ORTHO TRI-CYCLEN Reviews (ETHINYL ESTRADIOL; NORGESTIMATE; NORGESTIMATE; NORGESTIMATE)

Average Rating: 2.8 (1491 Ratings)

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ORTHO TRI-CYCLEN  (ETHINYL ESTRADIOL; NORGESTIMATE; NORGESTIMATE; NORGESTIMATE):  This combination hormone medication is used to prevent pregnancy. It contains 2 hormones: a progestin and an estrogen. It works mainly by preventing the release of an egg (ovulation) during your menstrual cycle. It also makes vaginal fluid thicker to help prevent sperm from reaching an egg (fertilization) and changes the lining of the uterus (womb) to prevent attachment of a fertilized egg. If a fertilized egg does not attach to the uterus, it passes out of the body. Besides preventing pregnancy, birth control pills may make your periods more regular, decrease blood loss and painful periods, decrease your risk of ovarian cysts, and also treat acne. Using this medication does not protect you or your partner against sexually transmitted diseases (such as HIV, gonorrhea, chlamydia).   FDA Approval Date: 1992-07-03 (Sources: U.S. Centers for Medicare Services, FDA)

  

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Key to Ratings: 1=LOW (I would not recommend taking this medicine.)
5=HIGH (this medicine cured me or helped me a great deal.)

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More on ORTHO TRI-CYCLEN: Reviews Summary  |  Drug Safety Information

RATING  REASONSIDE EFFECTS FOR ORTHO TRI-CYCLECOMMENTSSEXAGEDURATION/
DOSAGE
DATE ADDED
 
 1  Prevent pregnancy, shorten periods breakthrough bleeding, heavy cramping, INTENSE mood swings My doctor gave me a prescription for OTC, but the pharmacy gave me the generic version, Tri-Sprintec. My Dr. assured me that most women have good luck with this particular brand of BC pills, so I was optimistic. I had taken BC pills for many years before stopping to have my 2 children, so I assumed going back on the pill would be no big deal. Wrong! The first week of my Tri-Sprintec pills went OK, although I noticed some hot flashes...these went on sporadically for a couple of days, and I chalked it up to my body adjusting to medication. Then, the breakthru bleeding and heavy cramping started...and I've been experiencing those two joys for a week now, with no sign of either letting up. Around the same time the bleeding and cramping started, I noticed I was feeling on the verge of tears all the time and felt very irritable, just angry at the world....SO not me! Even my husband commented that I didn't seem to be myself, he wondered why I seemed to be mad at him all the time... F 34 14 days
2/11/2007
 4  Birth control, clear up acne OTC side effects: Slightly lower/more consistent libido, slight weight gain (1-3 lbs), breakthrough bleeding first month taking it. TriNessa side effects: Horrible mood swings/weepiness, severe migraines/daily headaches, chest pain, fatigue, depression, sore breasts, upset/burning stomach, achiness, vision disturbances, lightheadedness/dizziness, very low/non-existent sex drive, significant weight gain (15+ lbs), (almost) daily bloating, night sweats, generally feeling like crap every day... TriNessa is affecting my relationship with my wonderful boyfriend, who has been so patient with my moodiness and daily complaints about how I feel. We (his word :) are looking into alternative forms of bc as a couple. (The "4" rating is for OTC, NOT TriNessa!) I am SO glad I found this site! I feel like I am going crazy, but these testimonials are very, very reassuring. I was on OTC from August 2003 to fall/winter 2005. I felt energetic, mentally/emotionally stable, healthy, and happy. Then I was switched by my insurance company/pharmacy to TriNessa. Since then I have felt worse and worse every day, but I assumed it was just me getting older or some undiagnosed illness. Like everyone else, I thought the generic was identical and doubted myself, not the drug. I also didn't realize I could switch back to OTC if I wanted to. I have requested OTC for my next pack refill, so my fingers are crossed. The migraines/headaches are scaring me, and the meds my doctor gave me for them don't even work. I feel like stopping cold turkey on bc, I am just not myself anymore, and I'm only 33! I was very healthy before this and only had a few migraines a year (I have a family history of them and have had them F 33 3 years
2/10/2007
 4  Birth control, clear up acne **Please see beginning of my review (below?/above?)--my comments were cut off.** (CONT'D) most of my adult life). Now I get 7-10 migraines a month and almost daily headaches, I cry all the time, and I just feel blah and crappy. I rarely have good days anymore :( I hope the OTC brings me back to a more normal version of me! I will report back in a few months, wish me luck.... F 33 3 years
2/10/2007
 5  regulate periods, birth control I just wanted to comment on TriNessa - I wish I'd read these opinions before ***PLEASE READ THIS*** After 6 months of taking TriNessa I found myself in the emergency room. I was dx w/a blood clot extending from my armpit down to my wrist. I had to give myself injections in my stomach for almost a month, I've been put on coumadin(blood thinner), I had to be out of work for almost a month due to the risk of an embolism. I am fairly young and healthy with no family history of blood clotting problems. It turned out to be the TriNessa ... please do not ignore any pain in your calves/legs, arms, or chest (including difficulty breathing) - I am still not out of the woods 6 months later. I wish I'd explored my other options and would have found this site invaluable. F 41 6 months
2/9/2007
 4  BC I know this sounds like a broken record, but TRINESSA really has been a terrrible experience for me. Nausia (threw up the first 2x I took it), major worsening of acne when I thought it would help with my skin, and I have terrible cramps every single day of my now 6-7 day period, on this, for the last few days of my period, I went through 1 super tampon each 30minutes, it was terrible and disgusting (I pretty much had to stay motionless so as not to leak, TMI, I know). Took it for 2 months, am now switching to OTC-lo..I wish I'd read these reviews before going through TRINESSA crap! I'm on day two so can't really speak to OTC-lo effects yet, but so far no nausia or anything ((crosses fingers)). I mostly just needed to speak out about Trinessa so maybe you all can avoid it if possible. My doctor said it was no different, but SHE *obviously* hasn't tried it. F 19 2 days
2/8/2007
 3  birth control Got sick on Trinessa. Just begun taking brand-name OTC--too soon to tell. Does anybody know about the difference between the three active pill colors? Experience different side effects from each? Are white more potent than others? F 26 2 months
2/7/2007
 3  birth control headaches, horrible moodswings, acne, sleeplessness, tired all the time I think it just has bad effect on me. I'm going to stop taking it tonight. It almost ruined my relationship, because im actingf different than I was before. Dont feel like the same person. Feeling crazy, not for too much longer though!! oh yeah there's more about otc lo at topics.net F 20 2 months
2/6/2007
 2  birth control horrible mood swings, acne, sleeplessness and tired all the time, gaining a loosing weight... I believe I'm going to stop taking this Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo. I took Yasmin for 3 years and had little to no side effects. With OTC lo I feel depressed and angry at the drop of the hat, causing relationship problems, thankfully I found this site along with TOPICS.NET and found out a lot more women have the same problems. I think I'd reather have a great relationship and have to be more careful about pregnacy than have no relationship at all and still not be happy. Im quitting it tonight. F 20 2 days
2/6/2007
 2  birth control a very painful period that lasted for TWO WEEKS!!!!!!!!! >:O F 1 months
2/6/2007
 4  birth control starting today- see comments for cheap OTC Hi- I was feeling a little shaky about starting OTC but now i see all the comments and it is comforting. A lot of people comment on the price of OTC and I highly* recommend using Planned Parenthood if you are a student or have income <$18,000. THey have a sliding fee scale and without insurance mine is $12. IF YOU LIVE IN NEW YORK STATE: there is an insurance program that gives you free annuals, birth control (including OTC) and plan B (even if you're insured under parents but don't want to use it for privacy). Check it out! I'm excited that I will be REIMBURSED for what I put toward OTC and will be getting at least a years worth of OTC for FREE! F 22
2/4/2007
 4  Prevent pregnancy Recently I have experienced headaches and mood swings - sometimes really sad or angry over nothing. I was prescribed ortho tri-cyclen, but insurance issued tri-sprintec. I did experience sore breasts for a couple of months but that went away. However, over the last 2 or 3 months I have had headaches and a slight elevation in blood pressure (I've gone from 110/70 to 127/75). Also, it seems as though things that normally wouldn't bother me are suddenly making me sad or angry. I've only been married for 3 months and I don't want these symptoms to have a negative effect on my marriage. Are these typical symptoms of other tri-sprintec users? Please write in. F 32 8 months
1/29/2007
 5  cycle regulation None. Been taking Ortho Tri-cyclen/Trinessa since I was 16. Both have been great with no side effects. PS- does anyone else think that a lot of the people here posting negative reviews of the generics (while conversely praising the hell out of the brand name) aren't real? Wouldn't surprise me in the slightest that the PR goons of the pharmaceutical companies are out here pushing their brand-name drugs to take more money out of the pockets of the public. I mean really people, the only difference between the two is the label! (and at least twice the price) F 23 8 years
1/28/2007
 1  Prevent pregnancy Ortho Tricyclen Lo - Horrible stomach cramps and diarrhea during 1st week of active pills. VERY moody/depressed, Extreme breast tenderness and swelling week before period. Migraine headaches, blurred vision, dry eyes. Definite loss of libido. I had switched BC because of insurance, but I've gone back to LoEstrin with which I had no major side effects. F 29 9 months
1/28/2007
 2  Contraception, Acne control Moderate to severe depression (varies throughout the month); severe headaches during first two-to-three days of period The first pill (at age 14) I was on was Ortho Cyclen, but I switched to Tri-Cyclen (at age 16) to control my acne. I am now on my last pack of Tri and will be switching to Mircette due to the severe headaches I get at the start of my period and because I'm extremely tired of the depression. (My GYN has stated the depression is likely due to the varying levels of hormones each week and the headaches could be due to the total lack of hormones during the last week. FYI) F 26 10 years
1/26/2007
 5  Prevent pregnancy, reduce cramps I haven't had any negative side effects since I've started using Tri-Sprintec 28. I have had weight gain but I really needed it. I can't just blame it on the pills. When I first started taking my pills I also got a new boyfriend, and I have tried to eliminate all my stress at home. Which has gone very well. I used to always fight and argue with my ex. Work stress is very minimal. I am really happy using tri-sprintec. My period has shortened to 3-4 days when it used to be 7 full days. It used to be very heavy and now it isn't. It has worked great for me. F 24 8 months
1/23/2007
 5  acne I HAVE ALREADY POSTED BEFORE BUT FORGOT TO MENTION ONE MORE THING. I have never taken OTC but have been on Tri-Previfem for 5 months. I, too, experienced rash-like bumps all over my stomach, some on my thighs, upper arms, and a few on my back. I went to the dermatologist to get these rash-like bumps tested and they asked if I was on any medications. I told them I was on BC. They tested to see if it was JUST an allergic reaction to BC but it came out to be "pityriasis rosea". I NEVER had it before and was certain Tri-Previfem had caused it. Apparently the skin disease I was diagnosed with was a 1-time thing, and doctors don't know how people get it. I thought I had poison ivy or some sort and was afraid to touch anything and anybody. It went away in about a month and good thing was it wasn't contagious and the dermatologist gave me topical cream to help with the itching (but it wasn't really itchy with me). I still wonder if this reaction had to do with my pill. If you've had similar side-effects, feel free to email me. Apparently this disease also resembled a stage of syphilis, which I turned out negative anyway. Anyways, whoever posted about breaking out into a rash, it happened to me too, and I am on too on Tri-P F 20 5 months
1/21/2007
Email
 3  clear up acne I am actually taking the generic Tri-Previfem, which I expected to work just like OTC. My periods started earlier than expected, had break-through bleeding the first 3-months, LONGER periods (1 and a half weeks!), periods weren't significantly lighter AT ALL, my breasts were EXTREMELY tender and sore, gained more than 5 pounds even though I haven't changed my eating habits and usually I stay pretty thin, and my sex drive is pretty much destroyed!!! and sometimes I get moody for no reason!; Tri-previfem did clear up SOME acne, but I STILL have to use additional topical medications such as Benzol Peroxide every night to keep my skin from flaring up the next morning! The whole reason I wanted to get on BC was to help my acne. Insurance won't cover the name brand OTC and I really don't have the $$ to spend $60 every month...I'm a poor college student just tryin to find a simple way to have clear skin! HAS ANYONE ELSE TRIED TRI-PREVIFEM? Has anyone had problems with this kind of IF ANYONE HAS TRIED THE GENERIC "TRI-PREVIFEM" PLEASE LET ME KNOW! I will get off of this and pay the extra 40 bucks a month if it's really better than tri-previfem! And again, the main reason I wanted BC was for my acne! Help! :) (e-mail me if you are taking this or have any comments!!! will greatly appreciate it!! [email protected]) F 20 5 months
1/21/2007
Email
 3  contraceptive moodiness, irrational crying, acne i am on ortho-tricyclen lo, and sex drive is ok. but my moods! its like being in the pms cycle on a continual basis. i start crying over everything, i get upset over everything, if shopping used to perk me right up, i no longer enjoy it. good for my wallet bad for my mood. i'm in a constant funk, and pick irrational fights with my boyfriend. before b.c. this happened only once a month, now this is a regular occurence. and my acne didnt go away either. maybe this is only gonna go on for a few months until my body get used to the hormones, i dont know, at the moment i dont like it. F 23 1 days
1/19/2007
 5  birth control, cramps havent yet THANK GOD I JUST FOUND THIS SITE my mom seriously just left to go pick up my perscription at walgreens and i logged on to check out what my doctor had perscribed. He told me he was putting me on the Ortho Tri cyclen which ive heard nothing but praise from my friends about.. after reading this i immediately freaked out and called my mom to make sure our insurance hadnt switched the order to the generic brand and sure enough my mom said it was the DREADED TRINESSA i flipped out and was borderline tears, but right now my mom is getting the Ortho Tri-Cyclen after my thourough bashiing of Trinessa thanks to this Birth control ratings blog i cannot thank everyone here enough for saving me from a potentially horrible experience Wow close call... i hope this birthcontrol helps my HORRible cramps and gets me regulated and hopefulyl makes my boobs a bit bigger haha F 17
1/18/2007
 1  Birth Control/Acne I was on OTC years ago for acne and it was also for Birth Control...I stopped and went back on it, yet my insurance only covered trinessa...it has given me nothing but grief... I have never had breakthrough bleeding before and now during ovulation I spot the whole week until I start my period. I thought I was nuts because of hormone issues...My cramps are horrid and I am now getting pigmentation problems on my face and cheeks...I am switching back to OTC after reading this site!!! Thank you ladies...paying extra is worth it!!! F 27 7 months
1/17/2007

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