Before Using This medicine: Before you take this medication,
tell your doctor your entire
medical history, including
family medical history,
especially: asthma, high blood
pressure, kidney disease, liver
heart disease, stroke, history
of jaundice (yellowing
skin/eyes) or high blood
pressure during pregnancy,
excessive weight gain or fluid
retention during menstrual
cycle, blood clots, heart
attack, seizures, migraine
headaches, breast cancer, high
blood level of cholesterol or
lipids (fats), diabetes,
depression. Depending on
strength, this drug may cause a
patchy, darkening of the skin on
the face (melasma). Higher
strengths are more likely to
cause melasma. Sunlight may
intensify this darkening and you
may need to avoid prolonged sun
exposure and sunlamps. Consult
your doctor regarding use of
sunscreens and protective
clothing. It may take a long
time for you to become pregnant
after you stop taking birth
control pills. Consult your
doctor. Do not smoke cigarettes.
Birth-control pills slightly
increase your risk of strokes,
blood clots, high blood
pressure, heart attacks,
gallbladder disease, vision
problems, and liver tumors.
Cigarette smoking (especially 15
or more cigarettes daily) and
age (women older than 35/smokers
or 40/nonsmokers years of age)
further increase the risk of
stroke, blood clots, high blood
pressure and heart attacks. Ask
your pharmacist or doctor for a
copy of the patient labeling
which explains these risks in
more detail. Consult your doctor
for any questions, including
possible use in nonsmokers over
40 years of age. If you are
near-sighted or wear contact
lenses, you may develop vision
problems. Also, your tolerance
of the lenses may decrease.
Contact your eye doctor if these
problems occur. Before having
surgery, including dental
surgery, tell the doctor that
you take birth control pills.
This drug must not be used
during pregnancy. If you become
pregnant or think you may be
pregnant, inform your doctor
immediately. This medication
passes into breast milk. This
may affect milk production and
may have harmful effects on a
nursing infant. Consult your
doctor before breast-feeding.
Proper Use of This Medicine: Take one tablet daily after a
meal to prevent stomach upset.
Precautions While Using This
Medicine: Take Triphasil
with food or immediately after a
meal to prevent stomach upset.
Try to take this medication at
the same time each day. This may
help you to remember to take it.
Learn proper use of your
particular brand of medication.
Follow your dosing schedule
carefully. Be sure to ask your
doctor or pharmacist if you have
any questions. Use a
supplemental form of birth
control during the first week of
taking this medication since it
takes a while to be effective.
Follow your doctor's directions
exactly if this drug is being
used as a "morning after" pill.
Side Effects of This
Medicine: This medication
may cause dizziness, headache,
lightheadedness, stomach upset,
bloating, or nausea. If these
effects persist or worsen,
contact your doctor. Notify your
doctor if you experience: severe
depression, groin or calf pain,
sudden severe headache, chest
pain, shortness of breath, lumps
in the breast, weakness or
tingling in the arms or legs,
yellowing of the eyes or skin.
If you notice other effects not
listed above, contact your
doctor or pharmacist.