User Reviews for Ortho Tri-Cyclen (28) oral

Well the pill itself is alright; light (and extremely short) periods, clear skin....however the weight gain is horrible. Some of it might be due to switching to a desk job, but I feel like with every month I'm on it I get heavier. Thinking of switching to Mononessa

I started taking these pills because after using the Depo-Provera shot, I had my period for 4 months straight and needed to start taking high-estrogen pills to make it stop. I experience increased breast soreness and size (a whole cup size), extreme mood swings (either ridiculously happy or extremely angry and irritable) several times a day. I felt like I was going crazy. I also experienced weight gain (about 10 pounds) but mostly cellulite was the problem. After 6 months, I threw this medication away. My period was very regulated and acne reduced, but it just was not worth the pain.Read More Read Less

I was on this for 4 years and loved it. Didnt experience any side effects until after I was off it and I gained about 10 lbs. Having a real hard time losing the weight even with proper eating and working out.

I started taking Ortho Tri-Cyclen about a year and half ago. For the first 6 months everything was great. After the 6 months I started noticing a change in my personality. I have always been some what sensitive, however this intensified those feelings. I cry over everything and anything. If something makes me extremely happy, I cry. If something makes me sad (but not I would not normally cry over) I cry. I feel as if it really just intensifies my mood x1000. I have also had problems with re-occuring yeast infections. I get one about every 6 weeks. I did not gain any weight at all. I had moderate amount pimples before...now I usually only get them around my period. I have just recently switched pills to see if there is any difference but I am currently having trouble with high copays. I honestly think that no BC is good for you, you just need to pick and choose which side effects you are willing to deal with. Read More Read Less

This is the first time I've read reviews on this and I am relieved that I'm not alone in my dissatisfaction. I'm very logical-minded usually, but I find I'm very oversensitive to things and cry at the drop of a hat, it has increased my yeast problems which has led to other issues, it caused inflammation from the waist down and it's now painful for me to have sex, and that has also led to a decrease in my sex drive even more. I've come to realize that all birth control medication will give you some sort of side effect, but this medication was over the top disappointing. Good luck to all the other reviewers that are feeling the same pain.Read More Read Less

I have been taking this birth control for 6 months and it made me very nauseous. I had vomiting, and severe headaches. I thought there was something wrong with me but ever since I stopped taking the pill I am back to normal.

I have been on ortho tri-cyclen for about 5 years. Never really had any major side effects. The one I didn't like was the weight gain. Nothing I did took it off. I recently changed doctors and even though I have never have a problem with ortho she said she has never been a fan of the tri-phasic pills so she has switched me over to junel fe 1/30... hopefully it works out just as well as ortho did! IF not i will definitely request to switch back! Wish me luck! One thing I would like women reading these reviews to remember is everyone's body is different which means everyone is going to react differently to different pills. There's always risk involved with birth control. If you are using this to decide what pill is best for you, don't freak out about negative reviews.. your body will review it for you. If one doesn't make you happy, talk to your doctor. Thats what they are for.Read More Read Less

Irregular bleeding for first time users

I began taking Ortho tri-cyclen because my periods were really painful and I was hoping birth control would help. The first week was really tough for me and I felt nauseous all the time. After that, I began finding myself crying all the time and I really had no clue why I was. My boyfriend started to think I was going crazy because I almost never cried unless someone died. As the month went on, I found myself getting angry and constantly picking fights and then a couple minutes later crying because my boyfriend forgot to give me a hug which is one of the most pathetic thing ever and I would definitely never normally do that. I do not recommend this pill because I was a crazy lunatic on it and even had a really hard time sleeping while on the pill. Read More Read Less

Although this is a great birth control, I have seen weight gain since being on this pill. This was my first birth control pill ever taken and I have gained 15 pounds.

This birth control made me absolutely crazy. Normally I have a fairly level personality but on this I was constantly depressed and anything would make me cry (although it took a few months on these pills for these symptoms to escalate) I was almost put on anti-depressant before a doctor suggested I switch birth control to a different pill which leveled out my mood in a week.

I started on the generic form of ortho tri-cyclen about 4 years ago and have switched off of it 6 times because I hate it but unfortunately it is all too affordable compared to other ones I've tried. The biggest problem on it is I went from being a hard ass, able to deal with anything, to crying over nothing. One min crying fallowed shortly after with a violent fits of rage. Not to mention going from a nymph like sex drive to not wanting sex at all. Besides the price the only other reason I keep turning back to it despite hating it (and tired of going to the doctor and them suggesting the most expensive alternative) is that my heavy periods, cramps and acne are under control. I'm about to try for a 7th time, hopefully this one works...Read More Read Less

I began taking OTC at age 16 with very little PMS, no acne & no problems. I've gone off of OTC on two different occasions to have children now ages 20 and 9. I stopped taking it completely after the birth of my second child. However, I have chronic migraines and they are typically worse around my cycle. Along with other treatments for migraines, my doctor suggested using Ortho as it sometimes helps people with migraines. I was on this for four months when I suddenly had severe back pain. I thought it was a pinched nerve or something. After two weeks of this, my leg became swollen to three or four times it's regular size overnight. I went to the ER & was immediately admitted to the hospital. They discovered a blood clot that started in my abdomen and ran nearly the entire length of my leg. Part of the blood clot had broken loose and made it into my lungs causing a pulminary embolism. I never suspected anything like this would happen. I was in miserable pain & had to stay in the hospital for 7 days to take blood thinners which I will now have to take for the rest of my life. This also includes running back and forth to the doctor sometimes 1-4 times per week to have my blood level repeatedly checked to adjust the blood thinner dosage. I was on complete bed rest for a full month and a half afterward. Now, because of the pulminary embolism, I become short of breath even doing some of the smallest things. The doctor concluded that I have a factor 8 deficiency in my blood which is genetic. I was completely unaware of it until that time. If I had not taken the birth control, I would have continued on with life just like I normally would. Now, because of that major blood clot, my life will never be the same again. I was aware of the blood clot risk before taking the pill. I'd never heard of anyone having this problem & didn't think it would happen to me. To be on the safe side, I wish I'd known my doctor could have run blood tests prior to taking the pill & I'd be safe nowRead More Read Less

I started taking ortho tri-cyclen last week. The first of taking this medication I experienced problems with my eye sight. The latter part of the week I have experienced severe nausea. I take the pill at night and I often wake up throughout the night due to the nausea. I am calling today to get another form of birth control. Ortho Tri-Cyclen has had me so ill that I would rather get back on depo and gain 30 pounds. I do not recommend this product to anyone. Doctors should not even prescribe this medication.Read More Read Less

I'm 16 years old and I have been on this pill for 6 months. I take this pill for acne reasons, not sexual purposes. I have had a boyfriend for quite sometime, and I plan on marrying him. However, since I have been taking this pill I have noticed an INCREDIBLE mood difference. I cry for NO reason, and I'm so emotional. I feel awful (especially guilty) that I put my boyfriend and myself through such suffering. I feel distant from people and sometimes depressed for no reason. I make a big deal if my boyfriend doesn't say "I love you" to me, or if doesn't call me. I make a big deal about everything and over exaggerate about everything and I'm sick of it. I always feel like this usually a week after ive had my periods. This is my last month and I'm getting off of it. Read More Read Less

I started taking this pill for absence of periods. the first month was ok for me.... from the second month i had severe breast pain, stomach upset and dizziness....... I would never recommend this pill.

I was on this pill when I was 19yo for help with cramping. I started taking it September, by May I had had stroke. I would not recommend this medication for anyone.

I started using Ortho Tri-Cyclen for acne 2 months ago. So far it hasn't helped my acne at all-I think it may actually be worse. I have had some spotting in between periods, but I think that's normal when starting new birth control. I have been somewhat more emotional and depressed but its usually right before my period. I haven't noticed any extreme side effects but it just seems like its not helping acne! I'm going stay on for a few more months to see if it helps then.

I was on Lutera for 5 years. Absolutely loved it. I never had any negative side effects (no weight gain, mood swings, baby-free, etc.) I have recently been under a lot of stress and developed some mild to moderate acne. Of course, I wanted that to go away so when my annual gyno appt. came up I asked about different birth controls that would help with acne. My gyno suggested Ortho Tri-Cyclen (I got the generic form called Trinessa). This is my first and last month on this pill. I cannot deal with the negative side effects. I was sick to my stomach the first week. I've also had terrible mood swings the entire month (crying at the drop of a hat, freaking out over little things, depressed) and NO sex drive whatsoever, which is not like me. It's starting to put a strain on my relationship so I called my doctor and switched back to my Lutera. I'm sure my acne will clear up on its own since it's due to stress. To me the side effects aren't worth it. I've talked to three different women that had similar experiences on Ortho Tri-Cyclen and now I'm reading a lot of reviews of the drug that say the same things.Read More Read Less