Ortho Tri-Cyclen

Ethinyl Estradiol/Norgestimate combination

Drug Class and Mechanism of Action of Ortho Tri-Cyclen

Ortho Tri-Cyclen is a combination of an estrogen and progestin and used as oral contraceptive (prevent pregnancy). This medication provides you with a low daily dose of hormones that prevent pregnancy by inhibiting ovulation in the ovaries. It may also be used to regulate the menstrual cycle, treat symptoms of menopause, or treat other conditions as determined by your doctor.

Therapeutic Uses of Ortho Tri-Cyclen

Ortho Tri-Cyclen is a combination oral contraceptive containing the progestational compound norgestimate and the estrogenic compound ethinyl estradiol. It is indicated for the prevention of pregnancy in women who elect to use oral contraceptives (highly effective for pregnancy prevention) as a method of contraception. It actually lowers the level of the hormone in your body that's likely to cause acne and useful in reducing acne in women who are using it for contraception. In clinical studies it was seen that it helps to reduce mild to moderate acne nearly nine out of ten women.

Ortho Tri-Cyclen can also be used as a menstrual regulator as it can prevent menstruation as long as it is taken and menstruation returns in few days once it is withdrawn. It can also be used in other medical conditions as determined by your doctor.

Direction of use of Ortho Tri-Cyclen

Ortho Tri-Cyclen should be taken orally (one pill a day) at the beginning of menstrual cycle. Take it with a glass of water. It should be taken at the same time everyday and you should select a suitable time for your own convenience and take Ortho Tri-Cyclen at that time daily without missing a dose.

Most of the products of Ethinyl Estradiol/Norgestimate combination usually contain 21 (active ingredients) pills and 7 iron or any inert substance pills for maintenance of continuation so that you do not forget to take a dose at the beginning of the next menstrual period. If you have any question about the direction of use of Ortho Tri-Cyclen, you should consult your doctor or other health care provider.

If You Miss a Dose of Ortho Tri-Cyclen

If you miss a dose of Ortho Tri-Cyclen, you should take it as soon as you remember it or take 2 doses of Ortho Tri-Cyclen in the next regular dosing schedule. Practically there is very little chance of ovulation and becoming pregnant if you miss only once. If you miss more than a dose during a cycle, you should use some other form of contraceptive for the rest of the menstrual period, like condom, diaphragm, spermicidal jelly etc. to prevent pregnancy.

If you miss two pills in a row, you should take the two missed pills as soon as you remember or with your next regularly scheduled dose (total three pills). Or, you may take two tablets each for the next two regularly scheduled doses (one missed tablet plus one regularly scheduled tablet for 2 days in a row. There is high chance that you may become pregnant (miss two pills in a row) and you should use a second contraceptive method like condom, spermicidal jelly etc. If you miss three or more pills in a row you should discard the packet of pills and start a new package on the 7th day after the last day you took a pill. Meanwhile you take a second form of contraception. If you don not take a second form of contraception you should do a pregnancy test before starting a new packet of Ortho Tri-Cyclen.

How to Store Ortho Tri-Cyclen

Ortho Tri-Cyclen should be stored at room temperature between 68 and 77 degrees F (20 and 25 degrees C). Store it away from heat, moisture and direct light. Do not store it in bathroom. Keep Ortho Tri-Cyclen out of reach of children.

More Information About Ortho Tri-Cyclen

Ortho Tri-Cyclen should be used by the woman for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with others. If you are using Ortho Tri-Cyclen for menstrual regulation and do not get ant result you should consult your doctor.

Precautions to be Taken While Taking Ortho Tri-Cyclen

• If you are using Ortho Tri-Cyclen you should not smoke as it may increase your risk of stroke, heart attack, blood clots, high blood pressure, or other diseases of the heart and blood vessels (side effects of the pill).
• Ortho Tri-Cyclen may not work if you have vomiting or diarrhea due to any cause. The effectiveness of Ortho Tri-Cyclen may be reduced if you are taking certain antibiotics (rifampin an anti tuberculosis antibiotic and a liver enzyme inducer) or anticonvulsants. To prevent pregnancy, you should use an additional form of birth control until your next period during treatment with these certain antibiotics or anticonvulsants.
• Use of Ortho Tri-Cyclen will not prevent the spread of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). You should use condom for prevention STDs.
• Do not use Ortho Tri-Cyclen if you are pregnant or you think you are pregnant. If you suspect that you could be pregnant, contact your doctor immediately and do a pregnancy test.
• Ortho Tri-Cyclen is secreted in the breast milk and if you are or will be breast feed while you are using Ortho Tri-Cyclen, you should consult with your doctor or pharmacist to discuss the risks to your baby.
• Before you go for any medical or dental treatments, emergency care, or surgery, tell your doctor or dentist that you are using Ortho Tri-Cyclen.
• Ortho Tri-Cyclen may cause dark skin patches on your face (especially around your eyes) and exposure to the sun may make these patches darker. If patches develop, use a sunscreen or protective clothing when exposed to the sun, sunlamps, or tanning booths and try to avoid these.
• You should consult your doctor if you have to use any medicine, either prescription medicine or over the counter (OTC) medicine.
• Consult your doctor if you use contact lenses and have any problem with them.
• If you have any question regarding Ortho Tri-Cyclen, you should ask your doctor or other health care provider.

Possible Adverse Effects of Ortho Tri-Cyclen

• Severe side effects are rare in women using Ortho Tri-Cyclen and who are healthy and who do not smoke. In clinical studies it is seen that on an average, more women have problems due to complications from getting pregnant than have problems with oral contraceptives.
• The symptoms or side effects related to blood clots and require immediate medical attention or emergency help are chest pain, coughing up blood (hemoptysis), dizziness, fainting spells; leg, arm or groin pain; severe headache, severe stomach pain, shortness of breath, loss of coordination (especially on one side of the body); swelling of the hands, feet or ankles; rapid weight gain due to change in appetite, vision or speech problems, weakness or numbness in the arms or legs, especially on one side of the body etc.
• Other serious side effects other than mentioned are rare. Consult your doctor as soon as you can if the following side effects like breast tissue changes or discharge, severe breast tenderness, changes in vaginal bleeding during your period or between your periods, headaches, migraines, increases in blood sugar (especially if you have diabetes mellitus), increases in blood pressure (especially if you are a known hypertensive), symptoms of vaginal infection (itching, irritation or unusual discharge), tenderness in the upper abdomen, vomiting, yellowing of the eyes or skin.
• Many of the minor side effects usually go away as your body adjusts to the Ortho Tri-Cyclen by itself and do not need medical attention. Side effects that do not need medical attention are breakthrough bleeding and spotting that continues beyond the 3 initial cycles of pills, breast tenderness, mild stomach upset, mood changes, anxiety, depression, frustration, anger, emotional outbursts, increased appetite and weight gain, decreased appetite, increased sensitivity to sun or ultraviolet light, nausea, skin rash, acne, or brown spots on the skin, tiredness etc. You should consult your doctor or other health care provider if any of these minor side effects become bothersome or persistent.
• If you get any other side effects or have any question about this medication you should consult your doctor.