So I have been on birth control for almost 3 months. The first 2 months I was on Yasmin. Yasmin was okay but I was getting pretty bad headaches and mood swings like the night before I was to get my period, so my doc decided that I should switch pills and try Yaz. I am at the end of my first month of Yaz (this is my last full week of active pills) and I feel worse than I did when I was on Yasmin. I feel like everything makes me want to try. Definitely overly emotional. I tend to be a fairly emotional person, but things this month have made me want to cry that never would have before.

I have an appointment with my doc on Tuesday to talk about switching pills. He knows that I would like to switch to Low Ogestrel 28/Lo Ovral 28. I was on this pill back about 3 years ago for about 6 months and remember having no problem at all. No mood swings, no bloating, no breakthrough bleeding, etc. I'm hoping that it will be the same this time around, presuming my doc is okay with the switch.

Has anyone else been on Low Ogestrel 28/Lo Ovral 28? If so, what has been your experience with it? I know that it has been out for a while, which I think can definitely be a good thing sometimes.

Thanks for your help,
Liz

Hi coopere3

I don't understand why doctors are so enamored with Yaz. It's so expensive and I never felt comfortable with the potassium overload thing (just me, I guess). BCP have been on the market for years, and this is the best they have? Not only that, I don't know about your insurance, but mine didn't cover Yaz and it cost me to the tune of $30 a month. The whole PMDD indication for Yaz and Yasmin may be the components of the drug that help some people, but perhaps have a different effect on others, such as yourself.

I too, went back and asked to be put on a standard pill, more in line with what I took years ago. She put me on Microgestin Fe and I've never been happier. And it's available in generic. Ten bucks a month. Can't beat that!

;)

Girls, I've said before and I'll say it again: All combination birth control pills (yes, even the infamous Yaz) deplete many of the B vitamins as well as magnesium, vitamin C, and Zinc. No doctor ever told me about this, I did my own research. Just the depletion of the B vitamins and magnesium alone can cause a whole host of problems with your mood including depression, mood swings, anxiety, etc. Taking a good B complex vitamin usually replenishes what's being lost and alleviates these symptoms. Although it wouldn't hurt to take a magnesium supplement, too. When I was on the pill, I just took the B complex, though, and it helped me a lot. As for why the doctors push the Yaz so much, it's because it's one of the newest pills on the market and they're more than likely getting financial kick backs from the drug company for every script that they write for it. Why else would they continually push a pill that obviously so many women are unhappy with? Say it with me: M-O-N-E-Y. Just my honest opinion. I'm sooo glad I'm not on hormonal birth control anymore. These doctors are so annoying.

Kittywitty,
Thanks for the advice, although I am already taking a Vitamin B complex. Every morning I take a multivitamin, vit B complex, 500 mg of vitamin C, and a cranberry pill. So, I don't think that is the reason for my mood swings. When I was on Lo Ovral back a few years ago, I wasn't taking the Vit B complex and still had no mood swings.

For me, although probably not for the doctors, the money isn't a problem. With my insurance I only pay 10$ a month for Yaz.

Thanks for your help,
Liz

You're welcome, Liz, and glad to hear that you're supplementing with these things, it's so important, especially when you're on the pill. Every woman is different in her reaction to a given pill, though. Usually, but not always, the B complex will help with the mood stuff. I've just read so much bad things on this board about Yaz and Yasmin, it's ridiculous. I would never even consider those two if I went back on the pill. Regarding the Lo Ovral, I was on it a long time ago when I was in my teens (I'm 37 now). Unfortunately, I don't remember if I liked it or not, though, since it was so long ago, sorry. I was on it for a while, though, so maybe I liked it? Maybe someone else will come along to tell you about a more recent experience they had with it. Anyway, I do agree that the fact that it's been out for a while is a comfort. I just don't think that they do enough clinical studies with these new pills nowadays, and that they're too quick to throw them out on the market to make money. Good luck to you. :)

Hi Cooper! I can tell you that my daughter just stopped taking Low - Ogestrel. She had been on Aviane initially, but had breakthrough bleeding, so switched to Low-Ogestrel. In a 2 month period of time, she has gained 10 pounds. She exercisies regularly and eats healthy, so this is the only change in her life. That, along with an increase of at least an entire cup size, was just too much for her small frame, so she decided to stop before it got out of hand. I have seen posts where after several months, this weight gain tends to even out, but we were not willing to take that chance. She will just be starting ortho-tri lo tomorrow which was her very first one she was ever on. She seemed to do well on that, but we had to switch because of insurance purposes. She is hoping that it will still be the same for her this time around, and hopefully the breasts will go down, and with a little hard work, so will the weight. If it doesn't she is off of pills entirely for a while. Now, I don't want to scare you, because if there is one thing I have learned throughout this entire research period, is that everyone reacts differently even to the same pill, and it is a little trial and error unfortunately. We didn't even know what to think at the start of this weight gain, because she had never experienced that before, and we didn't even give it a second thought. But after having her thyroid checked, and all was well, it dawned on us that it was the BCP, and it all started when she switched. Low- ogestral is 30 mg of estrogen compared to Aviane's 20. The progestrin is more also, but a different kind. This is just our experience, of course, so good luck to you.

Alpha16-
Thanks for your reply. I have been in Lo Orval for about 2 weeks now. Actually, I have been on Cryselle 28, which is a generic of Lo Ogestrel, and so far have not had any real problems. I was on this pill, actually Low Ogestrel 28, anther generic for Lo Orval back about 4 years ago, and didn't have any problems that I remembered, which is why I decided to give it a try again. As far as birth control pills go, I have been on Yasmin, Yaz and Lo Orval and so far Lo Orval is the best for me. With all 3 of the bc pills that I have been on, I have never really had a problem with weight gain, the biggest problem for me, that happened on Yaz and Yasmin, were the moodiness. I guess it really wasn't mood swings, but it was feeling like I could cry over anything. Things have been better on Cryselle so far, which I am thankful for. I have had a little bit of break through bleeding the past few days, but apparently that is pretty common after switching pills and just in general on bc pills. It is interesting that you said that your daughter's breasts got bigger on Lo Orval, because mine did on Yaz and Yasmin, but I have noticed that they have begin to go back to my normal size being on Lo Orval. I guess different pills just effect everyone differently. Thanks for your input and I really hope your daughter feels better on Ortho tricyclin lo.

Liz

Liz~

Yes, I think the breakthrough bleeding is pretty common with switching pills. I am so relieved that you mentioned your breasts going back to normal, because I think this side effect bothers her more than anything. She cant even fit into her clothing. How long did it take until you started seeing a difference?

Pat

Pat,
I would say that I recently noticed a change, so it was about a week and a half after starting the new pill. I hape your daughter has the same experience,
Liz