Has Lybrel been approved yet?

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-01-2006
Has Lybrel been approved yet?
10
Tue, 05-22-2007 - 8:26am

I'm very happy with Jolessa (generic Seasonale) and I take it 365 days a year (unless I start bleeding, then I stop taking it for 7 days). I noticed that Lybrel has a lower amount of levonorgestrel in it than Jolessa. .09mg for Lybrel compared to .15mg for Jolessa (I think that's right). I wonder if it would cause more BTB if I switched.

Any thoughts? Anyone else stopping their periods? I'm 41 and had painful and nauseating ovulation, short (24 days) cycles, painful and heavy flow, fibrocystic breast disease (I know, I know, we all have it.... but mine hurts like a bitch), and PMDD. Stopping my periods has been the best thing ever. I am no longer drug down by my cycles. No more PMDD or fatigue.

Apricot

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-18-2007
Tue, 05-22-2007 - 10:57am

Hi Apricot,

I am trying to get confirmation, but my husband heard on the radio yesterday that it had been approved. I am not sure.

I am wondering, did you have any BTB with Seasonale? If yes, how long did it last and did your PMDD symptoms occur during the BTB?

I am wondering because I have severe PMDD and have been offered Sesonale and have wondered about Lybrel, but I don't think I can take any BTB.

Marcella

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-01-2006
Tue, 05-22-2007 - 3:25pm

Hi. I had very heavy BTB during the first 3 months. After asking some questions on this board, I decided to stop the pills for 7 days to reset my cycle. My next cycle lasted 17 weeks with not one single spot. I was going to be leaving for vacation when I noticed some bleeding so I decided to stop the pills again for 7 days to have a withdrawal period. It's now been 14 weeks with no spotting. I am hoping this cycle will last longer.

When I first started Jolessa, my doc told me to take it on Sunday even though I had started my period on a Saturday. In hindsight, I don't think this was the best option for me. I bled for 3 straight months. After doing that reset for 7 days (which was as bad a period as I have ever had :( ) I haven't had a problem since, except for heavy and painful periods when I have them. Also, I have been battling yeast infections. I remember having them when I was younger and on the pill.

I had no PMDD symptoms during the BTB. They were eleviated almost immediately.

I am very happy with Jolessa and will continue it until menopause, unless something better shows up:) .

Apricot

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-22-2007
Tue, 05-22-2007 - 5:29pm
I was given DepoProvera for birth control in shot form that stopped your periods. This resulted in me having a huge blood clot that blocked my portal vein and nearly killed me. It was a result of birth control. If you are going to take birth control, make sure you are tested first to see if you are not prone to blood clots. Now my body makes too many white blood cells and I am on a dangerous drug called Hydroxyurea, given to those with cancer, to control my clotting. It has been determined that the birth control shots led to this disorder. Be warned. Get tested first before doing any type of birth control. I lost ten years of my life, during my 30s, and had to undergo surgery to place a plastic tube to bypass my blood flow so that the veins would not keep popping into my esphogous causing me to vomit and emit from my bowels gallons of blood. I bet I have undergone at least 100 endoscopy treatments to band veins to keep them from exploding due to the pressure that the blood clot in my portal vein caused. Just like they are telling women now not to rely on hormones for menopause, one should really think about how much they need birth control. My advice is if you do not want any more children, have your tubes tied or have your husband get a vasectomy. Hormones are extremely dangerous and I cannot reiterate this fact enough.
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-01-2006
Tue, 05-22-2007 - 5:43pm

Wow. Sorry you had such bad luck. Thankfully your condition is rare.

Oh, and tubal ligation and vasectomy do nothing for PMDD, endo, migraines, sore breasts, and heavy bleeding. I'll take my chances with the pill, thanks.

Apricot.




Edited 5/22/2007 5:44 pm ET by apricot.sushi
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Tue, 05-22-2007 - 5:47pm

Hi hansville, welcome!


      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-18-2007
Wed, 05-23-2007 - 1:41pm

I totally understand where you are coming from. Depo is one very dangerous drug--I think that is pretty clear. There is a huge difference between a depo shot and a low dose BCP and the risks are nowhere near the same.

People do not understand PMDD. They do not understand how debilitating it can be. I become suicidal every month. It looks like I am not a candidate for any BCP. I am 48 and suffer from migraines that seem to just persist no matter what I do. I used to only get menstrual migraines. Now I get all kinds of migraines including sinus. While I was on Yaz they got worse and an MRI showed that I have non-specific white spots on my brain--due to the migraines, so I am in a bad spot.

I am happy that you have found something that works so well for you. I am currently not on any BCP and I am not sure what my next premenstrual time will be like.

BTW, the NY Times Business section today says that Lybrel has been approved and will be available in July.

Best,

Marcella

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Wed, 05-23-2007 - 2:19pm

Hi Marcella,


      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-18-2007
Wed, 05-23-2007 - 5:27pm

Hi Jill, thanks for the hugs. I think I will know more on Thursday and Friday. I had my blood drawn to check my hormones on Monday since it had been two weeks since I had stopped the Yaz. I am really hoping something pops up that tells them what is going on. Even if they can't treat me with hormones I would love to hear that I am at least a step closer to menopause!

Right now my GYN is treating the PMDD with a low dose of daily Xanax taken in the evening. I also take a low dose of Klonapin. I see her on Thursday and my internist on Friday so we shall see what they say.

Thanks so much for caring and replying to me :-) I will update.

Marcella

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-01-2006
Wed, 05-23-2007 - 11:47pm

I was checked for those white spots, too. They're mini-seizures, right? I made sure I went to a neurologist before I went on the pill because I had migraine with my period either on or off the pill. My neurologist suggested hysterectomy or stopping my periods with continuous BCP. My gynocologist concurred and started me on Seasonale with no breaks. I didn't realize all the other PMDD stuff would go away, too. I wish you could use the pill like me.

Have you considered hysterectomy?

Apricot

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-18-2007
Thu, 05-24-2007 - 12:15am

They won't agree to it--none of them. Not the neurologist, internist, or GYN. They all agree it would not help me.

Marcella