User Reviews for Ortho Evra transdermal

I have/had never been on any types of medication before starting OE. I started it once I decided to move out with my boyfriend of 4 years. I love this man very much! I started on the patch as a contraceptive precaution; my first ever medication to be put on. The hell began after the first month. I'm a gentle/passive person, mood swings aren't me. After the first 30 days my stability was on a roller coaster. I would get furious, then break down in tears. Be bubbily and hyper, then fall into a severe depression and lock myself in our bedroom alone, all within the span of an hour. My poor boyfriend could do nothing to help me, I wouldn't let him. My sex drive was non-existant, and I felt cramps and neasuea 24/7. I stopped the patch after ~6months b/c I couldn't deal with the emotional anxiety it was giving me. It is now a little more than a year later. I never went on any other birth control or meds, and altho the cramps are gone, the no sex drive and mood swings have remained!! It's so bad I can't even stand when my boyfriend tries to wrap his arms around my waist at night. It's like I hate to be touched! Like I said, I love my boyfriend very much, and have tried to force myself to even cuddle with him at night(I love cuddling!). All that ends up happening is me getting angry and snapping. So while this patch may be easy to use, look at all the precautions and realize that some of these side effects may be long term, even if you stop the patch :( It's ruining my life even now, a year or so after stopping it.(and yes, i've gone to the docs, no help there...)Read More Read Less

I have been using Ortho Evra for about 3 1/2 years. I have been extremely pleased with it's effectiveness however, I have noticed in the last 2 years and increase in the side effects: I have pretty much NO sex drive, I am extremely moody and excessively anxious, I have been getting headaches more and more (not migraines), I have put on about 20 lb. (not sure if this is all due to the drug), and I have started sweating excessively. I have been trying to figure out what is causing all of these symptoms and realized, it is the ONLY medication I take and all of these symptoms started about 6-12 months after starting this product and consistently got worse. The side effects have far outweighed the effectiveness, I plan to ask my Dr. about the Nuva Ring at my appt. later this month. I would recommend thinking twice before using this product, especially for an extended period of time.Read More Read Less

While it is extremely convenient, it made my sex drive so low it was ruining my relationship. I now have fibrocystic breast disease thanks to the patch, which I had to have surgery on to remove tumors, and while taking the patch I had severe migraines. The patch site would hurt constantly, sometimes so bad I wouldn't be able to sit on it. It was convenient, but not worth the severe side effects

I was on Ortho Evra for 4 years and absolutely loved it! I had no problems with it up until the last year. I recommend this product 100%, if used like package states. It's very easy to use and very convenient, I mean how easy is it to remember to switch it once a week? Very effective as well! I used it continuously (with no off week) because I had really bad headaches during my period week and loved it at first, until about 6 months later and I started have a lot of horrible cramping and breakthrough bleeding. The cramps were more frequent than the bleeding, but just as annoying. I talked with my doctor who told me I needed to force my body to have a period, so I tried that (took the patch off for a week) and that didn't help. My doctor said that with this medication used continuously there isn't enough estrogen and the body can't handle that sometimes. I am currently using Seasonique, which I haven't had any problems with yet. I wanted to let everyone know of my experience, but that I still recommend the product, just not for continuous use.Read More Read Less

I have been on the patch for 1 week and 3 days, I know most don't judge since it is such a short amount of time. But this patch is a pain in the butt(Literally). Im 17 and this is my first time taking a birth control. I figured the patch would be easy considering my friend took it and had no problems. I read the review on other sites and they were nothing but negative. I have been in bed for the past week cuz everytime i get up to do something I feel sick to my stomach and have to run to the toilet. I have lost 6 pounds in the last 3 days simply because nothing sounds good and when it does.. I cant seem to keep it down. I also have pains in my legs every time i switch but cheeks and get constant pains in my chest. I talked to my doctor and even tho it is less convinient I have convinced myself to switch to the pill because I am sick of laying in this bed. (This is just my experience, everybody is different)Read More Read Less

I was on the patch for 4 or 5 years and i LOVED it. However, I did gain almost 15 lbs (mostly in breasts and booty!) and towards the end I had spotting almost constantly. It worked really well for me for a really long time, and I really don't have anything bad to say about it. I had no side effects aside from the weight gain, which was better than having a baby..! I would encourage people to try this out!

I've been using the Patch for almost 5 years. I love it! It's easy to use, the side effects were minor in my case - I'm 10 pounds heavier than I was when I started using it (not sure if the gain is even from the patch), slight nausea every now and then (not over dramatic), itch and irritation on the patch site (my "cheeks" in my case), my breast size increased a bit and my acne was completely gone within the 1st year. Oh and best of all NO KIDS!! My insurance stopped covering it but it was totally worth saving my pennies for the effectiveness/convenience! I recently discovered that Breast Cancer runs in my family (maternal) so my doctor strongly recommended me to stop using this estrogen-based contraceptive (apparently estrogen increases your chances of getting breast cancer - especially if it's already in your DNA). It certainly didn't help when I recently develop cysts in my breast (non cancerous thank goodness!) So after getting a second opinion (that's how much I really want to continue using the patch), I am now researching other contraceptives that may work for me. I guess this is my bitter sweet farewell to the Patch (thanks for letting me vent!) ;-)Read More Read Less

I really loved my patch once I got used to it, however all of a sudden after being on it for almost 6 months I have started to get severe rashes. I take allergy pills nonstop and they just make me tired, without cutting down the itching. I even have tired different regions listed. Otherwise one major advantage was I used to get severe migraines and now I don't get them unless I am off of it for a week, that was a great besides having to remember to change it once a week.

i have been on the patch for about 5 yrs. the first yr i was really moody and i guess i eventually got used to the drug because my moods are normal now. the only thing i dont like are the squares left on my body from the patch. i gained about 10 lbs in the last 5 yrs but that could have been normal weight gain. i am thinking about switching methods though because i had a sharp pain in my chest (sternum) last week and jaw pain this week. after doing research it seems that it might be due to blood clots. i have to get checked out with my doctor and see if there are other methods for me.Read More Read Less

I was on the pill form of this birth control. I was an avid runner, did not smoke, and ate very healthy; 25 years old. I was hospitalized in January due to a blood clot in my left leg, starting form my hip bone and going to my ankle. I also had 4 clots in my lungs. I had been exercising up to the day I went into the hospital. I am so lucky to be alive. Now I am on coumadin (blood thinner) for the rest of my life. Be careful when deciding whether or not to go onto birth control.

I was put on the patch after losing a ovary and the pill wouldnt regulate my hormons. I wear it continously to prevent ovualtion which could cause me have cycst and lose my otehr ovary (according to my MD) I dont mind it means no period lol. Ive only had one patch fall off and that was the first one I put because I put it on right after teh shower and my skin was still damp. I love the patch. I dotn ahve to worry about BC every day. My PMS has improved (and it was horrible after losign my ovary) Ive gain a little weight around my abd but it was gradual so it might ahve been normal. My breast did grow about a cup size (no complaint there). I have teh occassional migrain on my off week but not as frequent as I had them before the patch. Ive been using that patch for over a year now. I love it. The lintiness is easyily pulled off or removed in teh shower with body wash . I recommend it to all my friendsRead More Read Less

I love these patches. I haven't had any major problems and I used to get migraine's when I was on the pill. This medicine amazingly helped my headaches and hasn't made them worse, like the warnings/precautions always say. I still have no regrets about switching to this medication. There's only one part I don't like about the thing, which is the skin irritation and the redness when you pull them off.

I used the patch for 3 years, stopped to get pregnant and went back on about 1 year ago. I have high triglycerides now as well as high bilirubin and thyroid hormones, dark spots on the skin on my face and chest and I already have depression but it has worsened dramatically. It does what it says it will do and it's only fallen off once in 4 years but now the side effects are outweighing the benefits. I finally have decided to use something else.

I have been on this medication for what I would say is close to 5 years and I LOVE it !!! I have only had a couple of patches fall off, I keep them on my butt and switch cheeks every week. I wear the patch continuously to prevent periods and it works fabulously. My insurance is changing their coverage and this medication is no longer going to be covered at a preferred rate. I am extremely irritated at my insurance company to make this change ... don't they realize that the pill does not work for some people ??? I think that I am going to try the ring ... wish me luck !!!Read More Read Less

well i was on the patch but stopped using to have a baby now im on it agian and i am now experiencing headaches and nausea which i never experienced before cant use iud because got pregnant and winded up losing the baby

I have been on the patch for 10 months and have finally said NO MORE. It's effective and easy but I had severe nausea and vomiting every time I started a new patch- to the point where I couldn't go to work. When I took it off for the period week, the sudden drop in estrogen caused severe anxiety, panic attacks and depression which I've never experienced before the patch. I'm not putting the patch back on because it has just gotten exponentially worse each month. My period stopped last week and since I haven't put the patch back on, it seems to have started again. So allowing my body to re-adjust to self-regulating hormones is still going and I'm still having crazy mood swings, although they are become less often, less severe. I'm slowly getting back to normal but it has be a hard, frustrating road. Everyone is different but if you don't respond well to hormones, I don't suggest trying the patch. I don't ever want to go through this again.Read More Read Less

I was prescribed the patch as a method of birth control, and didn't make it a whole month with it on. I immediately developed a rash, along with severe headaches. My mood swings became too much. On that not just becaues it didn't work for me, doesn't mean it won't work for someone else... in my experience birth control in itself is pretty hit or miss, you just have to keep searching until you find what works for you.