Switching From Loestrin 24 Fe To Minastrin 24 Fe (Page 14)

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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I'm on my 3rd pack of Minstring 24 FE. I'm emotional all the time. I cry a lot and my emotions are all over the place. I thought it was the start of me going through the change.

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This is the second name change for loestrin it is the same pill and does the same thing weather chewed or not. I have been on this one for 6 months. It is exactly the same.

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FWIW, my daughter has been trying Ortho Tri-Cyclen for a few months and has had no noticiable side effects. Still VERY upset that the pharmacuetical companies discontinued a drug that worked like Loestrin Fe

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I too have been having issues since the switch. The worst one being terrible ACNE. It's absolutley horrible and my skin has never looked or felt this bad, ever. It's extremely painful. The only other side effect for me has been the mood swings. I cry over the stupidest things. I fully believe that this whole "chewable" aspect is to blame. All the artificial sweeteners used to make the pill palatable don't mix correctly with the hormones. Has anyone had success with a different birth control other than loestrin?

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I got my discount card from my doctor. My insurance doesn't cover it and the pharmacist could only get it down to $41. I'm definitely switching.

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I bleed one day, if that on minastrin! I was nervous at first because I thought I was pregnant because my period on any other pill started within two days of taking the sugar/blank pills. But I'm on month 3 now and this has been the trend. It took some getting used to but I love it. I have no acne, I lost 6-8 lb almost instantly , I switched from cryselle, I was fat bloated and insane on that and had acne! Chewing the pill was strange at first but I just drink a large glass of water after. I've missed pills once for 3 days in a row and caught them back up when I realized and had some cramping and stomach discomfort, never spotting, but I was abstinent to assure I wouldn't get pregnant during that massive slip up. Over all I love this pill coming from taking cryselle aka psychotic pill.

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There are two manufacturers making the generic for Loestrin 24 Fe now. Amneal with Lomedia and Mylan (not sure if they have a name or use the incredibly long chemical one). So if your insurance didn't cover it before because there was only one manufacturer, they should now! Don't let them get away with anything less than the $0 co-pay mandated by Obama-care.

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Hello Ladies! I have been taken minastrin for 2months and the last 2 weeks of each cycle I start having a moderate amount of dark brown spotting, that lasts for forever it seems like. I even have to wear a tampon some days because it's quite a bit. But it's all dark brown. The last 2-3 days I have red blood which is heavy. Is this normal??? I'm trying to wait 3 months before I decide if I should stop taking them. But this brown spotting is really driving me crazy and messing up my sex life...lol.

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I'll be done for the month in two days! I hate pills. I'm 40 and haven't taken a birth control pill since I was 28. Only on now because I'm so irregular. I've been bleeding for over 2 weeks and have never felt so sad, so tired and weird. Depressing is endless. I'm major workout girl. Finally forced myself to get on treadmill for an hour tonight. Just feel wrong.

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Get off of these! Find something else. You shouldn't be feeling this way! It's just wrong!

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I'm also upset by the switch, I mean everyone is saying it's the same but I never had issues with loestrin 24 fe and like others now my acne is terrible, super emotional, and gaining weight! :( I'm so upset, I wish I knew another pill to try. I can't believe I'm not the only one experiencing acne and most of all this DEPRESSION & ANXIETY! I hate feeling this way! Heeeeelp

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I just started taking birth control last year because of years of unbearable cramps and began with Lo Loestrin FE. Unlike most women here, I had a horrible experience with that one. It helped immensely the first month but then I started spotting and after the second month, I was basically having a period every 2 weeks and nausea through the roof. My GYN switched me to Minastrin 24 FE. I noticed I'm more anxious, depressed, and irritable and I think I have gained a little weight but I'm not entirely sure. I skipped my period the first month of taking it, the first time I ever missed a period in 10 years, but i knew that was normal (and was honestly glad for the break lol) It came back right on time the second month, with only mild cramps. I have lots of headaches now too, but I don't know if that's because of the pills or stress. (I have started clenching my teeth a lot due to stress which will cause me to have a headache if I don't realize I'm doing it.) Reading these reviews makes me kind of scared to keep taking it but I think I will continue till after the third month and give my body ample time to get used to it.

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I was 2 days Into my 4 th month when I fainted in Walgreens. The headaches were horrible every day. I haven't had a headache since I stopped taking the pill which was April 15.

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Hi! I too just started taking Minastrin and since I've been taking them I have nightmares every single night. Is this a normal side effect?
Anybody else gets nightmares?

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I'd just like to add to my post an update that I have started taking the pill before I go to bed, which is usually around midnight. (I used to take it at 8 PM) I have been headache-free and feel better in general while taking this pill! My mom, who's a nurse, suggested this to me and does the same with patients who have bad side effects with medications. If you take it before bed, you mostly sleep through the annoying side effects. Just want to put it out there for women who are having bad side effects and want to try and make it work before switching. :)

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Hi,

I'm curious to know your daughters results. Was it the pill or was it something else? I'm experiencing all of these "severe" symptoms as well which are affecting my life. I'm dizzy everyday and it comes in waves and have severe anxiety. My BP is extremely high and I'm only 25 yet work out five days a week and have a normal heart rate. I've discontinued using Minastrin as of this week (thanks to seeing your post!). Curious to know your daughters outcome as this is has been affecting me since May last year!

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Minastrin 24 Fe should be illegal. It ruined my life for two months. I couldn't sleep and felt like I was having panic attacks throughout the night. I would lie completely awake until 5 or 6 in the morning. I was completely detached from everyone and everything around me. I felt depressed and like I was going crazy. I had no control over my thoughts or emotions. NONE of these are problems I have had before. Because I had been INCORRECTLY instructed that Minastrin Fe was "the exact same thing" as Lo Estrin it took me 10 weeks to realize that it was my birth control causing this, as I had been on Lo Estrin for 4 years with no problems at all. In hindsight I don't know how I didn't realize it was the birth control sooner, except that it messed with my mind so much that perhaps I just wasn't thinking straight. It makes me sad to read the posts of everyone else who has dealt with the horrible side effects of the drug. Please spread the word!!!

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Your assessment is SPOT ON. I wish I knew where we could all go to complain or tell someone that this stuff is evil. It's like no one cares. I'm sorry you had to go thru this!

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If you are asking me, yes, it was the pills. My daughter had ZERO problems while taking LoEstrin Fe. The Ministrin was NIGHTMARE. We reluctantly tried Ortho Tri-Cyclen and at least it's not WICKED like Ministrin or Lomedia. Unfortunately, the Ortho Tri-Cyclen is BRAND NAME and is not covered by insurance. The packets we got were samples from the doctors office. This past Sunday, I got the generic prescription filled. So, we shall see if THIS generic acts as wicked as our last experience. This has been a DEVESTATING experience . . . THANKS ALOT TO THOSE moron executives who wouldn't renew the patent for LoEstrin!

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I am haaaating this switch to minastein! I've been on it for a few months now and all of a sudden started getting a period, which I haven't had in 3 years. Now this month I started my period 2 weeks early and stuck around for 2 weeks. Stopped for 2 days and got my full on period again on my "normal" start day. My cramps have always been intense, but this month nothing will dull the pain. I have been putting on weight so fast and I thought it was maybe me not working out as often, but for this weight to come on so fast and heavy was unexplainable. Till I noticed everyone else has been gaining crazy weight too. Ugh I miss my loestrin sooooo much! I have to switch yet again but now what to?!

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I am 39 and Have been on loEstrin 24 Fe for many years to now find out that it's no longer being made and was being ...

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