Do not use Ortho Tri-Cyclen if you are pregnant or if you have recently had a baby.
You should not use Ortho Tri-Cyclen if you have: uncontrolled high blood pressure, heart disease, coronary artery disease, circulation problems (especially with diabetes), undiagnosed vaginal bleeding, liver disease or liver cancer, severe migraine headaches, if you also take certain hepatitis C medication, if you will have major surgery, if you smoke and are over 35, or if you have ever had a heart attack, a stroke, a blood clot, jaundice caused by pregnancy or birth control pills, or cancer of the breast, uterus/cervix, or vagina.
Taking birth control pills can increase your risk of blood clots, stroke, or heart attack.
Smoking can greatly increase your risk of blood clots, stroke, or heart attack. You should not take Ortho Tri-Cyclen if you smoke and are over 35 years old.
Before taking this medicine
Taking Ortho Tri-Cyclen can increase your risk of blood clots, stroke, or heart attack. You are even more at risk if you have high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, or if you are overweight. Your risk of stroke or blood clot is highest during your first year of taking birth control pills. Your risk is also high when you restart birth control pills after not taking them for 4 weeks or longer.
Smoking can greatly increase your risk of blood clots, stroke, or heart attack. Your risk increases the older you are and the more you smoke. You should not take combination birth control pills if you smoke and are over 35 years old.
Do not use Ortho Tri-Cyclen if you are pregnant. Stop using this medicine and tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant, or if you miss two menstrual periods in a row. If you have recently had a baby, wait at least 4 weeks before taking birth control pills.
You should not take Ortho Tri-Cyclen if you have:
untreated or uncontrolled high blood pressure;
heart disease (chest pain, coronary artery disease, history of heart attack, stroke, or blood clot);
an increased risk of having blood clots due to a heart problem or a hereditary blood disorder;
circulation problems (especially if caused by diabetes);
a history of hormone-related cancer, or cancer of the breast, uterus/cervix, or vagina;
unusual vaginal bleeding that has not been checked by a doctor;
liver disease or liver cancer;
severe migraine headaches (aura, numbness, vision changes), especially if you are older than 35; or
if you take any hepatitis C medication containing ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir (Technivie).
To make sure Ortho Tri-Cyclen is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had:
heart problems, high blood pressure, or if you are prone to having blood clots;
high cholesterol or triglycerides, or if you are overweight;
depression;
a seizure or migraine headache;
diabetes, gallbladder disease, underactive thyroid;
liver or kidney disease;
jaundice caused by pregnancy or birth control pills;
irregular menstrual cycles; or
fibrocystic breast disease, lumps, nodules, or an abnormal mammogram.
This medicine can slow breast milk production. Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding.
How should I take Ortho Tri-Cyclen?
Take Ortho Tri-Cyclen exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow all directions on your prescription label. Do not take this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.
You will take your first pill on the first day of your period or on the first Sunday after your period begins. You may need to use back-up birth control, such as condoms with spermicide, when you first start using Ortho Tri-Cyclen. Follow your doctor's instructions.
Take one pill every day, no more than 24 hours apart. When the pills run out, start a new pack the following day. You may get pregnant if you do not take one pill daily.
Ortho Tri-Cyclen packs contain seven dark green "reminder" pills to keep you on your regular cycle. Your period will usually begin while you are using these reminder pills.
You may have breakthrough bleeding, especially during the first 3 months. Tell your doctor if this bleeding continues or is very heavy.
Use a back-up birth control if you are sick with severe vomiting or diarrhea.
If you need major surgery with long-term bed rest, you may need to stop using this medicine for a short time. Any doctor or surgeon who treats you should know that you are using Ortho Tri-Cyclen.
While taking Ortho Tri-Cyclen, you will need to visit your doctor regularly.
Store this medicine at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
