I took this for about 5 months, a month after i started taking it my face was horrible so i went to the dermatologist thinking that my face was just breaking out bad and thinking they could help. The derm said that it would take 7 months to see improvement and that if any improvement it would be 30%, I thought hey, I'll stick on it and see if it works, well month after month my acne just started to get worse and worse and I started having cystic acne. Well just recently I just stopped taking it and within 2 weeks my face is completely clear!! It is true that everything differs from person to person, so while these are just opinions on what has happened to us, it doesn't mean that it is going to happen to you, it depends on your body! Also if you think that something is wrong from the pill, don't just disregard it, our instincts are usually right! =)

I'm 28. For background info, I've tried accutane, and all topical creams imaginable as well as bpc's. I was on OTC (regular, not lo) twice in my life for about a year each. My memory of OTC is that it cleared my skin better than any other bpc I've ever tried, I'd say 95% clear which was FANTASTIC (other pills I tried were yasmin, alesse (this one was a disaster, acne galore), demulen, diane 35). The reason why I stopped OTC is because I was seeking perfection, I had put on weight, about 7-8 lbs, and got melasma (brown patches on my face), these were the ONLY negative side effects and having had almost perfectly clear skin I decided to pick on these faults and began switching pills. I'm now on Yasmin (a year and 3 months), it's suppose to clear acne and keep weight down. Well, not so great for acne in the sense that it doesn't do enough (5-6 cystic pimples at a time) but just wonderful for weight, lost 12 lbs. I've now combined Spiro to Yasmin, hoping that the anti-androgen effect will work for my skin and still keep my weight down, plus I get no melasma with Yasmin. So I'll stick with this for a while, I'm keeping my fingers and toes crossed. If all fails, I'd definitely return to OTC, clear skin is worth the little weight gain and melasma. For melasma, there's always hydroquinone to bleach it away.

When I first starting taking it I had all kinds of problems. I decided to stay on it b/c a lot of people said that it can make you bleed for a month...so, I got back on it and it completely cleared up my acne. I didn't even wear makeup....Then I decided to try the generic kind, which was a huge mistake! My face took a bad toll! My doctor accidently put me on Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo and that made matters worse....so I am now back on Ortho Tri-Cyclen, and my skin just won't get back to what it was to begin with. I actually break out worse the week after my menstal cycle and am clear during my mentral cycle. I wish I never tried anything else to begin with! So, when you first take it expect break outs if you have acne prone skin, but it will completely knock it out after a couple of weeks, and you will forget that you had acne before. Whatever you do...don't try anything else if it begins working for you. If you do you will end up like me and be stuck wondering if I will have that clear skin once again.

I had a question for anyone who could help me with this... I've been switched from birth control to birth control.. and have had horrible luck.. especially with Trinessa. After going off Trinessa, i started taking Yasmin and it's the beginning of my 5th month. It has helped my skin a little bit but i still get a 1 or 2 of those awful deep cystic pimples that take forever to go away. It's only a couple a month but it still makes me feel self concious. I'm assuming since my acne is hormonal, maybe i should switch to a bc that is a lower dosage... I'm thinking of Ortho Tri Cyclen.. i'm not sure if the lo would work better or the regular? Please.. I'm desperate!

Tried OTC for about a year (went on to have regular periods), suffered horrible mood swings, depression, spotting, nausea etc, but it did clear up my moderate acne. have tried 5 BCP's since then (over the past 7 years) and have had problems with most - nausea and mood swings being the worst. most didn't make my acne any worse. Have had hte best results with Diane 35 (still occasional breakouts when i am super stressed) with no noticible side effects and been on it about 3 years.

First of all, everyone is going to get different results based on their skin type, but I've had more success with Ortho than I have had with ANYTHING ELSE. If you have hormonally-induced acne, I sware to God it will work for you. Please read my story.
My acne started when I was a sophomore in highschool, and gradually got worse until my freshman year of college. It was disgusting; I had huge pustules under my skin, blackheads all over my face and red, scaly scabs everywhere. Sometimes I'd look in the mirror and cry. I'd decline invitations to parties, made exuses not to chill with friends and called out of work if my makeup just couldn't cover my acne up well enough.
Anyway, I got on Ortho and my skin is one-hundred times better. I no longer break out and I feel great about myself. Please give it a shot- you'll be happy you did.

I have been on Ortho tri-cyclen for about 15 days I have been bleeding for all these days and the cramps are unbearable. As for the acne I have mild acne and have notice a slight change in it. As for the mood swing I ok so far, but we will see what happens

I've been on regular Tri Cyclen and I've just finished my first pack and am on my last 'dummy' pill. I've had really bad acne for about 6 years and it hasnt made much of a difference yet. hopefully it will start to! I was wondering how long it takes before the good side effects start to kick in?! the nausea has worn off and I've only gained about 5 lbs. I have tried Allesse, Marvelon, Yasmine, and Diane 35 and all of them just horribly dissagreed with my body. so far Tri Cyclen has been the best choice!

My symptoms are very different from everyone ele's.I started the Ortho Tri-Cylene Lo and it has been a total disaster! I've been on it for only two weeks and I'm experiencing severe migrains,that make you want to jump off a cliff, mood swings that make you feel like you are losing your mind, lack of sex drive that makes you THINK you should join a convent, bad acne that makes you feel like you LOOK like a monster And constantly feeling like you can eat a whole cow. I am getting off of this medicine and tying my tubes. I can't deal with this roller coaster ride of pain and stress. ( I already have two children and do'nt want anymore.Whew! All Done!

My rating is for ortho tricyclen lo not regular ortho tricyclen. I have not had any problems whatsoever with OTCLo, however I have always had problem skin, so yesterday I had my doc switch over my perscription to regular OTC. I have read horror stories about ppl. who have taken OTC and had crazy side effects including breakthrough bleeding which i definately do not want! I wanted to know if anyone else has ever switched from OTCLo to OTC and did it cause problems? thanks!