New to board..Need some help please!!

[JuiciCouture]

Hi..Im 21 years old..I was on Nordette 28 for the past 2 years. Absolutely no side effects (except morning sickness and minor breakout the first 3 months that I took it) (I had mild acne throughout my younger teenage years but had almost no breakouts while on Nordette.) My insurance company switched me to generic, Levora.. And my skin started..slowly but surely, to break out on my chin. (the only place I broke out before taking bcp..in cystic type acne..which ive been told numerous times is hormonally induced.)
I stopped taking it and this will be my 3rd month without it. (and slowly but surely the breakouts seem less aggrivated and harsh but still there) I went to the gyno and she gave me Estrostep Fe. I am having major reservations about taking something different than Nordette (Im kicking myself now for not just asking for it!) She said Estrostep will help with acne. Ive been reading alot of negetive things about it and conflicting information in general.
So- If anyone could help me out, i would be so appreciative. I will be starting a pack of pills this coming Sunday.. So I need to either take the sample she gave me, or call and get Nordette.
I read that levorgestral (sp?) is the most androgenic type of pill (which nordette is), which in turn, is most acne causing. Yet- Ive heard nothing from anyone saying that it broke them out badly..where I have read that Estrostep has.. How is it that Nordette doesnt seem to cause major acne, where Estrostep (which is intended for acne helping qualities...) has? Some websites even listed Estrostep as a pill to avoid for helping acne!!!
SO my major question/dilemma is.. What pill would you personally take? Do you think my body grew tired of the levorgestral and my hormonal acne came back.. Do you think it was just the generic pill that didnt agree with me and I should try Nordette again? Or would Estrostep Fe be a good pill to take?
Its really ruining my social life and I need to fix this problem. Thank you so much for the help anyone can provide.

[uglynow]

That's very strange. I've been on Nordette (I've never known anyone else on it!! so it's nice to hear) for a looong time. But as you, my insurance changed to Levora. I didn't think much of it, since it's the same formula but now that you mention it - I also had a major acne break out. The dermatologist said it was hormonal changes and sometimes it sticks around and others you're stuck with it.
If the Nordette was working out fine for you, I would just call your dr. and let her know the problems you're having with the generic and have her call in a prescription for Nordette. I think the insurance still covers it, but you just pay a little more.
I can't believe I never thought about it before! I've been having skin problems for about 2-3yrs now and until I read your post I didn't realize it MAY be the switch from brand to generic. That is so odd. I wonder what Nordette has or doesn't have in comparison to Levora....
Well, I don't know if I helped at all but I hope your Dr. helps you out! (I've had dr.'s try and switch my pills and I really don't want to - I've never ever had an issue with Nordette and so many people are always complaining about their different brands of pills that I'm afraid to even try)

Good luck and keep us posted!! (and thanks for the "enlightment" - I will let you know if I notice any difference in my skin by insisting on brand vs. generic)

[JuiciCouture]

I never see people on Nordette either! I was so delighted to see a response from someone on it. Was your skin clear on Nordette?
Levora definately has something in it that affected my skin. I used to get compliments on my skin, even in the bad lighting at the mall..and now..I hide!
I would try to contact your Dr and see what he/she says about you switching back!
I never had any negetive side effects with Nordette.. It just seems safe to me. (Like you said..Im afraid to switch.) Even though the Estrostep box says "with acne indication" ...my gut is telling me to go back on Nordette.
Tri-phasic pills kind of scare me..I dont want to be all over the place emotionally. I also heard that when the pill increases to 35 mg the week before your period..some people get terrible breakouts. On nordette..I didnt even break out before or after my period. On levora..it was like clockwork.. about 3 days AFTER my period..Id get a couple cystic acne breakouts.
But anyways.. I just wanted to see different people's experiences with each pill. Ive read so many different things about Estrostep.. (Decreased sex drive, acne, bloating, fatigue..etc).. I had nothing on Nordette.
Im so glad that you read my post and replied!!! Keep me posted and we can try to figure this Levora/Nordette mystery out!!!

[uglynow]

wow! that was quick!
Maybe we hold the secret to the best pill ever made!
I've asked my doctor if Levora is the same and she said supposedly yes. I will call them and tell them to switch me back to brand (it sucks 'cos it will be more expensive, but it's worth the try)
I've always had perfect skin (not to sound conceited) and like you I got a lot of compliments on it. I really thought the change was more because of my age (it started happening after I turned 28 and everyone said it was like a "welcome to old-haggardness" type thing) But I'm so intrigued now, because that's around the time that I went to the pharmacy to pick up my Nordette and freaked out when I saw the pink box instead. The pharmacist said "oh it's just the generic version, but don't worry it's the same formula - we can switch it back if you want, but it'll cost you more"...
and my skin has been on and off ever since (it was really really bad the first year).

Thanks so much for responding too! and I will definitely repost when I have some results (hopefully!) I really think that maybe even by law they would have to grant you the pill that wasn't creating problems for you. If I were you I would call the Insurance co. and your dr. and tell them that generic isn't working for you and you don't want to screw up your system by being a guinea pig with all these pills.

Good Luck and we'll keep posted!

[Tigress223]

Hi Everyone,

Levora isn't actually a generic it's a different brand of the same BCP at Nordette. So is Levlen.

I took Levlen 28 for 10 years. My skin was great but my sex drive wasn't. Due to insurance the company substitued Levora for Levlen. The ACTIVE ingredients are THE SAME but I started breaking out again. My sex drive went up and so did my blood pressure.

Whether the drug is a generic or a different brand/manufacturer the active ingredients will be the same. The difference comes in the fillers which can make a drug cheaper to make. Fillers are not supposed to make a difference but they do, no matter what the drug companies try to tell you. If you find something that works well for you and can afford it, stick with it. If you had good luck with Nordette and experienced probs with Levora I'd ask for Nordette.

Hope this helps.