I take the generic Aviane (only because CVS didn't even have alesse). I've only been taking it for a month but I've had no side effects or anything.

I have been on the generic Aviane for a good 5 years and it works pretty good. Before the generic came out I used Alesse for about a year and had less hormonal change headaches, but insurance won't pay for the brand name since there is a generic.
Cramps are not bad but are just enough to let me know what's going on. My flow went from 7 days to bearly 3. And maybe one day I have to use a tampon.
I like it, and its a lot better than my prior one which was Ortho Tri-cyclen.