Is Nortrel 1/35 really the same as necon 1/35?

I am late on this I know BUT I too was on Necon for 10+ years before they discontinued. The pharmacy just decided to change my medication without even telling me or my doctor and it was the Notrel! My doctor immediately told me NOT to take it and she changed my prescription to Cyclafem 1/35. I have had no issues whatsoever. I feel as though I am still taking Necon. No weight gain, No Break outs, No spotting, Nothing!
However, I did notice my cramps got a little stronger (I barely had any prior so I could be exaggerating) but with a Tylenol or Advil I am good to go.

I would strongly recommend switching from Notrel to Cyclafem! I hope this helps!

I, too, had been taking Necon 1/35 for 10+ years--absolutely adored it, and devastated that they discontinued it. I got a Mirena IUD in two months ago, and the insertion was mind-blowingly painful. My first period on it is as bad as the ones I had in middle/high school that caused me to go on Necon in the first place. Has anyone happily switched to another pill? I haven't tried Nortrel because of this thread, and some other massive complaints about it I've seen...

I was on Necon for about 7 years and LOVED it. No side effects- no weight gain, cramps, spotting etc. However within 2 weeks of being on Nortrel my face broke out and I NEVER have acne issues, I spot all the time and have break brought bleeding. I just stopped taking it because now I’m in month 3 and I’ve gained 10+ lbs, I have random pains in my legs and arms, increased heart rate. I never had any of these symptoms. I HATE Nortrel and I’m looking for an alternative. Any suggestions?

No. I was on Necon 1/35 for 12 years and loved it. Then I was told they were no longer manufacturing it, so I was put on Nortrel. Horrible symptoms from the beginning and never improved after several months. I've since been put on zenchent and it is not any better. I don't understand how they can say these medications are essentially the same. 12 years of knowing exactly what my body was going to do, and now every day is up in the air. Very frustrating.

This happened to me several months ago and I noticed a change where I just did not feel the same. I really prefer the necon. I noticed it reduced libido, and weight gain. I take them continuously for suppression of menses. Does anybody know of any other substitutes? I also tried a progesterone pill last year and it was a real bummer

I've taken Necon for about 10 years not ever had a single issue. I was switched to Nortrel three months ago and experience spotting in my second week of pills every month and I am extremely bloated most of the month. I very much dislike Nortrel. It is absolutely not comparable Necon

I just recently had to switch as well and I am NOT HAPPY. I literally just stopped taking it because it's that bad. On Necon I LOST 35 lbs and went underweight but I had no cramps/no breakouts/no emotional breakdowns. With this new kind I feel like I have gained so much weight, broken out and I have NEVER broken out before, and I cramp like crazy yet I have no period. Like I have all the pains and symptoms of being on my period but no blood, it's so weird? I need to find something else asap.

In my experience, it is NOT the same :-(. I had the same experience (although I think weight gain has been a side effect on the Necon), but it worked really well otherwise for me (I was taking it for irregular bleeding, bad cramps, and ovarian cysts, hubby has had a vasectomy). I was on the Notrel for 10 days and immediately stopped due to extreme dizziness & lightheadedness. It was awful. I 6 kids to drive to chauffer to different schools, etc. Not happening! Now that I've stopped I had a vicious migraine for about 24hrs straight. I did get migraines during the placebo week originally with the Necon, so my GYN had me just take them back to back and skip the placebos to prevent the migraine. So I did figure that was coming. Just my experience! Hope you find a good option! I'm just gonna stay away from them all for a while and see - come on menopause - lol - I think!