Ortho Tri-Cyclen for Acne User Reviews (Page 3)

• sen...
• February 11, 2016

"I used this drug for the sole purpose of controlling my moderate acne. Side effects: noticeably more emotional for the first few weeks. After one year of usage: my acne has decreased dramatically, but I'm not quite sure if it's because I stopped stressing about my acne, or because I changed my hair products, or because of this drug itself. My skin started getting clearer around seven months into taking this medication. Like I said, I don't know if it was because of this, but I don't want to stop taking it because I'm scared my acne will return to the way it was. It seems that the longer I've taken it, the clearer my skin has become. :)"

• Sky...
• April 27, 2016

"I've been on Ortho Tri-Cyclen for about 12 months, and my skin has been flawless. I love how it's cleared up my acne, but I'm having major breakthrough bleeding at the moment. I missed 2 pills about 2 weeks ago, and I have since then been bleeding continuously, and I'm just about to go on my placebo pills. So after I'm finished with this pack, it will be about 3 weeks with constant bleeding, and it's terrible. Even when I didn't miss any pills, I would have breakthrough bleeding the week before I started my placebo pills, and it would drive me nuts. I saw my doctor, and I'm going to try out another acne birth control, Yasmin, so hopefully all goes well...."

• Can...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 19, 2019

"These pills (Ortho Tri-Cyclen) caused me to break out!! I used it because my healthcare provider gave me the wrong medicine in my prescription. They refunded me for their mistake. Back to Tri-Cyclen Lo and no more break out."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 1, 2016

"I started taking this because my cycle was every 23 days, and I heard that it could help with acne too. I never had bad acne, just one or two on my chin the week prior to my period. But after taking this, my acne is worse than it has ever been. I've been getting cystic acne all over my cheeks and chin. And the worst part is that they severely scarred my skin, and I never scarred before taking birth control. I've heard that in the first few months it can get worse before it gets better, but I'm on my 9th month, and it just continues to get worse. But I do like that it completely regulated my period to a 28-day cycle. I've decided to switch to a lower-hormone birth control to see if that will help the acne subside."

• EMM...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 31, 2016

"I took Ortho Tri-Cyclen for about six months, plenty of time to give it a chance to completely clear my acne, but unfortunately, that was not the case. My skin always had at least 3 zits. I experienced major spotting almost constantly and only had about 2 months of no blood. I was extremely moody, as if I was bipolar and/or always about to get my period. The breakthrough bleeding was so painful. I had to take Tylenol at least once a day. This was my experience, but my 23-year-old friend loves it and her skin is never better, but she does have spotting. I got a 9-month supply of this pill for free."

• nat...
• January 20, 2016

"So I have been on the pill for just over a month and have noticed my acne get a bit worse. Other than that, it's all positive. Absolutely no mood swings (if anything, it has made me more calm)... zero cramps and a lighter period. My boobs have increased at least a full cup size! Will give this a try for at least another 5 months, as I have heard that acne can get worse before it gets better :)"

• Kim...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 19, 2019

"I was using the Kyleena IUD for a year, and I would constantly have acne, my skin was terrible. So I switched to Ortho Tri-Cyclen (the generic brand), and I couldn’t be happier! My skin has cleared up in 5 weeks. I do get nauseous in the mornings, and my mood was a little up and down in the beginning, nothing crazy. So overall, I definitely recommend!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 27, 2018

"Started taking Tricyclen to clear up my acne, and it worked pretty well for that. When I started the pill, I had an insatiable hunger and a bit of spotting. Unfortunately, there were more negative side effects that actually got worse the longer I was on it. Late into the second month, I would randomly wake up in the middle of the night incredibly nauseous and throw up 2-3 times before passing out from exhaustion. There was no pattern in when this would occur (i.e., didn't happen on any certain week of the pack), which made it very frustrating. Additionally, I would bloat up like a balloon on the 3rd week. I think the pill also made me more tired - usually around 5 or 6 pm, I would feel as if I could pass out for the night. The nausea was a major frustration for me, so I'm going to switch to Tricyclen Lo and see if that helps."

• Des...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 25, 2018

"This birth control has done a great job clearing up my hormonal acne. I use a full skin regime along with this stuff, and it’s been great for me. I plan to do a chemical peel for my scars here soon :)"

• Nan...
• February 8, 2017

"I went on Ortho Tri-Cyclen for about a year, and I can honestly say my face cleared up tremendously. The only downside was that I experienced crazy emotions and mood swings. I unfortunately ran out and wasn't able to refill my prescription for a couple of weeks. As soon as I went back on it, and for the past year, I've had the worst acne I've ever had. Cystic, as well as scarring, I've never experienced. I tried to stick it out to see if I would get the results that I had when I first took it, but it hasn't gotten any better. I'm now switching to Gianvi and hoping this will make my acne better."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 10 years or more
• February 28, 2019

"I have been on Ortho Tri-Cyclen for about 10 years. Then got switched to a new birth control and realized it was giving me acne. So I went back to Ortho. Now, my insurance no longer covers it thanks to politics. Now I'm back on a birth control that's giving me acne, Aubra. I will say Ortho also gave me worse cramps and a heavier period. But the no acne part of it was the best part."

• Amb...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 22, 2018

"I was on this for a little over 2 years before switching to Ortho Cyclen. Pros: Significantly decreased the amount of facial acne I had, no more back acne, did not seem to affect my sex drive, a bit lighter day 2-3 flow during my period, and cramps only happened every few months. Cons: Did not get rid of all acne & still had a lot of chin/hormonal acne, weight gain of around 10 lbs/extreme hunger, occasional migraines, erratic depression, did not help my heavy flow as much, lots of bloating during my period. Overall, it did help from where I was before taking this, but I am now a lot happier with Ortho Cyclen, with much more improvement."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 1, 2018

"Everyone’s body is different, but in my experience, taking Ortho Tri-Cyclen was the worst decision I’ve made. I gained 25 pounds in the span of less than 4 months, even with a healthy diet and leading a very active lifestyle. The weight gain was crazy and happened extremely quickly. Nausea was also a prevalent, everyday thing when taking the medication. Did I mention the mood swings? I felt like all my energy had been zapped from my body. Originally, I took it to help with my acne, but ultimately it ended up making my acne WORSE! Horrible medication and would never recommend it to anyone."

• coc...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 20, 2018

"I'm 1* & I've dealt with acne since I was 13. I've been on pills & pills & pills since I was 14. It got better depending on the pills I'd take (spironolactone, doxycycline). Although my face was never completely clear, so I started taking Ortho Tri-Cyclen prescribed by my doctor, not my dermatologist. It's been about almost 2 months now, no improvement, just a lot worse. I didn't know if I should continue this, but after I read some of these reviews, I learned that it may take your body some adjustment to do in the beginning before it starts activating properly. I hope that's the case for me, I'll be back to let you all know :)"

• Sop...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 21, 2018

"I was on this for 2.5 months and will never go back to Ortho Tri-Cyclen. One huge side effect was that I had very bad nausea EVERY DAY along with migraines. I had so much nausea that I would gag at certain foods, which I’ve never done in the past. I constantly felt full even when I skipped a meal. I can see how that would benefit people who are trying to lose weight, but I’m already relatively thin, trying to stay at a regulated weight. I used this to CLEAR my acne, but it only made it worse—there are now twice as many acne “clusters” than there were prior to taking this. My acne has never been this bad. The only positive about this medication is that it made my periods slightly lighter and it regulated them down to a T."

• Hur...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 2, 2018

"I started this for acne on my back. I've had acne for 10 years. I'm in week three and just started getting really, I mean really bad breakouts. I stopped getting cystic acne years ago, and the last week, I've gotten three cysts, where I would get three in a year and a bunch of smaller zits. My acne was more clogged pores on my face. I'm starting to get huge cysts on my back too. I'm trying it for one more month, and if it doesn't get better, I'm going back to the minipill. I can't stand to look at my face in the mirror."

• 29P...
• December 29, 2015

"I'm on the final week of my 3-pack of Ortho. I haven't had any side effects from this. In the past, I've had issues with BC affecting my moods and sex drive, abnormal bleeding, and making my hormonal acne even worse. So I'm giving it an 8. Because it's not helping with my hormonal acne at all."

• MNa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 11, 2018

"I've been on this for about six months now. My skin condition has not changed at all. My periods are predictable, but much heavier and longer than on the NuvaRing. Sex drive has restored, and there is less pain afterwards. However, the main reason I switched to this was to clear my skin, and it's not happening. I don't know how much longer I'll stay on this if it doesn't work."

• Bun...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 25, 2019

"I heard this Ortho Tri-Cyclen was best for hormonal acne after two months of my old BC being basically too low in hormones, in my opinion, for my age, 32, and for two months destroying my nice skin. This actually made me bleed a week before my period was due. I don't know if the hormones get less strong as you get through the pack, but hopefully, next month I don't go through this."

• Lex...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 17, 2025

"I've been on Ortho Tri-Cyclen for 3 months. I really tried to give it time. I had acne when I got on the pill, and I got on it to hopefully clear the acne. Well, it's 10x worse. My chin completely broke out (was clear before), my entire cheeks and jawline are covered. Also some on my forehead, so basically my entire face. I tried to give it time to improve, but it just kept getting worse. I will say I didn't have any other bad side effects, otherwise, it was a good experience. I think I'm calling it quits."

• NOT...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 23, 2017

"I started typing out a long saga but ran out of character space, so long story short: Wore the Ortho Evra patch back in high school, worked great, got rid of my moderate acne. Fast forward to now, dermatologist prescribed Ortho Tri-Cyclen for my acne (it's come back since quitting previous birth control). Been on this stupid pill for 2 months along with spironolactone and minocycline, and it's turned my moderate whiteheads into gross, painful cystic acne, and I'm getting married in 4 months and do not have a year to wait it out. My self-esteem and sanity are not worth waiting on this pill to work. Switching back to the patch today. I'm giving it 2 stars because maybe if I waited it out it would work, but bride-to-be ain't got time for that ✌"

• boy...
• November 15, 2016

"I took birth control religiously from age 14-24. Got pregnant at 24. (Wasn't taking my pills like I should.) Now my son is 2, and I recently got back on birth control. Opted for the Ortho Tri-Cyclen because that's what I had always used for years. It's day six, and I am so sick I'm not taking another one. Tried it in the morning first (even with eating), sick as a dog. Tried it before bed, woke up sick. Not sure if it is too much for me, or if I haven't been on it in so long, or if it's not fully in my system. But I have made up my mind I would rather bleed like a stuffed pig than to feel sick like this. Horrible for me."

• Sam...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 12, 2019

"I’m 24 years old and haven’t really had any issues with hormonal acne until earlier this year. I started breaking out around my jaw/chin area, all in one cluster on the right side of my face. I tried everything to fix it and then eventually went to my doctor, and she prescribed me this birth control. I’ve been on Ortho Tri-Cyclen for about 4 months now (I’m on week 2 of month 4), and my severe acne has gone away. I do still have the occasional pimple around my jaw, but it’s not as bad as before. I know my face is a lot better than before, but I’m just confused as to how much longer my body is going to take for my skin to be completely clear. I’ve read many reviews, and people keep saying the longer I take it, the better my skin will be. But I’m starting to get very frustrated with the process. I don’t know if I should stay on the pill and wait it out, or switch?"

• sha...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 17, 2019

"I was put on this pill years ago to try to combat cystic acne. Overall, it did not help my skin at all and made me gain a little weight on top of it. I switched to Yasmin and then Safyral, which works much better, and I felt it 'agreed' with my body better."

• Ano...
• July 27, 2016

"I have had acne for quite some time, so I decided to start Ortho. It's only been 3 days in, and I have so many extra pimples on my face all over, and huge pimples at that. I'm hoping it will clear as it's starting to get into my system, but so far I'm dreading starting this pill and am thinking I need to just stop, as it is not helping my self-esteem or my skin whatsoever. I have more scars, which take so much time to heal/lighten. Unhappy."