... Tri-cyclen Lo has discontinued their entire line of birth control? I called them this week to see why there is a shortage of OTCL. Shock! Was told they have discontinued the manufacture of all birth control! I asked why didn't they inform the pharmacies because the pharmacies just think it is on back-order. Reply was that the pharmacies can find the info on the FDA.com website. I said why would the pharmacies even think to look on the FDA website when they have no reason to believe the product has been discontinued, because you didn't tell them. (there is practically no info about this on FDA.com) Literally all 10 drugstores that I called this week did not know the Jansen BC pills are discontinued and all just thought it was on back-order. Would be nice if the manufacturer would inform the pharmacies so they could inform their customers that they will have to scramble to find an alternative. Big problem finding an alternative because all generics my daughter has ever tried (in order to save money) have caused severe acne within one week! So bad that she kept switching back to the name brand and costing $60 out of pocket per month. Plus I've seen many other users comment how the generics gave them debilitating anxiety, depression, PMS, acne, crying fits and other side effects. The acne is cystic which creates big deep painful acne which leaves permanent scars so this is no joke. We are seriously worried how we will find an alternative that prevents acne. If there is anyone out there that used to take Ortho tri-cyclen Lo and has found an alternative that works just as good as OTCL, please leave a comment. Lastly, how come I don't see anyone else commenting online about this? I'm sure there are many others affected by this discontinuation. Thanks
Ortho Tri-cyclen Lo - has everyone heard yet that Jansen, the company that makes Ortho...
Question posted by thatpat on 8 Dec 2018
Last updated on 27 February 2020
Typo above... the company is spelled Janssen with 2 "s"
8 Answers
I’m having the exact same issue right now (July 2019) I have been in OTC for over 8 years and have tried various forms of other birth control pills and NONE of them react well with my body. I have been calling so many different pharmacies and none of them seem to know why it is discontinued. Would you or anyone happen to know the number of where I can call and file a complaint? It’s been two weeks since I’ve been in my birth control and I’m afraid my body is not reacting well. One of the main reason why I take this brand is because of my acne. It’s been a very difficult struggle dealing with adult acne and OTC is the only birth control that works well. Kindly, please advise. Thank you!
I JUST found out that this has been discontinued... I haven't had a problem getting refills until now. I have been taking OTC for years and have loved it. It has kept my acne under control, my periods short/light and regular, and I have minimal cramping. The generic is awful - I would just start my period right in the middle of a pack, and I'd get big pimples that hurt. I am SO mad about this! No one at the pharmacies in my area have any idea what's going on, and I'm in a panic trying to get my doctor to prescribe something else PDQ. If they're discontinuing this for a good reason, I'd sure like to know what it is!
Hi CindyS0714,
I actually went ahead and called Janssen Pharmaceuticals and filed a complaint against the discontinuation of OTCL. Like yourself, I was also taking it for years and loved it because I was assured I would be regular, every month.
I have tried Tri-Lo-Marzia, and I had to stop taking it 5 days into the first pack because I became suicidal.
I'm now taking Junel Fe, and I'm tolerating it okay, but my periods have stopped.
If I were you, I would call Janssen and file a complaint against the discontinuation of OTCL.
From what I've read, in the U.S., they discontinued it because it was "too expensive" to keep producing it (aka not enough profit for them).
If you find out anything, let me know!
Hi all,
Yes they discontinued the product and didn’t tell anyone. Insane right? Didn’t realized the manufacturer stopped making any birth control pill. But it’s the inactive ingredients that effect everyone differently. The active ingredients in all generics for tht brand, just like others, are the same. I would talk to your doctor (definitely GYNO) and tell them about what happened with each generic your daughter took. They can probably figure out which would be good. I used to take OTCL for about 5 or 6 years. Of course in tht time the insurance company wants you to try generics because they don’t want to pay for the brand name. I tried two and they didn’t work. An inactive ingredient in them accentuated other problems.
Now I’ve been taking Tri-Lo-Marzia. It’s not bad. But I can’t recommend that because people have different issues and side effects to things.
I do recommend, however, talking to her GYNO.
$60 out of pocket is a deal if the pill doesn’t make you psycho! I’ve tried many birth control pills & they all make me crazy depressed. One was $100 for the name brand. If I could find one that I could handle I would gladly pay.
Janssen still makes it in Canada. You can go to urgent care there and get a script in Windsor etc at Walmart in Canada.
I have experienced the same thing! I have been on this pill for 10 years and can not take the generic form. I had to take the generic form starting in Jan 2019 after the pharmacy couldn’t get ortho in stock. Stopped after week 2 due to severe,depression, anxiety mood swings, brain fogs, fatigue. Do NOT take Tri Lo Sprintec this drug is the devil.
I am considering an IUD and go to my appt this week. I can’t afford all of the changes that the generic pills cause.
Hi Teva789,
I AM IN THE SAME BOAT AS YOU ARE! I was on OTCL for 10+ years (started around 22 years; I'm 36 now). I am EXTREMELY SENSITIVE to medication changes and generics! Last week, I decided to try the generic Tri-Lo-Marzia (TLM), and I experienced MANY of the SAME symptoms you experienced on the Tri-Lo-Sprintec: severe depression, mood swings, crying for no reason (especially at work), and (I'm afraid to admit this feeling, but... ) I also had thoughts of self-harm. I had NO PLANS, but constant thoughts. As the days went on, the more frequent the crying and self-harm thoughts occurred. I spoke to my doctor, and she advised me to stop the TLM, which I did. I decided to try a different generic, so we'll see what happens.
I also contacted Lupin pharmaceuticals (who make TLM), and filed a complaint about the side effects I experienced. I also filed a complaint with the FDA about the side effects. Finally, I contacted Janssen, the company who makes OTCL, and filed a complaint relating to the discontinuation of OTCL. I'm STRONGLY ENCOURAGING EVERYONE on this site who has posted a thread about this issue to PLEASE CALL JANSSEN AND FILE A COMPLAINT against the discontinuation! The more our voices are heard, the higher the likelihood of the possibility of them bringing it back. PLEASE ENCOURAGE OTHERS YOU KNOW OF TO DO THE SAME!!! PLEASE! We all cannot afford not to at least try!
Thanks!
Hi Ladies - Has anyone found any successful alternatives to Ortho-Tri-Cyclen? I too went mentally & emotional whacked out by TLS (Tri-lo Sprintec). I just tried to refill my Ortho & my CVS said they can't find it anywhere and it's on "back order." So just like the generic I WAS taking for years(that I loved), it seem the actual Ortho-Tri-Cyclen is now discontinued. Ugh!! Why on earth is this happening? Did they lose their patent on it? So many woman rely on it.
Please let me know if anyone has found a GOOD alternative to Ortho-Tri-Cyclen.
Hi All,
I tried the Tri-Lo-Marzia (TLM) and it was AWFUL! My depression went downhill, I had suicidal thoughts of self-harm (I wanted to stab my arm with a thumbtack, in the winter, viewing any sharp objects as possibilities to harm myself). I was crying ALMOST ALL THE TIME AT WORK (which I NEVER DO!), my mood was a rollercoaster. I stopped taking that pill after 5 days into it. Literally, 24 hours later, I felt MUCH better! I no longer was having thoughts of self-harm.
I'm now trying another generic pill called Junel (Fe). So far, I've gotten my appetite back and my cramps went away. The problem is that I have had no periods for the last 2 months. Contacted my endocrinologist yesterday, because I was concerned about it. She said it's "normal" to experience a stop in periods on some BC pills. Since I had NEVER experienced that while on OTCL, I was worried. Other than that, I have had no other really major side effects.
I am still GRIEVING the "loss" of our OTCL. At the end of February/beginning of March, I contacted Janssen, the company that made OTCL. I spoke to a nurse, who told me the company sold the patents already because they felt it was "too expensive to make the brand name" and probably weren't making enough of a profit off of it.
I WISH WE COULD ALL CALL THE COMPANY TO GET OUR BELOVED OTCL BACK!!!
Has anyone else tried calling to file a complaint on the discontinuation of OTCL?
Hello All,
Just an update.
Unfortunately, I could not find another form of BC pills and due to the horrible experience with Tri Lo Sprintec (depression,mood swings, brain fog, fatigue,anxiety) I did not want to take that risk and try something else. I got the IUD-Mirena mid Jan 2019.
So far it has been good ( 25F, no kids) I am still experiencing spotting in between my cycles which is kinda annoying but according to the doctor that is normal. Other than that, it has been wonderful! No mood swings or any symptoms. I feel pretty good, no acne breakouts or weight gain.
Has anyone found any good generic version?? I’m totally freaking out, and need any and all advice about what generic is comparable.
Thank you!
I have been calling around pharmacy after pharmacy asking if they carry Ortho-Cyclen & one said I think it was discontinued! It took multiple pharmacies to get that answer! Most pharmacists had no idea of the discontinuation of these products. I have been on this product for years . I tried the generics years ago but they give me anxiety so I went back to Janssen’s Ortho-Cyclen. I can not believe they have not notified anyone of the discontinuation of all their birth control! I will be calling their consumer hotline & complaining that this is not acceptable! Is this a result of Hurricane Maria? There was no information on that! I am really upset of this dilemma.
Hi Jenski 37,
I just joined this site, and have been following all these posts. I am in the exact same boat as you are. I read somewhere (and later found out via Janssen themselves) that it was, "... an executive decision... " and that it "costed too much to make OTCL."
I don't believe this discontinuation is a result of Hurricane Maria. I COMPLETELY 100% AGREE THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE! I am encouraging EVERYONE who has posted about this situation, including yourself, to PLEASE CALL JANSSEN AND FILE A COMPLAINT about the discontinuation of the OTCL! The more voices we can encourage to speak up, the higher the likelihood of the possibility of them bringing back the medication! It's worth a try!
Please let me know what you decide to do. I'm hoping we can rally together to try to make a difference for all of us (MYSELF INCLUDED!) who are suffering right now as a result of this major change!!!
What generic are you using now? I’m in the same situation, and desperate for help.
Thank you!
I just received a call today from my pharmacy saying they were receiving a back order message and that the manufacturer most likely discontinued making the product. I'm afraid to try the generic based on your daughter and others experiences with it. I've only ever taken OTCL and it worked well.
Hi vickivic21,
I found out they discontinued the product recently. I've been trying DESPERATELY to call around to ANY pharmacies in my area (Northeast US), and I've found no pharmacies have any left in stock.
Up until this point, I had been taking OTCL for 10+ years, and it's worked beautifully. I'm DEVASTATED that they discontinued the OTCL!
I'm going to encourage EVERYONE who has posted a response to this thread (and any others relating to this topic) to PLEASE CALL JANSSEN AND FILE A COMPLAINT about the discontinuation! I already called them last Friday (3/1/2019), and filed a complaint about the discontinuation. It's CRITICAL WE HAVE OUR VOICES HEARD! The more people we can encourage to call, the more likely the possibility they may bring OTCL back. It's worth a try!
I now use Tri Femynor and so far so good.
To those who are adjusting well to the other generics, I'm glad to hear that!
I still don't feel 100% like my old self, when I was on OTCL. I just want it back!!! I am strongly considering ordering it from Canada.
What are your thoughts?
Related topics
ortho tri-cyclen lo, acne, birth control
Further information
- Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo uses and safety info
- Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo (detailed)
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