Ortho Tri-Cyclen Vs. Tri-Nessa (generic)

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-21-2004
Ortho Tri-Cyclen Vs. Tri-Nessa (generic)
2
Tue, 09-21-2004 - 10:10am
Has anyone ever tried the generic version of Ortho Tri-Cyclen (TRI- NESSA)? For some reason, my provider gave me the generic version and something about Generic and Birthcontrol just dont mix... Did you have any different side affects?
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-26-2004
Tue, 09-21-2004 - 6:10pm
My local pharmacy pulled that one on me earlier this year (not knowing that my insurance carrier does not consider Tri-Nessa as a generic; therefore, charging me the whole $30). I took it that month and I noticed no difference. AF showed up on time and had the same PMS symptoms. However, I didn't want to take the chance of experiencing side effects months later if I continued w/ that brand. Besides, my insurance carrier only charges a $10 copay for Ortho Tri-Cyclen. I know that OTC has the benefit of clear skin, but I'm not too sure about Tri-Nessa.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Tue, 09-21-2004 - 10:37pm
Generic birth control pills have the same formulation as their name brand counterparts as required by the FDA. There may be subtle differences in the inert ingredients and miniscule differences in the active ingredients (still within the tolerances established by the FDA to be "the same"). They are supposed to be as effective as name brand pills, especially when you consider that most women are taking pills that have more than enough hormones to protect them--they're formulated to "fit" a large segment of the population that may metabolize hormones very differently from one extreme to the other.

I took Sprintec, the generic for Ortho Cyclen, just shortly after it came out. I was already having problems with Ortho Cyclen, and my sensitivity to the hormones in OC wasn't helped by taking the generic. Some women find, though, that they do as well or better on generic pills than they do on the name brands.

It's up to you what you want to do, but your pharmacy is supposed to ask you if you want the generic if you've been taking the name brand. And if you want to switch from one to the other, instead of doing the automatic refill over the phone or computer, you'll need to talk to a live human being, but you can switch from name brand to generic and back without a new prescription.

Good luck!

Judie
Co-cl for Birth Control
Judie Cl for Birth Control