People's Pharmacy

Triphasil-28

Generic Name:ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel

Other Brand Names: Tri-Levlen 28

Revised:4/1/2000

Table of Contents

Side Effects and Interactions

Unexpected vaginal bleeding may occur during the first month or two on Triphasil. Notify your physician if you continue to experience bleeding between periods after the second month on this medication.

Serious side effects are rare, but they may include high blood pressure, heart attacks, stroke, blood clots, visual changes, problems with liver or gallbladder, and birth defects.

Do not continue taking Triphasil-28 if you become pregnant.

Less dangerous reactions include nausea, vomiting, fluid retention, headache, darkening of the skin across the face, changes in menstrual flow, depression, nervousness, breast tenderness, rash, inability to wear contact lenses and susceptibility to vaginal infections. Report any symptoms or suspected side effects promptly.

Some women become more susceptible to sunburn while taking Triphasil-28. Use a good sunscreen and sunglasses to protect yourself.

Triphasil interacts with many other medications.
Antibiotics such as penicillin, tetracycline, rifampin and related drugs may reduce contraceptive protection.

This is also a potential hazard with barbiturates like phenobarbital or Mysoline, the antifungal medicine griseofulvin, and seizure medications such as Dilantin.

Antianxiety drugs such as Halcion, Valium or Xanax, asthma drugs containing theophylline or aminophylline, the beta blocker Lopressor, oral corticosteroids like hydrocortisone or prednisone, and caffeine, an ingredient common in many beverages and over-the-counter drugs, may all have more serious adverse effects if they are taken together with birth control pills.

So may antidepressants or the OCD medicine Anafranil.

Until the estrogenic activity of hops is further studied, taking this herb in combination with medicines such as oral contraceptives or hormone replacement therapy is an experiment best avoided.

St. John's wort can speed elimination of birth control pills from the body, which could reduce their effectiveness.

In general, the herb chaste tree berry should not be combined with exogenous hormones such as oral contraceptives or menopausal hormone replacement therapies.

Saw palmetto berries, which have both estrogenic and antiestrogenic activity, are not recommended for women using female hormones for contraception.

Check with your doctor and pharmacist before taking any other medicine or herbs in combination with Triphasil-28.