more Nortrel 7/7/7 questions

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-14-2003
more Nortrel 7/7/7 questions
2
Fri, 04-30-2004 - 8:02am
I have only been on bcp for 3 weeks and I started to lighten periods and/or skip them (traveling this summer). I am less emotional than I was at the very beginning (I changed to taking them at night - may have helped). However, I have started spotting and I feel like I'm gaining weight. I have been exercising almost everyday but also have been craving sweets & maybe eating more than normal. Also, I have NO interest in sex. Will skipping the placebo pills and going right to the 1st week of the new pack really help me to skip/lighten period? Just want to make sure this is worth it. We use condoms so I'm not too worried about pregnancy.


My Dr said she was prescribing me Ortho Novum 1/35 but what I got from the pharm. (what my insurance covers) is Nortrel 7/7/7. Is is really the same thing?

Thanks for any input!

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Fri, 04-30-2004 - 8:47am
No, they're not the same pill! Not completely different pills, but Nortel 7/7/7 is a generic for Ortho Novum 7/7/7, which is a triphasic pill, not the same as the monophasic pill Ortho Novum 1/35, which DOES have generics available. I think I'd call up the pharmacy and let them know their error, that's pretty significant, and if that's not what your doctor wanted you to take, you don't want them to refill it with Nortel 7/7/7 again. Never mind that it is more difficult to skip periods with a triphasic pill than with a pill that's the same dose all month.

Breakthrough bleeding is VERY common in the first couple of months on the pill, and it seems to be most likely in the third week of pills. It usually improves the following months, but it's not a good idea to try to skip a period with it quite yet--continuing the active pills doesn't usually get the bleeding to stop, but having a period should. You may be experiencing different things too in these first few months--try to resist the cravings and your increased appetite, I know it's hard, but it's not that your body needs food, it's just the pill talking! That can go away with time too, I've been through it.

Good luck, hang in there!

Judie

Judie Cl for Birth Control 
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-14-2003
Fri, 04-30-2004 - 9:25am
Thanks. I called the Dr. right after I posted that and they were upset to hear the pharm. had given me the wrong pill. I should have called before but I didn't know that there was an Ortho 7/7/7 - thought the generic name was just different from 1/35 altogether. So instead of getting on the 1/35 I'm going to start Yasmin. Probably will be posting questions about that next!