Lybrel Fans - It's Time (finally)!
Lybrel, the first and only low dose combination birth control pill to gain FDA approval for continuous contraceptive use in addition to also being able to completely halt a woman’s period, is NOW AVAILABLE by prescription in U.S. pharmacies. Lybrel is the first birth control pill which offers complete protection from pregnancy without any break and is taken, nonstop, for 365 days a year (without a placebo phase or pill-free interval).Many doctors agree that it does skipping monthly periods using Lybrel poses no harm to women; in fact, it could be helpful for women who experience cramping, nausea, breast tenderness, migraine headaches or mood changes during their periods. Leading medical research also reveals that the side effects of pills that stop menstruation are similar to those of other birth control pills.
In a study conducted by Wyeth (the manufacturer of Lybrel), nearly two-thirds of women expressed an interest in eliminating their monthly periods. "As a leader in women's health care, Wyeth is proud to be the first to provide women with a contraceptive option that allows many of them to put their monthly cycle on hold," says Ginger Constantine, M.D., Vice President, Women's Health Care, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals (as cited in the company’s press release). "Women considering Lybrel should know that most subjects in the clinical studies experienced some breakthrough bleeding and spotting, especially during the first three to six months."
Lybrel is priced comparably to other brand name birth control pills. At Wal-Mart and CVS, for example, a monthly supply (four weeks) costs about $57. Each pack of Lybrel contains 28 round, yellow, film-coated tablets each containing 90 mcg levonorgestrel and 20 mcg ethinyl estradiol. As a special feature, this oral contraceptive is packaged in a unique, see-through ClickCase. So, for all of you who have been waiting so patiently since the FDA approval back in May for your chance to finally be able to purchase Lybrel, your wait is officially over!
Lybrel Photo Courtesy of R.J. Walden
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Comments
I just wanted to thank you for keeping us all up to date about Lybrel. I just picked up my pills, but need to wait for my old ones to run out before I can take these. Your was the first article I was able to find about this. Let’s hope for the best.
P.S. I love your newsletter – its always fun to read what cute things you have to say. For all of you reading this, you should sign up for it. Thanks for all that you do!
Lybrel birth control pills are most suitable for middle-aged women who do not wish to have periods anymore due to various reasons like cramps, nausea, breast tenderness etc. Also, the women who have very similar lifestyles like their male colleagues and can not afford to remain absent from their busy schedule when their periods start.
I took Seasonale, which is continuous birth control, for 11 months without going off it for the weeks I was supposed to, so it was effectually the same as taking Lybrel.
For 4 months I thought it was great–no periods, no pain. Then I started getting strange brown discharge. Then I had breakthrough bleeding for up to two weeks at a time, on and off for months. I also had terrible headaches and even some vision changes.
I quit taking it a year ago to try to conceive. I’d already previously had two healthy pregnancies, each achieved after less than 2 months of trying. It’s been 13 months and I haven’t conceived or had a normal period yet. I keep having the unusual brown discharge during my periods. I spot between periods, which I never did previously. I have a lot of other unusual symptoms I never had before being on continuous birth control.
This drug, Lybrel, wasn’t tested long-term. When I’ve gone online to read about it, everyone who has had good experiences with it has only been on it for a few months.
Because of what happened to me, I would be very, very wary of taking continuous birth control. There are many risks associated with it that the patient isn’t warned about, such as endometrial hyperplasia, and other problems that typically only happen after menopause.
My daughter was diagnosed with endometriosis Sept’07. Her OBGYN put her on Lybrel. In Feb’08 she began having massive nosebleeds, severe headpain, tremors, numbness, etc. We believe it was caused from this Lybrel. She was taken off the pill, until 3 weeks ago. Went back on Lybrela and within 10 days all the symptoms came back! No way – this is NOT a good pill and should be taken off the market.. Although tests show everything came back negative, we really think she passed a small blood clot. BE CAREFUL!!
I love Lybrel for getting rid of my migraines and adult acne issues…but I gained 10 lbs in a matter of 3 months. I haven’t changed my diet and actually work out a lot more….going to try getting off it to see if that’s the issue or if it’s just good ol’ slowing of the metabolism… anyone else?
I have been on it since March and have had bleeding almost everyday since. I have gained 10 pounds since I have been on it and I have a rash that is on both of my hands in the identical spot. I called my OB and swithched back. I have had no migrains which have been great but the other side effects are just to much!
I, too, was prescribed Lybrel as a solution to endometriosis. After a month of being on it, I had an intense, seven week period. I took myself off of it and now have to pay to go to the doctor again before I can be prescribed something else.
Would have LOVED it if someone would have told me about this before I started taking this pill. I know it’s the consumer’s job to be well informed, but the side effects listed on the manufacturer’s site sound like the same side effects for every other birth control pill. I’ve never had serious side effects from any other.
Not worth the risk.
Just wondering if any of you have had leg pains with Lybrel. I have been on it for about 6 months as a solution to horrible menstral migraines. It has helped tremendously, and I love it! However, in the past month I’ve been having pain in the inner parts of my upper thighs. Mostly when I stand after sitting. This morning I got up and it’s hurting horribly. I’ve now been awake for 5 hours, and I’m still having the pain. I’ve made an appointment to see my doctor, but it’s not for another week. I’m 26 years old and a non-smoker. I have been on birth control for regularity for 11 years, with the exception of Sep 06-Aug 07 after stopping to concieve, and having a healthy baby girl. Any advise would be great. I’m reading all this stuff on the internet that I know I shouldn’t be reading! :O)
I LOVE Lybrel. I also have endo. I was on Seasonale for a year and a half. It really took a year for my body to get used to that with stop and start periods. Then my acne started acting up. I told my doctor I wanted to try Lybrel. It’s great. I have no breakthrough bleading. I think since my body was already used to seasonale, the lybrel switch was easy. My skin is clear, I have no strange pain and no breakthrough bleading…also no weight gain.
Lybrel did not work for me i was on the depo for 4 years and never once had my period then i switched to lybrel and ive had very heavy bleeding almost everyday! its unexpected and comes at all times even at BAD times like with my boyfriend causing embarassing moments!
I am only on the ninth pill of Lybrel. I had been taking Seasonale continuously for endometriosis for five years. Seasonale was great but I recently switched over because it was getting more expensive for me even under my insurance. So, far I have been having a little spotting and a little stomach pain. Hope this helps!
I’ve been on Lybrel for about 4 months. The first few weeks I thought everything was great, until my period came as scheduled and lasted for two weeks. Once that finally stopped, I had no more problems and have been loving Lybrel until this Wednesday, when I forgot a pill. Bleeding started less than 12 hours after I missed it. I took the pill as soon as I realized what happened, and got back on schedule the next morning. I thought surely it’d just be a little spotting and would go away quickly, but it’s a full blown period. I think the secret here – at least for me – is to take it religiously at the same time every day. I had been doing that for four months, and other than that original episode when my body was adjusting, things had been great. I have horrible PMS and hormone related body aches, and Lybrel had completely eliminated them. I was thrilled with it, and hopefully will be again soon if this darned bleeding would just stop!
i have been on lybrel for over a year. it is great, i love it. I had a little light spotting for a the first few weeks straight, but not enought to have to wear anything other than a shield. The only other side effect was that for the first few months when i should have gotten by period, my tounge would swell on the sides. It was quite uncomfortable but only lasted a couple days and went away. Other than that, no side effects at all. After 3 months of my body adjusting, all is well. Now it has been over a year and still no periods. i am glad my doctor recommended it.
I am very grateful for Lybrel. Relief at last after many years of very painful periods every month. The breakthrough bleeding was annoying for the first few months, and I did put on some weight. But it was all totally worth it. The emotional cycle associated with the menstrual cycle is also gone.
So where it to find,
This pill was horrible for me! At first I thought it was a miracle then the haedaches, insomnia and fatigue were unbearable. Me hormones were completely off track and after a year on this pill i was diagnosed with a thyroid cond. My doctors all beleive stemmed from this BC. Be careful ladies…Lybrel is not worth all this trouble. If I could go back I would never take this birth control pill.