Ortho Tri-Cyclen (Birth control) Reviews

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Prescription summary (862 votes)

How well it works

:):):)
3.5/5
Agreeability

:):):)
3.2/5
Affordability

:):):):)
3.8/5

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Anonymous, Indiana
Jun 13th, 2009
How well it works
:):)
Agreeability
:)
Affordability
:):):):):)
Pros:Breast got bigger, and no babies.
Cons:sever acne, mood swings, depression, weight gain
Bottom Line:I am 20 years old and i have used this pill for 3 months now. I have never had a problem with acne before and now i have sever acne on my face, chest, and back. I feel embarrassed just to walk outside. I am very moody and i feel very depressed all the time. I have gained a little bit of weight but not more than my other birth control (loestrin fe) did. I started talking this pill because it was cheaper but i think i will pay the extra to make this acne go away!
Recommended:No
Usage:Reviewer has used this item for a few months.
Price Paid:9.00
Acne severity:severe
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Amy, New Orleans
Jun 11th, 2009
How well it works
:):):):):)
Agreeability
:):):)
Affordability
:):):)
Pros:This pill prevents pregnancy (so far) with little weight gain. I have very little period symptoms where I had horrible symptoms before, and my period is lights and usually short.
Cons:I have acne problems on my cheeks, and I've never had acne there before. I cry at the drop of a hat. I don't get my period until my fourth placebo pill.
Bottom Line:I started out on a generic version of this. I gained a few pounds, had a little acne and I went up a cup size. When I switched, my weight went back to normal. I've only gained about a pound since before everything I started birth control. On OTC, my symptoms are better, but I don't get my period until the fourth day. I'm really emotional, and I'm constantly worried about being pregnant. I am a little moodier than before. My acne is what bothers me. I never broke out on my cheeks before I took OTC, and now... it's bad. During the week that I'm off the pill, the acne actually clears up. However, (if you're just looking not to be pregnant) this seems to be a great pill. So far, so good.
Recommended:Yes
Usage:Amy has used this item for about a year.
Price Paid:30.00
Acne severity:moderate
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1 of 2 visitors found the following comment helpful.
Shelley, Oklahoma
Jun 9th, 2009
How well it works
:):):):):)
Agreeability
:):):)
Affordability
:):):)
Pros:Prevents pregnancy, lighter shorter periods, cleared skin until period starts, decreased breast tenderness and cramps.
Cons:KILLS YOUR SEX DRIVE!!! Moodiness, irritability, depression, fatigue, weight gain, more emotional and sensitive to everything, lack of passion for anything.
Bottom Line:I'm 32 years old and I've been on Ortho Tri Cyclen for 10 years and initially gained 5 pounds right off the bat and now 10 years later I'm 85 lb. overweight. I have never really changed my eating or exercise habits. Also, at first I loved it and it does work (preventing pregnancy) but it seems like the longer I'm on it the worse my side effects are. I used to want to have sex with my husband and now the thought of having it feels like a chore. It most definitely kills your sex drive and also I just have this BLAH attitude all the time now. I used to be so happy and smiley. I was such a sweet friendly person and now I'm such a b*tch on it. My poor husband doesn't know what to do with me. I'm on my last pack right now and I think I'm going off of it for awhile and see if I can lose some weight and get my sex drive and myself back.
Recommended:No
Price Paid:50.00
Acne severity:light
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nicole, baltimore
Jun 9th, 2009
How well it works
:):):):)
Agreeability
:)
Affordability
:):)
Pros:Didnt get pregnant
Cons:HUGE decrease in sex drive, irritability, mood swings, depression, break through bleeding
Bottom Line:I stopped taking Ortho lo 2 weeks ago and i already notice a huge change. I feel like i am back to my normal self. While on the pill i actually thought that i might be bi polar.
Recommended:No
Price Paid:20.00
Acne severity:very light
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Christy, Missouri
Jun 7th, 2009
How well it works
:):):):):)
Agreeability
:)
Affordability
:):):):):)
Pros:None
Cons:Gained 20 lbs in a few months because of increased appetite. Have breakthrough bleeding for three out of four weeks. Keeps the babies away. I love kids but have a three and a one year old and my family insisted I slow down / stop.
Bottom Line:This medication might work for you............ I found YAZ to have minimal side effect, but still the breakthrough bleeding 3/4 weeks but not the starving situation with eating all the time.
Recommended:No
Usage:Christy has used this item for a few months.
Price Paid:9.00
Acne severity:moderate
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Blaze, NY
Jun 7th, 2009
How well it works
:):):):):)
Agreeability
:):):):):)
Affordability
:):):):):)
Pros:I love it...it kept my skin clear, kept my weight in check, prevented babies. I absolutely love it...when I got off of OTC, thats when the acne ( that I never had before) came out of nowhere, I gained weight,etc.
Cons:NONE...I'm getting back on it.
Bottom Line:It's an amazing product and I would recommend it to any and everyone : )
Recommended:Yes
Price Paid:10.00
Acne severity:very light
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Mand, Jersey
Jun 4th, 2009
How well it works
:):):):)
Agreeability
:):):)
Affordability
:):):):)
Pros:Boobs got a little bigger
Cons:I have never had acne before but now i get a new pimple like every other day, Iv gained some weight but i think thats normal during the first months of the pill. I have spotting like crazy.
Bottom Line:Im gonna stay on it another few months just to see if this is the initial side effects but I cant handle the acne problem. I am on the generic version, Trinessa, and my doctor said that its practically the same thing. Please if anyone can help me please respond.
Recommended:Yes
Usage:Mand has used this item for about a month.
Price Paid:3.00
Acne severity:light
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LaToya, Maryland
Jun 3rd, 2009
How well it works
:):):):)
Agreeability
:):):):)
Affordability
:):):):):)
Pros:reduced acne quickly, no severe mood swings, losing weight!!
Cons:Don't have any yet
Bottom Line:I've only been using OTC for a little over a month but it seems to be working great for me.
Recommended:Yes
Usage:LaToya has used this item for about a month.
Price Paid:5.00
Acne severity:moderately severe
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Jenny, Maryland
Jun 2nd, 2009
How well it works
:):):):)
Agreeability
:):):):)
Affordability
:):):):):)
Pros:increased breast size, lost a few pounds, no pregnancies, loss of appetitte, and helped clear my back
Cons:nausea, mood swings, more emotional about things
Bottom Line:I like it. It works well. I thought id gain a lot of weight being on it but im glad i'm losing it. It has helped with my back acne too which is great. I love that my boobs are bigger. they are fuller now then they were before and I can fill out a bra that was slightly too big for me before. It works well. I like it. i think the nausea mood swings and emotional aspects will subscide after a few months. but i guess ill have to wait and see.
Recommended:Yes
Usage:Jenny has used this item for a few months.
Price Paid:20.00
Acne severity:light
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anonymous, Louisiana
May 31st, 2009
How well it works
:)
Agreeability
:)
Affordability
:)
Pros:nothing
Cons:never had problems with acne now I'm getting pimples. I'm really bloated and crampy almost every day. I've gained weight I went from 109 to 112 and I've only been taking it for 3 weeks so I'm about to switch I can't be handling all of this!!
Bottom Line:I was on micronor before this because I was breastfeeding my baby. So now I'm weaning her and needed a stronger pill so I was put on this now I'm having all sorts of issues.
Recommended:No
Usage:anonymous has used this item for a few weeks.
Price Paid:4.00
Acne severity:very light
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