Problems with Generic Birth Control?

I have pretty good success with the depo shot. About the only side effect I had was some weight gain but other than that its worked fine.

If you're on the shot for over a year it could take about a year to be able to get pregnant again and when you first are on it, you can spot for up to six months.

R.,

I have had very good luck with the Depo shot. It's convenient because you only have to get it every 3 months so there is no having to remember to take the pill every day. I was on it for 8 years before deciding to get pregnant and was concerned that it might take up to a year before I was able to get pregnant. That was not the case with me, though, so if you decide you want to get pregnant again, you can still do that. My doctor started me on the pill version first to make sure that I would not have any negative side effects and once we determined that I was fine, they switched me to the shot version. Might be worth checking out if you haven't already.

M.

From my knowledge of what pharmicists have told me. Generic are the exact same ACTIVE ingredients. Everything that isn't considered an active ingredient can be different and still meet there definition. So sometimes they put in things that work better with the actives but aren't really any benefit. The generic might not put these in. If that makes any sense is how I have had it explained. So I was told that you could have different effects on a small level from generic to brand name but I am always assured it is unlikely. Of course i can sometimes tell a difference. Might get rid of my headache slower, or things of that nature.

I think that finding a birth control that works for your body is a very hard task and one that doctors do not put much work into. Have you tried a lower hormone birth control like YAZ or something like that? I also know that the birth control patch works very well for some women. There is also that new Nuvoring on the market that doesn't sound as bad. I would just really discuss it with your OBGYN or family doctor. Sometimes the best place in town to go is a family planning dept or a planned parenthood since they deal with these issues on a daily basis.
I hope this helps :)
A. Hayes

I gave up on pills because of the side effects. I now just use Natural family planning. Great if you can follow rules and there are no side effects! It is different from the rhythm method and more effective (supposed to be as effective as pill if you follow rules). If you want to know more about it let me know.

If you have self control you can use the Fertality Awearness Method (and trust me, it takes will power). Basicaly you find out when you are ovulating either from an ovulation test, or with me, I knew that I concieved my daughter on either the 10th or 11th of the month, so when my husband and I wanted another baby we just did it on the 11th of the month and PRESTO! Baby!! Then, you just don't have sex (I usually go from the 9th through the 12th) during the time you are ovulating. This is kind of a simplified explanation, and your Obgyn can tell you more, but it hasn't failed me in 4 years and I've been able to plan my children to the exact month and day. My husband and I want one more and I know that I will get pregnant on November 11, 2007 because I will be ovulating on that day and it hasn't failed me yet :) I have been in the same situation where I had severe side effects to birth control and this is a great way to make sure that you don't get the side effects but still get to have all the fun :) Ask your doctor, it's really easy to do and there are several ways to find out your ovulation cycle.

okay sorry to hear that u have had problems with iuds i have had mine for the past 11 yrs and havent once had a problem i have had 3 kids though too and i love them they are my life. ages 13,12,11 anyways i dont think its the generic form that is doing this too u cause i too take generic meds and its just cost wise cheaper for u that is all its still the same persciption but maybe ur body is rejecting it maybe u need to see ur ob doc and see what they say or ur reg doc. every one who has had an iud im telling ya now takes it diffrently they have this or that that happens to them i tell ya i sure wouldnt take the shot cause that put me on the edge and i was a she devil lol! but i would defenatly talk with ur ob doc and see what he or she says and talk to the hubby about ur options on having more kids too to see if u are both done but just remember tying them tubes means absualtly no more and u cant change ur mind once it done either. so make real sure before u take that route. good luck to you i live in south east Iowa married for 13 1/2 yrs.

i've been on the nuva ring for 3 months and love it because you don't have to deal with remembering anything daily and with little kids i know its a pain but i really havn't had any side affects at all and the doctor told me that its one of the better ones for people like me that can't seem to lose weight easily..

After my 3rd daughter I went on the pill (not sure if it was generic or not) and had a horrid time with it. I couldn't remember to take that thing worth anything. I called and spoke with my dr. and they recommended that I go to the Birth Control Patch. I am on that now and love it. I wish that I would have used it earlier. I only have to worry about it once a week for 3 weeks a month. One week you aren't on anything, but yet you are still protected.
Either way I would definetly bring your concerns up to your doctor. I think between you and your doctor you will be able to find a birth control that works for you, your schedule, and your body.
Good luck!!

I thought it was all in my head.It's nice to know that it's not just me.I've been on the generic pills for almost a year now, and I hate how I feel. I have half the energy I used to and only a quarter the energy I need to keep up with my kids.I also gained about 30 pounds and I'm not eating any differently than I was a year ago.I'm to the point that I'm bugging my hunny for another baby just so I'll have a reason to feel like this.

If the pharmacy is the one that changed and is no longer carrying your name brand pills, you can always use a different pharmacy. I noticed that you live in a small community, and if it is the only pharmacy in your town, you could use one out of town and just have them mail you your prescriptions. There can be differences between generic and name brand, it is usually inactive ingredients, however they are different. i have not heard good things about the patch, increased risk of blood clots!!! even though the pill also has that possibility, the patch has a higher incidence. The shot can cause some nasty side effects- bleeding for 3 mos straight, YUCK!! good luck

Hey try the patch. I just read something that said it was better anyway. If that's not working for you there are other options. Talk to your dr about what you can use. the ring wasn't to bad. I've tried most of them. I've done the pill, patch, ring, shot (didn't like) and now I'm on the 5yr IUD. I still get some pmsing that is down right crazy at times but I was getting that before hand too. I also have started taking some vitamins like calcium and d and b to see if it help with the pmsing. And drinking more water. I hope you find something that works for you but you may just be trying new things for awhile. Sounds like you are pretty in tune with your body so it shouldn't take too long. Best of luck birth control hunting.

R.
I know how you are feeling...I can't be on a birth control or more than 8 months or it starts to mess with my body. So every 7-8 months I am put on a new birth control. I was able to be on the Neuva Ring for over a year. It is so easy that you only have to think about it one time a month! I was really uncomfortable with the ring thing at first but in the end I was happier with that. It was really hard for me to lose the weight thought, but I have a really hard time losing the weight when I am on bc no matter what it is. I really have a hard time going back on it after each of my babies. This time I am done for good!! Baby number 3 will be here in Aug and my hubby will be in the dr in Sept. I told him if he is done having babies then it is his turn to go on birth control...and it won't even give him weight gain or mood swings:)

Have you ever tried the Depo shot? I used to have problems with the pill as well, all the symptoms you described. I did some research on my own and finally asked my doctor about the shot. It seemed to really help. Plus I only went in to get it every three months. After we had our son I didn't really want to go back on it (we had a few fertility problems and although that does not cause them it can slow down the trying process because the hormones stay in your body longer than with the pill) So I tried the pill Seasonale, it's fairly new so your pharmacy should still carry it, plus you only get your period four times a year! It's currently working great for me. I hope that helps.

It could definitely be due to the generic version - I work with a lot of drug companies at my job, and from that have learned that generics only have to be a certain percentage of the same the drug like a previous responder mentioned. I am thinking its something along the line of 70-80%, but I can't remember exactly. It's definitely not just "in your head" :)

Glad to know it isn't just me! I was always ok on the pill, just forgot to take them, but the other forms: Depo shots for a year made me emotionally crazy and paranoid, The Ring wouldn't stay in, and ALWAYS fell out or came out during sex, the Patch itched me like crazy, then after I had my twins, I was b/f them and my OBGYN gave me a b/c pill that was supposed to be the only one that wouldn't dry my milk up, but my (Chiropractor) husband didn't want me to take it while nursing after some research, as he didn't want them getting the hormones from it at all.

Bottom line is: I am 16 mo pregnant again and due on the twins' 2nd birthday. Yea...

I don't know very much about generic vs. non generic, but as for other methods, I'm a shot person. I've only been on it for about 4 months, but I love it. All I have to do is go to a doctor once every 3 months and get the shot. One positive thing is that it reduces your period to practically nothing. The negative part to that is when I get my period, it lasts for about 2 weeks. Thankfully its a VERY light period, so it doesn't seem to be that bad. It doesn't work the same for all people, so your reactions could be totally different.

Yeah, I had a lot of problems with the pill too, so i switched to the patch, I liked it but it kept falling off, I now am on the NuvaRing, and I love it. You don't ever have to think about it, and I haven't noticed any strange symptoms.

For me, I used condoms with spermacide, before I was married.
We have two boys and while I wanted another one, sort of, my husband got the big V. I'm really glad now that I didn't get pg again. It's your body and your choice. I don't really believe in birth control unless your last baby was only few months apart. Or if you're not committed to one certain guy.

I'm gonna make sure both my boys know how to use condoms.

I have the same problem with my birth control pills. I get severe headaches and weight gain. I am not sure if you are saying that they discontinued the brand or your pharmacy just doesn't carry them anymore. Have you thought about looking into buying them online and having them delivered beings that you live in the middle of, "nowhere"? You may be able to find your brand and at a good price. Just a suggestion. Good luck!!

I don't know about birth control, but I did have a similar experience with generics and hormones. My insurance suddenly decided that it wouldn't cover my name brand hormone and wanted me to do the generic one instead. I had horrible side effects, so I talked to the pharmacist at the hospital I work at and he said that generics only have to be within a certain percentage of the active ingredients as the name brand and that small percentage is enough for them to work differently. The inactive ingredients can be different altogether. He recommended that generics shouldn't be used for hormones and other things like heart and blood pressure. I had to fight the insurance to get my name brand but it was worth it. Hope that helps.