Stupid Effing Pill! *gross*

[blas]

In all honesty, I think generics aren't as good as name brand. Most of the time, there are claims that there are no differences, but I disagree.

Something about Amethyst doesn't work properly with my organs. There must not be enough of the hormones in it. Now, I'm not thinking that it's ineffective as birth control, but it does not offer the security of knowing that you are protected against withdrawal bleeding and spotting.

[teh_blumchenkinder]

For most people, generics and name-brands work the same. For some, however, they work better/differently in a good way; and for some, they work worse/differently in a bad way. Unfortunately, you seem to be in the different/bad boat. I've heard of cases (from friends' experiences) of both.

[blas]

I may be giving Amethyst another chance.

Hear me out.

Good news being, I have not spotted since last Wednesday. I still have been wearing light pads to work every day just in case I can't make it to the bathroom on time, or I feel a cramp coming on, but nothing has happened since Wednesday. And no destroyed panties or even stained panties this weekend I haven't felt a cramp since Saturday, and they had been pretty on-going since I posted my OP.

I do recall when I first started Lybrel, that medication made me grossly nauseated until I had been on it for a few months.

Perhaps it's just my body getting used to the medication.

[BookstoreEscapee]

Perhaps it's just my body getting used to the medication.

That's a good possibility. Might be worth giving it a cycle or two, especially if it saves you money.

[Kogarashi]

Perhaps it's just my body getting used to the medication.

Very likely. I'll second the recommendation to give it another cycle or two to see if the spotting is a recurring problem (same time each period), or if it was actually just your body adjusting to a slightly different formula.

[Seshat]

In all honesty, I think generics aren't as good as name brand. Most of the time, there are claims that there are no differences, but I disagree.

The generic is required to have the same active ingredient(s) as the name brand, with the same conditions. (For instance, if the drug is enteric-coated, the generic must be. If the drug is extended release, the generic must be.)

However, everything else can be different. The supporting material, for instance.

[telecom_goddess]

Frankly I've been taking generics in all kinds of medicine for years and they are just as effective as far as I can tell. And cheaper so win-win.

[Bardmaiden]

Frankly I've been taking generics in all kinds of medicine for years and they are just as effective as far as I can tell. And cheaper so win-win.

Totally agree, the painkillers I take that I buy for 19p work just as well as the ones I could buy for £2.19

[Eisa]

Normally, generics are fine for me.

My sister, on the other hand...they changed her albuterol inhaler and gave her the generic. She ended up with a horrific rash on both arms. No more generic for her!

[Seshat]

She has an allergy to one of the supporting materials in that particular generic. Learn which brand that is - see if the pharmacist can get a list of the ingredients in that generic, so she can find out what, exactly, she's allergic to.

She will need to avoid both name brands and generics that have that ingredient. Others (name brands and generics) will likely be fine.

[Eisa]

She has an allergy to one of the supporting materials in that particular generic. Learn which brand that is - see if the pharmacist can get a list of the ingredients in that generic, so she can find out what, exactly, she's allergic to.

She will need to avoid both name brands and generics that have that ingredient. Others (name brands and generics) will likely be fine.

I'll have to suggest that to her. I can't remember. I think it was that they switched the generic to a different brand and she started having problems. I know it came in a red inhaler so she started calling them "the red inhalers of death." But I don't think she ever found out definitively what she's allergic to, which she should!