Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo User Reviews & Ratings (Page 4)

• don...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 6, 2019

For Birth Control "OTCL messed me up. Before starting it, I was breaking out a lot. I was suggested OTCL, not only as BC, but also good for acne. I took this pill for a month and had to stop. I see reviews saying the first few months are brutal, but once you’re past it, it’s fine. But honestly, I couldn’t even handle all the side effects anymore. My acne seemed to get worse. I started a full-on period after week one - heaviest flow I have ever had in my life, 9 days long, horrible cramps (I normally don’t get cramps). The mood swings - they were terrible. I would randomly just burst into tears over literally nothing. I felt anxious all the time, and whenever I was alone, I felt very depressed. This is totally out of character for me! So I tried to tough it out, and it only got worse. I finally decided to stop taking it, and wow. The difference is insane. Since the day I stopped, I haven’t had any of those symptoms. I truly do not recommend this birth control. It was insanely brutal on my body."

• Mel...
• July 8, 2015

For Birth Control "I tried it for two months, and since day one, I suffered from major mood swings and low energy. I had frequent headaches and just felt depressed. I never felt like myself. But I just thought I had to put up with it so my body could get used to it, but I couldn't handle it by month two. Just pay attention to how you feel. Nonetheless, I switched to another birth control pill and feel great."

• Anonymous
• August 5, 2010

For Birth Control "I have been on the pill for two years. I must admit that things did start off a little rocky with the nausea, but it did begin to get better because I started taking the pill before bed. It has prevented pregnancy, helped me keep clear skin, and lightened my periods and lessened my cramps. Besides the nausea, the pill is very effective and a good choice."

• Lib...
• December 2, 2013

For Birth Control "I am 17, and I've been on this pill for about 10 days now and LOVE IT. Weighing on the smaller side, with very minuscule breasts, this pill has helped me gain extra weight and has already helped my breasts grow. I was only a tad nauseous on the first day, but I found my mood was overall happier, and I have a great amount of energy. I am very happy with the results of this pill and how well it has worked for me. I was worried at first, but once I had some food and got through the night, I realized that oral birth control is really a gift. If you were like me and worried sick over this pill, then just look at all of the benefits that tiny pill can offer you and the security you gain. Thumbs up all the way."

• Abb...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• August 28, 2015

For Birth Control "I was on Tri-Cyclen Lo for five years, it was my first contraceptive, and it was amazing. I had no side effects, and I never got pregnant once. I did not gain weight, and it did not affect me in any negative way possible. I recently switched to Alysena, and so far it has been horrible. Recommend Tri-Cyclen Lo for anyone! It's a great contraceptive and 100% effective for me."

• Anonymous
• August 12, 2010

"I started Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo 3 weeks ago for regulating my periods because I wouldn't get them for months at a time. It took care of that. It also cleared up my face. I've only gotten 1 pimple this month and it went away after 2 days! No side effects at all. PMS is barely there: no cramps on Thursday (I should get my period on Sunday), only one mild mood swing. I've been a lot happier too. My dad and I barely fight anymore because the pill calms me down."

• BH2...
• December 12, 2010

For Birth Control "I absolutely LOVE this pill. I'm 22 now, but I started it back in May of 2006 and stopped in March of 2007 (due to me not being sexually active anymore). During this time, I had absolutely no side effects. I did gain a bit of weight, but I attribute that to me being lazy and starting college without exercising regularly. Flash forward a few years, I decided to start taking it again. I'm on week 3, and like before, I haven't had any problems whatsoever. I'm exercising better than I have before and have been losing weight successfully. All women have different bodies, so what may work for some may not be effective for others."

• Mel...
• July 28, 2014

For Birth Control "I went on this pill a while back to help regulate my period and help with severe cramps. I had an extremely heavy flow, and my cramps were so unbearable. Also, I would get my period for 12 days, sometimes twice a month. Since being on the pill, I usually don’t get any cramps, which is amazing. I also noticed that my skin is always 100% clear. However, I would say that I gained a solid 20 pounds since being on the pill and am currently trying to work it off with healthy eating and regular exercise. Side note, the first week I took this, I was throwing up every night and feeling nauseated, but if you stick with it, those side effects eventually subside. Overall, besides the weight gain, I would say that this pill has done wonders."

• Anonymous
• January 19, 2010

For Birth Control "Pros: Didn't get pregnant, acne became less severe, period was light and very predictable. Cons: Horrible headaches for 3 months in the beginning, weight gain, increased incidence of spider veins, mood swings. Overall: It worked, I did not get pregnant. However, the side effects worried/bothered me, so I stopped taking it and have since gotten a prescription for a lower dose BC pill called Mircette."

• CP1...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 29, 2015

For Birth Control "I have been on birth control for 6 years. I went on it because my periods were painful and made me very sick two days out of the month. I was on a generic brand of Ortho Tri-Cyclen, and when insurance started to cover the name brand completely, I switched to Ortho Tri-Cyclen. During the first couple of years on birth control, my periods were much better and predictable, but I would feel nauseous when I started taking my pill again after my period. Once my body got used to being on the pill, the nausea stopped. In spring 2015, after being on Ortho Tri-Cyclen, my insurance out of the blue stopped covering it, and that is when I switched to Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo. This is the best BC I have been on. I haven't gained weight, and the only side effect is headaches."

• Nik...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 6, 2021

For Birth Control "DO NOT recommend. I went from a happy, silly, chill, laid-back girl to absolutely crazy. My mood swings are completely uncontrollable, I have the worst anxiety I've ever had, I became depressed. This pill had me waking up in the middle of the night throwing up, constant panic attacks, and absolutely zero sex drive. I went to my OB, and she suggested I stop. I stopped it last night, hoping to get back to my old self."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 25, 2012

For Birth Control "This was the first and most amazing birth control I have taken. My breasts went from a large B, almost C, to a solid D cup, and I was slightly more emotional, but all of that went away after a few weeks. My skin was flawless, and my hair felt healthier and thicker, and even my eyelashes were thicker. My sex drive seemed to increase, and to be very honest, I no longer had any use for lubricant other than what my body produced. However, after about a year and a half, a horrible smell started, and my periods were mostly just intense discharge, and sometimes it would last for a couple of weeks. I wish that hadn't happened, because now all the birth controls I've tried have been horrible to my body. I wish I could go back to it!"

• Pri...
• July 4, 2015

For Birth Control "I recently decided to start birth control again, and I wanted a low dosage. After three months, I decided to switch to a different pill. My experience with Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo has been horrible! I feel like an emotional mess and always depressed. I cry over commercials and don't feel like myself. Also, I've gained weight and just feel fat. The crazy thing is I've taken these pills before and didn't have this reaction. Hopefully, the new pills I've started won't make me feel this way."

• Don...
• October 5, 2016

For Birth Control "I loved this pill! Was on it for 14 years. I never gained weight from it or had mood swings, my period was always light and predictable. I went off the pill completely 9 months ago because I am married and 30... but I have decided that I want to enjoy some years with my husband and don't want to use condoms or worry about becoming pregnant. Dr. apt booked later this month to get back on this pill. While I was off the pill, I have been having headaches, insane PMS, cramps, my skin has become oily, and my boobs have decreased in size :-(. Hoping when I'm back on the pill this will subside again."

• Sma...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 7, 2020

For Birth Control "I was on Yaz for 6 years, and it seemed to stop helping with my hormonal acne over the years, so my doctor prescribed me Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo. Only on the third pack now, and my period has been normal and almost no cramps, as well as helped with my acne, but is making me absolutely crazy. I can’t sleep at night, but I always feel exhausted, I don’t have any energy to do anything anymore. I have headaches, any minor inconvenience makes me cry. My anxiety is through the roof, and I feel paranoid all the time. I have never felt like this until I started taking this medication. It’s honestly a relief that other people have had these same symptoms, and I’m not just crazy. Definitely going back to my gyn to get off of this after this pack."

• Lad...
• July 30, 2013

For Birth Control "The pill helps regulate my period and I know when to always expect it. I do not get any mood swings or nausea. I started going on the pill because my period was irregular. I would get my period twice in one month with excruciating pain. Once I began the pill, the pain stopped and my period is normal."

• Ano...
• January 16, 2016

For Birth Control "I have been on this birth control going on 5 years this May, and about 2-3 years ago, I noticed that I have been discharging severely (yellowish liquid) almost every day. Does anybody else experience this while on this BC? Also, the mood swings are terrible as well."

• ASJ...
• July 31, 2013

For Birth Control "I just started on my pills, I'm 37 years old. I experienced a headache for 1 day, and noticed that my taste buds are weird to certain junk foods. Other than that, it's great. As long as you drink a lot of water, I believe everything will be fine. Everyone is different. My stomach did hurt in the beginning. I also noticed that when I try to swallow the pill, it tends to sit in my throat for a while. Very hard to swallow."

• HH2...
• January 29, 2013

For Birth Control "I struggled with symptoms of PMDD for a while, and finally my doctor put me on Aviane to regulate my hormone levels and, thus, mood. Aviane made my breasts larger but increased my acne and oily skin like crazy and made me more depressed and emotional! I normally have clear skin, so the acne was horrible for me. I asked to switch to Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo. Since I've taken OTC-Lo (for 6 months), I've noticed my skin cleared up (although I still have minor acne compared to when I was off the pill), and it helped with my mood swings tremendously. Although a bit more pricey ($15 copay), I am very happy with the improvement in mood that OTC-Lo has given me, which is a much better gain compared to the minor acne I am still experiencing."

• Smi...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 27, 2015

For Ovarian Cysts "LOVE this BCP. It's the only one I've tried that didn't make my hair fall out, didn't make me feel bloated, didn't make me swell, and didn't ruin my skin. My libido isn't dampened half as much as it was on other BCPs (it was non-existent on other BCPs). It helps immensely with PCOS symptoms. At first, it made me a little tired, but by the middle of week 2, I was fine. :) Love it. My insurance charged me $ for this drug, but that's against the ACA - there's no generic for this drug, and it was RX'd as medically necessary, so it should have been covered at $0 copay. The issue is currently being investigated."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 9, 2014

For Birth Control "I am always crying and moody (my poor boyfriend). Sometimes, it is never that serious, and I would realize that the next day. I'm 21 and in college, and that is stressful enough. I have my sex drive still intact, but I am always hungry (I've always been this way but know it is out of control)! I eat everything in sight. This is becoming really expensive for me and my boyfriend. Other than that, I have regulated less painful periods, no bloating, and they are very on time. I like it because of the low hormone levels, but I am emotional."

• Mcc...
• October 26, 2015

For Birth Control "I started Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo 4 months ago. The first month wasn't that great, I got my period twice and had severe cramping. The second month I only got my period once during the placebo pills. Since I was 14, I started to break out, and all the way to high school and college it still continued. Even after multiple dermatologist visits, laser treatments, antibiotics, nothing ever helped. I decided to give this a try, and to be honest, my acne has vanished about 100% of it. The first 2 months I still would break out, but I noticed month 3 my skin was clearing drastically, and by month 4 (in which I am now going into month 5) my skin seems flawless. I will get a breakout every once in a while, but overall it has helped!!!"

• AJD...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 26, 2012

For Birth Control "I'm 19 yrs old, going on 20 soon. I've been using Tri-Cyclen Lo for 3 months now, and I must say that this is the best birth control pill out there! I've tried Diane before, and I was nauseous every morning, and I had to stop it before I could even finish a week. With Tri-Cyclen Lo, I have not had any bad side effects, except an increase in breast size (happy me!). I wasn't nauseous from it, didn't gain any weight, not much difference with my pimples, and most of all I haven't changed as an individual; no mood swings or change of personality. I'm more than happy with this!"

• pla...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 24, 2013

For Birth Control "I've been taking Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo since February, with a 3-month break in the summer. I actually experienced very low appetite, when I'm at the end of my sugar pills, I'm starving, but the rest of the month I never feel hungry, so I think the pill has helped me lose weight. As for acne, no real difference, I'm still struggling with acne, but over the last year, being on or off the pill hasn't made a difference. I haven't ever been nauseous or sick at all, but I do take it at 7 pm. The biggest side effect I've noticed is low, low sex drive. Absolutely no interest in it at all. And very low energy. I plan on going off the pill to see if it's causing this side effect."

• Dem...
• November 10, 2013

For Birth Control "I took Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo for a year and gained 15 lbs on my 5'1" normally 105 frame. I am 19 and run 50-70 miles a week for track and cross country. I knew there was something wrong, as before I would lose up to 10 lbs during the season. I told my doctor I thought the weight gain was due to the pills, but she insisted it wasn't. As soon as I got off of OTCL (became single and didn't need it), I lost those 15 lbs in 3 weeks and shocked my doctor. The pill definitely can, and was, the reason for weight gain. At least I never became pregnant. I have switched to Apri since, and I hope I don't go through the same again, anyone have any stories about their experiences with Apri?"