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Today when I went to get my prescription for Ortho Tri Cyclen lo I left the pharmacy totally thrown off. I wondered about the cost and thought maybe they'd only given me one months worth. When I opened it up I was surprised to find that they gave me 3 months worth of the generic (Tri-Lo-Sprintec) instead. It cost me $30 for 3 months when I was paying $75 for 3 months before. I'm really surprised they didn't say anything to me. As soon as I got home I started a google search and have read nothing but bad things about Tri-Lo-Sprintec. I've read about spotting, moodiness, horrible headaches, rapid weight gain, etc. after switching from Ortho Tri Cyclen lo. I have been on Ortho tri cylen lo for 4 years and have been very happy with it and now I'm extremely nervous to make this switch. In fact I really don't want to. I am getting married in June and all the talk about women gaining 5 lbs in a month has me extremely worried. I've got another week on my ortho lo pills and then have the tri lo to start after my next period.. And I really don't want anything to do with these generics.
Has anyone else had to make this switch? I'm going to make a couple calls tomorrow. I first of all want to call the pharmacy to find out if I was given the generic because that's all my insurance will cover now (I received a memo from my employer about them switching coverage to generics but I don't remember seeing ortho tri cyclen lo on the list) or if there was another reason why I was switched. Once I get that answer then I think I'm going to call my doctor to find out if I can get the name brand again. In the mean time I wonder if there is anything I can do.
I would MUCH MUCH rather pay $25 a month for the name brand and something I know that has worked well for my body for the past 4 years than having to go through nightmare side effects and save money. In this day and age I would love to save money on as much as I can, but this is the one thing I do not want to mess with!
HELP!!
Has anyone else had to make this switch? I'm going to make a couple calls tomorrow. I first of all want to call the pharmacy to find out if I was given the generic because that's all my insurance will cover now (I received a memo from my employer about them switching coverage to generics but I don't remember seeing ortho tri cyclen lo on the list) or if there was another reason why I was switched. Once I get that answer then I think I'm going to call my doctor to find out if I can get the name brand again. In the mean time I wonder if there is anything I can do.
I would MUCH MUCH rather pay $25 a month for the name brand and something I know that has worked well for my body for the past 4 years than having to go through nightmare side effects and save money. In this day and age I would love to save money on as much as I can, but this is the one thing I do not want to mess with!
HELP!!
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First Helper emugirl2007
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If Ortho tri cyclen lo has been working for you then keep with it, I would go back to the Pharmacy and tell them they made a mistake.
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DO NOT USE TRI LO SPRINTEC!!!!!!!! I was switched to it as well after being on Ortho lo for about 6 years. In less than a month I quickly gained more than five pounds despite regular exercise. In addition to this I have also been experiencing extreme fatigue, random headaches, and just a general gross feeling. I never once had any sort of problem with Ortho Lo in 6 years and I am furious with myself for failing to do the proper research before taking the generic. It also makes me angry that pharmacists are allowed to constantly reassure their customers that generic medication is the "exact same thing" as the brand name when that is completely untrue. Take my advice and stay FAR away from Tri-Lo-Sprintec!!
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I switched last month & have had no problems with it. A friend of mine switched a few months back (right when it came out) and has loved it. For me it's $10 for 3 months instead of $100/3mo so the savings are well worth it. I'd give it a shot.
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Generic=Name brand
Generic brand drugs are the exact same as the name brand drugs. I, too, was thrown off when I was handed the generic for the first time this month, but I asked the pharmacist, and he said it would be illegal to change the prescription without notifying the patient. If the drugs were different, they would face legal action because people could be allergic to different medications. Therefore, the hormone levels/etc. are the exact same in the generic as they are in Ortho tri cyclen lo. I also asked my doctor, who confirmed this.
Even with all of this, today is my first day starting the new pills, and I'm a little nervous. But all my research says I shouldn't be.
Even with all of this, today is my first day starting the new pills, and I'm a little nervous. But all my research says I shouldn't be.
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I said the EXACT same thing to my pharmacist at Target. They're telling me that there's some new insurance regulation (I have BCBS) that requires the pharmacy to issue a generic where available. I expressed my concern with it for the same reasons you mentioned.
I just started my second month's pills of Tri-Lo Sprintec while I'm waiting for my Doctor to approve of me to switch back to Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo. The pharmacist said that I have to have a medical reason to use Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo. This whole ordeal is absurd. If I'm willing to pay more for my medication, then it shouldn't be a problem. I'd even cover the difference that my insurance company pays if I could.
What a mess. I feel helpless right now and I'm seriously worried that the side effects will be worse...
I just started my second month's pills of Tri-Lo Sprintec while I'm waiting for my Doctor to approve of me to switch back to Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo. The pharmacist said that I have to have a medical reason to use Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo. This whole ordeal is absurd. If I'm willing to pay more for my medication, then it shouldn't be a problem. I'd even cover the difference that my insurance company pays if I could.
What a mess. I feel helpless right now and I'm seriously worried that the side effects will be worse...
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Yes BCBS requires generics UNLESS the physician specifies "DAW" or "Dispense as Written." Most pharmacies require a signature & not a stamp for this especially if you use Medco. As for Tri Sprintek, my sister has been on it for almost a year and the only noticeable difference is that she is more empathetic; it's harder for her to suppress her emotions, but she isn't moody and has had NO negative side effects. I want to switch to it today since I've had nothing but problems with both Loestrin 24 FE and Lo Loestrin 24.
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I agree...
I was given the generic by mistake because my pharmacy thought I'd rather save the money. I have no insurance at all so I figured I'd try it...well I have been on many different pills over the years and this is the first time I ever experienced spotting! Very annoying, I'm switching to Seasonique lo-anyone have any advice with that one??
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Not happy with Tri Lo Sprintec
I was on Brand name Ortho Tri-Cyclin LO for the past year (my DR. office kept giving me samples). These finally ran out about 1.5 months ago, and I also received the Tri Lo Sprintec generic brand. I was NOT expecting anything to change - so it's not like I'm being paranoid and looking for minor nonsense. BUT I did experience major symptoms that I did not have on the brand name (I'm on my second pack). Symptoms are: weight gain, moodiness, LOSS of appetite - no desire to cook or eat right, so end up eating JUNK (hence the weight gain), loss of sex drive (this was the reason I was on a triphasic in the first place - to increase that). Anyway, it's all around bad. I just called me doc and they are going to call in a prescription requiring the pharmacy to dispense only the brand name. Yay!
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Generic Medication Switch
BE SURE TO CHECK THE INGREDIENTS AND DOSAGE IS THE SAME ON BOTH BRANDS! I went to pick up my birth control pills today. New Dr, prescribed the same Marvelon that i've been taking for the last 3 years... New pharmacist suggested I opt for the generic brand Aviane... I asked her " Is it EXACTLY the same ingredients and dosage" (I have enough issues with pms hormones, changing up a 3 year routine/medication, NOT an option) She says to me, and I quote "It is exactly the same, it would be illegal for me to give you the generic if it is not IDENTICAL to your prescription" .. Yes DIRECT quote... So I get home, i open a package.. 1st thing I see are pills 3 times larger... And with that advil sugar coating type crap on them... I decide to read and compare my long term contraceptive to this new, horse-pill contraceptive... Not only are the doses different, the ingredients are different! Needless to say, there will be a sh*t show in the pharmacy in exactly 7.5 hours...
CHECK/COMPARE THE PRESCRIPTIONS! DO YOUR RESEARCH!
Good Luck
CHECK/COMPARE THE PRESCRIPTIONS! DO YOUR RESEARCH!
Good Luck
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I'm starting to wonder...
I'm trying to research this too. A few months back my pharmacist handed me a the generic Tri-lo Sprintec in place of my normal Ortho-Lo. I was super happy because it was free instead of the $10/month I was paying, so I left quite pleased. However, I began to notice a significant amount of weight gain over the next couple of months...I had just started at a new gym, so i thought maybe it was muscle, or maybe my metabolism was just slowing down. I just happened to come across an article about this generic brand of Ortho-Lo, and one of the main complaints was rapid weight gain. I still dont know if this is my issue, but my doctor is looking into a different pill for me so I can experiment. I think it's pretty strange so many people are complaining about it if is "Supposed" to be the same thing. I've never had any other problems with medication in my life.
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Last week, I had a visit to an OB/GYN. She asked what I use for birth control, and I told her the generic version of Ortho Tri-cylen Lo, and she said something to the effect of "You mean Sprintec? Or wait, no, you can't be on that..."
I was concerned because I was given Sprintec last time I picked up my prescription (it was the first time I had picked it up at the store, I had gotten 3 months trial of the name brand from my original OB/GYN, a different woman... I was surprised that they gave me the off brand, but figured it was the same thing).
So I pull out my pills and say, "Yeah, it is the Sprintec."
She says, "Oh. They aren't supposed to be giving you that."
She went on to say that the company that made Tri Cyclen Lo recently filed and won a lawsuit about Sprintec, and that Sprintec is no longer allowed to sell their product. However (according to her), the pharmacies still have large supplies of the Sprintec, so they are giving it out instead of the Tri Cyclen Lo to get rid of it.
Again, this is a secondhand source, but... it sounds not unlikely. Of course now I am especially afraid of how much my pills will cost since they aren't covered by my insurance...
I was concerned because I was given Sprintec last time I picked up my prescription (it was the first time I had picked it up at the store, I had gotten 3 months trial of the name brand from my original OB/GYN, a different woman... I was surprised that they gave me the off brand, but figured it was the same thing).
So I pull out my pills and say, "Yeah, it is the Sprintec."
She says, "Oh. They aren't supposed to be giving you that."
She went on to say that the company that made Tri Cyclen Lo recently filed and won a lawsuit about Sprintec, and that Sprintec is no longer allowed to sell their product. However (according to her), the pharmacies still have large supplies of the Sprintec, so they are giving it out instead of the Tri Cyclen Lo to get rid of it.
Again, this is a secondhand source, but... it sounds not unlikely. Of course now I am especially afraid of how much my pills will cost since they aren't covered by my insurance...
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Name brand vs. Generics
This is how I understand Trade name vs. generic drugs: Technically, when there is a generic of a drug, the ACTIVE INGREDIENT has to remain the same. So if a pill has estradiol in the name brand, the generic needs to have it as well. What can be different however, are inactive ingredients. When people get different side effects from the generic, it is usually due to the other inactive ingredients, not the active ones. So yes, I have heard people have bad reactions to generics, but not because of the drug itself.
I don't mind generics as long as I don't get any adverse effects. In fact, one of the drugs I take just recently got switched from one generic to another. I just shrugged and took it anyway.
The point is, if you know you are having adverse effects from a generic, then talk to the pharmacist or doctor. Your doctor can write on the prescription that she/he only wants you to have the name brand drug. I, however, do not know how that works with insurance companies if you are on insurance.
I don't mind generics as long as I don't get any adverse effects. In fact, one of the drugs I take just recently got switched from one generic to another. I just shrugged and took it anyway.
The point is, if you know you are having adverse effects from a generic, then talk to the pharmacist or doctor. Your doctor can write on the prescription that she/he only wants you to have the name brand drug. I, however, do not know how that works with insurance companies if you are on insurance.
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I would not make the switch
I have been getting serious headaches/migraines the week of my period, which I have never experienced before; it all started when starting Sprintec LO. I took Ortho LO for several years and never had these problems before. I also gained a few pounds and have been VERY moody and tired. I usually have no problems with buying generic instead of name brand (such as ibuprofen, cold meeds, etc) but having a migraine one week out of 4 is definitely not worth the $30/month that its saving me 
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Ortho Tri-Cyclin LO generic
I went to went get my daughter's Ortho LO med but her RXAmerica insurance suddenly didn't cover it anymore. I squawked about it and they said they thought she had been getting the generic, not on the market now. Here I see this Sprintec LO tried to pass off as the generic, an impersonation I can't believe they slipped by the FDA. Also difficult to see is how Premerin got approval, in as much as they don't know exactly what it is and what part of it is actually efective. There can never be a identical generic because it is so ill defined.
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I, too, was automatically switched around July 2009. Although I didn't realize it until later, that's the same time I developed heart palpitations (no previous problems at all, non-smoker, healthy). They started out as "flutters" a couple of times a week, and progressed to countless, pounding, daily episodes. I wound up on a heart monitor and seeing a cardio doc for an echo and stress test. That's when I finally put it together, and stopped the pill. The palpitations stopped immediately...I'm convinced they were soley attributed to Tri-lo Sprintec.
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don't take generic!
I received the Generic and just thought, "heck ya, saving $20. 2 months later of taking it, I had gained weight, moody, and was sleeping with a heating pad every night because of a new fibroid that starting growing. I didn't realize that other people actually had side effects also! I thought I was just weird. I'm back on the real stuff and back to normal.
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Ortho tri cyclen lo generic
I have been taking the generic Ortho tri cyclen lo and have had insomnia and anxiety. I didn't understand what it was until I started researching and found that others are having bad side effects as well, that they didn't have on brand Ortho tri cyclen lo. I'm back to the brand name. I need my sleep.
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I have been on Tri-Lo-Sprintec for a couple of months now, ever since I switched I started to notice chest pains and light headness. I'm only 22 so I became worried. I went and had all of the possible tests done (including an ultrasound of the heart) and everything came back perfect. I figured it was stress but the symptoms would only come every several weeks. I have been ok for a coupel of weeks now and Tuesday i started my new pack of Tri-Lo-Sprintec and all of my symptoms have come back. I will be switching back to Ortho Lo as soon as I get a hold of my doctor.
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Lawsuit on Generic Tri-lo Sprintec
Well it is January 21st, 2010 and I rec'd a letter from CVS Prescription (my insurance company) saying that Teva Pharmaceuticals, the manufacturer of the generic tri-lo sprintec, has agreed to stop making this product because of a patent-infringement lawsuit. As a result of this lawsuit, tri-lo sprintec is no longer available. YEA.
My daughter has had alot of symptoms over 4-5 months she's been on them, and yes insurance made us switch to generic, she did not have symptoms on the brand name OTL. I kept telling my daughter it was probably due to stress because she is a freshman in college. Headaches, moody, and crying for no reason; she told me last week she was concerned that she was losing more hair then normal and I asked the pharmacy if it could be from the birth control and he said, "yes". Then I get a letter in the mail today confirming there is a lawsuit and they won't be selling them any more.
She won't be taking them effectively today, not sure if we go back to brand name until I consult our doctor and get professional advice.
My daughter has had alot of symptoms over 4-5 months she's been on them, and yes insurance made us switch to generic, she did not have symptoms on the brand name OTL. I kept telling my daughter it was probably due to stress because she is a freshman in college. Headaches, moody, and crying for no reason; she told me last week she was concerned that she was losing more hair then normal and I asked the pharmacy if it could be from the birth control and he said, "yes". Then I get a letter in the mail today confirming there is a lawsuit and they won't be selling them any more.
She won't be taking them effectively today, not sure if we go back to brand name until I consult our doctor and get professional advice.
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i was on tri-lo-sprintec and have loved it!!! no real side effects. my boobs got bigger but i was an A cup so no complaints there. My pharmacist just told me it wasn't available anymore and i'm freaking out.. i don't know if i can afford OTL! i was going to try reg tri-sprintec. I've tried monophasic bcp and i have every terrible side-effect on the package. Has anyone heard of a similar triphasic bcp? i have always taken generics so i don't mind. worse care scenario, i'll make the switch to OTL, but if possible i'd like to stick to generics..
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