Switching From Loestrin 24 Fe To Minastrin 24 Fe (Page 5)

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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REPORT

I started birth control right when Loestrin stopped being made. I was weary of the chewable because while I just started birth control I was educated in many different types and wasn't sure this would be right for me. The first pack I took I became felt sick every morning for the first week on my first pack. With the first pack I also spotted for quite some time, same thing with the 2nd pack. I however didn't gain weight or beome over emotional as other are reporting but its looks like I was dealt with more excessive spotting! Lets switch!!!

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Neese 5469: i had been off BC for five years until last year. I placed on tricyclen..but that didn't help. cycle was still 7 days. So we talked about changing, so loestrin 24 Fe was the plan. didn't know it was discontinued of course so i never had a chance to try it. i didn't have any bad cramps, hair loss, night terrors ect. the first month i was a little skeptical sine my cycle lasted about 4 days but i had the brown after stuff for about 2 days, my physician suggested i give the pills at least 3 months to see if there was any change. i have been on these for 4 months now (on the 2nd wk of this pack) and still no side effects. 2nd month (stopped on the 3rd day but came back about 6pm...weird). 3rd month 3 days with lingering stuff (the brown stuff at the end..hate it). it come a day late last month but it came. no light tampons or pads , liners only. I'm hoping this month it us at least 3 days with nothing left (no brown stuff, nothing). just a question to anyone..does anyone else have the brown stuff after their period? if so how long does it last ? do you count that as your cycle still being on? just something i've been wondering. But anyway back to the pills, i like them so far. i also read on the website that you should give it about 3 to 6 months for changes or whatever. Please let me know how it work for you. i would like to know how iris (girl who started the post) is liking them. i have also been wanting to use two active pills from another pack once i start the iron pills (taking the white pills instead) and having only 2 iron pills to take....hoping it will make it shorter (lessing the brown stuff also). let me know how it works for you.

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it is so hard to make changes to these post from your phone...lol. in my last post, that first sentence should be * i had not been on BC in 5 yrs until last yr. sorry about that misprint and the other ones.

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Carebear Yes I count the brown stuff because it's just as annoying. My first pack it was 4 days counting the brown stuff. I went from 10 day to 4 days. The second one was more like 7 counting the brown stuff/spotting. I did have a chest infection and took amoxicillin during that 2nd month, but the only difference in how I took them was not drinking the water anymore. Either not drinking the water or the illness changed something. Both packs were chewed. All pills were on time I have an app called lady pill reminder that I love. When I took Aviane a few years back, it gave me a really good sex drive, but didn't shorten my period. If I could take aviane and throw out 3 placebos, tape active pills in the spots, and get a 3-4 day period it would be awesome. I'm definitely going to ask my doctor. I don't see how it would be any worse than taking 3 months of active pills, and they say that's fine to do.

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thanks fir responding Rhonda. well if i count the brown stuff, I'm at least 4 or 5 days. it is very annoying!!!! i just want to be clear in at least 3 or 4 days. Why is that not happening to me? i chew the pill, drink the water and take it at the same time every morning including wknd (alarm set) . I am thankful the symptoms i was having while not being in BC i don't have anymore. i think i might start borrowing two pills from each pack....idk . thanks so much for your help. one other thing, my boobs haven't shrunk either. if anything they look a little plumper to me..not complaining...lol

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I was taking loestrin 24 for 3 years before minastrin came along, I decided to stick with it because they just changed the name and I continued to swallow it. I didn't have time to talk to my doctor because I was very busy with school and I always liked loestrin. I haven't felt any different with the minastrin other than that I skipped my last period. Has anyone else skipped their last period since switching to minastrin? I'm completely terrified and don't know what to think. I really just hope since I switched pills that it causes me to skip.

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i haven't skipped a period yet but i thought i was last month...but it was just a day late. i have read in previous and other blows that some women have missed their periods. I'm sure you should be okay, especially if you haven't missed any pills. the scare itself is not fun though. i understand. i took a test last month because it was a day late and i wasn't showing any signs that it was coming. i think i finally came sometime later the next day. glad you aren't having any side effects as well.

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Is anyone here expereincing crazy mood swings? i feel SO angry all of a sudden! its weird its like I know not to feel this way but it comes out anyways. I feel horrible for always being grumpy! Ive called my doc nontheless but was wondeirng if anyone else has experienced this. Im like on week 2 of the pills.
Thanks

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Linda, yes. Mood swings are an understatement.if you read through some of these posts, you will see you're not alone.
My issue is extreme irritability and rage along with hysterical crying. It's all so scary and embarrassing. I've had to take an LOA from work.

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Hi, I am 22 years old and have been on loestrin as well for 3 years now. I have celiac disease so I have to make sure all my medications and food are all gluten free. The pharmacist could not even guarantee that minestrine was gluten free, which worries me because loestrine was. I just took my first pill tonight and had a slight problem breathing comfortably. I appreciate everyone's take on this and if anyone else who has celiac knows about this / side effects I would appreciate it!

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May I read something about the sweeteners in Minastrin containing gmo. All the corn in usa is Monsanto, so no surprise there. I wouldn't trust it if you are sensitive. I was never sensitive to anything until every brand of maxi pads started giving me chemical burns. Called the companies to find out ingredients and was told it was a trade secret. Have had to use washable cloth for years until I found Maxim hygiene brand that are made out of cotton, instead of filled with SAP (made from crude oil in always kotex,stayfree,ect) That is another reason I need a short period, 100% cotton pads are expensive and I can only find them online. They are thinner and nicer than Always though. It took me years and finally a chemical burn to figure out what was causing me to itch and burn every period. Long post, but if it helps someone. I try to warn people.

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Question. I've had this happen quite a few times before but now that I'm terrified (I skipped my last period/may be late) idk what to think. Earlier today I saw a tiny bit of red in my discharge, and every other time I've went to the bathroom there has been no signs of red at all. I am so confused. I'm 22 and I feel like I should know these things but now that I'm going through this situation I do not know what to think. Is my body fooling me? Oh and I am on my sugar pills right now.

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Linda I spent 2 days crying, and I never cry. The mood swings are gone now though, but I'm still shedding a lot of hair. I should be hitting pms in the next couple of days, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed. The progestin in these - norethindrone acetate is supposed to be worse in androgenic effects than some other types, which makes them worse in the hair loss area I guess. I don't remember Aviane causing this much hair shedding. I don't think I had any on ortho try cyclen..but I would go crazy and pull my own hair out because I couldn't stand myself. I stayed on those from 15-21 not realizing it was the ortho giving me migraines, and making me crazy. I would never take another triphasic pill. I call them yoyo hormone pills. lol

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Delaware Some people don't have periods on this or just barely spot for a day. Could be you are just lucky. Take a test to make sure you aren't pregnant, then you will know that they are just shortening your period. I went from 10 day period to 4 the first month so if yours was normally short, it might have just shortened it to where it's gone.

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If you're sexually active isn't that scary? Wouldn't you want to get your period to know that you're not pregnant? That just worries me because if I never got my period I would always panic and if this is what happens from the Minastrin I may consider switching to a different type of birth control

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Yes. I wasn't thinking of that, because my husband had a vasectomy. Thinking back, yes I would've flipped out major. I only went to the doctor because I was sick of the long periods. Maybe add a placebo day, just take out the active pill ffor the last day, and throw it in the garbage on that day, making you go 5 days with no hormones instead of four. That should cause something, if not try doing that with the last two? Or switch to one with a 7 day placebo, whichever is easier.

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I had used Ortho-Tricyclen for over 5 years, then I started having a period that lasted over 2 weeks! when i went to the doctor, he said it was the Ortho-Tricyclen and prescribed Loestrin, which worked wonderfully for me! When I was on Loestrin I was focused and my weight never changed. If I stopped taking it because I forgot and then went several days without it until the sunday after my period started, I would be completely out of it. Distracted and very confused. In May of 2013 I had to start taking Minastrin because, as everyone else stated, Loestrin stopped being manufactured. I also do not chew the tablet, I just swallow it with water. I started to notice weight gain, went from 115 to now 128 - my boobs did not shrink though, they actually became fuller - which I am not mad at, but I am not happy at the muffin top I am currently sporting. I also start that brown stuff almost a week before the placebos. I guess I feel better know reading that I am not the only one.

On that note, has anyone experienced nausea and bloated feeling? I feel like as soon as I start the pack, I need to belch but I cannot, and also feel a thumping/pulsating sensation in my ears. It is so annoying.

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I was taking Loestrin for several years to help with heavy periods, etc. (I'm in my late 40's) and it was so awesome for me, it literally gave me my life back. I had to switch due to Loestrin being discontinued (or whatever) and my ob/gyn put me on Minastri. What a disaster! I took it for 3 months and it was horrible! Cramping, terrible acne on my back (yikes), headaches, breast tenderness, just basically a hormonal mess.
I switched to Larin Fe and am just in my second week. So far things are better, but still dealing with breast tenderness. Will seek out Lomedia if this doesn't work. Really aggravates me that none of us seem to have gotten a "heads up" about Loestrin being discontinued. Like our health and well being doesn't matter at all to our doctors or pharmacists??? I'm sure they knew about it ahead of time. I'd really like to know the story as to what/why it is no longer available. Probably a decision made by a man. :) Sorry so long.

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Maggie, these are EXACTLY my symptoms. In the nearly three months that I have been on Minastrin 24 Fe (I was on Loestrin 24 Fe for about five years prior), I have gained around 10 pounds — mostly in my tummy and hips. I constantly feel bloated, and lately have been feeling mildly nauseous at random intervals. I have also noticed a significant and alarming amount of shedding and breakage when I brush my hair. I am literally cleaning wads of it off the floor every week. I never had any of these symptoms on Loestrin 24 Fe.

I went for my annual today, and I asked my gynecologist about the symptoms I'm experiencing. She said it could definitely have something to do with the Minastrin 24 Fe since the additives are probably different and can cause water retention.

Also, for the ladies worried about swallowing vs. chewing: I have been swallowing the pill for almost three months now and have had no issues with my cycle. I asked my gynocologist about it today, and she said that it makes no difference whether you chew it or swallow it. The whole "chewing" thing is all a marketing/rebranding ploy.

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I have been on loestrin 24 fe for 4 years and had no periods. I'm suppose to pick up my lomedia 24 fe today! I hope it is the same!

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