Going off the pill

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-02-2004
Going off the pill
4
Wed, 06-02-2004 - 2:05pm
I have been on the pill for about 6 months (Ortho-Tricyclen Lo) and have been experiencing alot of weight gain. I'm not having sex right now and havent for awhile, and it is not helping to ease my cramps. If i want to go off the pill, do I need to complete the cycle, or can I just stop in the middle? Also, what side effects has anyone experienced from stopping the pill (and maybe switching to a different brand later?) Thanks.
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-16-2004
Wed, 06-02-2004 - 4:00pm
Hi,

I'm on Ortho Tri Cyclen Lo, and I had some slight retention with it where I gained 4 pounds during the month but it has gone away this week on the inactives.

You should not quit in the middle of a pack - it will screw up your period and likely give you huge headaches. Every time I quit pills (at the end of the month!) I feel headachey for a couple weeks. My skin also gets worse and my cramps get worse off pills, USUALLY. OTC Lo this month my period went twice as long as normal, and so did my cramps so I'm switching back to my old pill Loestrin which had more progestin, or I may have to switch to something stronger because these Lo pills maybe were too weak to control my period. I'm not sure yet which is the problem, so I'm going to talk to my doctor. On the plus side, I have less moodiness off of bcp, a little more energy, and my libido goes back to normal. But I need pills for contraception and that's pretty important. The first month on pills is usually the worst!

Talk to your doctor.

Anita

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-29-2003
Wed, 06-02-2004 - 5:53pm
I stopped the pill after taking only 2 tablets. I spotted for a couple days and then 31 days from stopping I had my period. It may be different stopping in the middle of a pack. When I quit, I immediately had more energy, my sex drive skyrocketed, no more headaches and I lost weight. I feel soooo such better off the pill!
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Wed, 06-02-2004 - 6:10pm
Hi kd352004, welcome!

You can stop mid-pack but it's easier on your body if you finish the pack. If you stop mid-pack you will have irregular bleeding for a few days or perhaps longer. When I stopped OTC almost 2 years ago I felt so much better - alive and vibrant and my libido (which had been missing for almost a year) came roaring back! I feel wonderful cycling naturally. I hope you will too!

Good luck

      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-15-2003
Thu, 06-03-2004 - 11:20am
I just wanted to chime in that I stopped taking BCP a year ago this month, & started feeling better within a week! Better sex drive, better moods, NO CRAMPS (big surprise, I had them through my teens & for the nearly 10 years I was on the pill)... and a lot of little things I can't identify, but I feel soooooo much better (I like Jill's description of "vibrant & alive").

I stopped at the end of a pack, so I can't comment on that part. My next period came 34 days later.

Good Luck!