Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo User Reviews & Ratings

• rpv...
• October 9, 2018

For Birth Control "I've been taking this birth control for 3 months after fighting with my insurance about not wanting the generic because they are different, as we all know. I was approved OTCL, so I was stoked. Even though OTCL reviews are scary, I'm prone to anxiety and depression, and I had not ONE side effect from OTCL. Today, I am very upset because, according to pharmacists, the manufacturer has discontinued Ortho Tri-Cyclen LO? Why would the company do this? My insurance and I were paying for this, and this is the ONLY birth control that has zero side effects for me. I don't know what to do now. After doing extensive research on Tri Lo Sprintec, ALMOST ALL PEOPLE SWITCH BACK TO ORTHO TRI CYCLEN LO BECAUSE OF SIDE EFFECTS FROM TRI LO SPRINTEC OR ANOTHER OTCL GENERIC. I was told that generics have different binders in them (fillers such as sugar amount or other chemicals) that make the body absorb medication differently. PLEASE BRING BACK OTCL, I hope this is a false alarm and my BC will be back."

• Sam...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 3, 2019

For Birth Control "Not sure why this particular birth control has received so many bad reviews on this website. I’ve been taking Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo for close to 4 years now, and it’s been VERY reliable. It helped regulate my menstrual cycle, I haven’t gained weight, no issues with acne. I haven’t experienced any negative side effect. This review is from a Canadian."

• Cri...
• March 27, 2019

For Birth Control "I used Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo, the brand, for 2 years. It’s all I’ve ever used. I am 29 years old now, and I am so devastated that Jansen has discontinued this because it was too expensive to manufacture, which means they weren’t making as much money as they wanted. But for me, it is the best birth control pill out there! No weight gain, no breakthrough bleeding or mood swings, no pregnancy, and I’ve never used any backup birth control or condoms - just the pill. I don’t even know where to go now or what to use instead. Please bring back this birth control pill!! It’s been so amazing. I was even willing to pay the $150 per month to get it out of pocket because I don’t want to risk crazy side effects of any other birth controls."

• AGB...
• June 5, 2014

For Birth Control "Long story short, I had been on Necon for 8 years with no problems (clear skin, regular period, no mood swings). Recently, there was some big shortage on Necon, so my pharmacy replaced it with Nortrel, which gave me really bad chin acne. I went to my Dr., and she recommended Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo and said it was good for clearing skin. The first 2 pill packs, my face went NUTS. I had acne all over the place. I was so upset and wanted to go off it immediately. But I read reviews online, and people said to give it a chance. I'm glad I did. My skin is now better than it's ever been after 4 months. I rarely ever get cramps and do not have PMS at all. All I can say is give your body time to get adjusted if you are starting off on this pill and not liking it."

• Anonymous
• September 3, 2009

For Birth Control "I have been using Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo for 6 years now, and I have always absolutely loved it! I never experienced weight gain, acne, mood swings, and my period is every fourth Wednesday. I have no complaints. It is the perfect birth control for me."

• Lau...
• June 8, 2013

For Ovarian Cysts "I was diagnosed with polycystic ovarian syndrome in 2011, and my doctor put me on Ocella. After about two years on it, I became so irritated and unhappy with everything I switched (Ocella is horrible). I called my doctor and explained that Ocella was making my hormones go crazy, so she switched me to Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo. I've been taking it for probably 6 months now, and everything is great! My periods are really light, they've gone from three days to two days, which worries me a little bit, but my doctor said this can happen after being on the pill for so long. I haven't gained any weight, my slight acne has cleared, and my breasts have jumped about one cup size! I also barely notice myself getting irritated anymore. So far, so good! This pill has been great for me."

• Lov...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 2, 2013

For Birth Control "I must admit that some of the things that people experience from this pill are scary. One thing to know is just because they have this experience doesn't mean you will. Always try it yourself. Different bodies have different reactions. I have been on this birth control for about 4 months now, and I love it. I don't have mood swings at all, I am very calm at all times. I did not used to be. I don't have vaginal dryness, yeast infections, UTIs, or anything else that people are saying besides breast tenderness. It only seems to be tender at night. I have not gained any weight. I think my breasts are getting bigger, which is a plus to me. I don't have acne like I used to. My periods are very light now."

• lcg...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• March 13, 2019

For Ovarian Cysts "Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo has been the best and only birth control that has never interacted with any of my other medications. It's also the only birth control my body was able to tolerate without negative side effects. I was on the medication for 10+ years, and now they discontinued it. I am beyond devastated that I have to switch since I am extremely sensitive to medications and dosage changes. So far, I have tried another generic (Tri-Lo-Marzia) and had a terrible experience. I switched to something else but am still trying to adjust to the new one. I wish they would bring this medication back!!! Please!!!!! Call Janssen (1-800-JANSSEN, M-F, 9 AM-8 PM) and file a complaint regarding the discontinuation of this product. The more people contact them, the higher the likelihood they might bring it back."

• Anonymous
• April 17, 2008

For Endometriosis "I have been taking this OC for 4 years. I have mild endometriosis with occasional pain and/or discomfort. This pill is amazing. It helps decrease the level of pain. I have had fewer mood swings. I have less bleeding during menstruation. I highly recommend this oral contraceptive to any woman who has had trouble with other OCs."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 20, 2014

For Birth Control "I'd never been on birth control up until a few months ago, and I was given Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo as a starter because I did not want it to have much hormones. I went through two whole packs and decided to switch because of extremely low sex drive, extreme mood swings, and increased appetite (I would eat a full meal, and two hours later my stomach would be growling again). My relationship began to suffer due to these side effects, so I stopped taking it and am back to normal. However, this pill DID have pros: I didn't get pregnant, it regulated my period, and caused no breakouts or acne. But be wary of weight gain, decreased libido, and mood swings."

• Anonymous
• February 27, 2008

For Birth Control "I took Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo for a year, during which I was having intercourse very regularly. It was the only form of birth control I used, and although I did miss a few pills, my menstrual cycle was always on time, although I often lightly bled during the third week as well. It had the added benefit of clearing up all of my acne, when previously I would get zits on my chin, forehead, and back. The side effects were mild: a nauseous feeling when I first woke up, and constant vaginal dryness."

• Sie...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 29, 2013

For Birth Control "I'm 5'6" and 114 lbs. Very good pill to take if you're tiny and new to hormones. I recommend starting it the night of your new cycle to help your body get used to the hormones. Take it at night with a snack to fend off the nausea. STAY HYDRATED. You're going to confuse thirst with hunger on this pill. Drinking more water will combat bloating, weight gain, and fatigue. It takes longer to recover after workouts. My mood has improved drastically, as well as sex drive and wetness. My acne got worse, but I'll give it a few more months to straighten out. Love it so far."

• Arm...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• December 9, 2013

For Birth Control "I began taking Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo when I was 13. I am now 22. I was not sexually active at the time, but my periods were extremely irregular. This specific oral contraceptive helped to regulate my period, and it has been perfect for the past 9 years. When reading these reviews, ladies must keep in mind that everyone is different. Genetics plays a huge role in whether you get/have bad acne, cramping, low sex drive, etc. It may not be because of the pill, necessarily. In my 9-year experience with this particular product, I have never had a scare when I took the pill as directed. You will have a few of those symptoms, it's just life."

• MCS...
• February 7, 2019

For Birth Control "I was on Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo for 16 years. Never had any major problems or side effects. Just mild mood issues, like crying on sappy commercials. Lightened and shortened my period. I can't speak to its effects on acne because my skin has always been clear with the rare occasion of a small pimple. But now some evil insurance or pharma company has decided to stop manufacturing Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo, and I've been switched to Tri Lo Sprintec, and I'm terrified! The reviews I read were horrible! I model and can't afford any crazy breakouts!"

• als...
• September 4, 2009

For Birth Control "I used Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo for about a year and a half. It worked pretty well in that I did not get pregnant and did not experience any harsh side effects. (On previous birth controls, I experienced sore and enlarged breasts, extremely decreased sex drive, and difficulty even responding to sexual anything). However, I did have more vaginal fluid than I was comfortable with, and the fluid also had a different/weird odor. It helped my skin dramatically for the first couple of months, but after that, it only helped some. My period was lighter and shorter on Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo, so that was a plus! No weight gain, no moodiness. On the whole, I'd say it was a successful birth control experience."

• Yo-...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 29, 2019

For Birth Control "This birth control did a great job of preventing pregnancy, which is why I gave it a 2. I did not like the way it made me feel, which is why my rating is so low. I was constantly feeling low, crying for no reason a lot, and just never really happy. I ended up being on other prescribed medicine to help with that because I thought something was happening. One day I managed to line up the timeline of my sadness of when I started the birth control, and then came across this review page. I took myself off of the birth control and the behavioral medication, and I'm totally fine now. I laugh, joke, and feel okay about things. Everyone reacts to these things differently, but I know those reviews helped me, and I'm hoping mine can maybe help someone else."

• lil...
• August 25, 2010

For Birth Control "I have PCOS, and I had gone without a period for 10 months. My doctor put me on Loestrin. I was extremely moody and emotional, crying over everything and very depressed, plus I was spotting and bleeding almost constantly. Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo is the second pill my doctor prescribed, and I am beyond happy with it. I don't even notice that I'm taking it. There are no mood changes, I have lost a little bit of weight, and it has even helped with my rosacea. My periods are coming around the same time every month, which is wonderful because I am finally able to know when to expect it, something that I have never been able to do. The only complaint I have is bad cramps, but they only happen in the first couple of days."

• add...
• July 17, 2014

For Birth Control "I have not had really any problems. Except I feel nauseous all the dang time. It's terrible. Besides that, I have had clear skin, and I used to have a 7-day period. And it slimmed down to 5, which is no problem. But being nauseous all the time is terrible."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 2, 2012

For Birth Control "After reading horror stories about birth control online, I was very nervous to start taking the pill. I decided to try Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo, and it was the best decision I could have made. I never gained a single pound, my mild acne disappeared and my periods became regular, light, and short. I should also add that I have unprotected sex regularly and have never had a pregnancy scare. This pill worked wonderfully for me, and I honestly believe that it's the best birth control out there. CON: I only experienced one side effect from this birth control pill: every month, after taking the first pill of the pack, I experience intense nausea. THIS SIDE EFFECT DOES GO AWAY after time."

• Anonymous
• May 9, 2009

For Birth Control "I have been taking birth control pills for many years, and Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo has been very tolerable, with no side effects besides one: PREGNANCY. I thought it was better than all the others I've tried since it didn't give me headaches or nausea, but I'd take headaches and nausea any day over this. I took this pill exactly as directed, at the same time every morning, never missing a single pill. I avoided foods and medication that could possibly interfere with the pill's effectiveness. After a year of being on Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo and having periods you could set your watch to, I noticed I was a day late. Unfortunately, I have become part of that very small percentage of women that becomes pregnant while taking hormonal contraception."

• ann...
• May 16, 2008

For Birth Control "At the age of 29, I began using Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo. I was a bit emotional for the first two months, and then this went away. My cramps are very light, and I only have mood swings for a few hours at the beginning of that week. My periods are lighter and on schedule. The only continuous side effect is breast tenderness. It can be really frustrating."

• Dan...
• June 26, 2015

For Birth Control "I went on this pill when I was 17. The first 6 months were dreadful. An emotional freak, always crying. After my body got used to it, I was totally fine. My boobs went from an A to a C, I did gain a little weight, however, I blame that on college. I am able to lose weight easily when I diet while on the pill. Never got pregnant, even with missing pills. Regular period, LIGHT period. I would recommend this pill, once your body gets used to it, it will be fine."

• new...
• June 30, 2014

For Birth Control "I'm on the first week, and I've been crying for no reason, getting angry at basically the drop of a pen, and extremely exhausted and hungry. I hope this changes soon. I'll give it two months at most, I hope to see an improvement in that time."

• Anonymous
• August 19, 2010

For Ovarian Cysts "I got on this pill to stop from getting ovarian cysts; while I don't think it completely solved this problem, I found this pill very helpful overall. I had very few side effects: no spotting, no nausea, no loss of hair, but I do still get cramping before my period. It shortened my period to about 5 days, and it always comes when expected. I have tried two other types of pills, one being Yaz, and I came back to Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo because of the fewer side effects. It's a great pill, and I haven't had any problems with it. I've been on it for about 2 years."

• Bec...
• April 15, 2014

"I have been on this birth control twice. I'm about to start again this month. Both times I have taken it, my skin cleared up (always had light but consistent acne) and no weight gain. The pill may have even helped me lose weight considering both times I weighed less than I ever have. No changes in sex drive. As for mood, I felt great. I was never down and out. I'm really hoping this works as well the third time. It has been a miracle for me in the past."