User Reviews for Ocella

24 yrs old, healthy. On Ocella 14 months. Take it same time each day. Periods lighter/shorter with less cramping. Cleared up moderate acne. Great birth control -still kid free. Complaint is emotional side effects, which I noticed 6 months after starting Ocella. Super emotional for 1-2 weeks before my period (never had PMS symptoms before). Tiniest thing bothers me - very irrational and impatient. Feel like I've gone insane 2 weeks each month. Worst part is I *know* I'm being ridiculous, but can't pull myself out of it. Was on anti-depressants for 3 yrs and this makes me feel like I'm getting depressed again each month. Only time I feel 'normal' is when I'm on my period. I want to switch to a pill that has a gradual hormone transition throughout the month.

I started out on Yasmin but had to switch to Ocella since I have no prescription coverage. Between the two I was on them for over 2 years. In that time, I gained 20 pounds. After I switched to Ocella, While I was taking it, my moods were level but the first day without the pill I felt completely out of control of my emotions and on an emotional roller-coaster to the point of having to leave work a few times, which is not me at all! Once I got my period, it was better but I didn't look forward to the next month. After a crazy month of break-through bleeding, emotional ups and downs, and feeling like I was going crazy, I asked my doctor to switch me to something else. My sister had the same symptoms within a month or two and so did friends.

All my life I have had severe acne... I've probably tried any and every cream, drug, wash, etc. that is out there and nothing has ever worked. So when I got engaged two summers ago I decided to go ahead and start birth control about 6 months before the wedding to see if THAT would work because I'd heard it did. Well Ocella has DEFINITELY eliminated my acne, that part has been wonderful. But I've experienced a huge decrease in my sex drive and more bothersome than that, I have been getting migraines at least three times a week regularly since I started taking it. Also, I have learned now that it is geared more toward treating PMDD which I don't have and therefore is a higher dose of hormones which I don't need.

Ocella is a good birth control medication. For the four months I've been taking it, my only complaint is the multiple periods of breakthrough bleeding, bloating and nausea. I'm sure weight gain would be on my complaint list but you just have to maintain a really good diet and exercise whenever you can. But it's great.

I've been on Ocella going on almost a year then boom - it's no longer generic. $35 bucks a month! Or $90 if you buy 3 months (and that's with insurance), all in a matter of three months from when I last refilled my prescription. very upsetting. Only one manufacturer for it so it is now a brand. I'm not sure if this all works under your insurance and what they cover but that was the reason I was given for the increase. Now I'm nervous about switching to something else because that's just outrageous to pay, especially in this economy. $15 bucks for 3 months worth was nice, hopefully having to switch doesn't cost me elsewhere. Other than that I think this is a great birth control and would continue to use it if I could afford it.

I've been on Ocella for over a year and I don't mind it. It does its job. Negatives: It kills your sex drive, horrible cramps, acne around your period time; but that's with anyone. Positives: Emotions have been under control and periods only last about 4 days. Overall, I would recommend this birth control. I don't have spotting or emotional breakdowns or any of that.

I'm 23 years old, and started birth control on Ortho Tri Cyclen. I stopped for about a year or so then when I went back to the GYN, she put me on Ocella. I haven't ever had problems with my period, but it did lighten it up for me quite a bit. I've been on it for about 2 years - and it has just recently brought me from a 5 day period to a 3 day period. I was a bit surprised, but I don't mind at all! I have never detected any differences on and off birth control - except it's easier to pin point when things will happen throughout the month. I usually get a very mild acne break out right before, as well as some cramps which don't last very long. I have occasional emotional breakdowns, but they are so rare that I don't really contribute it to Ocella

I'm going through the same thing right now. I used to pay 10 and now they want $40 for Ocella. I'm a college student, I can't afford that every month. So I'm looking into Apri now, as my doctor recommended. Overall, I was fine with Ocella and Yasmin. It made my boobs bigger, clears my face, and I always know when I'll get my period.

I've been on this pill for exactly 1 month now and I wanted to share my experience. So far, the only thing that stands out is depression/moodiness. Everyone has a different body chemistry and I'm assuming that since I am already a relatively moody and anxious person (though NOT a depressed person), Ocella heightens the moodiness. It got especially bad right before my period, I was doing a lot of crying for no reason. I feel better now, after my period, and hoping it continues. No other problems to report but I'll check back in a few months with anything noteworthy.

I switched to Ocella after taking Yaz for 3months. I have PCOS as well. Ocella worked wonderfully in clearing my skin, and it gave me a 7-day period (instead of the constant flow). That was a relief. But, I had bad side effects that caused me to ask for a change in medication after 3 or 4 months using it. I didn't realize they were connected to birth control at first, but now it's obvious with timing. I get debilitating migraine headaches during the first few days of the placebo week (from hormone drop), and the week before my period I have severe constipation, which affects my body image (I feel unattractive). It also has me very depressed a week before, too. And this last month, I started spotting 2 weeks in.

I've been on Ocella for two days, but those two days my doctor advised me to take a double dose (two pills a night) for these first 2 nights. So far I've had bad nausea, dizziness, headaches, and been extremely tired. I hope that when I start a regular dose these side effects will go away.

I was originally on Yaz and loved it but my insurance changed and wasn't able to get the name brand so switched to the Ocella. I caused nausea for me.

I LOVE OCELLA! I was on a generic form of Seasonale and it was HORRIBLE had the worst depression/mood swings ever and breakthrough bleeding EVERYDAY. So I switched to Ocella and love it. Acne hasn't really cleared up, and do have some weight gain but my eating habits aren't the best either so I wont blame it on that. I don't like that the price went up but I'm not going to switch because I feel so normal now and never want to experience anything like my first birth control. I definitely recommend Ocella!

Ocella was considered generic but recently within the last 2 weeks was changed to be a brand name for no reason what so ever by Medispan.

Thank you all for setting my mind at ease. My friend freaked when she heard I was put on this. A lot of other reviews were saying Yaz and Ocella were different and caused terrible side effects. I am switching from Ortho Tri Cyclen to this and I'm hoping all of your reviews will also be true in my case!

I started on Yasmin, then switched to Ocella when it was released. I had no issues with it. It helped my cramps, shortened my period by 2 day, and helped clear out my skin. I gained no weight (but was eating very healthy and stayed active). I stopped taking it for 2 months to have a surgery, got pregnant, and am back on it now. I have never had any moodiness, and it has helped with my time of the month migraines I would get. I would recommend this to anyone. FYI, I started on this when I was 24 and am now 27.

I've been using this birth control pill for about 5 months now and it's great! I do get the occasional discharge and sometimes moody. It made my breasts bigger but kind of sensitive. My acne has really cleared up after using so many different things out there to treat it. I recommend Ocella; it really gets the job done.

I've been taking Ocella for 4 months, and so far everything is going great. I feel normal, my period comes on time every month, and my period is not as heavy. Occasionally, I feel nauseous around my period, but that side-effect occurs with or without birth control. I would recommend this oral contraceptive to anyone who is between late teens and early twenties.

I use Ocella and my only complaints are that I am moody occasionally and my periods are heavier and I get very bad cramps, which I never used to get. I actually lost six pounds in the first month I took it, but it didn't really clear up my face completely, just a little. I would recommend this birth control.

I've been on Ocella for about 8 months now, and its been decent but I am looking for a new birth control. I'm 26 years old, and have used several different pills before including Alesse and Lo-ovral. I found out I am allergic to synthetic progesterone (norgestrel and alike ) in virtually every birth control available, which is why I switched to Ocella. Ocella has done the job as far as preventing pregnancy, but I have had mood swings bad enough to start taking Welbutrin, I've gained some weight, and MY SEX DRIVE IS TERRIBLE. The mood changes and the HUGE sex drive decline is the reason why I will be changing again. I'm also worried about all of the warnings on Yaz/Ocella/ Yasmin and the high incidence of strokes associated.

I would say this is an okay medicine. It works wonderfully at preventing pregnancy. I've been on it for a year and the only problem I've run into is horrible mood swings and depression the entire sugar pill week. Otherwise I've had shorter periods, lighter periods but pretty bad cramps.

I just switched from YAZ to Ocella, and since then I have been so emotional. Crying almost very day and mood swings are crazy! I was not like this at all when I was on YAZ.

I was on Ocella for about 6 months. I never experienced any headaches or spotting or anything like that and I'm not pregnant, so in those aspect Ocella was great. But I had horrible MOOD SWINGS!

Had severe mood swings, dry eyes to the point of not being able to wear contacts, weight gain, breast tenderness.

I have been taking Ocella now for about 6 months and in those months I have experienced some weight loss as well as clearer skin. However I also have found that I have ABSOLUTELY NO sex drive. I am only 21 and before taking Ocella I had enough sex drive for me and other people, but now nothing.