Loestrin? - Birth Control Message Board

stelladicielo · 08-03-2006, 07:46 PM

Hi, I was just switched to Loestrin 1.5/30, my doctor told me to just do the generic version Microgestin 1.5/30 because it was cheaper and she didn't think there was a difference. I just wanted to check and see if anyone knew and if they had experienced problems with the generic version and the pill in general. I just switched from a horrible experience with seasonale and have read good things about it so far but mostly for the 1/20 version. Has anyone taken this and what did they experience? Also, was anyong on the generic and switched to the name brand? I am on the pill because of extremely horrible cramps and I heard this one worked well with cramps. I am kind of thrown off with only having 21 pills. I know that the last 7 don't do anything but it was nice having them there anyway. Thanks so much!

Bracelet · 08-03-2006, 09:07 PM

I tried seasonale but was so miserable, I'm lucky I didn't kill myself. I'm really glad to hear that you got off that crappy med. If you know anyone else who is thinking of taking it, make sure you tell them how bad it is. The more women who refuse to take it, the more likely the drug company will pull it off the market.

Anyway, regarding the Loestrin/Microgestin.... I was on Loestrin for about a month or 2, until I switched insurance and discovered the microgestin was cheaper. I had been on BCPs over the years, 14 years total, and I'm pretty sure I spent the longest time on microgestin. I initially started taking the pill for heavy cramps and bleeding. To be honest, perhaps my periods were slightly lighter and lasted maybe a day or 2 less, but when you're bleeding for 9 days without the pill, then 7 days doesn't sound too much better.

As for the cramps, I never found a pill to help with them. I finally quit taking the pill at the end of June and I'm having my first period since quitting the pill. My first real period, I mean. My cramps have been like nothing. I honestly have only had to take advil maybe twice in this week, whereas before when on the pill, I was popping 600mg ibuprofen every 3 hours because of the pain.

Microgestin really wasn't much different for me than any of the other pills I took. But I guess since I stuck with it the longest, I must have had fewer side effects than the others. I still got sporadic breakthrough bleeding and it didn't do much to help prevent acne, and my sex drive has pretty much been dead for the last 14 years. But at this point, after so long, it's my opinion that pretty much all hormonal birth control is crap and that no woman should take it at all because it's just not as healthy as they led you to believe.

But I suppose if I ever were to start taking them again (which it will be a cold day in hell before that ever happens), I suppose I'd probably go back to microgestin, only because it's the one I took longest and had I guess the fewest issues while I was taking it.

I hope that answers your question.