Ortho Tri-Cyclen
Ortho Tri-Cyclen is used for preventing pregnancy. The drug is also prescribed for treating symptoms of menopause and regulating menstrual cycle.
Ortho Tri–Cyclen is a combination drug that contains progestin and estrogen hormones, which prevents ovulation.
Ortho Tri–Cyclen comes in tablet form and is taken orally. The recommended dosage is only one tablet a day. Well, you should have to take it regularly at the right time if you want to see good results. It is better to take the tablet in the morning or before going to bed. Care should be taken not to miss any doses or to delay in starting a fresh pack. During the first 13 packs of Ortho Tri–Cyclen, you may sometimes come across spotting, slight bleeding or may experience stomach. But you should not stop taking the drug if you have these conditions. Normally these side effects last only for a short time but if they persist, contact the doctor.
If you have missed a pill, take it when you remember it. If you have missed more than a pill, you have to contact the doctor.
Before using Ortho Tri–Cyclen, tell your doctor about all your health conditions. Inform him if you have diabetes, seizures, high blood pressure, congestive heart failure, angina, history of heart attack, high cholesterol, history of depression, gallbladder disease, irregular menstrual periods, history of fibrocystic breast disease, nodules, lumps and an abnormal mammogram. Once you have these conditions, your doctor may go for dose adjustments.
Doctors will not prescribe Ortho Tri–Cyclen if you have a history of a stroke, circulation problems, blood clot, hormone-related cancer, abnormal vaginal bleeding, Liver cancer and other liver diseases and a history of jaundice caused by birth control pills.
Breast-feeding women should not use the medication as the drug is traced in beast milk and it can cause harm to the newborn. It has also been found that the drug slows down milk production.
While taking Ortho Tri–Cyclen, do not smoke as it increases the risk of heart attack and stroke. The drug will also be less effective if you are using any anticonvulsants or antibiotics. If you are going to have any surgery, you should have to tell the physician beforehand that you are on Ortho Tri–Cyclen medication.
It has also been found that the drug can cause problems in the vision if you are using contact lenses or if you are shortsighted. The drug may also cause skin darkening of the face. It is advised to use some sunscreens when going out.
Some of the serious side effects that come with Ortho Tri–Cyclen include fever, sudden numbness, headache, vision and speech problems, chest pain, pain spreading to arm or shoulder, sweating, nausea, stomach pain, loss of appetite, clay-colored stools and dark urine. And the less serious side effects include mild nausea, bloating, vomiting, stomach cramps, tenderness, breast pain, darkening of facial skin, loss of scalp hair, increased hair growth, changes in weight and vaginal itching.