BC question

vineyard12

For those of you on "the pill" what are you taking? My doctor prescribed me Orthotricyclin and I started it last week. I'd never taken the pill before as I had been on the shot for years. I wouldn't be taking the pill, but this isn't a choice, as I am about to go on some serious meds that would cause major harm to a baby if I got pregnant. Anyway. The question is, what side effects did you get in the begining? Since last week, I have been more tired than usual, especially this week. This week has been way worse. I've had a headache for the whole week, and all I want to do is sleep. Is this normal? Plus, I feel slightly nauseated. Someone tell me this will pass!

mancila60

Okay so I am not currently on BC but have been in the past and I always had the pill or the patch. With the pill I had crazy side effects depending on which pill it was. All BC pills can cause different side effects. I did take Orthotricyclin Lo at one point and it didn't work out for me. Headaches are very common with any BC and so is nausea. I would give it a whole month and see how it goes then maybe talk to the doctor about it. Sometimes it's just your body adjusting and other times it's a side effect that isn't going away. Since these aren't "major" side effects I wouldn't worry too much but keep an eye on things and if anything changes call the doctor.

vineyard12

Thanks. That's what I figured. I'll give it some time. Plus, I stoppped drinking coffee/caffiene so I am sure that isn't helping either.

toothpastechica

I am on Alisse (21). I have zero side effects now, but the first 3 months were AWFUL! In the beginning I felt bloated, dizzy and sick to my stomach all the time, . I had no energy and was super moody/emotional for those months. After 2 months of this I went to my doctor to tell her that I don't think I can stay on it, and she said give it 6 more weeks and then she would switch me if I still wanted. Sure enough a month later I started to feel normal again and havn't had any issues since.

bpphoto785

This could definitely be from your lack of caffeine! Give yourself a cycle or two and see if it gets better. If not talk to your Dr. I had to try a few different brands before I found the best one for me. Unfortunately, I can't remember for the life of me what brand it is! It's the generic version of something.

GustieRx

As PPs have said, your body may just be adjusting and need a little bit more time with the new medication.  I went through several BC pills before I settled on one (generic Yasmin), and I know each time the Dr. told me to give it a full 3 months before deciding if it was right or not.  That being said, I had a horrible trial with Orthotricyclin Lo (like terrible period cramps for a full 30 days) and did switch after one month, so if it's really awful I'd switch earlier.  Your side effects sound more mild (although a terrible headache for a month straight may not be "mild" to you!) so I'd probably try to give it at least 2-3 months.  Also, FWIW, when I cut out caffeine I get the same symptoms you've just described, so it might just be coincidence.  Hopefully next week will be better as your body adjusts to both changes!  

mancila60

vineyard12:

Thanks. That's what I figured. I'll give it some time. Plus, I stoppped drinking coffee/caffiene so I am sure that isn't helping either.

I think the lack of caffiene is going to be the main source of the headache but the other stuff could be BC related.

comeongetdown

I knew friends of mine that had HORRIBLE side effects for Orthotricyclin, so when I went on BC I told the doc my concerns and she put me on Ortho-cyclin (a lower dose of the same thing). I still had a lot of not fun side effects, I was super nauseated, tired, my boobs got HUGE, like, almost overnight. After a couple years I switched to Yasmin, I liked it better, didn't feel as crappy. Quit taking the pill for a while, then started Nuva Ring, I really liked the convenience but it gave me terrible stomach cramps all month long and I was really moody and had a short temper.

I think for most people that have symptoms they'll clear up after a month or so on the BC. But everyone reacts differently

mandi921vh

I take Ortho Cyclen Lo and have for the last 6 years and haven't had any huge problems. The only side effect was I went up a cup size. I did feel really nauseated for the first few weeks, but it went away. I would keep an eye on the headaches because some BC pills can give you terrible migraines to the point you could have a stroke.

The nausea will go away  

court115

mandi921vh:

I take Ortho Cyclen Lo and have for the last 6 years and haven't had any huge problems.

Same here...well before I got pregnant. Obviously, I'm not taking it anymore. I loved it. I didn't have many side effects and I only felt nauseous if I took it on an empty stomach. 

AurorasEnvy

This year is my 10 year anniversary of being on BC...I'm getting old =]

 Up until recently, I've been on a version of Ortho-tri-cyclen.  I started with the brand name (4 years), took Tri-Nessa (a generic) for 5 years, and due to an insurance problem switched to another brand name (Tri-Sprintec) in January of this year.  Never had any problems with the brand name or Tri-Nessa, even when I first started/switched.  Or maybe my periods were just so bad without BC that it was still an improvement!

 Anyways, I had a lot of problems with the Tri-Sprintec.  I'd have a period for 7 days, then go another 12 days with nothing, then spot for 3-4 days, then have another 6-7 clear days, then I'd be back to my period.  Sooooo annoying.  The spotting wasn't always at exactly the same time, it was sometimes random - let's just say a lot of nice underwear have been ruined by stupid sprintec! 

I hadn't realized it was the change in generic until I went to my OBGYN for a check up inbetween my yearly visits ($500 later....ouch).  She changed me to Loestrin FE, which is a monophasic drug (same amount of hormone in every pill).  I just started my 2nd month of it, but it has been awesome so far.  I get extra iron in the period pills, and there are only 4 of them so I only have a 3-4 day period, which is a lot lighter than my previous ones.

 Like PPs said though, everyone responds differently to each drug.  My friend started BC two years ago and almost died from a stroke, so you'll never really know how a particular drug will work for you until you try it.