Ocella--generic for Yasmin

I took Yasmin for a couple of years and was switched to the generic by my insurance company. I welcomed the reduction in price but after reading this blog am now wondering if my shift in PMS symptoms was a result of the Ocella. With Yasmin, I had reduced cramps (I suffer from really horrible menstrual cramps) and no weight gain. With the Ocella, my cramps are bad but not as bad as without it, I have gained weight and I get really bad stomach issues (gas, diarrhea, and nausea). I didn't think of it initally as a side effect of the bc, but now you all have me curious.

I'm depressed all the time and this
is the first time I've been on bc..maybe I should switch to Yazmin? How much is the
price difference?

I'm new to BC and I was recomended ocella by my doctor but Im kind of confused by the directions. so is it ture that it only takes 7 days to become fully affective??

I was just switched to Ocella after being on Trinessa for the past year, which I had terrible side effects with, and I'm a bit skeptical. Has anyone made this switch before and experienced bad side effects? I'm not feeling very good about it considering my Gyno didn't really let me explain things during our visit as well...

Kay wrote:

Has anyone on Ocella noticed any changes in vision? I have never taken birth control before, but after taking Ocella fro almost a month, my eyesight has gotten blurrier. Im not sure if I need new birth control or a new eye prescription.

Yes, I have noticed a change in my eyesight since being on Ocella. I have never had any eye problems until the last few months. I didn't think anything abou it being from the Ocella, but now that I read your post, I believe it could be from the Ocella.

I have been on Ocella for about a year now and before that I was on Yazmin. I have had so many health problems in the past year. I have had heart flutters like irregular heartbeat, high sugar at times, high cholesterol and high blood pressure, which I am now on blood pressure medication. In July, I fainted into a brick wall and had to get stitches. I have never fainted before and it was very scary. The other night, my fiance and I were watching TV and a commercial came on about Yazmin/Ocella. It was a lawyer commercial saying how many lawsuits they have against them because Yazmin & Ocella cause strokes, heart attacks & irregular heart beat and sometimes death. I have never heard this before. I automatically thought of ALL the health and heart problems I have had in the past year. I am only 28, so this isn't normal for me. I have began doing research and see how bad these BC pills are for me. I just bought a new pack on BC Ocella this weekend, but I am NOT going to take it. I am calling my Dr. tomorrow to see what I can start on. Reading up on it really scares me. It even talked about how it will eventually be recalled b/c it's so bad for you. Please take the time to read into it if you are on this medication.

I was on Yasmin for about a year and a half, and when I got to the states from England, I told my new doc that I had been taking Yasmin...she said she'd prescribe some for me, I picked up my prescription, and called up Walgreens in a tizzy because I had something called Ocella. The pharmacist reassured me that it was the generic for Yasmin, and that I had nothing to worry about.

I've just started my third pack...and I'm miserable. I never had ANY side effects with Yasmin, not a single one, it was fantastic! However, I've suffered with digestive problems since I was 16, and pretty much the past two months my guts have been a disaster...It wasn't until I came to this page that I realized it could be because of the Ocella. Also for the past three weeks now, I've had breakthrough bleeding, which seems to be intermixed with a very light period (and that awful *period smell*). Cramping, dizziness, fatigue, bloating, gas, ACNE (it's horrible!)...and insomnia, which sucks cuz I'm tired all the time, but I can't sleep :(

I just found that I have almost a full pack of Yasmin left over from England, so I'm going to take that until it runs out and then ask the doc to put me on something else. The breakthrough bleeding is just miserable...Are there any alternatives that aren't as hopeless?

I switched from Yasmin to Ocella about 6 months ago. Although the side effects are not unbearable, I have definitely gained about 10 pounds and have constant acne on my cheeks/jaw line. My doctor is switching me to Apri to try to get things back to normal. I'll keep you posted.

I just started taking Ocella and I was shocked when I was told that a generic was $50.00. I should have got the Yasmin that my doctor prescribed. I have been feeling dizzy everyday. I am going to stop taking this pill I have already had break through bleeding as well.

After reading all of these comments I am now scared to even try the new prescrition my doctor ordered. Does anyone have anything good to say about Ocella?

Hey i was takin yaz for over a month....experience no side effects.. Then i got the generic brand (Ocella)..........I have been on that bout a year now and have not experience any side effects...both are great pills to me

Okay so iim 18 years old ii have never taken BC tiill abt 2 months aqo. well ii take Ocella, and iits amaziinq. ii have not had any bad siide effects. So untiil you try somethiinq dont try to thiink the worst of everythiinq . iit may end up beiinq better

Caitlin wrote:

I just started taking Ocella, the generic version of Yasmin. I've never taken any birth control pill before, so I don't have anything to compare to. Ocella is supposed to have the same active ingredients as Yasmin, but I've read that many women had no problems with Yasmin during the time they were on it, but switched to Ocella and began having really bad side affects. Has anyone taken Ocella, or even better taken Yasmin and then switched to the generic, that can share their experience? Any advice?

if your nauseous, you should just throw up and then you wont have the 4 pound weight gain.. i think your all big babies..and you just need to get used to it.. its cheaper and its better then nothing so stop complaining.

Hmmm. I have been on the Nuvaring for about 2 years and my insurance stopped covering it. My doctor switched me to Ocella as he said it's working great for other patients. I am starting to think after reading your posts that I should stop taking it and find alternative birth control methods. Has anyone had a good experience with it?

Caitlin wrote:

I just started taking Ocella, the generic version of Yasmin. I've never taken any birth control pill before, so I don't have anything to compare to. Ocella is supposed to have the same active ingredients as Yasmin, but I've read that many women had no problems with Yasmin during the time they were on it, but switched to Ocella and began having really bad side affects. Has anyone taken Ocella, or even better taken Yasmin and then switched to the generic, that can share their experience? Any advice?

i have been on ocella for 1 year now...and just now thinking all my problems might be from the pill....moody,loss of sex drive,peeing all the time, after dinner i have to run to the bathroom,tired,anxity,depresse d,rapid heart beat etc,,,but i also take this for endrometriosis,,,,going for yearly 12/4 might ask to switch

This is a great pill. I have had no side effects what so ever. I will never switch to another type of birth control. Its reliable and it cleared up my skin! i love ocella and all this bad news is kind of shocking because I never experienced any side effects. But for all the girls how are trying to find a good birth control I would recomed this one to everyone.

So I've had these really bad heart and chest pains on and off randomly for the past year. I never attributed it to anything but when I heard about the lawsuits against Yaz and Ocella I realized that I started taking Ocella about a year ago. I'm not filing a lawsuit or anything but this pain is not normal. It feels like someone is squeezing my heart, no firey burn just a really tight squeeze. Every time it happened I would see if it was because of something I ate or some rigorous activity but neither of these have to do with when the pain comes. I would recommend taking something else.

I've been on Ocella for about 6 months. Previously, I took ortho tricyclen's generic, which I didn't care for. I'm on the pill to regulate my periods and heavy bleeding and also acne. Ocella has helped with my situation, however,I've also experienced mood swings and irritability and depression (feeling utterly hopeless at times)and the breast tenderness that is reminiscent of my early pregnancy days. These symptoms have truly taken a toll on my marriage and my daily living. I go to the gym and 'kill it' nearly every day, but weight gain and bloating are definitely a problem. I only have two decent weeks a month that I feel somewhat myself. I am also plaqued with insomnia. I am switching to my orginally prescribed Yasmin, and I am hoping for a change. Thanks to everyone who has posted. I thought it was just me.

I was on YAZ and got switched to OCELLA because my insurance changed from Medical Mutual to CareSource. So far, and I've been on Yaz since October, I've felt no differently. I'd been on Yaz since March, after my 6 week appt from my daughter's birth in January. I've been reading a lot of reviews where ppl claim extreme differences. I am naturally moody although I think I may be a little moodier than normal since being on birth control. I would have to talk to ppl I am around on a daily basis and then consult my doctor. But I have no complaints about Ocella as of now.

I took Ocella for a year and a half switched for one month to Apri and then back to Ocella. Just recently, I have been having these same symptoms - I am glad to hear I am not the only one. I am questioning if it is MS related and having an MRI to confirm already had a CAT scan with negative results. I and have been having the numbness and tingling in my hands and feet - painful soles of feet, headaches blurry vision. Are you still experiencing these same symptoms or did you switch back to Yasmine - this is totally horrible... I hope it's just the 2 meds working their way thru my system

Lisa R wrote:

4 mths ago I was switched to Ocella from Yasmin. I have experienced a 10 lb weight gain, breast tenderness, nausea (for 1st 2 packs), severe bloating, depression, and numbness in both legs and sometimes my arms. With the numbness in my arms/legs I'm constantly scared that I have a blood clot. Tingling in legs/arms usually starts during the 1st 1-2 weeks of beginning the pill pack for the month then wears off the last 1-2 weeks. I've got 1 more pack of Ocella left (I get mine in 3-mth increments) and then I'm going to try to switch back to Yasmin. The cost savings is not worth the health risks, weight gain & depression.