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The Pill, hair loss and 'generic' substitutes - Yasmin/Yacella

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Foxblue · 27/10/2023 20:45

Hi all. Just wanted to see if anyone has had this sort of experience, or maybe even just to warn others? (I don't want to scare anyone! More just - if you notice the same thing happening to you, consider that it might be your pill!)
For context: I'm on Yasmin, and it causes a bit of hair loss for me that I don't get when not on it. Nothing major, all within the realms of normal for hormonal contraception.
The reason I'm giving this background, is that I recently got given a couple of packs of Yacella, which is meant to be the 'generic' of Yasmin and exactly the same ingredient levels etc.
However, after a few weeks worth of Yacella, my hair started falling out at a much faster rate than it ever did on Yasmin. I also had a LOT of spotting, compared to rarely ever on Yasmin. No other major lifestyle or dietary changes in that time, and I eat a balanced diet etc. I initially panicked about the spotting, and it was only after I rang the doctors concerned about the spotting that I made the connection between that and the hair loss. I also suspect the acne -clearing benefit of Yasmin was not as strong in the Yacella, although that's harder to determine.
The doctor didn't seem concerned, and prescribed me some more of Yasmin. I am a bit curious though, if they are exactly the same, why did my side effects change?

Has anyone else ever experienced something similar, a change in side effects between a 'brand name' pill and an 'identical generic version'?
Or any doctors in the house who might have heard of it happening?

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