ORTHO TRI-CYCLEN is an estrogen and progestin
combination used to prevent pregnancy. It may also be
used to regulate the menstrual cycle, treat symptoms
of menopause, or treat other conditions as determined
by your doctor.
BEFORE USING
Some medicines or medical conditions may interact with
this medicine. Inform your doctor or pharmacist of
all prescription and over-the-counter medicine that
you are taking. Do not take this medicine if you are
also taking nevirapine or rifampin. Additional monitoring
of your dose or condition may be needed if you are
taking barbiturates, carvedilol, corticosteroids, felbamate,
griseofulvin, HIV protease inhibitors, modafinil, metoprolol,
pioglitazone, penicillin or tetracycline antibiotics,
theophylline, topiramate, troglitazone, troleandomycin,
or medicine for seizures. Inform your doctor of any
other medical conditions, allergies, or if you are
pregnant or breast-feeding. Use of this medicine is
not recommended if you have a history of cancer, heart
or liver conditions, pulmonary embolism, blood clots,
stroke, cerebrovascular disease, or smoking. Contact
your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions
or concerns about taking this medicine.
DIRECTIONS
Follow the directions for using this medicine provided
by your doctor. Ortho Tri-Cyclen comes with a patient
information leaflet. Read it carefully. Ask your doctor,
nurse, or pharmacist any questions that you may have
before using this medicine. Try to take it at the same
time every day, not more than 24 hours apart. Store
this medicine at room temperature, away from heat and
light. If you miss a dose of Ortho Tri-Cyclen , 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. If you miss more than 1 dose of this
medicine, refer to the patient information that came
with this medicine. If you have any questions, contact
your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist.
CAUTIONS
Smoking cigarettes while using Ortho Tri-Cyclen may 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, it may not work as well. Taking certain
antibiotics or anticonvulsants while you are using
this medicine may decrease the effectiveness of this
medicine. To prevent pregnancy, use an additional form
of birth control until your next period. If you have
any questions, contact your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist.
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.
Ortho Tri-Cyclen 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.
Use of this medicine will not prevent the spread of
sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Do not use this
medicine if you are pregnant. If you suspect that you
could be pregnant, contact your doctor immediately.
ORTHO TRI-CYCLEN 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 SIDE
EFFECTS
Side effects which may go away during treatment include:
nausea, vomiting, bleeding between menstrual periods,
breast tenderness, or weight change. If they continue
or are bothersome, check with your doctor. Check with
your doctor as soon as possible if you experience persistent
or recurrent abnormal 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, nurse, or pharmacist.
IF YOU TAKE TOO MUCH
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.
