Ocella--generic for Yasmin

[Caitlin]

Shaelyn wrote:

I had never taken birth control pills and i was given Ocella at the pharmacy. Our HMO covers generics. I had notbing to compare it to so i can't really say anything for or against it. I will say that i have had absolutely no problems with it so far. i hope that continues! It's been a few months and i can't really say one bad thing against it at this point. good luck to those with issues.

I'm in the exact same situation. I've had no extreme issues with it so far and I'm hoping it will stay that way. I have been really tired but I think that's just because I'm stressed with school and I've been getting only 6 hours of sleep during the week. Anyway, I think it may affect women more who switch to it from Yasmin,(so obviously there's something different about the two pills) or switch from another birth control, and maybe it doesn't affect girls so severely who have never taken any birth control before.

[Shaelyn]

sounds like your experience has been more like mine. i wouldn't think that EVERYONE would have problems with ocella or they would take it off the market wouldn't they? or at least change the formula? Well good luck and i hope you continue to do well on it like i am. I guess it could pretty frustrating for those who have major issues huh. Sorry!

Caitlin wrote:

<quoted text>
I'm in the exact same situation. I've had no extreme issues with it so far and I'm hoping it will stay that way. I have been really tired but I think that's just because I'm stressed with school and I've been getting only 6 hours of sleep during the week. Anyway, I think it may affect women more who switch to it from Yasmin,(so obviously there's something different about the two pills) or switch from another birth control, and maybe it doesn't affect girls so severely who have never taken any birth control before.

[Mary]

I was on Yas for three months.My Insurance would not cover it so they gave me ocella.It has been terrible.I have had mood swings,upset stomach and horrible headaches.I am not taking the pills anymore

[Christina]

I was on Lo Ovral which was awesome but i wanted something to get rid of my acne problems so i called the doctor to have my birth control switched. I asked for Yaz but they put me on Ocella for insurance reasons. I have noticed weight gain, moodyness, bloating and an increase in appetite. What should I do since it's been less than a month?

[jen]

i just finished up my third cycle of ocella.. i had originally been on yasmin for about a year and a half and never had any issues or side effects at all. i have been constantly starving lately, and gained 10 lbs. i couldn't figure out why i haven't been able to stop eating until a friend of mine who is in the middle of her fourth cycle of ocella now said the same thing. i really wasn't expecting a change because the active ingredients are the same as yasmin but this experience has been absolutely horrible. this month i'm going back to yasmin no matter the copay difference.

[mair]

That happened to me too. I NEVER had an side affects with Yasmin, Ocella has ben awful. I feel sick all the time/cramps/tired. Don't get generic, I'm switching back! not worth it, I'll pay extra to not feel like sh$t.

Caitlin wrote:

I just started taking Ocella, the generic version of Yasmin. I've never taken any birth control pill before, so I don't have anything to compare to. Ocella is supposed to have the same active ingredients as Yasmin, but I've read that many women had no problems with Yasmin during the time they were on it, but switched to Ocella and began having really bad side affects. Has anyone taken Ocella, or even better taken Yasmin and then switched to the generic, that can share their experience? Any advice?

[Helena]

I was told by the pharmacist that Ocella and Yasmin are exactly the same. Nothing has changed in my life besides me switching to Ocella. Now all of a sudden I have yeast infection. This is very unusual for me. I have never had a yeast infection before. I am also a pretty easygoing person and have had some ridiculous mood swings the past few weeks. I am switching back to Yasmin pronto

[Jen]

I know how several of you feel. I was on Yasmin for several years and two months ago I switched to Ocella. That was the biggest mistake. Like many of you have stated, I experienced cramping all month, dizziness, headaches, and feeling nauseous. I have not felt like myself and now that I have figured out the problem I can't wait to move back to Yasmin during my next cycle. If you have experienced the side effect, they will come!

[angel]

i switched to ocella after takin yasmin for 7 months...i am going to switch back to yasmin b\c i have been experiencing side effects with the ocella (hot flashes, headaches)....yasmin was the first form of birth control i tried and i loved it. i couldn't even tell a difference between taking nothin or taking yasmin

[Cherry]

I have been taking Yazmin for approximately five years with no problems. I had tried four different bc pills before settling on it because it was the only one that did not cause side effects for me. Recently my GYN wrote a prescription for either Yazmin or the generic form. She said that they were exactly the same. The pharmacist also said they were exactly the same. Not being a very trusting person, I did research online and came across information that women are indeed having problems with the generic form of the drug. I called the nurse at my GYN's office and sure enough, she told me that she has seen patients who switched to the generic form who had problems with it, including heavy breakthrough bleeding. That was enough to convince me not to switch. Sure it's a savings in $$$, but it is just not worth the risk to me.

[Ashley]

I have been on Yasmin for 2 years and the pharmacist gave me the generic, Ocella, the last two months. Ive broken out in a rash from it and even though its supposed to be the same as the original, ive had a reaction to it.

[Jaime]

tormented in paradise wrote:

I took Ocella in good faith when the pharmacy changed my medicine without notice. was told it was the same as Yaz. I've taken Yasmin 28 and YAZ and experience no side effects. In one month of Ocella, I have lost feeling in part of my right leg, my mood is erratic to say the best, I am nausea, cranky, exhausted, experiencing pains similar to PCOS (which is why I take BC), and my GI system is in chaos. I am definitely not myself and I think I am losing my mind. The pharmacy will not do anything because the generic brand is what they supply. I have never had problems with generics before and the people who are saying that this is in my head are really irritating.

I have PCOS and can say I definitely noticed something different when I was switched from Yasmin 28 to Ocella. I went on Yasmin to regulate my cycle and to alleviate my least favorite symptom (excess hair) I was on it for two years before the generic came out and I had no issues. Then I was switched to the generic in July. I took it for two months and I may as well have not been on anything because I went back to feeling gross and my symptoms got worse. I actually just switched back to Yasmin today and the pharmacist was acting like I was crazy for not wanting the Ocella. Maybe its because of the PCOS. I don't know.. but I really missed Yasmin.

[Caitlin]

okay update...I finished my first cycle of Ocella...well now I'm on the white sugar reminder pills..no really problems throughout the month besides what I've already mentioned...but I got my period today, the 3rd day of taking the sugar pills, and had the WORST cramps I've ever had! I was hoping birth control would reduce cramps, even though I never got bad cramps to begin with, but I've never had worse ones than I had today. I was in pain all day. But I'm hoping my period will be short and light again so I won't have to deal with the cramps for too long...I really wish I had gotten Yasmin instead of Ocella though. It just sounds a lot better, despite the fact that I've had only minimal problems with Ocella so far. Until today at least.

[Kay]

Has anyone on Ocella noticed any changes in vision? I have never taken birth control before, but after taking Ocella fro almost a month, my eyesight has gotten blurrier. Im not sure if I need new birth control or a new eye prescription.

[marina]

If you hvae never been onyasmine then u wont notice a difference and if u have been on Yasmie and got switched then u will hello! there is different ingred in generic then in brand names duh!!!!!!!!!!

[Kemist]

Ocella and Yasmin are made by the same company, Ocella is only marketed and distributed by a different company. They are still made side by side in the same plant.
Ocella and Yasmin are the same ACTIVE ingedients, to the letter. However, the filler ingredients and coatings can be different. Most people who are going to have a strong reaction are those that have been on another pill for a long time. Even when you switch to a generic form, the filler ingredients can cause a difference in how quickly your body absorbs the hormones. And because hormones are delivered in such incredibly small doeses, this change can cause problems for some women. SO your docs and pharmacists are correct when they say the pills are actively the same, it's just a shame they don't bother to educate people further about what could be causing their problems.
Most docs agree that it takes at least 3 months for your body to fully adjust to a new medication, and some say it may even take 6 months. But be aware when you switch back to Yasmin, you may still have side effects for a month or so until your body adjusts again.

So to answer your question to the original poster, if you have never been on anything before, your side effects should be minimal. The cramping when you first start your cycle could be expected with any regulated birth control. I have always had that on my first day while taking pills. However, it should also make your cycle shorter--mine are usually 4 days.

[Bianca]

Caitlin , I am experiencing the same symptoms as you. An increase in breast size that is painful and tender. I am also breaking out mainly on my chin and lower cheeks and I usually dont break out. Hang in there. I am going to give it another 2 months and if it doesnt get better I am switching to something else.

[Bianca]

I switched to Yasmin after being on Tri-Cyclen Lo. I was a bit skeptical when my pharmacist gave me Ocella saying it has the same ingredients as Yasmin but decided to give it a shot. I just finished my first month and have had some side effects that i am not happy with. I have swelling and tenderness in my breasts that is quite painful and i am also breaking out which is very rare for me. I know most meds take a while to get used to so I am going to give it another 2 months and hope that it gets better. If not, then i'll switch to something else. For all those who are experiencing unpleasant side effects give your body sometime to adjust and see if the symptoms subside. If not talk to you doctor to try to find a better option. Most importantly, do what you feel is right and makes you comfortable. It is your body. Best of luck!

[jay]

Hi, I just wanted to add that I've been using Ocella for three months now and I'M DONE USING IT. I'm gonna switch back to Yasmin. I hate it. I hate that they switched it in the first. I figured I should give it a shot and that maybe it'll go back to normal. No, absolutely not. My period's changed and sometimes my eyes get blurry for no reason. That's never happened before. I was on Yasmin for about three years and had no issues. So, for someone who's actually tried it for three months straight, I DON'T RECOMMEND IT. And NO -- IT IS NOT EXACTLY THE SAME AS YASMIN.

[Oklahoma]

Well, I started Ocella (was prescribed Yaz, but the pharmacy gave me Ocella), and after less than a week, I decided to quit taking it. Honestly, I'm not sure if my side effects were from the pill or sress, but I definitely wasn't myself. After the fourth night on the pill, I started having difficulty sleeping (really bad - couldn't sleep, even with a sleeping pill), and I began to have problems with nausea to the point of puking. I was also incredibly tearful and felt like I was pregnant. That said, I have had some emotional stressors that may have been contributing to the tearful mood and sleep difficulties. As for feeling pregnant, I haven't taken a pregnancy test, so I guess there's always the chance. So, I'm not sure how much is due to Ocella and how much is due to other factors, but my experience was bad enough to have decided, yesterday, to quit.