Triphasil Tablet – Is it safe? Uses, Side-effects , Dosage
What is Triphasil?
Triphasil is an oral contraceptive, commonly used to prevent pregnancy in women. It is also known as ‘Birth control pill’ or ‘the Pill’. It consists of two hormones similar to those produced by the female body, which is estrogen and progestin, which if taken in correct quantities avert pregnancy and act as a contraceptive.
It is available in tablet form only.
Triphasil Tablet – Is it safe? Uses, Side-effects , Dosage
What is the Generic name(s)?
What is its composition?
How does it work?
What are its uses?
How effective is this medicine?
Is it addictive?
What is the dosage?
What if I miss a dose?
What to do in case of overdosage?
What to do in case of allergic reactions?
What are the side effects?
Does this medicine have any drug interactions?
Can it be taken with food?
ICan it be taken with alcohol?
Can it be consumed on an empty stomach?
Precautions
Is it safe to use if I am pregnant?
Is it safe to use if I am lactating?
Can this medicine be given to children and infants?
Is this medicine available as over the counter (OTC) product?
Frequently asked questions
Reference
What is the generic name(s)?
The generic names are ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel.
What is its composition?
The pills consist of varying quantities of ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel. These are synthetic derivatives of the hormones of the female body, estrogen and progestogen.
How does it work?
It works in the following ways:
- It prevents ovulation by suppressing the gonadotropins produced by the female body.
- It brings about certain changes in cervical mucus which makes it difficult for the sperm to enter the uterus.
- It causes changes in the endometrium of the uterus which decreases the likelihood of implantation.
What are its uses?
Triphasil is used for the following purposes:
- To prevent pregnancy.
- To make the menstrual cycle more regular.
- Decrease pain and blood loss during periods.
- Reduce the risk of ovarian cysts.
- To treat acne.
- It reduces the chances of acute pelvic inflammatory disease.
- Reduces chances of ectopic pregnancy ( pregnancy in the fallopian tube).
How effective is this medicine?
Triphasil is effective if taken regularly without missing any dose.
The medicine needs to be given proper time for it to start its effect and will not act as a contraceptive from the very first dose.
Is it addictive?
This medicine is not addictive. It can be taken by women for years without them showing any signs of addiction to it.
What is the dosage?
To achieve maximum effectiveness of the medicine, the pills must be taken exactly as instructed by the doctor at 24-hour intervals.
The tablets are to be taken in three phases. The tablets are to be taken for 21 consecutive days according to the menstrual cycle in the given order:
- Phase 1- six brown tablets
- Phase 2- five white tablets
- Phase 3- ten light yellow tablets
The tablets are then to be discontinued for seven days (three weeks on, one week off).
The tablets should be taken preferably at the same time each day. In the first cycle of the medicine, the tablets should be taken in the same order as mentioned above.
Withdrawal of bleeding usually occurs in three days after discontinuation of the tablets and may not have finished before the commencement of the next set of tablets.
What if I miss a dose?
With every pill missed of the 21-day routine, the chances of getting pregnant increase. If more than 5 pills are missed out of the schedule the contraception provided by the tablets will be minimum.
It is to be noted that on missing a dose, more than one tablet should not be taken at one time to compensate for the missed dose.
- If you forget one brown, white or yellow tablet at a time and it is up to twelve hours late only, take the missed tablet immediately. The next tablet to be taken at its own time, even if it means taking two tablets in one day.
- If you forget one brown, white or yellow tablet but it is more than 12 hours late, take the pill as and when you remember and the next tablet should be taken as its usual time.
- In the above cases, keep taking the pills at their usual time. You may add a non-hormonal method like condoms or diaphragm to enhance contraception.
What to do in case of overdosage?
An overdose of Triphasil does not usually have any adverse effects if done occasionally. If done regularly though, it may affect the regularity of your menstrual cycle.
In some cases the following symptoms may be seen following overdose:
- Feeling sick or vomiting
- Dizziness
- Feeling sleepy and tired at all times
What to do in case of allergic reactions?
Triphasil may cause allergic reactions like:
- Skin Rashes
- Difficulty in breathing
- Swelling of the foot or other extremities
- Sneezing or wheezing
If any of these reactions are seen, contact your doctor immediately.
What are the side effects?
The following side effects may be observed upon the long-term use of this medicine:
- Vaginal Bleeding- Spotting or irregular bleeding can be observed when these pills are taken. Irregular menstruation is observed usually during the first few months from the commencement of the oral contraceptives. Such bleeding is usually temporary and does not indicate any serious problem.
- Contact lenses- If you are a regular user of contact lenses a few changes in the vision or the inability to wear the lenses may be observed. In such cases contact your doctor for further changes either in the lenses or in the medication.
- Edema and fluid retention- This medicine may cause retention of fluid into the extremities which lead to the formation of Edema. This may, in turn, increase the blood pressure.
- Melasma- Consumption of the medicine may lead to the development of dark spots on the skin, particularly in the face and neck region.
- Other side effects- these include nausea, vomiting, tenderness of the breast, loss of appetite, changes in weight, headache, depression, nervousness, vaginal rashes, loss of hair etc.
This medicine also has certain adverse effects, these include:
- Thrombophlebitis
- Pulmonary embolism
- Cholestatic jaundice
- Hepatic adenomas
- A migraine
- Reduced tolerance to carbohydrates
- Premenstrual syndrome
- Congenital anomalies
- Sickle-cell anaemia
- Hemorrhagic eruption
- Colitis
- Vaginitis
- Hirsutism
Does this medicine have any drug interactions?
Ethinyl estradiol may react with several substances and lead to decreased ethinyl estradiol levels in the blood.
The decreased level of the drug in the blood may lead to breakthrough bleeding and irregular menstruation and may reduce the efficiency of the medicine as an oral contraceptive.
Reduced levels of the drug in the blood may be associated with the repeated use of substances that induce hepatic microsomal enzymes like rifabutin, rifampin, phenylbutazone, barbiturates, topiramate.
Some substances may also decrease plasma drug concentrations by other mechanisms. These substances include any drug or enzyme that reduces the time of gut transit and certain antibiotics (e.g. ampicillin and other penicillins, tetracyclines). Some substances act by a decrease of enterohepatic circulation of estrogens.
Can it be taken with food?
The drug is not affected by the presence or absence of food in the gastrointestinal tract, though it is usually recommended to consume the medicine after dinner.
Can it be taken with alcohol?
The drug is not affected by the presence or absence of alcohol, but it is usually recommended not to consume it with alcohol.
Can it be consumed on an empty stomach?
It can be consumed on an empty stomach, as presence or absence of food does not affect the activity of the drug.
Precautions
Before you start taking Triphasil you should inform your doctor if:
- You are allergic to any foods, preservatives or medicines.
- You are a regular smoker. Oral contraceptives increase the risk of inducing a heart attack or stroke.
- If you have any prevailing health conditions like Heart diseases, Epilepsy, Diabetes, High cholesterol levels, History of hypertension, Migraine, Depression, Jaundice during pregnancy or during previous oral contraceptive use, Asthma, Fibroids, Abnormal chest X-ray or mammogram and presence of breast lumps.
- Couples should be counselled that the use of oral contraceptive does not protect them from sexually transmitted diseases like HIV AIDS.
- You have undergone any surgical procedure in the past and about the current medications, herbal supplements etc being used.
- Women suffering from hyperlipidemias should be cautious when using oral contraceptives. The hormones present in the pills may increase blood LDL levels which would make management of hyperlipidemias even more difficult.
- If women suffer from jaundice due to regular consumption of this drug, the medicine should be discontinued.
- Women suffering from significant depression due to altering hormone levels should stop the medicine immediately and alternative methods of contraception should be used.
The drug has various effects on blood components during blood tests:
- There is an increase in prothrombin factors and a decrease in antithrombin factors.
- Triglycerides level in blood is increased.
- There is a decrease in glucose tolerance.
- There is an increase in TBG (thyroid binding globulin) which leads to an increase in the amount of total circulating amount of thyroid hormone.
- Increased levels of sex-binding globulins which result in elevation of serum sex steroid and corticoids.
Is it safe to use if I am pregnant?
This medicine is not to be used in pregnancy. The hormones present in the medicine may lead to an imbalance in the pregnant female’s body and to lead to abortion.
Is it safe to use if I am lactating?
Triphasil is not recommended to be taken when lactating. The medicine is found to enter the breast milk after consumption and the effect of this medicine on the infant is not known.
It is also known to reduce the milk production in the mammary gland of the lactating female.
Can this medicine be given to children and infants?
The effect of this medicine is not yet known in children and infants but it may cause unwanted effects over a longer period of time. Thus the drug should be kept away from children and infants at all times.
Is this medicine available as over the counter (OTC) product?
This medicine usually needs prescription preferably from a gynaecologist. It is not an OTC product.
Frequently asked questions
1. Does this medicine cause weight gain?
Yes, this medicine is known to cause changes in the weight of the female. Usually, this change is gain in weight. This occurs due to hormonal imbalance that is caused by consumption of the drug.
2. Does Triphasil stop periods?
This medicine does not stop the menstrual cycle, rather it helps to regularize it. If your periods do not return after 2-3 months after stopping the pill, consult your doctor.
3. How do I use Triphasil as a morning after pill?
Take 4 yellow pills within 120 hours of unprotected sex and 4 four yellow pills 12 hours later.
4. Can this pill be taken prior to driving?
Yes, this medicine does not cause any mental confusion or does not make a person high. Thus it is safe to use it before driving. In case you experience any abnormalities, avoid operating any heavy machinery and driving, and contact your doctor immediately.
5. How to switch from other oral contraceptives to Triphasil?
- Stop using your current oral contraceptive after the last active tablet has been taken. Do not take remaining tablets if your current oral contraceptive pack contains inactive or unused tablets.
- On the day after, take the 1st pill from the coloured section that matches that day of the week. If the day is between Monday and Friday your 1st tablet is red. If it is Saturday or Sunday your 1st tablet is brown.
- Then start taking 1 tablet each day; following the arrows to ensure you are taking the correct tablet for the particular day of the week until all of the tablets have been taken.
- You will have a ‘withdrawal’ bleeding, similar to having a period, during the week of red tablets.
When switching from other oral contraceptives it is recommended to use other forms of contraception like condoms or diaphragm for additional protection and to prevent pregnancy. Always discuss with your doctor before switching to this contraceptive.
6. How long should I wait after delivery of the baby before starting the use of oral contraceptives?
You can start taking the mini-pill right after delivery in case you’re not exclusively breastfeeding. If your baby is taking only breast milk, it may be best to wait until six weeks after delivery to start. By that time, both your milk supply should have been well established and your baby will be more mature. Always discuss with your doctor to have absolute clarity and safety.
7. Can it be administered to girls who have just reached puberty?
Yes, this medicine can be administered to any female who has reached her menarche. It is to be taken care of to not to be administered to girls who have not yet reached puberty. Also, this medicine should not be used as a method to induce menstruation in young females who have not yet reached adolescence.
Reference
Wikipedia page on Birth Control
You might find this article interesting CELLTONE GEL – IS IT SAFE? USES, SIDE-EFFECTS, DOSAGE
The post Triphasil Tablet – Is it safe? Uses, Side-effects , Dosage appeared first on Glowpink.