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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To wonder what the hell Cerelle mini pill is doing to me?

65 replies

Bearbehind · 27/03/2014 07:42

Not sure if this is the best place for this but posted here for traffic.

I was taking Femulen until it was discontinued without any problems, regular averagely heavy 4/5 day periods.

I had a very light, short period after the first packet of Cerelle then the heaviest period I've ever had 2 weeks later (blood clots and all - sorry tmi) which is now in its 8th day.

Has anyone else experienced this? Died it get better or is there another pill I can go onto!

OP posts:
SuburbanRhonda · 27/03/2014 08:17

I've just changed to Cerelle as my previous pill (Cerazette) has been discontinued.

As far as I'm aware it's actually the same pill, just rebranded (with crap packaging - days of the week on the front of the pack ffs!).

So did the GP prescribe you with a different pill altogether? I've had no change with the new pill, but I've just googled and found that quite a few women are experiencing bleeding on Cerelle. It may be a one-off or you may have to go on another pill. Don't let them fob you off - apparently there are some pills which are more expensive so they won't offer you those until you've tried all the cheap ones first.

I sympathise - I can't even contemplate the thought of going back to the periods I used to have. I would have to give up work Sad

Original poster
Bearbehind · 27/03/2014 08:31

Thanks suburban. I'd seen a few bits on Google about heavy/ long bleeding but haven't seen a solution/ alternative.

The GP just said Femulen was no longer available so she was putting me on Cerelle as it was very similar however I constantly feel like I'm having my insides scraped out, which I never had with Femulen.

OP posts:
specialsubject · 27/03/2014 10:26

if Cerazette has been discontinued it is news to me, and evidently to the dispensary at my doctor's who just gave me another six months worth.

TillyTellTale · 27/03/2014 12:02

specialsubject I was told the same as suburbanrhonda and given Cerelle instead, about 7-8 months back. I suppose different parts of the country will be running out at different times.

ilovepowerhoop · 27/03/2014 12:06

cerazette is not discontinued but some authorities are swapping to cheaper versions to save money. It is about cost, not availability. There are other new cheap cerazette substitutes on the market too

vickibee · 27/03/2014 12:08

Cerelle is a generic cheaper version of Ceazette, My GP said he was prescriibng this instead to save

Original poster
Bearbehind · 27/03/2014 12:46

Can anyone advise which pill is closest to Femulen so I can request it as I'm not staying on Cerelle

OP posts:
raffle · 27/03/2014 12:49

It got much better for me, I had to persevere tho. Horrid 6 week long bleed, then blissfully, nothing since. Been on it around 12 months now.

PfftTheMagicDraco · 27/03/2014 12:51

cerelle is half the price of cerazette, this is why they are swapping it - I saw on my GPs screen the last time I went.

ilovepowerhoop · 27/03/2014 13:42

I dont think any other mini pills have the same hormone as femulen but there are other types of mini pill you can try

ilovepowerhoop · 27/03/2014 13:47

m.netdoctor.co.uk/sex_relationships/facts/mini-pills.htm ~ should give mini pill options

specialsubject · 27/03/2014 13:53

is cerelle chemically the same? In that case, no problem.

ilovepowerhoop · 27/03/2014 14:17

cerelle is the same as cerazette but not the same as femulen was - there are no other pills with the same active ingredient as femulen

BaileysOnRocks · 27/03/2014 15:12

I am also on cerazette (just been given another 6 months worth)
It is known for causing intermittent bleeding but I'd rather have this than the headaches, nausea that other pills give me.
The bleeding is supposed to calm down after 6 months (apparently)
Mine is getting better so If you can persevere it is a good pill.

firesidechat · 27/03/2014 15:20

It's very strange how one pill can have such different effects on different people. I've been on Cerazette for many years and I never have periods, ever. It's wonderful.

I'm getting on a bit now, so will probably have to come off it in a couple of years. I'm absolutely dreading it because I've convinced myself that the pill is masking the menopause and I may have a sudden wave of nasty symptoms.

yellowzebra · 27/03/2014 15:26

Don't know if it's relevant but I was on Cerazette for a little while. It gave the most horrific headaches but more importantly drove me utterly bonkers. My mental health went haywire. Soon came off that one!

specialsubject · 27/03/2014 15:42

I also feel great on Cerazette and no bleeding ever. No one seems too sure at what age you have to come off, I get the impression that we might be the first generation to get that far and so no-one really knows.

I suppose as long as my health and blood pressure are fine, I can continue. Hope so!

Sidge · 27/03/2014 15:49

Cerelle and Cerazette are the same - 75mcg desogestrel.

We're being told to prescribe Cerelle as it's half the price of Cerazette despite being the same medication.

Femulen isn't made any more and there isn't anything containing the same type of progesterone on the market currently in the UK. You could try Noriday/Micronor but I have heard of supply problems with those.

Not everyone gets on with progesterones - they can cause mood changes and irregular bleeding; it does often settle after 2-3 months (especially the bleeding) but not always. Some women find they bleed irregularly for a few months and then don't bleed again which they see as a bonus!

Sidge · 27/03/2014 15:55

Cerazette and other progesterone only methods can be continued until 50+.

At 50, if you're not having periods and using Cerazette you can ask your GP for a blood test to check FSH and depending on the result you may be able to stop your pill.

Original poster
Bearbehind · 27/03/2014 18:35

Thanks everyone- I'm glad it's 'normal' to bleed like this for a while and it sounds like it's worth persevering if there is no direct alternative to Femulen- I just hadn't appreciated that some contraceptives work by virtue of the fact you don't want to have sex cos you're permanently on your period Grin

OP posts:
ilovepowerhoop · 27/03/2014 18:37

I used femulen and micronor before ending up on cerazette. Femulen and micronor gave me fortnightly periods so was a very effective contraceptive!

firesidechat · 27/03/2014 18:41

At 50, if you're not having periods and using Cerazette you can ask your GP for a blood test to check FSH and depending on the result you may be able to stop your pill.

That's what I thought too, but the locum doctor I saw a few weeks ago didn't even suggest that. I'm 50 and she said that I should come off the pill in a couple of years time.

I did read somewhere that the mini pill doesn't mask the menopause, while the combined pill can. I'm not too sure though.

nochips · 27/03/2014 18:54

I was on cerelle and never had any bleeds. But, my libido vanished and i always felt depressed. Back on a combined pill now, and things are definitely better- although I am in my first month.

WanderingAway · 27/03/2014 21:35

I have been on cerelle for a couple of months. The first month i had quite heavy bleeding on and off for about a week or so. Nothing since. I feel much better on this pill than i did on my last.

I have been told that taking antibiotics can mess with your periods when on cerelle/cerazette.

SuburbanRhonda · 28/03/2014 07:21

Firesidechat, I'm in the same boat as you - been on Cerazette (and now Cerelle) for about ten years and in all that time have never had periods whereas before they were beyond hellish. I'm now 52 and have been told I can stay on it for another couple of years.

Mental health appears fine (IMHO!) but my libido has long gone Sad