Triphasil (ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel) is a combination birth control pill containing female hormones that prevent ovulation (the release of an egg from an ovary).
Triphasil also causes changes in your cervical mucus and uterine lining, making it harder for sperm to reach the uterus and harder for a fertilized egg to attach to the uterus.
Triphasil is used as contraception to prevent pregnancy. There are many available brands of ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel.
Take Triphasil 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.
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 or a spermicide, when you first start using Triphasil. Follow your doctors 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. Get your prescription refilled before you run out of pills completely.
Some birth control packs contain seven "reminder" pills to keep you on your regular cycle. Your period will usually begin while you are using these reminder pills.
Use a back-up birth control if you are sick with severe vomiting or diarrhea.
You may have breakthrough bleeding, especially during the first 3 months. Tell your doctor if this bleeding continues or is very heavy.
Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to Triphasil: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Stop using Triphasil and call your doctor at once if you have:
signs of a stroke - sudden numbness or weakness (especially on one side of the body), sudden severe headache, slurred speech, problems with vision or balance;
signs of a blood clot - sudden vision loss, stabbing chest pain, feeling short of breath, coughing up blood, pain or warmth in one or both legs;
heart attack symptoms - chest pain or pressure, pain spreading to your jaw or shoulder, nausea, sweating;
liver problems - loss of appetite, upper stomach pain, tiredness, fever, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);
increased blood pressure - severe headache, blurred vision, pounding in your neck or ears;
swelling in your hands, ankles, or feet;
changes in the pattern or severity of migraine headaches;
a breast lump; or
symptoms of depression - sleep problems, weakness, tired feeling, mood changes.
Common Triphasil side effects may include:
nausea, vomiting (especially when you first start taking this medicine);
breast tenderness;
breakthrough bleeding;
acne, darkening of facial skin;
weight gain; or
problems with contact lenses.
Store Triphasil at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
Other drugs may interact with Triphasil, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Some drugs can make birth control pills less effective, which may result in pregnancy. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using.
Serious ill effects have not been reported following acute ingestion of large doses of oral contraceptives
by young children. Overdosage may cause nausea, and withdrawal bleeding may occur in females.