This is
a tablet that is taken once daily
as a form of contraception (to
prevent pregnancy), it also has
the added benefit of helping to
keep your skin beautiful too.
Ortho Tri-Cyclen is
typically a good choice for women age 15 or
over with mild to moderate acne who have reached
menstruation, have no known symptom or condition
that would prevent the use of birth control
pills, and are unresponsive to topical acne
medications.
Ortho Tri-Cyclen
Directions?
In order to maintain
the birth control pill's high level of effectiveness,
you need to take the Pill at the same time
each day. Select a time that is easy to remember,
for instance when you brush your teeth. It
provides you with a low daily dose of hormones
that prevent pregnancy by keeping any egg
from being released. It also thickens the
cervical mucus, making it difficult for sperm
to enter the uterus. So it's easier for you
to prevent pregnancy.
At the same time it actually lowers the level
of the hormone in your body that's likely
to cause acne. In clinical tests, Ortho Tri-Cyclen
has been proven to help reduce mild to moderate
acne-nearly nine out of ten women saw improvements
in their skin.
Ortho Tri-Cyclen
Side Effects?
The most common reported
symptoms include nausea, vomiting, bleeding
between menstrual periods, breast tenderness,
or weight change. These symptoms do not always
occur or last.
If they continue or are annoying or troubling
to you, check with your doctor. Check with
your doctor as soon as you can if you experience
continual or recurring unusual vaginal bleeding,
a missed menstrual period, dizziness or fainting,
swelling of fingers or ankles, headache, or
difficulty wearing contact lenses. Contact
your doctor immediately if you experience
sharp or crushing chest pain, sudden shortness
of breath, sudden severe headache or leg pain,
yellow skin or eyes, changes in vision, numbness
of an arm or leg, or severe stomach pain.
If you notice other effects not listed above,
contact your doctor, or pharmacist.
Ortho Tri-Cyclen
Warnings?
The "Pill" as it is
often called is one of the safest birth control
methods available. However, it's not for everyone.
If you smoke cigarettes while using this medicine
it can increase your risk of stroke, heart
attack, blood clots, high blood pressure,
or other diseases of the heart and blood vessels.
If you have vomiting or diarrhea for any reason,
your medicine may not work as well. In such
a case it is recommended that you use an additional
form of birth control until your next period
to avoid pregnancy.
Do not use this medicine if you are pregnant.
If you suspect that you could be pregnant,
contact your doctor immediately. This medicine
is excreted in breast milk. If you are or
will be breast-feeding while you are using
this medicine, check with your doctor or pharmacist
to discuss the risks to your baby.
Ortho Tri-Cyclen
drug Interactions?
Certain drugs may
interact with birth control pills to make
them less effective in preventing pregnancy
or cause an increase in breakthrough bleeding.
Such drugs include rifampin, drugs for epilepsy
such as barbiturates (for example, phenobarbital),
anticonvulsants such as carbamazepine (Tegretol®
is one brand of this drug), phenytoin (Dilantin®
is one brand of this drug), phenylbutazone,
and possibly certain antibiotics. You may
need to use additional contraception when
you take drugs, which can make oral contraceptives
less effective.
Before you have any medical or dental treatments,
emergency care, or surgery, tell the doctor
or dentist that you are using this medicine.
If you wear contact lenses and you develop
problems with them, contact your doctor.
Before you begin taking any new medicine,
either prescription or over-the-counter, check
with your doctor or pharmacist. This medicine
may cause dark skin patches on your face.
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.
Ortho Tri-Cyclen
Missed Dose?
This medication is
to be taken daily at approximately the same
time. If you miss a dose of this medicine,
take it as soon as you remember. Take your
next dose at the regular time. This means
you may take 2 doses on the same day, but
you should go at least two days being back
on your regular schedule of dosing before
being sexual.
An alternative is to use another means of
birth control after missing a dose, until
your next period. If you miss more than 1
dose of this medicine, refer to the patient
information that came with this medicine.
Ortho Tri-Cyclen
Storage
Store it at room temperature
out of reach of children.
Anything Else I Should
Know About Ortho Tri-Cyclen?
Use of this medicine
will not prevent the spread of sexually transmitted
diseases. If overdose is suspected, contact
your local poison control center or emergency
room immediately. Symptoms of overdose may
include restlessness, tremor, rapid breathing,
nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach cramps
NOTE: The above
information is intended to supplement, not
substitute for, the expertise and judgment
of your physician, pharmacist, or other healthcare
professional. It should not be construed to
indicate that the use of the product is safe,
appropriate, or effective for you. Consult
your healthcare professional before taking
the product.
