STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

SheilsBabe · BCBG

birth control = better skin?

Lilykind · Hermes

I'm in the same situation and also contemplating going back on BC for the same reasons. I even got a prescription written up and everything. I've just had so many issues with insurance and all lately that it's been a hassle. Once I get my butt back to the doctor, I plan on having a prescription for Ortho Tri Cyclen Lo in my hand too. I don't have sex often enough to really justify it but I found myself a generally happier person when I was on BC especially since my skin is a great source of personal grief.

FWIW: Since I started my new job, my blemishes have decreased...my acne was hormonal and aggravated by stress.

Aurora · Marc Jacobs

I think alot of skin issues can be related to stress and diet. But I did notice when I was on OTC my skin looked nice. I'm not sure what insurance you are on or what your options are but my insurance allows me to use a mail in pharmacy for my prescriptions that i take regularly (including bcp) and its much cheaper - about half the cost of the regular pharmacy. You might want to check into this option.

member · Hermes

Lilykind wrote:

Once I get my butt back to the doctor, I plan on having a prescription for Ortho Tri Cyclen Lo in my hand too.

Lilykind - get regular Ortho Tri Cyclen and not the Lo! I was on low for a while, and my skin all of a sudden broke out. I went back to my gyno and derm and they both told me the Lo could be affecting my skin, because it's not as known for preventing breakouts. Also, my gyno told me he was taking all of his patients off Lo because it wasn't as effective as preventing pregnancy as the regular version and a lot of women had more spotting between periods.

Sheilsbabe - yes, I definitely think it's worth it to go on BC just for your skin. My derm. told me if I wasn't already taking it, I should because it helps out a lot.

relrel · Marc Jacobs

shopchicago33 wrote:

get regular Ortho Tri Cyclen and not the Lo! I was on low for a while, and my skin all of a sudden broke out. I went back to my gyno and derm and they both told me the Lo could be affecting my skin, because it's not as known for preventing breakouts. Also, my gyno told me he was taking all of his patients off Lo because it wasn't as effective as preventing pregnancy as the regular version and a lot of women had more spotting between periods.

yes yes yes...otc lo is bad news. the hormonal dosage is actually TOO low. it's not even close to the old otc drug and most docs will suggest against it if you ask. unfortantely you can't take the old otc anymore because it lost it's patent...which is why they invented the new drug, to keep making money. just take the generic otc...it should only be five or ten bucks because it's a generic now.

one other thing...if money is an issue, talk to your insurance provider/pharma provider about doing mailorder. mailorder is super cheap (both for you and your insurance provider) because you get three months worth at a two month rate.

if you don't have insurance because of leaving school and stuff look into going to planned parenthood for the pill, they'll provide the pill at a sliding scale fee.

but yeah...if you'r having problems with your skin and wanna be on some form of birth control, you might as well kill two birds with one stone.

member · Hermes

relrel wrote:
. unfortantely you can't take the old otc anymore because it lost it's patent...which is why they invented the new drug, to keep making money. just take the generic otc...it should only be five or ten bucks because it's a generic now. one other thing...if money is an issue, talk to your insurance provider/pharma provider about doing mailorder. mailorder is super cheap (both for you and your insurance provider) because you get three months worth at a two month rate. if you don't have insurance because of leaving school and stuff look into going to planned parenthood for the pill, they'll provide the pill at a sliding scale fee. but yeah...if you'r having problems with your skin and wanna be on some form of birth control, you might as well kill two birds with one stone.

I don't understand - I still take the "old" Ortho Tri Cyclen

Christine · Coach

I have not noticed any difference with my skin between switching from one prescription to the other, but there may be too many variables, including changing skin products.....

I'm on OTC Lo and have been liking it better b/c the regular OTC was making me really nauseous. Now I am worried that it's not as effective!

laken1 · Hermes

Christine wrote:

I have not noticed any difference with my skin between switching from one prescription to the other, but there may be too many variables, including changing skin products.....

I'm on OTC Lo and have been liking it better b/c the regular OTC was making me really nauseous. Now I am worried that it's not as effective!

Me too Christine although I've been on it for about 5 yrs & haven't gotten pregnant despite lots of "opportunity" if i was gonna.

relrel · Marc Jacobs

shopchicago33 wrote:

relrel wrote:. unfortantely you can't take the old otc anymore because it lost it's patent...which is why they invented the new drug, to keep making money. just take the generic otc...it should only be five or ten bucks because it's a generic now. one other thing...if money is an issue, talk to your insurance provider/pharma provider about doing mailorder. mailorder is super cheap (both for you and your insurance provider) because you get three months worth at a two month rate. if you don't have insurance because of leaving school and stuff look into going to planned parenthood for the pill, they'll provide the pill at a sliding scale fee. but yeah...if you'r having problems with your skin and wanna be on some form of birth control, you might as well kill two birds with one stone. I don't understand - I still take the "old" Ortho Tri Cyclen

are ya sure? most insurance companies won't provide the branded drug if there is a substitutable generic available. i don't even know if the pharma company is making otc anymore, it's been such a long time since it lost its patent. but even if you are somehow still taking the otc...i would ask your doc about the generic (trispintec and trinessa) because it would save you a ton of money, which is always good.

Shello · Kenneth Cole

I'm on OTC Lo too and it definitely improved my skin. Not a ton, but it has made a difference. I have no idea why, but both doctors I saw said that a low dose of estrogen would be better for me than the regular ones.

member · Hermes

relrel wrote:

shopchicago33 wrote: relrel wrote:. unfortantely you can't take the old otc anymore because it lost it's patent...which is why they invented the new drug, to keep making money. just take the generic otc...it should only be five or ten bucks because it's a generic now. one other thing...if money is an issue, talk to your insurance provider/pharma provider about doing mailorder. mailorder is super cheap (both for you and your insurance provider) because you get three months worth at a two month rate. if you don't have insurance because of leaving school and stuff look into going to planned parenthood for the pill, they'll provide the pill at a sliding scale fee. but yeah...if you'r having problems with your skin and wanna be on some form of birth control, you might as well kill two birds with one stone. I don't understand - I still take the "old" Ortho Tri Cyclen are ya sure? most insurance companies won't provide the branded drug if there is a substitutable generic available. i don't even know if the pharma company is making otc anymore, it's been such a long time since it lost its patent. but even if you are somehow still taking the otc...i would ask your doc about the generic (trispintec and trinessa) because it would save you a ton of money, which is always good.

I'm postive - it hasn't changed in all the years I've been taking it and the package says Ortho Tri Cyclen just like it always did. It's definitely not a generic, so I know they still make it.

I'll ask him about the generic.

relrel · Marc Jacobs

shopchicago33 wrote:

relrel wrote: shopchicago33 wrote: relrel wrote:. unfortantely you can't take the old otc anymore because it lost it's patent...which is why they invented the new drug, to keep making money. just take the generic otc...it should only be five or ten bucks because it's a generic now. one other thing...if money is an issue, talk to your insurance provider/pharma provider about doing mailorder. mailorder is super cheap (both for you and your insurance provider) because you get three months worth at a two month rate. if you don't have insurance because of leaving school and stuff look into going to planned parenthood for the pill, they'll provide the pill at a sliding scale fee. but yeah...if you'r having problems with your skin and wanna be on some form of birth control, you might as well kill two birds with one stone. I don't understand - I still take the "old" Ortho Tri Cyclen are ya sure? most insurance companies won't provide the branded drug if there is a substitutable generic available. i don't even know if the pharma company is making otc anymore, it's been such a long time since it lost its patent. but even if you are somehow still taking the otc...i would ask your doc about the generic (trispintec and trinessa) because it would save you a ton of money, which is always good. I'm postive - it hasn't changed in all the years I've been taking it and the package says Ortho Tri Cyclen just like it always did. It's definitely not a generic, so I know they still make it. I'll ask him about the generic.

oh, don't worry, i believe you.

im just so shocked that your doctor wouldn't have said something about the generic or that your insurance company didn't say something, or even that the pharamcist didn't say something. you know how money grubbing those insurance companies are. if you don't mind me asking...who is your insurance under? are they also who provides the prescription coverage?

Elle · Hermes

My insurance company actually doesn't cover generics, only originals. Not sure why. Anyway, if your doc writes your script 'no substitutions', they are not allowed to fill your Rx with a generic form of the drug.

And, even though generics have the same active ingredients, they aren't necessarily equal to the original. The hormonal blood serum saturations have to be within a reasonable margin for a generic to be approved, but other than that they can use alternative fillers, binders, and dye, some of which certain people are sensitive to.

And, if OTC low was really that ineffective, a warning would have probably been issued and docs would have stopped prescribing it. It might not be the best choice if you are very overweight because the low hormone levels + higher than average body mass could = less effectiveness, but that's true of any low-dose pill not just OTC low. I personally would worry more about how the hormones in a high-dose pill would be affecting my body than I would about low-dose pills being ineffective. JMO though .

relrel · Marc Jacobs

Elle wrote:

My insurance company actually doesn't cover generics, only originals. Not sure why. Anyway, if your doc writes your script 'no substitutions', they are not allowed to fill your Rx with a generic form of the drug. And, even though generics have the same active ingredients, they aren't necessarily equal to the original. The hormonal blood serum saturations have to be within a reasonable margin for a generic to be approved, but other than that they can use alternative fillers, binders, and dye, some of which certain people are sensitive to. And, if OTC low was really that ineffective, a warning would have probably been issued and docs would have stopped prescribing it. It might not be the best choice if you are very overweight because the low hormone levels + higher than average body mass could = less effectiveness, but that's true of any low-dose pill not just OTC low. I personally would worry more about how the hormones in a high-dose pill would be affecting my body than I would about low-dose pills being ineffective. JMO though .

(don't mind me...im sorta a insurance/drug/generic nerd and find this stuff fascinationg...)(sorry for the long hijack...!)

is there a reason your insurance company doesn't use generics? it's seems kinda ass-backwards, just speaking in cost-effectivness terms. generally speaking, when doc's write "no subs" theres a damn good reason. i like to think that most good docs would be keeping thier patients wallet in mind, as well as thier health. but that could just be wishful thinking.

i think that part of the problem with otc lo is that since its a newer drug (relatively speaking) there hasn't been a long enough period of time for doctors to fully evaluate it for thier patients. now, mind you, as with all drugs it will work fantastically for some patients, and for others, perhaps not so well. i think that a large part of the issue (and not just in this instance, but overall) is that there are doctors who read more research and journals than others. there are quite a few doctors out there who don't take the time to fully investigate the treatments that they are prescribing and then to evaluate new treatments or new recommendations versus the more traditional pathways.

for example...i saw my gyno out in pittsburgh who was a fantastic man and had really good "bedside manner". i ran into a bit of a problem with a pap and had to get some bad cells taken care of. his preferred method was cyrotherapy. i came to philly and needed a new doctor. i found another awesome doctor who is much younger (not that age is always a factor) and was always looking at new treatments and studies on old ones as well. it turns out that cyrotherapy isn't really recommended anymore because of blah blah blah. the older doctor didn't spend as much time reading new reports and so wasn't aware of this, the younger doctor dedicated a large portion of her daily existence to making sure she knew everything that was going on with everything else.

this is also the same doctor who i talked with about the otc lo, because i was thinking about switching to it because i was worried about the dosage of hormones that i was recieving over such a long period of time. she told me that there have been a significant number of pregnancies that have occured with lo, as well as spotting being almost the norm, because lo is just too lo. and the regular otc already was lo enough for the hormonal dosage not to be a worrisome thing.

Elle · Hermes

Ya know, I couldn't tell you why my insurance company only covers original versions of drugs. FH is in medical, so maybe they get more reinbursement for originals that way?

See, I wouldn't consider regular OTC to be low dose. But I have no idea if it truly is or isn't to be honest. All I know is that I was sicker than a dog the entire 8 weeks I was on it and I think it's the DEVIL, and had to switch to a monophasic with lower dose to be able to function. Everyone is sooo different though, especially when it comes to dealing with hormones. But according to the chart my doc whipped out when we needed to find me something else to take, OTC was about 1/4 of the way down on a chart that went from highest dosage at the top to lowest effective dose on the bottom. I say if it works for you keep doing it though, because bottom line it's your body and you know it best, and just because it doesn't work for someone doesn't mean it isn't the best thing since sliced bread for you.

laken1 · Hermes

Elle wrote:

Ya know, I couldn't tell you why my insurance company only covers original versions of drugs. FH is in medical, so maybe they get more reinbursement for originals that way?

[i]Elle - my DH works for a pharma company & if I get a prescription at CVS it is much more because they don't do business with them (even with insurance). As compared with Walgreens/ Walmart. So I'd think it would be the same for another area of the industry too?

I say if it works for you keep doing it though, because bottom line it's your body and you know it best, and just because it doesn't work for someone doesn't mean it isn't the best thing since sliced bread for you.

I totally agree with this too. I have been on all level of pills - I have literally tried 13 different pills since I was 18 (15 years). So my doctor won't even consider switching me if what I am on is working for me.

-- Edited by laken1 at 15:15, 2006-03-14

member · Hermes

laken1 wrote:

Elle wrote: Ya know, I couldn't tell you why my insurance company only covers original versions of drugs. FH is in medical, so maybe they get more reinbursement for originals that way? [i]Elle - my DH works for a pharma company & if I get a prescription at CVS it is much more because they don't do business with them (even with insurance). As compared with Walgreens/ Walmart. So I'd think it would be the same for another area of the industry too? I say if it works for you keep doing it though, because bottom line it's your body and you know it best, and just because it doesn't work for someone doesn't mean it isn't the best thing since sliced bread for you. I totally agree with this too. I have been on all level of pills - I have literally tried 13 different pills since I was 18 (15 years). So my doctor won't even consider switching me if what I am on is working for me. -- Edited by laken1 at 15:15, 2006-03-14

I agree w/you girls totally. I hope I didn't upset or offend anyone by sharing what my doctor told me about OTC lo - it just wasn't right for me

Elle · Hermes

shopchicago33 wrote:

I agree w/you girls totally. I hope I didn't upset or offend anyone by sharing what my doctor told me about OTC lo - it just wasn't right for me

Of course not, silly ! It's fun to have people to debate/discuss this stuff with! I'm sure we're all told completely different things by our doctors all the time, and it's hard to decide how much you want to take their word for it because they're professionals, and how much you want to be skeptical about.

I consider this whole discussion advocacy for our own health!

-- Edited by Elle at 16:04, 2006-03-14

member · Hermes

Elle wrote:

shopchicago33 wrote: I agree w/you girls totally. I hope I didn't upset or offend anyone by sharing what my doctor told me about OTC lo - it just wasn't right for me Of course not, silly ! It's fun to have people to debate/discuss this stuff with! I'm sure we're all told completely different things by our doctors all the time, and it's hard to decide how much you want to take thier word for it because they're professionals, and how much you want to be skeptical about. I consider this whole discussion advocacy for our own health!

Thanks Elle

lynnie · Chanel

i was on ortho tri cyclen at school, until the patent ran out and they said they couldn't sell it to me for cheap because it was generic or, at least not protected by patents any longer- this was a couple years ago. I guess thats another case of "name brand" being cheaper because of some special deal being set up. So they gave me OTC lo- and it was okay. I didn't think it did great things for my skin. Anyone on anything else? I know OTC was the only one allowed to say it improved skin- maybe another one too said it, but I know a lot of them probably improve skin, and a lot probably negatively affect skin. Any other recs? the OTC's weren't horrible, but they weren't super great for me either.