1. Birth Control Slideshow Pictures

What happens if I miss a dose (Ortho Evra)?

If you forget to change your patch at the end of the week, change it as soon as you remember. If it has been 24 hours or longer since your scheduled patch change, apply a new patch and start the cycle over (3 weeks wearing a weekly patch,1 week off). Do not use extra patches to make up the missed dose.

Missing a dose increases your risk of becoming pregnant and you may need to use back-up birth control. Follow the weekly patch schedule closely.

What happens if I overdose (Ortho Evra)?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

Overdose symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, and vaginal bleeding.

What should I avoid while using ethinyl estradiol and norelgestromin (Ortho Evra)?

Do not smoke while using the birth control patch, especially if you are older than 35. Smoking can increase your risk of blood clots, stroke, or heart attack caused by using this medication.

This medication will not protect you from sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV and AIDS. Using a condom is the only way to protect yourself from these diseases.

Avoid using creams, lotions, powders, or other medications on the skin where you apply the patch, or it may not stick to your skin.

Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may interact with ethinyl estradiol and norelgestromin and lead to potentially dangerous effects. Discuss the use of grapefruit products with your doctor.

What other drugs will affect ethinyl estradiol and norelgestromin (Ortho Evra)?

Many drugs can interact with birth control medication, and some can make it less effective. Below is just a partial list of these drugs. Tell your doctor if you are using:

• acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ascorbic acid (vitamin C);
• bosentan (Tracleer);
• cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune, Gengraf);
• griseofulvin (Fulvicin);
• prednisolone (Sterapred);
• rosuvastatin (Crestor);
• St. John's wort;
• theophylline (Elixophyllin, Theo-24, Theochron, Uniphyl);
• an antibiotic such as amoxicillin (Augmentin), ampicillin (Principen, Unasyn), doxycycline (Doryx, Oracea, Periostat, Vibramycin), tetracycline (Ala-Tet, Brodspec, Panmycin, Sumycin, Tetracap), and others;
• antifungal medication such as fluconazole (Diflucan) or voriconazole (Vfend);
• seizure medicines such as carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Tegretol), felbamate (Felbatol), lamotrigine (Lamictal), oxcarbazepine (Trileptal), phenytoin (Dilantin), topiramate (Topamax), and others;
• a barbiturate such as phenobarbital (Solfoton), and others; or
• HIV or AIDS medications, especially delavirdine (Rescriptor), efavirenz (Sustiva, Atripla), etravirine (Intelence), or nevirapine (Viramune).

This list is not complete and other drugs may interact with ethinyl estradiol and norelgestromin. Tell your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over the counter, vitamin, and herbal products. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.

Where can I get more information?

Your pharmacist can provide more information about ethinyl estradiol and norelgestromin.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

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