Desogestrel vs Cerazette

[EntropyReversed]

Hi all,

I started on generic unbranded desogestrel (crescent) just over a year ago. The first few weeks I had constant fairly heavy bleeding which was obviously unpleasant, but it calmed down and since then I've just had a few weeks off followed by a couple of weeks light bleeding, which I'm more than OK with.
I called my gp for another prescription and very clearly stated that I wanted the exact same pill since it had taken so long to adjust.
She prescribed cerazette... Which annoyed me, but upon questioning it, and Googling, I decided I'd just take it because it's apparently identical. However, literally the day after switching over to the new pills I started bleeding, and haven't stopped.. It's been 4 weeks. Grrrrr. I knew I shouldn't have taken them as you can just buy the generic stuff online, but convinced myself I was being daft!

Anyway, question is, anyone else had a similar experience? Should I persevere or give up and buy some online?

She may well have prescribed generic desogestrel but the pharmacy may have issued Cerazette as that’s what they’ve got in stock.

Check what was actually prescribed, if it WAS desogetsrel when you go to the pharmacy ask them if they can issue generically.

I’ve started this pill 3 weeks ago I’ve had heavy bleeding for 2 weeks so far.. how long did your heavy bleeding last? I notice I loose more when standing up or going for a wee? Did you find the same?

I don't understand why you would react to cerazette as it's just a brand name for desogestrel.
I've been on desogestral for years the pharmacy gives me whatever brand they have in stock, so that changes regularly, I've never noticed any changes to how it affects me.
But there should be absolutely no difference in its makeup just packaging. 🤷🏻‍♀️

This has happened to me loads of times. It absolutely does matter which one they give you! I've got scattered periods because they keep constantly changing mine. Eventually I've managed to get 6 months of cerazette so hopefully it calms down again.

Did you bleed on Desogestrel ?

@Ukmum25 yes I did

@Catdaft was it heavy bleeding? How long did it last?

@Ukmum25 it is just like periods. So I'll maybe get a period every 2 weeks rather than every 4. Very annoying but when I took it before I was pregnant it settled after about a year. Hoping for the same again

@Catdaft I started mine 3 weeks ago and I’ve had bleeding everyday for 2 weeks so far and it can be heavy sometimes. I stopped taking this yesterday so I’m hoping the bleeding stops soon!

@Ukmum25 it is so annoying. I had depo injection before which stopped all bleeding which was great but I put on a stone

I have the same but in reverse. I don't bleed on cerazette but do on desogesterol. The doc is always trying to give me desogesterol as it's cheaper so I need to write a note with my prescription. They aren't the same!

@Catdaft thanks this has put my mind at ease I’ve been worrying as when I was prescribed this pill the doctors don’t tell you bleeding every day is a side effect of this pill!!

I'm also the same but reverse. I was on cerazette for years and it was great from the start - no bleeding at all. Then my GP prescribed deoestrogel and I bled constantly. I can't get cerazette from my GP anymore so I pay for a private prescription

@Dippydinosaurus Desogestrel is the pill I’m bleed in constantly on too! I started the pill 3 weeks ago and I’ve been bleeding for 2 weeks everyday? Was light enough bleeding to just use a pad but when I went to the toilet I lost abit of blood each time? Blood was always bright red? Did you experience similar? If not what was your experience?

@Topsy1976 hi this is the first form of contraception I’ve ever been on and I’m only on it now as at my 6 week check up after giving birth my doctor advised some form of contraception. She said this pill was the best one for also stopping periods. I started this pill 3 weeks ago and after 1 week I began bleeding! I’ve now been bleeding for nearly 2 weeks! After reading some comments on here and other pages it seems this pill is well known to cause constant bleeding! Which my doctor never informed me of or I would have never started taking this pill as I don’t want constant bleeding! How was your experience on Desogestrel? How heavy was your bleeding? How long did you bleed for? Are you still on Desogestrel now if so how long did it take for your bleeding to stop? If you stopped taking it when did the bleeding stop? Sorry for all the questions just want to see if your side effects are similar to mine?

I've been on desogesterel for 5 months. For the first three months I had more days bleeding than not, and with no pattern at all. Awful. The nurse practitioner said to try it for three more months, and I haven't bled at all since starting the fourth packet! So I'm now on about week 7 of no bleeding. I think I'd just persevere, it can take a while for our bodies to adjust.

@RiceOnABike was you bleeding everyday? What was your bleeding like?

Not every day. I'd bleed for 10-12 days, then it would stop for 5 or 6 days, followed by another long bleed. Definitely bleeding more often than not!

@RiceOnABike was your bleeding heavy

Yes, I've always had heavy periods and this was the same.

I've found cerazette works for me, but not the generic equivalent.

I know this shouldn't be the case. The active substances should be the same. But nonetheless.