help on birth control! Ladies!

[lunallena]

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Hey all:

i started taking Ortho tri-cyclen lo a month and a week ago (38 days). so far no weight gain, no breakthru bleeding, no other side effects in general.
However, my face has been breaking out worse than ever. i have bad under-the-skin bumps that do not seem to heal and i am breaking out in places that i didn't before. this was one of the reasons my doc gave me otc, besides birth control for my moderate acne and for regulating my period. But lately my skin is going nuts! my mom even told me that if i go to the doc like this he might give me accutane! and my wedding is in less than 3 weeks 🙁

Is this normal during the first few months? does otc-lo help with acne? how long will it take ? thanks all and god bless

 

[Febrifuge]

Call your doc tomorrow, and explain what's up. It would be inappropriate for anyone here to give you advice, but if there's a hormonal cause for the breakouts, there should be a hormonal solution. Various OCPs have different formulations; maybe you just don't react well to this one. Maybe using Accutane or something else is the way to go. Your doc and you should decide together.

Congrats on the wedding! And, um, you might want to use a backup method of birth control for a bit, especially if you change from this one. Good luck.

 

[lunallena]

Hey thanks!

i gotta say since i started the 2nd pack's second week it's improved tremendously. i'm doing the witch hazel/bp/salicylic acid 2.5% treatment and it's cleared up my face tremendously in a week. My doc said to give it 3 months, and that yes those mid cycle breakouts could be due to the pill. thanks 🙂 god bless u

 

[toofache32]

... My doc said to give it 3 months, and that yes those mid cycle breakouts could be due to the pill...

....or maybe you're pregnant. 😱

 

[raspberry swirl]

if you continue to break out you may want to consider this- the ortho tricyclines are triphasics ... which have 3 hormones, and the levels vary throughought the month. you may want to try a monophasic, which has a more constant level and dose of hormone, rather than one that changes week to week. it may reduce the midcycle breakouts. i had much success with Aviane, which is one of the lowest possible doses and is a monophasic (its also extraordinarily cheap, whereas orthotricylin is one of the more expensive). im now on the NuvaRing which is freaking awesome and i highly recommend to absolutely everyone in the whole entire world (its also a lower dose of hormone than orals). i think a lot of doctors automatically prescribe ortho tricyclins because its widely publicized and patients ask for it, and because they're indundated by the drug reps. i think some of the generics, like aviane, are actually better ... 🙂

 

[lunallena]

hey thanks 🙂

 

[rgerwin]

Agreed. Often, it's the hormonal fluxes that promote acne. However, every drug has it's adjustment period. If the acne doesn't clear up, switch to monophasic. Without it, my skin goes to crap, as well.

 

[bananaface]

Closing, as this is getting into the realm of medical advice. Please consult your personal healthcare provider.

Thanks 🙂