Switching From Loestrin 24 Fe To Minastrin 24 Fe (Page 7)

Updated

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!

289 Replies (15 Pages)

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121

I was switched to the Menastrin as well after the Loestrin. I called my doctor and asked my pharmacist if I really had to chew it and both said I did not have to chew it and can swallow it instead. I have also seen a big decrease in periods. In November I had one day of spotting and that was it. I didn't have any spotting or a period in December. I'm due to start my period today or tomorrow, but usually today I would be spotting and I've seen nothing yet. I've only had a bit of cramps the last two days. I have a feeling I'm going to skip it again. I'm pretty sure my doctor told me this pill would lessen my period duration and then I may not have it at all, but I feel like it is sort of necessary to have one and am wondering if I should call and ask. I really don't think I'm pregnant. I know you can still get pregnant on the pill but I never miss a pill and I take it the same time everyday. Anyone else skip periods a lot?

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122

I haven't had a period in 4 years since I started loestrin 24 fe and I was just switched to lomedia 24 fe.

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123

RedStacey,
If you do finds out of this pill well eventually stop your cycle all together, well you please update it's with your finding? I that is interesting to know. I havEn't missed any periods yet but it seem to be getting a day later with every cycle. I'm suppose to come on today; however, It's not here yet and the moment no sign it well be here today. I know it's early so I'll give it sometime. Please for everyone who has switched to lomedia, please update on how you like the pill and any updates on your cycle (regular, irregular, No cycle etc.), side effects etc.

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124

I hate typing on this chat with my phone, yet it it's so convenient. In my message below, please submit *will, in the place of well and*if in the place of the word of...lol...Smh
Thanks

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125

We are taking 24 Fe. Question we have is 2nd month, are we supposed to start same day with white pill?

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126

*nausea
So I was also on Loestrin 24 FE, and also was not informed of the switch until 3 days before it was sent to me at my house. I tried it out for 3 months, swallowed it whole (NOT chewed, it tastes like plastic). EVERY TIME I started a new pack, I threw up. EVERY TIME. And it got worse every time! My doc is having me switched, says lots of people have been complaining about Minastrin. Glad to know I'm not the only one with such severe reactions, but I hope you all feel better soon!

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127

Was going crazy on Minastrin and didn't even occur to me that it could be from that because I assumed it was exactly the same as Loestrin FE. Finally realized that I am just off in all sorts of ways recently and started looking into it only to find that a lot of people are having issues too.

I even contacted a Canadian pharmacy to see if they still have some Loestrin FE in stock, but it was going to be about $100 a pack for 3 month supply, and I don't know if my doctor would even call it in to them or if they could be a scammer.

Then found out about Lomedia FE being released and started calling around to see if anybody has it. Rite Aid near me doesn't have it yet (my usual pharmacy, takes my plan, etc.) but a Walgreens near me does have it. So I am getting a pack today, just waiting for my doctor office to call in for a one month. Some sites have a discount card to print available, that should make it cost about $39. I also had my doctor office call it in to Rite Aid as a refillable prescription so they will order it for me. I am very excited and hope this will settle things down for me. I will let you know. I really hope it is just the same. I had been on Junel previously (that is what I was regularly getting because my prescription hadn't said brand necessary and it is considered equivalent), but then there wasn't any Junel available for a time and the pharmacy said I could pay more and get the branded Loestrin FE. After taking it that month, I could never go back to the Junel. I felt so much better, it was shocking to me having never experienced an issue with a difference in substituted/generic vs brand previously. And I assumed since it was same manufacturer and practically the same packaging that the Minastrin would be awesome too. For me it was a disaster. Let's hope Lomedia is the answer.

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128

I have been on lomedia for a couple weeks now and so far it seems to be the same as loestrin 24 fe.

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129

This has been a very disappointing journey. First we weren't told Loestrin was being discontinued. The prescription was filled with the alternative. I still wasn't told. Unfortunately, this med is for my daughter who is suffering from ovarian cysts. She NEVER had a problem while on Loestrin. She began taking this generic stuff, but didn't tell me it looked different. She started having migraines, back aches and nausea all the time. Finally we discovered the different medication taking the place of Loestrin.

We found out Lomedia would be available in Jan, so we waited. Finally got it two weeks ago. THE SAME PROBLEMS HAVE RESURFACED. The doctor only says to continue taking it that HOPEFULLY the side effects will subside.

We are deciding to ditch the Lomedia. The pain is NOT worth it. I wholeheartedly do NOT believe it is the "same" as Loestrin, nor that taking 2 or 3 paks will bring results. In the trash it goes. Have NO IDEA what we will do about this.

This SUCKS. Cannot understand why Loestrin had to be discontinued!

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130

Lomedia has been a nightmare for us. Migraine headaches, acne, back aches and constant nausea. Doctor suggests continuing on with the regimen, for several more months to see if there is any improvement.

Uh, no, we won't be doing that. There's not enough, nor strong enough headache medicine on the planet to make that possible. Wish you better luck.

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131

I've only taken 2 weeks of the lomedia so far. Did u get the lomedia 24fe? I went straight from loestrin 24 fe to lomedia 24 fe but haven't had any changes yet.

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132

The first stop was that dang Minastrin stuff. That's how we found out what she had been taking WAS NOT Loestrin 24 Fe. Threw that stuff away after a couple weeks. Could NOT handle another miserable day of it. Been on Lomedia 24 Fe for a couple weeks and it's De Ja Vu. Same ugly side effects.

Asked the doctor if anyone who was switched from Loestrin to the generic Minastrin stuff had any of these side effects. She hadn't heard of ONE. We didn't ask how many of her patients took Loestrin. For all we know, they, too threw it away and said The Heck With It! It was THAT terrible.

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133

I was on Loestrin 24 fe for nearly 8 years, other than for the obvious reason (no pregnancy) I am on birth control pills to basically stop my ovulations, the pain is to much to bear. Just like the rest of you I was so upset to learn that it was no longer available and they would needed to switch my birth control. As I was away on vacation my pharmacist choose miniastrin rather that a generic version of loestrin. Minastrin is NOT the generic for loestrin it was made to replace it. I LOVE loestrin its amazing! Minastrin is horrible, my pharmacist told me I didn't have to chew it, however after two months of spotting and have crazy mood swings I decided just to chew it. It helped with the spotting but not the mood swings. I slowly started to notice weight gain. My insurance insurance does not cover brand name birth control pills, and I was paying more for minastrin nearly $111 per month, loestrin was $84. My doctor switched me to Junel 20 fe however that gives you 1 week of placebo pills making my period way longer, which is what I don't want, and I have a hard time finding a place to fill my prescription, so I requested my doctor put me on lomedia as I heard it was now available and it should be the same as loestrin w/only 4 placebo pills! I spoke to my doctor about Minastrin and she said she has heard a lot of complaints and has to switch a lot of her patients from minastrin so we are not alone. I really hope it is the same, Im still hoping loestrin manufactures will it bring it back!

Does anyone have any reviews on lomedia? I'm nervous about taking it....

BTW for those of you without insurance there are sites that offer coupons. CVS has the lomedia for $84 with a coupon it came out to $37.5.

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134

I was on loestrin for 6 years and loved it. Switched to ministrin in oct, gained 8 lbs in one month, had breakthrough bleeding, extremely sore breasts, mood swings and acne. Went off for December, all symptoms subsided and lost 10 lbs. decided to give it one more try in Jan and immediately gained 6-7 lbs and started bleeding again. Absolutely not the same pill!!!!! Bring loestrin back!!!

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135

I went straight from loestrin 24 fe to lomedia 24 fe. I never took ministrin but have been told that the lomedia 24 fe is the generic for loestrin 24 fe and it's exactly the same. I'm now on my 3 rd week of it. It seems the same so far for me.

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136

Oh my goodness, I'm so glad I read this forum. I thought I was losing my mind. I've been on Lo Estrin for about 7 years now until one day I refilled my prescription only to get home thinking I got the wrong thing when I read Minastrin. I did my research and was so disappointed that Lo Estrin was discontinued. Everybody kept telling me that it was the exact same pill and same ingredients. With Lo Estrin I never really had a full period (maybe light bleeding for a day) when it's time for my menstral. No acne, no cramps, no breakthrough spotting. Well in December I got the heaviest period I've had in years and it lasted almost 6 full days. All I can say is luckily I was home because I was not expecting that at all. My face broke out, I had cramps, and headaches. Just when I thought it was all over, I started spotting a week later. This continued on and off for about 2 weeks. I even took a pregnancy test just to be on the safe side. I make an appointment to see my physician and he said everything looked okay and that sometimes it can take about 3 months for birth control to get in my system. I am still confused about this since he too said that Minsatrin is the exact same thing as Lo'Estrin. This month my period was actually lighter, no acne, but I'm still having spotting on and off at unnecessary times of the day. I'm so confused. It is a relief to find out that I'm not the only one going through these changes.

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137

OMG, so my daughter got her period on Saturday night as we DID throw the Lomedia away on Thursday. I know how bad cramps can be, and I had doozies back in the day, but WOW, she was bawling her head off, writhing in pain, rolling in the fetal position, asking if I should take her to the emergency room. I felt in my heart this was ALL due to this medication/side effects and nothing "serious" to go to an ER. She finally fell asleep after a couple hours, I was so grateful.

We do not know what we will try for her next. This has been the biggest nightmare, frightening and absurd . . . all because a GREAT DRUG was discontinued. I CAN'T understand it, I don't know how to accept it, and I'M TIRED of being told these other drugs are "the same". THEY ARE NOT and something is wrong.

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138

I was told ministrin was not exactly the same that the guy supposedly had to change sonething in it because of a lawsuit is why he discontinued loestrin. So since he supposedly got everything settled he was able to make the lomedia the same as long is it was generic. My lomedia is working the same as loestrin so far for me. No changes at all.

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139

I too switched off of loestrin 24fe to minastrin 24 fe. Any first my periods were unexpectable slight decrease in flow. But last month I only had brown spotting for a day. This month it never came!... Left the cramps and moodiness, but no flow? Is this normal? I've only on bc for a year.

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140

I just wanted to review Lomedia 24 Fe. I was on Loestrin 24 Fe for 2 1/2 years and loved it. No side effects. Like everyone else, I was switched to Minastrin when loestrin was discontinued. I didn't have periods on Loestrin and didn't get them on Minastrin either. However, every month on Minastrin my face broke out more and more. I've never had acne, but this is the worst my face has ever looked! My doctor switched me to Lomedia 24, and in 6 days of taking it, my face has almost completely cleared up. I have had no problems with lomedia, so if you're having problems on Minastrin, I would recommend trying Lomedia.

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