Switching Pill Brand

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-07-2004
Switching Pill Brand
1
Thu, 10-07-2004 - 8:09am
Hi, I have been taking a generic brand of OrthoTri Cyclen lo for about a year now, and I recently switched to a lower level hormone pill because the other one was causing me severe depression. I was just wondering, because these are lower level hormone pills (they are Kariva, 0.15mg/0.02 and 0.01 desogestral/ethinyl estradiol) do I need to use a back up method of birth control for the first month? I never skip a pill, and I take them at the same time every day. I am very nervous about this pill change and if it will affect me negatively, since I was so comfortable on the other pill. I have usually have unprotected sex. Please let me know how to handle this pill switch, it will be greatly appreciated! :)

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Thu, 10-07-2004 - 10:57am
Hi aimo315, welcome!

If you are taking your pills correctly there is no need to use back-up when switching pills. However, some women do for the first week or so just for peace of mind. Back-up never hurts. So, if it would make you feel more confident and comfortable to use back-up then, if I were you I'd do it. Thanks for posting. Let us know how you like Kariva, ok?

Good luck,

      Jill