Just come back from the contraception clinic in tears...

[spinduchess]

I have really sensitive migraines, that are triggered by my hormones.Full aura, body numbness, blindness - the works. I had one every month without fail, and they would last around 4 days on average. Longest one was 10 days.

6 years ago, I was put on Cerazette and it changed my life. No periods, no side effects, no migraines. I am so pleased with it. Skin is clear, mindset is happy all month long, healthy migraine wise.

It has been liberating. There really was no point carrying on living the half-life I had before Cerazette.

I've just come back from the doctors, and they have switched me to Zelleta because its cheaper and didn't have any Cerazette to give me.

I am so upset. I don't know anything about this pill because it is no new - and I really wasn't hoping to change. I'd found something that worked and I was so happy, now I feel so let down.

Does anybody know anything about Zelleta? Am I going to have a period? Will my skin get bad or will I put on weight? Are my migraines going to come back?

I can't bear the thought of that life again. I'm sorry I'm being so dramatic, I'm just panicking - the nurse had no answers for me, just to 'see how it goes'.

I'm so scared.

It has the same active ingredients so hopefully will be just the same as cerazette

You need to go back and speak to GP.....then find a pharmacy which has I in stock.

The list of ingredients are different though - I know the active one is the same, but I am really quite sensitive to these things and now I'm worried about my sex drive and my skin, alongside the migraines.

I'm so angry at the incompetent nurse for not having any answers for me. She basically told me it was the same pill, but its not.

What is Cerelle then? Should I try that? I am so confused.

cerelle is also a cerazette substitute

Lynette you are right. Cerazette still exists, so I am refusing to take these pills.

Why didn't they have cerazette? As in just out of stock at that chemist or is there a manufacturing problem? If the former could you see your GP and explain the situation.

Im on it for exactly the same reasons as you and it's amazing the difference compared with microgynon which I was on for around 2 weeks before I went back sobbing in pain.

They said Zelleta was half price, so they wouldn't be buying Cerazette any more Three.

I don't know if 'we' was that practice, my local authority or the NHS. The nurse didn't either, it was obvious she was just regurgitating lines she had been told.

There are now 5 mini pills with the same active ingredients I.e. cerazette plus 4 others

If it's that important I'm sure you could buy it yourself online or have it prescribed from a private doctor.

They seem to be doing this a lot. I was on Yasmin and they changed me to one called Lucette. The Dr said the same, that it's the same pill but by a different company. I hope yours really are the same and work just as well.

Smitten - Did you notice a change when you switched pills?

I ordered a repeat prescription a while back and when i went to pick it up i had been given cerelle instead.

I queried this and was told its because cerelle is 1.74p for a 3 month supply and cerazette was 8.51p for a 3 month supply.

After 2 weeks of taking the cerelle i developed bad swollen ankles.

I went back to my GP who then put me back on cerazette so its still available but the nhs dont want to prescribe it anymore due to the cost of it

You can buy it online using this online service:

onlinedoctor.lloydspharmacy.com/uk/contraceptive-pill

No, not at all.

Call the Gp and ask to talk to the doctor personally about it.

My friends have this with the melatonin medication for their children with autism.

My son is fine on the cheaper stuff but it doesn't work for theirs at all.

One of my friends had a full on row and said "I've tried it, it doesn't work, I want the old tablets"

Doctor said
"Well the old ones are unlicensed, if you want to risk giving unlicensed medication to your DC then that's up to you."

Luckily she had already fully briefed and could inform him that no melatonin tablets were licensed for use in children, and anyway He had been on those for 2 years and without them he doesn't sleep. At all.

She got her old tablets back.

I was on Cerazette for five years and then changed to Cerelle.

Didn't notice any difference at all and I am still period-free!

But last time I went for my prescription the pharmacy gave me Cerazette so it must still be around.

I'm not going to buy it myself. I've had to before previously when a previous doctor insisted I have microgynon, and I won't be doing it again. £40 per month will make a big difference to DH and I.

I also really resent paying for a service that is free. All contraception is free in this country, not just the ones that individual doctors or surgeries think I need.

I've just moved to the other end of the country, so I don't have a GP yet. My old one (who had been my GP since I was born) would have done it for me in an instant, she really was lovely.

The link the pp posted to shows that cerazette is £20 for a 6 month supply

I was switched from cerazette to a cheaper brand, supposedly it was the same but I fell pregnant 2 weeks after switching

Actually I was switched to a generic cerazette recently (something beginning with F) and now back again.

It's not made any difference at all and I didn't think to query it at the time so just took it.

Cerazette is available, as pp have said, the cheaper generic and own branded pills are being prescribed. Bit like whether you buy Nurofen or ibuprofen, same active ingredient. I would go back to your doctor and push for the brand to be prescribed, and explain why.

Loud

I was really worried that the cheaper version wouldnt work when i was prescribed it

ask for a second doctor at the practice or change practice.

you won't put on weight (the pill doesn't do that) but if the new one doesn't suit (and it may) you could have other side effects.

but I agree - aint broke, no medical reason, no change!

and do sign up with a GP ASAP!

I would just buy it myself if it was that big a deal. NHS have to fork out enough as it is so seems a bit off that you're going to demand to be put back in Cerazette. I'm on a life saving medication, the cheaper one, and have had no problems whatsoever.

I think you should calm down a bit and think of this logically.

Cerelle and Cerazette both have the same active ingredient Desogestrel of the same quantity (75mg). It is a progetogen only pill not like microgynon which is a dual hormone pill.

You should not feel any adverse effects because they essentially do the same thing. I think you should give them a try atleast.