Ortho Evra Help

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-16-2004
Ortho Evra Help
4
Fri, 04-16-2004 - 4:49pm
I have been on Ortho Evra since January and have experienced many side effects which I assumed would go away with time. The main side effect at first was breast tenderness. My breast had not been that tender since I was pregnant. The other main side effect was nausea - which is better, now I only experience that the first day I change to a new patch. However, over time I continue to gain weight. Since January, I have gained almost 10 pounds - which is very uncharacteristic for me. I have noticed the weight change and cut back on started being more mindful of what I was eating and it is no better. I am to the point now that my clothes are tight. I am frustrated and believe I will go back to Yasmin - which worked well for me. I only switched to the patch for the convenience. Has anyone else experienced this type of weight gain?
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-11-2003
Fri, 04-16-2004 - 8:50pm
I've been on the patch for a little over a month. My weight the first week was the same but the second and third patches, it went up about 3 pounds. I thought it was just kind of a fluke or something until when I was on my period, it went DOWN. It stayed down Tuesday when I put the first patch of this month on and Wednesday but today it's back up by 2 pounds. I'm hoping it goes away soon. I was on Triphasil and Ortho Tricyclen and it didn't go up at all on either of them, and from my understanding, they have more hormones in them so seems like it would've gone up.
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-01-2003
Sat, 04-17-2004 - 2:17am
Hi the weirdest thing for me is I gained 5 lbs in 6 weeks of use but every time I would eat my stomach would bloat up huge. Then I would get tremendouse abdominal pain after eating. Finally I called my doctor and he told me to stop taking the patch. I still don't have an explanation of what was causing this but I called the ortho evra company as well and such and all they said was that abdominal pain can be a side effect of the patch. I still haven't heard back from my gynecologist about why it was happenning or what caused it or if I can take other things yet or not. But my hips and breasts went up a lot in size and I coudln't fit my pants and still can't fit all of my pants anymore (I have been off the patch for 14 days now). I am definitly getting skinnier though. Its not all in your head. I have been to another message board where women said they had horrible problems with bloating on the patch as well as weight gain and one woman said that her doctor actually puts women on the patch who want to gain weight. Weird huh! I might try Mircette next. I wanna see what my doctor sais.
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-16-2004
Mon, 04-19-2004 - 2:24pm
I wouldnt wish these side effects on anyone, but it sure is good to know that I am not crazy. My stomach and hips definately expanded. I have been on the patch for 4 months and this past Saturday, when, not one of my pants or shorts would fasten, I took it off! I called my doctor this AM and will go back to Yasmin next month. Thanks for the input!!

One more question, how long did it take for the weight and bloatedness to start going away? I can't stand everything I own fitting tight. The first thing I do when I get home everyday is either put on some pajama pants or gym shorts! YUCK

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-21-2003
Mon, 04-19-2004 - 2:33pm
I guess everyone just reacts differently to the patch -- I have been able to lose weight. I was previously on BC pills, but once I switched to the patch I lost like 3 pounds just the first week. I also do not get cramps any more and my complexion has never been clearer!