Ortho Tri-Cyclen (Birth control) Reviews

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Prescription summary (663 votes)

How well it works

:):):)
3.5/5
Agreeability

:):):)
3.2/5
Affordability

:):):):)
3.8/5

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someone, los angeles
Feb 15th, 2008
How well it works
:):):):):)
Agreeability
:):):)
Affordability
:)
Pros:Great skin! no pregnancy, short periods
Cons:moodiness, migraines, low sex drive
Bottom Line:I love that OTC helped my skin, I was on the lo dose version and never had a single pimple. The migraines were unbearable, the first day of my period and the last day, I would barely leave the house. I didn't realize it was due to the pill until reading the other reviews. I also just stopped taking it and my skin is AWFUL. I am hoping it gets better after things regulate. After reading some other peoples reviews I am hopeful that this terrible acne is just temporary. I was on OTC regular dose for about 3 years, then switched to Lo after a few month break. I had breakouts inbetween but about 2 weeks after starting the pill again, no more breakouts. I am trying to figure out if the migraines and low sex drive are worth the good skin? I almost think it is. Confidence or feel better? I feel bad leaving the house with this skin.
Recommended:No
Price Paid:50.00
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Manuka Honey, Idaho
Feb 14th, 2008
How well it works
:):):):):)
Agreeability
:):):):)
Affordability
:):):):):)
Pros:Cleared up hormonal acne completely, skin not oily, regulated period, prevented pregnancy, and gained some water weight at first but then lost weight.
Cons:Had mood swings (b-vitamins can help though), and was nauseous (if taken without food)
Bottom Line:I took Ortho tricyclen (regular) for a year and half then stopped taking it because I wasn't sexually active anymore. Ortho completely cleared my hormonal acne but after a month of stopping I noticed that my period was coming every 32-35 days. I've been off for 3 months now and my face looks like a wreck...damn androgrens!!! My doc put me back on the pill to help clear my face. My doc said it would but I just want to have confirmation from someone that's taken the pills. I'll be taking it as soon as my period starts...hope it works just as good as it did in the past. Has anyone gone off Ortho tricyclen then went back on...did it help clear up face the second time around?
Recommended:Yes
Price Paid:5.00
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Alexis, Tampa, Fl
Feb 10th, 2008
How well it works
:)
Agreeability
:):):):):)
Affordability
:):)
Pros:Great skin!
Cons:I'm knocked up!!!!!!!!!
Bottom Line:I was twenty hours late on a pill in week one. I called the pharmacist and she said there was no need to use condoms. I just took the missed pill with my scheduled pill and went on my merry way. At the end of the month, my period never came and now I'M KNOCKED UP! I;m happily married so its not a huge deal but let me add...I was on ortho-novum for 5 years (missed pills all the time) and never got pregnant. I switched to ortho tri cyclen for the skin benifits but wish I would have kept the pimples!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Recommended:No
Usage:Alexis has used this item for a few months.
Price Paid:20.00
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Caroline, Michigan
Feb 8th, 2008
How well it works
:):):):):)
Agreeability
:):):):)
Affordability
:):):):):)
Pros:i am on lo, and it gave me the best periods of my life! my periods would last up to 12 days, and now they are about 3 days. i could not be happier. it also prevents pregnancy wonderfully!
Cons:i get migranes around the time i have to take the pill, but once i take it, about an hour later my headache goes away. spotting during the first month, but after that, it was smooth sailing!
Bottom Line:i would reccomend it for girls who want a shorter/lighter period and want great protection against pregnancy!
Recommended:Yes
Usage:Caroline has used this item for a few months.
Price Paid:24.00
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LIz, Boston, MA
Feb 7th, 2008
How well it works
:)
Agreeability
:)
Affordability
:):):):)
Pros:Not pregnant.
Cons:DEPRESSION, MOODINESS, WEIGHT GAIN, FATIGUE, HEADACHES, WORSE ACNE
Bottom Line:Ortho Tri Cyclen is not worth it. I stayed on it for the minimum "trial period" of 3 months to see if it would help decrease my acne. Lo and behold, my acne got worse...and I became a moody, depressed fat person, even though I exercise 6 days/week, which is supposed to make you not fat and release endorphins! It was awful and not worth 1 second for me.
Recommended:No
Usage:LIz has used this item for a few months.
Price Paid:40.00
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Anonymous, VA
Feb 4th, 2008
How well it works
:):):):)
Agreeability
:):):):)
Affordability
:):):):)
Pros:Less acne, not pregnant
Cons:still some acne, migraines
Bottom Line:My acne got a lot better but didn't go away all the way.

When taken regularly, my moods were good (unless I missed a pill!). I started getting migraines with this pill, which is a risk in all bc pills. Not horrible ones, but more than before i went on it.
Recommended:Yes
Price Paid:30.00
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anonymous, maine
Feb 1st, 2008
How well it works
:):):)
Agreeability
:):):)
Affordability
:):):):):)
Pros:less acne
Cons:DEPRESSION. mood swings, extreme unhappiness.
Bottom Line:This pill has put me at an all time low, I'm never happy and all my friends say they miss my laugh. I'm not the person i used to be which is why im getting off the pill in a few days. i want to be myself again.
Recommended:No
Usage:anonymous has used this item for about a month.
Price Paid:15.00
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Sunny, CA
Jan 31st, 2008
How well it works
:):):)
Agreeability
:):):):)
Affordability
:):):)
Pros:prevent pregnancy, lighter and regular period, no cramp
Cons:nausea, bloating and possible weight gain
Bottom Line:I used OCT mainly to prevent pregnancy. I was first on the pill about 4-5 years ago and I did not have any side affects except bigger boobs (which was great!)
I went off the pill for many years and is on again and this time, I feel nausea and bloated. I am not sure if I really gained any weight, cause I feel bigger, but I weight the same. I can't stand the bloating, it makes my tummy area and butt big and I can't fit into my pants anymore.
As for acne, I never had any acne problem and the pill did not cause me any acne problem
Recommended:Yes
Usage:Sunny has used this item for about a year.
Price Paid:50.00
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Sherri, Las Vegas, NV
Jan 24th, 2008
How well it works
:):):):):)
Agreeability
:):):)
Affordability
:):)
Pros:Went on pill 10 yrs ago for birth control strictly to not get pregnant....no acne problems ever before going on the pill
Cons:About 3 months after going off the pill, I started to breakout horribly! I have heard it can take sometimes up to a year until my skin is normal.
Bottom Line:Personally, I think that the "skin clearing benefits" may not be such a good thing in the long run (when you stop taking the pill). I never had ANY skin problems in my life until just going off of the pill. My girlfriend was on the pill (not ortho try-clyen) and had a little breakouts, but not like w/ OrthoTri-clene Im 28 yrs old and breaking out like crazy for about 3 months now. I went on the pill to not get prenant yrs ago, & I thought it was just an added bonus if I got an occasional blemish to be on ortho tri-cyclen, but wishing now my Dr. would have recommended me just a generic brand of BCP (one that has nothing to do with skin clearing benefits) since I didn't any help with my skin to begin with! My hormones are all out of wack now too (obviously b/c of my skin going crazy! Any suggestions would be so helpful.
Recommended:No
Price Paid:50.00
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Tia Meisen, MN
Jan 23rd, 2008
How well it works
:):):):):)
Agreeability
:):):):):)
Affordability
:)
Pros:Regular periods, no premenstral pain, no acne
Cons:expensive
Bottom Line:Helped treat acne
Recommended:Yes
Usage:Tia Meisen has used this item for about a year.
Price Paid:35.00
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