Ortho-Novum Tablet: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Precautions and Alternates

Quick overview

Ortho-Novum Tablet contains ethinyl estradiol and norethindrone, part of the oral contraceptive (estrogen/progestin) drug class. It is a combination birth control pill used to prevent pregnancy and also to treat severe acne. It is taken once daily according to a 28-day pack schedule, and it carries certain risks and precautions that should be discussed with your doctor.

What is Ortho-Novum Tablet

Ortho-Novum is a combination birth control pill containing two female hormones, estrogen and progestin. It is used to prevent pregnancy. Ortho-Novum is also used to treat severe acne.

Ortho-Novum Tablet uses

• Prevention of pregnancy (contraception)
• Treatment of severe acne

Benefits of Ortho-Novum Tablet

• Helps prevent pregnancy when taken correctly
• Can help make menstrual cycles more regular and predictable
• May reduce menstrual cramps and bleeding in some users

How Ortho-Novum Tablet works

Combined birth control pills work mainly by stopping the ovaries from releasing an egg. They also thicken the mucus at the cervix, making it harder for sperm to reach the uterus, and change the lining of the uterus, making it harder for a fertilized egg to implant.

Ortho-Novum Tablet dosage

Take one pill every day at about the same time, no more than 24 hours apart. Take your first pill on the first day of your period or on the first Sunday after your period begins, following your doctor's instructions. When you finish a pack, start the next pack the following day without skipping any days.

Use a back-up birth control method, such as a condom with spermicide, when you first start the pill or if you are sick with severe vomiting or diarrhea. Do not skip pills even if you have breakthrough bleeding or feel nauseated. Keep taking your pills on schedule even if you have spotting or breakthrough bleeding, especially during the first three months.

Any doctor or surgeon treating you should know you are taking this medicine, since it may need to be stopped for a short time before major surgery or long-term bed rest. You will need to see your doctor regularly for check-ups while taking this medicine.

Available forms and strengths

• Tablet

Side effects of Ortho-Novum Tablet

Common

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Breast tenderness or swelling
• Breakthrough bleeding or spotting
• Headache
• Problems with contact lenses
• Stomach cramping
• Bloating
• Dizziness
• Vaginal discomfort, irritation, or itching
• Increased vaginal discharge
• Freckles or darkening of facial skin
• Increased hair growth
• Loss of scalp hair
• Changes in weight or appetite
• Decreased sex drive

Serious

• 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 jaw or shoulder, nausea, sweating
• Liver problems: loss of appetite, upper stomach pain, tiredness, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of skin or eyes)
• Increased blood pressure: severe headache, blurred vision, pounding in neck or ears
• Swelling in hands, ankles, or feet
• A change in the pattern or severity of migraine headaches
• A breast lump
• Symptoms of depression: sleep problems, weakness, tired feeling, mood changes
• Allergic reaction: hives, difficulty breathing, swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat

Warnings and precautions

• Do not use this medicine if you are pregnant. If you think you might be pregnant, or if you miss two periods in a row, contact your doctor right away.
• The hormones in this medicine can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. It may also reduce breast milk production, so it should not be used while breastfeeding.
• Do not use this medicine if you have liver disease or liver cancer. If you get jaundice (yellowing of skin or eyes) while taking it, stop the medicine and tell your doctor, since liver hormones may not be processed properly if your liver isn't working well.
• Smoking greatly raises the risk of blood clots, stroke, or heart attack while on this medicine. Women over 35 who smoke should not take it.
• This medicine can increase your risk of blood clots, stroke, or heart attack, and this risk is highest in your first year of use or when restarting after a break of four weeks or more.
• Do not take this medicine along with certain hepatitis C medicines, because doing so can raise liver enzyme levels to a dangerous degree.
• This medicine does not protect against HIV or other sexually transmitted infections, so a condom should still be used for that protection.
• You should not use this medicine if you have uncontrolled high blood pressure, heart disease, circulation problems, undiagnosed vaginal bleeding, liver disease, severe migraines, or a past heart attack, stroke, blood clot, or certain cancers.
• If you need major surgery or will be on long-term bed rest, you may need to stop this medicine for a short time because of a higher risk of blood clots.

Storage

• Store at 20–25°C (68–77°F) at controlled room temperature.
• Keep tablets in their original packaging until ready to take.
• Protect from excessive heat, moisture, and direct sunlight.
• Avoid storing in bathrooms or other hot and humid locations.
• Keep out of reach and sight of children and pets.

When to see a doctor

• Get emergency help right away if you have signs of an allergic reaction, such as hives, trouble breathing, or swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Stop the medicine and call your doctor right away if you notice signs of a stroke, blood clot, heart attack, liver problems, high blood pressure, swelling in your hands or feet, a change in migraine pattern, a breast lump, or symptoms of depression.
• If you become pregnant or think you might be pregnant while taking this medicine, tell your doctor right away.
• Seek emergency medical help if you take too much of this medicine, since an overdose can cause nausea or vaginal bleeding.

Alternatives

• Junel Fe
• Necon
• Nortrel
• Alyacen