Switching From Loestrin 24 Fe To Minastrin 24 Fe (Page 15)

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 i started these pills also and my cycle started and i had like 5 days left for the active pills so i called the pharmaceutical and all he said was call your doctor so i can't get an answer until Monday evening and the chewing part is just crazy to me!!!!

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I just came across this thread and wanted to leave a comment in hopes to give some encouragement...

In short, I was on Loestrin 24 FE for 7 years with no problem (and no period, which is what Im now used to). I was put on Minastrin which I was experiencing constant break through bleeding (like full 7 day cycles). I tried to stick with Minastrin for 9 months, didn't work.. got put on Gildess 1.5/30, became a crazy person

I finally did my own research and came across Lomedia after trying Gildess for 3 months. I will say the positives is I'm not crazy emotional anymore, I kind of got my bite back (in a good way), also no weight gain. The first month I was a little broken out, mostly on my shoulders, and my cycle started 2 days early, so I had it for a full 7 days. The second month I had break through (an actual full, but light, cycle for 7 days). But did not have a cycle during the placebo pills month 2. I just finished up my third month, had another full 7 day cycle during the placebo pills, so it started a couple days early again. Im on my 4th month now, and am experiencing another breakthrough cycle almost at the end of my second week (so far 4 days).

I'm feeling good other than the breakthroughs and really would like to get this pill to work.

There's another thread "Switching From Loestrin 24 Fe To Lomedia" that has helped me with my research...

A girl named Melissa posted horrible side affects she was having with Lomedia (way worse then my breakthrough cycles), but she said after a solid 6 months, it was like she was back on Loestrin again. (And in researching the similar Minastrin and Loestrin, they stated after 6 cycles you period will be lighter) While I agree 6 months is a long time for those who have not even started this pill.. For me I'm half way through my 4th pack and decided to stick it out for the 6 months to see what happens. Better than starting all over again with something else. So if you are pretty into your packs of Lomedia, might want to stick it out.

Note this is my own personal opinion and experience, not medical advice...

I will be sure to repost here with a follow up.

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i have been taking Minastrin since i was forced to switch, finding out the same way you did but that didnt bother me. I have never chewed the tablet and it has been fully effective. I have had several procedures done that require a pregnancy test prior to anesthesia and none of those 3 test came back positive. ive been on loestrin since 2008 and had no problems switching and absolutely nothing changed for me when i switched.

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So glad I found these reviews. I was on Loestrin forever, like 6 or 7 years with no problems and then they switched to Minastrin like many of you here. Didn't have any problems but got off in Feb to try and get pregnant. I had a miscarriage in April and things have been really tough so end of July I decided to get back on the pill for a while. It's been 3 weeks and I've had really bad nausea, super fatigued, bad acne, bloating and weight gain, and have been really anxious and moody. Bo didn't connect the dots until I read these reviews and saw so many of these symptoms. Stopping Minastrin immediately!

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I just took first pill (swallowed it) and...then read it's chewable--because I noticed the word "chewable" in the long 9 word technical name for it lol!

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I started taking LoEstrin 24 Fe for an ovarian cyst and love it! My moods have gone from bad and irritable to calm and relaxed. My doc said she could give me an even lower dose of hormone pill to ride out my perimenopause years to my early 50's. I didn't have my period the whole time I was on it for the cyst because the so called sugar pills are not sugar pills in these, they actually have a small amount of hormone in them so many people don't get their periods at all or very little.

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PLEASE TAKE MY ADVICE!!! I started on Minastrin 24fe in February of 2016 because my fiance and I were going to be getting married in April 2016. We both were virgins and I had never been on a contraceptive before but we both wanted to wait a while to have kids in our marriage. Well at first things didn't seem too bad. However I started noticing acne breakout and I was surprised at how I waa easy to cry...however I thought it was due to wedding planning and not birth control. However, after a month and a half into our marriage...about month ago, I started developing extreme mood swings, depression, weird thoughts I couldn't seem to cope with, suicidal thoughts, emotional about everything, losing feeling for my husband (who believe me I adore and love so very much), 15 to 17 pound weight gain, panic attacks, depression, anxiety, fatigue, swollennes in my legs and feet, and even one of my big toes started to go numb. I even started thinking the worse things about my husband and losing loss of of feeling for him. I was scared to death! I was usually full of life and happy and carefree and a very energetic and outgoing young woman who loved her husband and her life! I was always active and tried to be health conscious. My husband has been extremely gracious and patient through all of this and believe me you do not want to start your marriage out like this!!! So he and I decided to stop the pill about 2 weeks ago (mid if June 2016). My acne has cleared, my swolleness has gone down and physically I am feeling better each day. My emotional swings are slowly lessening and I haven't had any panic attacks lately. I am still struggling but each day I feel mire myself and getting back to the real me. SO PLEASE TAKE MY ADVICE FOR YOUR SAKE AND THE SAKE OF THOSE YOU LOVE AROUND YOU!!! Stay away from this pill! These hormones are synthetic and fake and they aren't natural for our bodies. It may work gor some people but it is not worth the risk of going through what I have to see if it will work for you as well.

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I had this exact experience. 2.5 months in, and I can't take it anymore. Stopping it today. Will get Copper IUD or something more permanent.

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Re: Allie (# 10)

hi. what pill did you go on to get rid of the acid reflux and indigestion?

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