Ortho-Tri-Cyclen

Uses

Ortho-Tri-Cyclen consists of a combination of low levels of estrogen and progestin hormones that help prevent pregnancy. It is also widely used to treat acne, menstrual pain, irregularities in your menstrual cycle and other conditions.

Dosage

A strict dosage schedule is recommended – take a pill at the same time every day. Missing a dose could cause you to conceive. Missed doses include the days that you miss when you start the pack late. The more number of pills you miss, the higher your chances of conceiving. Some light spotting and bleeding may be seeing in many women in the first 1-3 packs of the pill. Acute nausea is also seen. Don’t stop taking the pill even if you feel such acute sickness, these symptoms don’t persist and will go away on their own. If these symptoms persist, consult your physician or gynecologist. If you miss pills also, you may notice such spotting or bleeding, even after you have made up the missed dosage. The success of Ortho-Tri-Cyclen depends on regular use, and if you keep missing doses, ask your gynecologist to recommend some other form of contraception that suits you. Any doubts should be clarified by your doctor before continu9ing with Ortho-Tri-cyclen.

Warnings

Ortho-Tri-Cyclen offers no protection against AIDS or Sexually Transmitted diseases (STDs). Avoid smoking while on Ortho-Tricyclen. Smoking while on the pill reduces the risk of high blood pressure, stroke, blood clots, heart attack, and other cardiovascular diseases. The efficacy of your pill may be reduced if you suffer from diarrhea or vomiting, or if you’re on some other medication like antibiotics or anticonvulsants. In such cases, use some other forms of contraception like condoms, and consult your physician. Always make sure to inform your doctor, surgeon, or emergency heath care worker that you’re on Ortho-Tri-Cyclen. Don’t begin any prescription medicine without consulting your doctor. If you notice problems with your contact lenses, make these known to your physician immediately. The use of Ortho-Tri-Cyclen has been found linked to the formation of dark patches on your face. If you notice these, wear protective sunscreens when you go out. Discontinue use of Ortho-Tri-Cyclen if you suspect that you’re pregnant. Ortho-Tri-Cyclen has been found to be transmitted to the baby through breast feeding. If you’re nursing, consult your doctor to determine the effects of Ortho-Tri-Cyclen on the infant.

Missed dosage

If you miss a pill, take two at the time of your next dosage to make up for the missed pill, or take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Remember to use some other form of contraceptive like condoms, for the next week after your missed dosage to ensure extra protection against an unwanted pregnancy. If you miss 2 pills, take the missed pills as son as you remember, or take them along with your next scheduled dose. Alternatively, you can also make up the missed dosage by taking one missed pill each, along with the next two scheduled pills, for the next two days consecutively. Since missed tablets will increase your chances of conception, take some other form of contraception for the next seven days, or till your next period. If you miss 3 pills in a row, discard the pack altogether and start a new pack on the 7th day after your last missed pill. For seven days, after you begin the new pack, use another form of contraception. You should have your period in those seven days without a pill. If you don’t notice a new period during these seven days, discontinue use of the pack and take pregnancy test.

Side effects

You may notice mild side effects like vomiting and nausea, bleeding in between your periods, or tenderness in the breast. These are expected symptoms, and usually clear up after a few weeks. If they persist, or cause you too much bother, consult your doctor. If you notice more severe symptoms like unrelenting or repeated abnormal vaginal bleeding, a missed period, dizziness, fainting spells, swelling in the ankles and fingers, headaches, or difficulty wearing contact lenses, contact your physician as soon as possible and inform him of these symptoms. In case of more intense symptoms like severe or sharp pains in the chest, shortness of breath, sudden headaches and stomach pain, pain in the legs, yellowish tinge in the skin or eyes, change in vision, numbness in your extremities, seek emergency medical attention promptly.

Storage

Keep in a cool and dry place away from heat and moisture, and out of reach of children. Keep all medication bottles, tightly secured.

Overdose

No serious effects have been reported following an overdose, but you may notice symptoms like nausea and some amount of vaginal bleeding.