Switching From Loestrin 24 Fe To Minastrin 24 Fe (Page 10)

Hey Guys!
So I went to the pharmacy to pick up my monthly pack of LoEstrin 24 Fe two weeks ago, only to find out that the makers of LoEstrin 24 Fe discontinued the pills and are replacing it with Minastrin 24 Fe. (I am VERY disappointed to report that I was NEVER notified of the discontinuation, as my reproductive health care is apparently not a priority of my pharmacy or my doctor). My pharmacist says it's the same pill as it is made by the same company and contains the same amount of hormones in it, the only difference is that this pill is chewable. The pharmacist then proceeded to tell me that she would be happy to fill in the prescription for me expect that since she could not get a hold of my doctor to approve the Minastrin, I could not purchase it which caused me to start my pack late. I was supposed start the new pack on a Sunday at 9pm but did not start it until Monday morning at 10:40am when the pharmacist finally got a hold of my doctor (this would put me at taking the pill roughly 13 hours late). I then proceeded to take my normal dosage for Monday night at 9pm. When my boyfriend and I are sexually active we always use condoms and pull out, in addition to taking the pills but since I started my pack late, I'm very worried that my birth control pills aren't effective. I haven't been sexually active at all this month because I'm too nervous about an unplanned pregnancy. The pharmacist told me that as long as I double up on taking two pills on Monday (which is what I did) I should be fine and no additional contraceptive is needed but the nurse at my gyno's office says that the pills won't be effective for two weeks and that during that time I need to use another form of contraception. I don't know who to believe! Does anyone have any insight on this, or has anyone been through something like this while making the switch from LoEstrin 24 Fe to Minastrin 24 Fe? Is there a high possiblity that a pregnancy could occur if I decide to become sexually active this month, as I started the new pill pack late? Thanks for your help!

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Yes, she had one. That's how we saw all about the ovarian cysts. We are still at a loss at what to do. I HATE IT when I say to the doc: What have other ladies been doing about this? Is anyone else having trouble with this drug? And she just gives us this blank stare like "what are you talking about" and says NOPE I've heard no complaints about it.

We are just at a loss. That's why I keep up with this thread hoping SOMEONE finds an answer to this nightmare! I agree "F the pharmacuetical companies!"

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My body went through 2 months WITHOUT A PERIOD then this month , I had a normal period, but 13 days later, I've started again!!!!! UGHHH

Anyone else?

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Hi, I see that your doctor told you the pill would be Inaffective if it wasn't chewed, I have been swallowing mine since they first made the switch and have not had any problems. My pharmacist told me that it was fine. Hope this information may help you!

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I had a similar experience, after years and years of being on Loestrin 24Fe I had to switch and after 1 pack of it (so about 3 months) I developed a cyst. I have zero history of them and even the GYNO said that that shouldn't happen since I am on the pill. I started chewing the crap out of them and doing the 8 oz of water thing because other forums said that doing that would help but honestly I'm pretty freaked out that my body even tried to ovulate while on the pill....this stuff is not ok.

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JM, I'm experiencing the exact same thing! I'm actual quite relieved to see your post. My mind is obsessing and over analyzing EVERYTHING, it can't rest, and even when I do fall asleep, I have horrid, vivid nightmares. I have trouble describing it. I feel dissociated, emotionless, and almost "elsewhere" or not in my body. I'm a very religious person and it scared me the other day when I found myself questioning my faith, and now can't quit obsessing about it, it's just so random. I know in my heart what I believe, but my mind can't let anything go. I've always been a very imaginative person and have lost my imagination, and am making everything logical and loosing my sense of creativity.

I kept racking my brain trying to think if I had taken something different, but am not on any medications, besides the occasional allergy pill. I knew I started feeling "different" about 2 weeks ago, which then I remembered is when I started my pills again (for acne, which ended up causing worse acne) and that it had changed to a different name, and immediately jumped online to see what others had to say, it's scary! I'm terrified, feel like I keep getting that cold rush when you are suddenly terrified of something, like an elephant's always on my chest and a knot is in my stomach. I even took a Valerian capsule to help relax me, it helped slow my mind down a little but it came right back full force the next day. I can't enjoy anything and feel unhappy about everything I loved so much. Please keep me posted as to how you feel, I'm praying I soon return to normal. I was actually concerned it was the beginning of a mental illness, like schizophrenia or something.

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I'm sorry to hear so many of you are having such trouble with ministrin. The only thing I've noticed is that I cramp more on the first day of my period and now I always - ALWAYS - get a headache on the second day of my period. I've found ministrin to be more exact than loestrin. By that I mean if I am very careful about taking my pills at the same time everyday, I will start my period around lunch time on a Tuesday, get a headache on Wednesday night, and be done with my period on Friday afternoon. I don't mind, though, I really like the exactness. I have noticed no change in mood.

I asked my doctor about them only being effective after chewing them and she laughed and said, "No, it's just an option but you dont' have to do it. A lot of women don't like how they taste so don't worry about it."

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Wow, this is crazy! I just had an EKG and have an appt with a cardiologist all set because my heart palpitations have been so bad! I had not associated the whole thing to this pill, even though I had already decided to stop since I gained 6 pounds in 8 weeks, and none of my clothes fit me. Thanks for sharing!

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I had a fainting spell in Walgreens and was rushed to the hospital. I have been on my pills 3 months and starting my 4 th but think I'm quiting. I also have to follow up with a nurologist and cardiologist :(

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I had many of the same issues described throughout this thread during my two months of torture on Minastrin after years of happiness with LoEstrin 24. The first month, the mood swings were incredible, and I had NEVER been a moody person before. I would snap and scream and cry at the smallest and most mundane things (such as someone breaking down a cardboard box I needed). I had terrible acne when I had almost none before. I got 2-3 migraines a month when before I got 2-3 migraines a year. I gained weight and had low energy, couldn't sleep, and was just an unpleasant person to both be around and simply be. The mood swings leveled off a bit in the second month, but I was still anxious and generally grouchy constantly.

My doctor switched me to Mirena, an IUD, and aside from the associated side effects from insertion, it has been a godsend. Honestly, if you've ever wondered about an IUD, ask your doctor and take the plunge. It's rough at first, but it's one of the best things I've ever done for myself. Anyway, to get back to Minastrin and it's lovely *ahem* effects, my migraines, extra weight, acne, and sleeplessness all disappeared within days of stopping the pill. After the first 24 hours post-Minastrin, my mood was stable and high and I felt like I had found myself again. At first, I just thought I had had a good day, but that normal feeling of stability and tranquility has returned for good.

I was surprised to find reference to ovarian cysts on this board. I thought mine had just randomly started on their own, but now that I think about it, the first one did arrive with Minastrin. The first one I had did go away after a few cycles, and I have a second one now. Hopefully it will disappear as well. I've only had Mirena for 5 weeks or so.

I wish Warner Chilcott (the manufacturer) had their contact information readily available so we could take our complaints directly to them. How horribly greedy can you be to hormonally mess with thousands of women in an effort to make more money off pharmaceutical patents? And btw, my doctor agrees with the preceding statement.

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For those of you who have experienced heart palpitations on minastrin, have you found another pill that has not caused the heart flutters? I was on loestrin 24 fe with no problems so I decided to try loestrin 1/20. Still experiencing heart palpitations though.

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I am so incredibly thankful to have stumbled across the forum. Like most of you ladies, I, too, was forced over onto the Minastrin boat after Loestrin 24 FE became discontinued. Before I was initially given Minastrin, I accepted the pharmacy's offering (with a doctor's approval of prescription) for Gildess, opting for it over Microgestin. I'm not sure if there could have been a win/win in this situation. Point blank -- I was none too pleased that this highly effective, on many levels, BC was being taken off the market, discontinued, and replaced-- just like that. I can safely say that Gildess FE oral, a "generic" offering in placement of Loestrin...well, it basically destroyed me. Some women are not meant to take generic medications, on a per case basis, and it just so happened I was not meant to take Gildess. 2-3 weeks into the first and only pack, I started displaying signs of mental illness that I do/did not have previously. The only way I can try to describe it, is that I felt like I had absolutely no control over my thoughts, emotions, behaviors...like, my brain had detached itself from forming any type of rationale and this...this..."poisonous" and terrible pill I had put in my body was taking over. I have never felt so uncomfortable in my whole life; I couldn't control my reactions to anything. Well, after that one terrifying month on Gildess, was I finally on the "correctly intended" BC, Minastrin. Like all of you, I was told nothing had changed about the medication, merely just the name. That was a bold faced falsity if I have ever heard one. My cramps are frequently so severe to the point that it's almost debilitating, I have gained 15 lbs. since October. With the exception of being pregnant, I have never weighed as much in my life, as I do now. I've also never been healthier or active (in my adulthood) as I am now, yet nothing seems to matter. None of my pants fit, no matter how strict I try and FURTHER tailor my already anal health conscious diet and up my exercise regimen...nothing happens except for a slow and steady weight gain. Basically, from what I've gathered, thanks to all you wonderful women contributing experiences and shedding light on the very upsetting, depressing, nerve-wracking and overall unpleasant side effects...this BC is a terrible thing to put in one's body and sounds like it should be ripped off of the market. It's causing more harm than good, sure it's pouring more cash flow into the doctor's pockets, because we have to keep scheduling further tests and appointments, etc. But if we can make a difference in more women's lives...we're at least taking something positive away from something so repulsive.

I would like to ask: how many women have tried the Lo Loestrin FE? Lomedia? I've already sent in a request to be changed over to the Lo Loestrin FE, since I've discovered positive reviews and experiences from women placed on that medication, but I'd love to hear more feedback.

Overall, I realize that each woman is going to react differently to any and all medications they are placed on, but I find it comforting to know that a collective group has pulled together, typed out their thoughts, and put it out there for other women to find.

For that, I thank you all. I am so terribly saddened and angered at the overwhelming amount of negative responses this medication has stirred up.

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I would also like to clarify and reiterate the fact that I absolutely had no problems, whatsoever, the whole time (4+ years) I was on Loestrin FE. Minastrin is the devil.

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Could it be that the side effects your daughter experienced on Lomedia were left over from her 2 1/2 weeks on Minastrin? It takes a cycle or two for those chemicals to get out of your body.

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Hubby just pointed out I haven't been getting wet even after an organ. Just dries up. Been on minastrin for bout 7 months. Been crazy moody and just starting to suspect it's probably cause of those Damn pills. Have no idea what to replace them with. I miss loestrin

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So what can we do? This is a NIGHTMARE for everyone! It's ludicrious in this day and age that we KNOW what is wrong, yet there's no help? Really now!
Where do we call? Where do we go? What do we do?

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It's horrible! I wish I knew what to do... I'm scared to take or try anything now
:(

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Can someone please tell me if they found a birth control like loestrin? I too was on it and had to switch to minastrin and was miserable moody and had my period forever on it. Currently I'm not taking anything but need to find something that's not going to throw my hormones all over the place. Any help is much appreciated. Thanks in advance:)

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I had the same issue! On top of that, it's way more expensive and I can't afford it now. When I started the minastrin after the loestrin, nobody told me I was getting something different and nobody told me it was chewable (they definitely didn't tell me that if I didn't chew it, it wouldn't work). Luckily, mine is solely for period control, as I'm not sexually active, but I was very upset to find this new pill practically useless. I basically get the flu every month and I have to take the first two days of my period off of work because I can't even drive. It has put me in a horrid situation. I can't afford the new pill and I miss two days of work every month because it isn't even useful. Has anyone found anything else more useful or at least close to the effectiveness of the loestrin??

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I too was on loestrin 24 for years and loved it, And loestrin 1.5/30 for years before that and loved that. Was switched in November after loestrin 24 went away, Three months of annoying , annoying side effects on minastrin which evidently meant it wasn't as effective because now I'm 3 months pregnant. :/

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OH NO!!! Wow. Not only are we being tortured by side affects, but our family planning IS OUT THE WINDOW too! Wow!

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