Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo User Reviews & Ratings (Page 2)

• Kel...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 30, 2015

For Birth Control "I started taking this when I was 15 for irregular periods and horrible cramps. I was on it for about a year and loved it but stopped taking it. I noticed over time (about a year and a half) that my periods had been getting worse and worse. I'm 18 now and decided to go back on it. I'm 3 months in, and it's working perfectly! However, the first month I had a lot of breakthrough bleeding, and noticed I was more irritable. But I am fine now and love this pill! Side note: be careful if you get sick and have to take antibiotics. I would recommend using backup birth control methods with the pill until you are done taking the antibiotics because the antibiotics reduce the effectiveness of the pill. Not many people know this."

• Anonymous
• October 29, 2009

For Birth Control "I am 23 and took Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo (OTCL) for about 5 or 6 years. I started taking it to regulate my cycle, for lighter periods, less cramping, and all the other positives the pill boasts (and got it!). I am a pretty emotional gal, and this seemed to somewhat help. At worst, I would say it had no effect on my mood swings, but at least it did not make them worse. Over the time I took the pill, I gained weight and my boobs grew a cup and a half, but I would not blame the weight gain on the pill. OTCL even has cute little cases that you can get from the website for free, which I liked and used. I would have stayed on OTCL if I was better about taking it on time and if it were not so expensive ($50 retail, $10-30 with insurance)."

• kap...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 10, 2014

For Birth Control "I have used this birth control for a year now, and I have not had ANY side effects. Even when I first started taking it, nothing changed. I love how regular I am now, and I love that it works perfectly as a contraceptive. I would really recommend this birth control to girls in their late teens if they decide to go on birth control like me (19). I really do love it. It's a great birth control."

• Eva...
• May 25, 2016

For Birth Control "I loved this pill, and it worked wonderfully for me. As long as I ate with the pill during the first week, I never felt nauseous. The only reason I'm having to switch now is that my insurance no longer covers enough of it, and I can't afford $150 a month. Very nervous to leave a pill that worked so well for me."

• Eig...
• October 29, 2019

For Birth Control "Canadian here. I started taking Tri-Cyclen Lo in my senior year of high school, 8 years ago, which was 2011. I have been consistently on it since then, and I think it's a good birth control, but I've never tried any others. - Normal period, monthly - Minimal effect on regular mood/anxiety - Little bit of sickness starting new pack (sometimes) - No effect on depression or happiness - Minimal or no effect on sex drive - No effect on migraines, may actually help - No increase in weight caused by BC - No increase or decrease in acne. All in all, this birth control has been good to me. I think it affects everyone differently. I'll stay on this BC until I decide to have kids."

• Amy...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 15, 2015

For Birth Control "I've been taking this brand for about four months now and haven't had any problems. Not sure why other women are experiencing such negative results from this brand. I got this for free at Planned Parenthood and she said it was one of the most popular brands. I haven't gained any weight, haven't had any mood swings, and my sex drive hasn't been diminished. Oh, and most importantly, I haven't gotten pregnant. So far, so good!"

• LAP...
• December 14, 2014

For Birth Control "I started taking Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo when I was 16 because I had horrible, horrible cramps and heavy bleeding. I've been on it for 13 years now, and I absolutely love it! I'm 5'5" and weigh 115-120, my weight sometimes fluctuates 5 pounds or so, but I never had any major weight gain taking this medicine. I went off of it a year ago for a few months... my skin got soooo mad at me!! I had awful acne on my jawline - my doctor told me it was hormonally related. Once I went back on it, my skin cleared up, my cramps were gone, and my period was light and lasted about 3-4 days. It's been a wonderful solution for issues encountered during my period."

• Mic...
• May 13, 2014

For Birth Control "I'm on my second month, and I'd say it's doing what it's intended to do. My periods are slightly less heavy, and I don't have the normal monthly cramping like I used to. I have not lost my sex drive, and if anything, it's been increased. However, I did notice a change in appetite and a feeling of never feeling full. I seem to want to eat everything in my path. My acne seems unchanged, but maybe it's too early to notice."

• eng...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 14, 2014

For Birth Control "I switched from Levora/Portia. It's my second month on this pill, and I am really loving it! Aside from some migraines, which I'm hoping they'll go away soon, no side effects. No acne, my mood has improved, no weight gain (that I've noticed), and it works perfectly to prevent pregnancy. Highly recommended!"

• aki...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 2, 2019

For Birth Control "I have been on Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo for the past one year, and it cleared my acne, regularized my cycle, and was great overall without much side effects. Just found out from my pharmacy that Janssen has discontinued this. I am scared to go to generics by seeing all their reviews. Which generic has been good after switching from Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo?"

• hon...
• July 5, 2009

For Birth Control "I have been using Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo for about 2 and a half years. Have experienced racing heart, panic attacks, constant mood swings. I get upset and cry over something little, gained about 4 pounds, boobs did get bigger though, and I haven't become pregnant, so that's a plus."

• Pre...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 23, 2015

For Birth Control "I've tried Ortho-Cyclen and Microgestin 1/20 and Diane 35 before. OC made me gain weight like crazy, and I couldn't deal with the bloating; I also lost a ton of muscle mass. I've been on OTC-Lo for about a week, but I feel such a big difference in the degree of my side effects. I'm Asian, 5'2" and 118 lbs for reference. I don't feel nauseous at all, very minimal bloating, my skin's a bit clearer, and my sex drive's the same! I'm nervous about the tri-phasic style of the pill as I'm very sensitive to hormone shifts, so I may update my review after a month. I think people just really need to find a pill that most closely mimics their natural hormone levels and go up or down in estrogen and progestin as they observe the changes in their body."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 22, 2013

For Birth Control "Right now, I am currently on my second pack. My nurse recommended this. I'm a beginner, I'm still nervous about this, though. A little bit of history: I had TERRIBLE irregular periods, and I'm sexually active. After the first pack, my period came and went exactly when it should be (which is the last 7 days). My mild acne seems to be SLOWLY clearing up. The plus side is it helps my partner and me save money from buying boxes of condoms. I saw quite a few reviews about breast growth, that hasn't happened to me, but I'm hoping maybe later on. Side effects are just cramps, and I noticed that I get drunk a lot easier and faster than I normally would. I would give it a 10, but I'm only on my 2nd pack, so I'm not so sure yet. However, ladies, EVERYONE is DIFFERENT. But it doesn't hurt to try out."

• Lan...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 18, 2019

For Birth Control "This BC is great! I had previously taken Alesse and only took it for two months, as I got crazy anxiety from it. A few years later, I decided to try Tricira Lo (generic of Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo). I had pretty bad acne before starting it, and this pill cleared it up almost completely! I love it, and for this reason, I'm planning to stay on it for a looooooooong time. The only side effects were that my boobs grew a little bit, and I gained about 5-10 pounds the first three months, but after 5-6 months, both stabilized. I've been on it for about two years now, and my acne hasn't returned. If you want a low-dose BC and have moderate/severe acne, this pill is worth a try!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 3, 2012

For Birth Control "After my BC pill that I had been taking for about 18 years was discontinued, I have been searching for one that I like. My doctor suggested Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo. It's been almost 1 year, and I want to change pills. Every month I experience a migraine along with my period that lasts 2-3 days. I have also had nausea, mood swings, bloating, and trouble losing weight. Recently, I have had breakthrough bleeding lasting several days. All of these symptoms are a first for me."

• OTC...
• September 22, 2010

For Endometriosis "Obviously, everyone's body has different chemistry, and because of our genetic predispositions, diet, and environment, study samples of women may all react differently to a certain oral contraceptive. Personally, I found Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo to be effective for the first two months, and then I experienced a horrid yeast infection, breakthrough bleeding, and abdominal pains. I took my pills at the same exact time every night with the same amount of water. My sex drive disappeared, and I felt terribly bloated. The absolute worst was my unstable mood. I was making snappy comments and feeling suicidal."

• Jul...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 15, 2014

For Birth Control "To help with a bad case of PMS (acne, depression, anxiety), decided to start something that will help regulate my periods and balance my hormones. Just started this, and now on day 5, and my only complaint is I feel like I have 'morning sickness.' I'm so sick to my stomach not long after taking it. And prescription nausea meds don't help. I'm not expecting the acne to clear up immediately, but on the plus side, no depression and anxiety, which is a huge win. So far, if the nausea leaves within the next couple months, I will continue this medication."

• Lau...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 11, 2012

For Birth Control "I have been on Tri-Cyclen Lo for nearly three months, and I am VERY pleased with it. This is the first time I have even taken a birth control pill, and I was very wary to begin the pill after reading many horror stories online. I am very glad that I did not let my fears prevent me from taking the pill. PROS: -No weight gain -No extreme mood swings -No decrease in sex drive -Easy to use -Effective -Less premenstrual cramps, shorter periods CONS: -For the first few days of the pill, I felt extremely nauseous. It was so bad that I considered giving it up, but I am glad I didn't, as the nausea went away after the first week. -I now experience headaches before my expected period."

• Pri...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 25, 2020

For Birth Control "I have been on birth control for two years. I started Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo before switching over to the generic brand. When I started taking the birth control, I was nauseous. I had loss of appetite and began to lose weight. I lost overall 40 lbs in two years. I still don’t have a big appetite. I do eat, but my portions are smaller. My periods are normal and light. I like this birth control. It works well for me."

• Anonymous
• July 21, 2011

For Birth Control "I am a serious worrywart when it comes to periods and pregnancy, so last year I asked my doctor for a birth control pill that would give me regular periods. She recommended Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo, and I could not be happier. I have a period every 28 days on the dot, and it's only heavy for a few days, with two days of light bleeding that I hardly notice with a liner. I've been on it for a year now and have had zero side effects. No change in appetite, no change in acne - actually, some of my cystic acne has cleared up! No mood swings, and my cramps are much better; I used to get cramps so bad I'd vomit from the pain, but now I only have slight discomfort for a few hours. And best of all: no pregnancy! If you want a combined oral contraceptive pill, this is the best!"

• btl...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 5, 2015

For Birth Control "I am on my third month of this birth control, and I am satisfied with it. The first week I took it, I would take the pill at night and then wake up in the morning with vomiting or nausea. The morning after I took the very first pill was the worst. This occurred the first few white pills of the second pack as well, however, it subsided after a few days. I noticed I was moodier than usual the first few weeks, but that went away. I'm glad I didn't stop taking it because now I don't even notice anything negative. I haven't gained weight, it hasn't helped my acne, but it hasn't hurt it either, so that's fine with me. My periods became lighter for fewer days and MUCH less painful. My cramps are so much better now. Most importantly, I'm not pregnant."

• Anonymous
• August 8, 2010

"I have been on this form of birth control for about 5 months now, and so far so good. It has cleared up my skin completely and has made my periods shorter. Although I have experienced headaches and dizziness, I have yet to gain any weight or experience any other bad side effect. I would recommend this birth control if you are wanting to clear up your skin and not get pregnant."

• scc...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 2, 2014

For Birth Control "I have tried Yaz, Nuvaring, Paraguard IUD, and other pills. This is the only pill that I have little to no side effects. Normally I become emotional and gain weight on birth control. I have been on this for 9 months and have lost 15 lbs (because of a healthier lifestyle). My skin hasn't broken out, though I am not sure this pill will help if you have acne (I took Accutane before going on this pill). My period is fairly regular. That's my only complaint. I had one month where I got my period 3 times. Overall, I would definitely recommend this pill. Also, even if you're a big woman, this pill with a lower dose of hormones can work for you. I'm 5'11" and 165 lbs! TRY IT!"

• Bos...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 10, 2015

For Birth Control "I feel it is my duty to write a review since I read so many before taking the medication. I'll first say I'm crazy about weight! I was so scared of potential weight gain. The first week I put on like 4 pounds. Increased water intake, and it was off by the next week. Also, before taking the medication, my acne was bad. I'm three weeks in, and my face is looking great. I LOVE this medication. The breakthrough bleeding was pretty bad at first, and sometimes I feel crazy and hormonal, but it is very minimal. Love, love, love."

• tcp...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 17, 2015

For Birth Control "I love this birth control. After reading all of the reviews, I was really scared to go on it, but ever since, I have nothing but good things to say. No weight gain, haven't gotten pregnant, plus my sex drive is through the roof now. The only downside is that I'm way more emotional than I usually am; like crying a lot and getting mad more often at little things. But I've been told that that will improve as time goes on. Plus I get this birth control for free. I would definitely recommend this to people!"