could you ask her if she can give you a supply?

[stephie61706]

At my last appointment, my doctor said that if you're taking the brand name and then switch to the generic you can have all the symptoms like you would when you first start the pill (break through bleeding, headaches, etc) I've been taking Ortho-novum 1/35 for 3 years and Ortho-tri for 3 years before
that and I've never been on generic, but I've never paid more than $20 a pack for pills

[ManteoChik]

I just called yesterday and got an appoinment for March 7th at my OB/GYN at home. I'm going to ask to be switched back onto Ortho-Tri (well, actually it's generic), I always liked it when I was on it and never had any problems. Hopefully, the generic will be the same on my system.

SingleWhiteFemale Thanks for the advice! Unfortunatly, the school I go to is at a community college, and while my degree is from a University, all my classes are taken on the campus of the community college (where there is no health center and we're about an hour from the university). I know I won't have a problem getting the generic - I just never knew to ask for it....lol.

Liz My OB/GYN also gives me some free packs. Usually I get about three packs at my appointment and then a prescription for the rest of the year. My aunt used to work at the office so I would always get "extra" packs, but she doesn't work there anymore so now I only get what the dr. gives me. :(

Stephie61706 Thanks! I was on Ortho-Tri for a while and then switched to Lo before getting on my current BC and never had a problem with either of those. I hope that my body is okay with the generic (cause I know my wallet will be...lol) but I'll keep that in mind.

I am really looking forward to paying $20-25/month than my usual $42/month. I factored it up, and I pay around $400 every year in BC when I could be paying around $225. :rolleyes: I'm sure glad I thought to ask you laides about generic.

[Liz]

Have you ever asked for more even when you aren't going to an appointment? I go the usual once a year and then she gives me about 4-6 months then I call when I'm going to run out and she gives me another 4-6 months worth. It's worth a call to get free bcp. Good luck.:)

[ManteoChik]

Have you ever asked for more even when you aren't going to an appointment? I go the usual once a year and then she gives me about 4-6 months then I call when I'm going to run out and she gives me another 4-6 months worth. It's worth a call to get free bcp. Good luck.:)

I've thought about it, but my dr is in NC and I go to school in FL so it would all have to be shipped. The only time I go is when I'm home for my yearly. I think at this point I'll be okay going on a generic and paying the lower cost. I don't mind paying for my BC I'd just rather have the option to pay 1/2 of what I pay now. :)

[Liz]

Oh. I didn't know your dr. was in a different state. Good luck getting the generic.

[keska]

I just switched from Mircette to the generic Kareva last month. I paid more for the Mircette for a long time because I was worried about the effects (I take it for my skin), but my new pharmacy (Walgreen's) automatically switched me to Kareva and I've had absolutely no problems with the change.