birth control concern..generic brand?

Question

my ob upgraded my birth control dose from loestrin 24 to a generic for loestrin called microgestin (watson brand) 1.5/30mg

higher dose, but now generic

my concern is that generic birth control may not be as effective as regular birth control.

I wouldnt imagine that a doctor would suggest something that wouldnt work both for regulating my spiratic menstral cycle (original purpose for pills) but also now for pregnancy prevention?

any advice? history? knowledge of this?

thank you =)

Answer 1

they are both the same drug, obviously. since you're using a dose of 1.5/30mg. generic may alter +/- 0.3mg. but brand is always constant. there should be no big difference. but just in case. try it out, and if it's effective. continue to use it. i would always recommend using generic to save money/ it's the same thing. same ingredients, just slighting (by a hair) different.



but again, some people have different reactions, so i can't guarantee anything.

Answer 2

Generics of anything are not necessarily less or more effective than brand names.



Everyone's body chemistry is different, and how bioavailable the drug becomes in the body is different from patient to patient. Generic medications have to have an average bioavailability match of 80% to get approved... but that's not to say that for YOU in particular, the generic doesn't have more while the brand might have less bioavailability in your body. It's something you'll never really know from routinely taking a medication.



So, for some people, a generic of any type of medication may work better than the brand. The only difference is the company making it, which means they're probably using different inactive ingredients like colors and compounds that hold the tablet together, and the fact that the generic company doesn't have to pay off the costs of research.



So, I'm sure the generic will do just fine for you. Use a backup form of birth control for 3 weeks just to be on the safe side to give your body one cycle to adjust to the change, (not a fault of using a generic but of changing your medication). Then you should be fine.



Here's a tip though, somewhat unrelated to your question: No birth control pill is 100%. My cousin just had twins while faithfully taking her pill after she had a daughter a year ago who was conceived while taking a different pill. SO, if you are absolutely not ready for a baby, it's not really worth the risk on or off the pill, you should use back up anyway.

Answer 3

The generic is just as good as the "name brand" of the medicine. It is chemically the same.



You're going to be fine.

Answer 4

i was on the low dose and had sex my first month unprotected and now im pregnant