Out of Stock Triphasil-28

[elephantlvr]

I've been on Triphasil 28 for so many years I can't tell you when I began. Now, trying to get my prescription renewed (I do it every 3 months), was told it was out of stock, to have the doctor call in a different drug.

I looked on the internet and sure enough, the manufactor, Wyeth, has a news release that Triphasil 28 is temporarily out of stock. That was 8/2/06.

I think they are pulling off the market. Why would this happen?

Anyone know about this? Did this happen to anyone else with a different drug?

I never heard of this, except when a drug if pulled for side effects. Maybe it is not profitable to them and they want women to switch.

Well I have to, but to a different manufactor, so I guess they lost a customer. But I really do not want to swtich. I was feeling pretty terrible on other pills before I found this one that I felt not as terrible on.

[pumpkin04]

Hi! No, Triphasil is not being pulled from the market, however, it is a very popular drug. Generic for ortho tri cyclen so it is possible that the manufacturer is just back ordered. it happens with many drugs all the time. try getting your script transfered to a different pharmacy, they may have some in stock. if not ask your doctor to call in for othro tri cyclen. it is the same thing except it does cost more.

[elephantlvr]

Thank you so much for the response. I called two local pharmacies and neither had any Tripasil in stock, so I did not call any others. I figured that none probably had anymore since the "out of stock" occured at the begining of the month, all pharmacies must be out of it now (29 days have now passed).

I just hope the new pill does not cause me any awful side affects. Trying to be positive and maybe it will be better.

[GLSheridan]

Originally Posted by pumpkin04

Hi! No, Triphasil is not being pulled from the market, however, it is a very popular drug. Generic for ortho tri cyclen so it is possible that the manufacturer is just back ordered. it happens with many drugs all the time. try getting your script transfered to a different pharmacy, they may have some in stock. if not ask your doctor to call in for othro tri cyclen. it is the same thing except it does cost more.

Triphasil is brand drug and is not a generic for Ortho Tricyclen. They're two different drugs and have a different progestin (Triphasil as levonorgestrel and Ortho TriCyclen has norgestimate) at varying dosages. However, Trivora and Tri-Levlen are generics for Triphasil, so that's an option; they're chemically identical to Triphasil.

If Trivora or Tri-Levlen are not available as well, there are many other pills with the same progestin, so you have a few options. Granted, the other pills aren't identical to Triphasil, but you'd probably be able to tolerate them pretty well. Another triphasic pills containing levonorgestrel is Estrostep.

Right now, Wyeth (Triphasil's manufacturer) is saying that the product is just temporarily out of stock, so maybe it will be readily available soon. However, it's not uncommon for prescription drugs to be "temporarily out of stock" and then never reenter the market.

Definately consult with your physician. I'm sure that the back-ordering has affected many other women in the practice, so it shouldn't come as a surprise to the office.

[elephantlvr]

It's 3 weeks later and I am still trying to resolve this.

The doctor gave me a prescription for Ortho Cyclen - two weeks ago, and my insurance will not cover the brand name drug at all found out last week. Would cost me $80 a month.

They will let me get the generic for something like $14.00 a month.

I have a call into the doctor since last week on Monday. She was on Vcacation, returned on Tuesday this week.

I called back yesterday and still am waiting for a call back.

Should I just get the generic of Othro Cyclen? I might have to since my doctor does not think I am important enough for a call back to try to find another pill to replace the Triphasil that the insurance would cover.

This is such a pain. I don't want to call the dr's office again - I know I will not be very nice this time and I do not want to call them irritated.

Anybody took generic birth control pills? I really do not want to do that. Just do not trust them as much.

Thanks