What Is Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo?
Who Makes Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo?
Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo is made by Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical, Inc.
Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo is a combined oral contraceptive, which means that it is a birth control pill that contains two different types of hormones. It contains both an estrogen (ethinyl estradiol) and a progestin (norgestimate). The hormones in Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo prevent pregnancy primarily by stopping ovulation (the maturation and release of eggs from the ovaries). However, it also works to prevent pregnancy in two other, less important ways. Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo changes the cervical mucus (the fluid of the cervix, which is the lower, narrow part of the uterus that is connected to the vagina), making it more difficult for sperm to enter the uterus. Lastly, Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo alters the lining of the uterus (the endometrium), making it less receptive to an embryo.
Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo is a triphasic birth control pill, which means that there are three different "phases" of pills in each pack, plus the last week of tablets with no active ingredients. Each week has a different amount of the progesterone hormone. This is why it is important to take Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo pills in the correct order.
When and How to Use Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo
General considerations for when and how to use
Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo include the following:
- The medication comes in tablet form. It is taken by mouth once a day.
- You can take Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo with or without food. If the drug bothers your stomach, try taking it with food.
- Each pack of Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo contains 28 pills. Be sure to take them in order. Once you finish a pack, start a new pack right away. You will probably start your period during the last seven days of the pack.
- Ortho-Tri Cyclen Lo comes in special packaging called a Dialpak®. Make sure you know how the Dialpak works, such as where to start and how to remove the pills.
- It is important that you take Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo every day and at the same time each day. Try to pick a time that will be easy to remember, such as at bedtime or breakfast. If you have trouble remembering, please talk with your healthcare provider, as missing pills increases your risk of pregnancy.
- Make sure you know exactly what to do if you miss any pills. In some circumstances, you may need to use a backup method of contraception, such as condoms, for seven days.
- For the medication to work properly, it must be taken as prescribed. Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo will not work if you stop taking it.
There is only one standard dose of Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo, regardless of your age, weight, or medical conditions. As always, do not adjust your dose unless your healthcare provider specifically instructs you to do so.
As with any medicine, side effects are possible with
Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo. However, not everyone who uses the contraceptive will experience side effects. In fact, most people tolerate it quite well. If side effects do occur, in most cases, they are minor and either require no treatment or can easily be treated by you or your healthcare provider. Serious side effects are less common.
Common side effects of Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo include, but are not limited to:
- Breast tenderness
- Breakthrough bleeding or spotting between periods
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Headaches.
(Click Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo Side Effects to learn more, including potentially serious side effects that you should report immediately to your healthcare provider.)
Drug Interactions With Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo
What Should I Tell My Healthcare Provider?
You should talk with your healthcare provider prior to using this medication if you have:
Also, let your healthcare provider know if you:
Make sure to tell your healthcare provider about all other medicines you are taking, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
What If I Take an Overdose?
Women who take too much
Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo may experience the following symptoms:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Vaginal bleeding
- Other menstrual irregularities.
How Should Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo Be Stored?
Keep
Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo tablets in their original package. The packaging is designed to help you remember to take the tablets each day and to take them in the right order. Keep the package at room temperature, away from moisture and heat.
Keep Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo and all other medications out of the reach of children.
Missing doses of Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo increases the risk of pregnancy. What you should do depends on how many tablets you have missed and where exactly you are in your cycle. Refer to the patient information that comes with each pack of Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo or consult your healthcare provider if you are not sure what to do
(see Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo Dosage for more information).
Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo comes in one strength, with four different groups of tablets in each pack, in the following order:
- Seven white tablets -- 0.180 mg of norgestimate and 0.025 mg of ethinyl estradiol per tablet
- Seven light blue tablets -- 0.215 mg of norgestimate and 0.025 mg of ethinyl estradiol per tablet
- Seven dark blue tablets -- 0.250 mg of norgestimate and 0.025 mg of ethinyl estradiol per tablet
- Seven dark green tablets -- no active ingredients.
Is There a Generic Version of Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo?
