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Triphasil 28 / Alesse Discontinued

posted by Anon on 28 Dec 2006 at 3:30 pm

I have had this prescription since I was 18, and am very unhappy about having to change my hormone. After some, mostly unfruitful research, I would appreciate any help in choosing a comparable substitute for the triphasic regimen. To which new birth control pill should I switch? My doctor seems only to pick another at whim, and I would like the best alternative that most accurately replaces the hormone dose I have had for nearly a third of my life.

Read the news article that this opinion was posted about:
Wyeth Provides Status Update On TRIPHASIL-28 And ALESSE Oral Contraceptives

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Same Here

posted by Frances Chin on 23 Jan 2007 at 5:36 pm

Same here. It feels absolutely devestating to have to switch hormones, especially since my experience with other pills before were HORRIBLE, emotionally and physically. My OBGYN placed me on Levlen instead and that was really bad. Now, I'm on Aviane, and it seems to be okay. Though I just don't like it as much - it's probably mental.

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Trivora

posted by Lee on 24 Jan 2007 at 12:53 pm

I was on Triphasil for 10 years. When it was discontinued, my doctor prescribed Trivora and said it was identical to Triphasil. I have not had any problems with Trivora.

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My Doc. Got Me Triphasil

posted by kim on 03 Feb 2007 at 5:23 pm

im from canada and my doctor just prescribed triphasil. Is it good to regulate menstration? Why was it discontined in the states? Please, someone email me!

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Headache

posted by kristi h on 09 Feb 2007 at 2:09 pm

I am shocked!! I have taken triphasal 28 for 18yrs. other birth control throws my system off. I now have extreme menstrual migraine headaches, which were not so bad on triphasal 28. I feel like an experiment rat changing rx till one seems to work. Why cancel triphasal 28. It' s been working for many women for years.

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Triphasil

posted by Sue on 12 Feb 2007 at 8:32 am

Kim,

You mention that you are in Canada and that your doctor just prescibed you triphasil. I am also in Canada and no pharmacies around here have Triphasil in stock and haven't for the last 7 months! I just got off of the phone with Wyeth (the maker of triphasil) and they don't have a release date yet. Where in Canada are you? I am desperately awaiting the return of Triphasil as I really don't like the Triquilar that my doctor had ordered as a replacement.

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Triphasil

posted by pam on 20 Feb 2007 at 5:08 pm

My doc. just perscribed Triphasil for me and I'm in BC in Canada. I haven't checked if it is available yet though.

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Triphasil

posted by alana on 25 Feb 2007 at 1:21 pm

I have been on Triphasil 21 for almost 10 years, and 2 months ago. I was prescribed Tri-Cyclen 21 due to the shortage. Since starting the new pill I noticed I have low sex drive and I am very moody/depressed.

I heard that Triquilar is equally as good as Triphasil, but I guess this isn't the case? Why don't you like Triquilar? I am thinking of asking my doctor to switch to another pill (unless Triphasil is suddenly in stock!), but I'm not sure which one to try. I never had these problems on Triphasil 21, and if that product doesn't come back on the market, I'm not sure what to take! Any suggestions?

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Alesse

posted by Robin Scarpias on 26 Feb 2007 at 7:40 pm

I have been taking Alesse for the past 8 years and was very upset to switch to a different hormone. I am currently taking Aviane and have been for the past 4 months. It may be mental but my diet has remained the same and I feel that it is causing weight gain. I really would like to go back to Alesse asap but my pharmacist said it was discontinued.

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Triphasil

posted by Sue on 27 Feb 2007 at 7:51 am

Alana,

Although my doctor and pharmacist insist that Triquilar is identical to Triphasil I don't like it because I have gained about ten pounds since switching and my face breaks out during the first two weeks of each new pack. I really want to be back on Triphasil, as I was on them for the past 12 years with no problems or complaints.

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Trivora

posted by Lisa on 14 Mar 2007 at 6:55 am

I too was on Triphasil for about 10 years. My Dr. didn't notify me of the switch, and my pharmacy - CVS Pharmacy - had no idea why Triphasil was no longer availabe. My pharmacist gave me Trivora. Trivora, Trevora, however you spell it, did not work. I am 7 months pregnant now, and very depressed and very angry!

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Why Did They Stop Making It

posted by angela steward on 19 Mar 2007 at 8:27 am

my friend and i have been on it for 15 years and nothing does better for us. should we be afraid that something could happen to us.

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Alesse

posted by Lori on 26 Mar 2007 at 5:39 pm

I have been taking Alesse for 10 years. I like it until I went back on it after the birth of my first child. Now it does not regulate my cycle at all. I also heard other people with the same thing. Also a number of unplanned pregnancy while taking Alesse and these people were not missing pills!!!!

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Triphasil 21 Available

posted by Tiffany on 26 Mar 2007 at 7:37 pm

Triphasil is available off and on, depending on the pharmacy. It is just a production shortage. I am in Ontario and I can now get it in the GTA area. I was substituting Triqular, it is pretty much identical, I hate to say this, but when you focus on something too much, you start to 'notice' things that really aren't that big of a change. I have done some reading and both pills are very much identical. It is once drug company slapping their own name on the same formula. A prime example of this is Ibuprofen, how many generic brands are on the market? They are all the same.. Good luck finding your pills.

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Lo/Ovral

posted by Monica on 30 Mar 2007 at 10:16 am

I was on Triphasil, then Alesse for several years, other than a few months that I took something "identical" of another brand, and liked it. Higher doses give me migraines. I noticed worse PMS and terrible acne after they changed their packaging, although it was still "identical" pills. (I did well with the card-style packaging, but the dial one I had for 3 months was apparently not good.) I just got switched to Lo/Ovral today, which is an even lower dose. I hope it does the job properly.

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Triphasil

posted by Sue on 30 Mar 2007 at 3:25 pm

Woohoo!

I went to my pharmacy today and asked if they had heard an update regarding Triphasil (like I do everytime that I am there) only this time they said yes - Triphasil is back in stock. I was so excited I told them that it felt like Christmas! I am so happy that I have my Triphasil back - good bye Triquilar!

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Thank you

posted by HappyGirl on 03 Apr 2007 at 7:27 pm

I was fruitlessly searching the net for a replacement for Triphasil after being told it was discontinued and happened upon you lovely ladies. My pharmacist also replaced my Triphasil with with Triquilar, and let me tell you it was not good. I must be really sensitive to this stuff because I had crazy acne, weight gain and SERIOUSLY low sex-drive for the past four months.

Well, after reading your posts I went to the pharmacy and harassed the girls for my Triphasil. Apparently it is just hard to keep in stock (because it's wonderful) and you have to keep trying! I'm going back to my doc for a year's prescription to stock up! So yeah, sorry about the rant but I just have to thank you for having this thread goin!:)

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Triquilar

posted by Monica on 07 Apr 2007 at 4:04 am

I had been on Triphasil for 15 years and I went to the local clinic in my small Canadian town and they said that they stopped making it. Well I was devastated. So I went to my Doctor and got a new script for Triquilar, my Doctor said it's the same hormones. It says it is, but ever since I have been taking it for three months I have had at least 4-5 headaches a week and feel like crap all the time. Is anyone else having these problems? Anyone have any suggestions what to take instead?

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Triquilar Different From Triphasil?

posted by Crystal on 09 Apr 2007 at 6:53 pm

I had switched to Triphasil from Tri-Cyclen several years ago to maybe help with my depression. I have loved Triphasil, I no longer got menstrual cramps, had fairly clear skin, and found it easy to control my weight.

Because of the shortage I went off the pill because I was hoping to get pregnant near the end of this year. Unfortunately, circumstances have changed and I wanted to go back on the pill. I was prescribed Triquilar and since then I've had terrible acne, I can not lose the extra twenty pounds and get menstrual cramps. I was told I have to wait 3 months until I will stop noticing the side effects.

I don't WANT to go three months with acne and an extra twenty pounds. I just can't believe that Triquilar and Triphasil are the same...my body doesn't think so. Perhaps it was the one month off of the pill altogether that's causing the side effects. I hope that Triphasil will be readily available from now on...I don't want to start it up again and find out there's another shortage!

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Bring Back Alesse!!!

posted by Liza on 22 Apr 2007 at 2:57 pm

Hi,

I'm from the Caribbean and I've been on Alesse for the past three years. I don't have a problem with it and I was always afraid of birth control pills because I heard they make you fat. But Alesse is okay. So imagine my disappointment when I found out it was gone. My doc. put me on Yasmin, got me nauseous 1st week after taking it, I don't like it but I have no choice. I really do hope they bring back Alesse.

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Frustrated

posted by Stacey on 25 Apr 2007 at 11:36 am

I too am desperately wanting to go back on Triphasil. I have been on it for years with no problems. There was a shortage back in August of 2006 and my doctor prescribed Trivora. I gained weight, I am getting acne and my periods have changed. When will the shortage end?

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Necon/Levlen #28/Desogen

posted by Necon vs. Desogen on 04 May 2007 at 10:32 am

I have very irregular cycles, that won't stop sometimes unless I'm on birth control. I started out taking Levlen #28 and continued to spot while taking the pill, then the doctor put me on Desogen which worked really well with the bleeding however, it made me very sick and I was informed to take it before going to bed. Now I've been switched to Necon 35. Today's my first day taking it and I wanted to know if anyone has had any side effects or if I will have the same problem that I had with the Levlen?

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Please Bring Back Alesse!!

posted by Stacey on 08 May 2007 at 7:52 pm

I am from Jamaica and was so disappointed when I found out I could no longer get Alesse. It is the ONLY Pill that works for me. Now I'm at my wit's end. I have real bad craps and Alesse was my saviour.
Will we ever get it back??

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Alesse

posted by Laura on 15 May 2007 at 9:06 am

I was on Alesse for 7 yrs. I stopped taking it for a number of reasons. One was to possibly have another child. After two years of trying, we gave up, even though my cycle was very regular/like clockwork. During the 7 yrs, I gained over 50 lbs. Which I am still trying to lose. Even though Alesse is suppose to prevent them, I developed a ovarian cyst while taking it. It has since worsened and is probably why I could not conceive.

My headaches stayed the same on or off the pill. The only good Alesse did, was shorten and lighten my periods. Which have stayed the same since I stopped taking it 3 years ago. Also right before I stopped taking it, I developed an annoying itch problem that would start about two days after my period ended. My gyn and I have eliminated several factors that can cause it, from infections to feminine protection. I think it is either hormonal or acidic, or a combination of both.

I just wished I had stopped taking Alesse a lot sooner than I had. It must have been pulled after I stopped taking it, because I just found out about it not being available. I would be curious to know why it was pulled.

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Not The Same

posted by Sally on 15 May 2007 at 3:54 pm

I've recently been switched to Triquilar from Triphasil. They said it was the same and that I wouldn't notice. They were wrong.

I now get cramps, my complexion is terrible and I get PMS (eg. I have an overwhelming urge to smack people for being stupid--not normally part of my personality).

I have reacted *very* strongly to other pills in the past (Marvalon nearly pushed me over the edge) and know from experience that it does not ease after you use it for a few months. Marvalon got worse over time. Triquilar seems to be doing the same.

It is looking like my only option is talk to a doctor (who won't believe me or will make light of my reactions), who will spin the wheel of pills and prescribe some random (maybe inappropriate pill). And, if I'm lucky they won't cause me to yell at a stranger or jump off a bridge. ('so the pills make you a little bit moody, do they?' grrrr...)

Wish me luck.

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Triphasil

posted by Zoey on 16 May 2007 at 11:24 am

My doctor prescribed me a type of birth control called Triphasil. I haven't started it yet, I have to wait until next Sunday. But I was wondering from anyone who has a quite a long experience with Triphasil if they could give me any warnings about the medication or any advice..

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