Mononessa

Brand Names

Ortho Tri-Cyclen, Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo, Ortho-Cyclen

What is Mononessa

Mononessa is a medicine that includes ethinyl estradiol and norgestimate. It contains a combination of female hormones that prevent the release of an egg from an ovary. Mononessa triggers changes in your cervical mucus and uterine lining. It becomes difficult for sperm to reach the uterus.

Side effects of Mononessa

Mononessa can cause the following side effects:

• sudden numbness or weakness, especially on one side of the body
• sudden severe headache, confusion, problems with vision, speech, or balance
• sudden cough, wheezing, rapid breathing, coughing up blood
• pain, swelling, warmth, or redness in one or both legs
• chest pain or heavy feeling, pain spreading to the arm or shoulder, nausea, sweating, general ill feeling
• a change in the pattern or severity of migraine headaches
• pain in your upper stomach, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes)
• a lump in your breast
• swelling in your hands, ankles or feet
• symptoms of depression (sleep problems, weakness, mood changes)

The warning signals may also be:

• mild nausea or vomiting, appetite or weight changes
• breast swelling or tenderness
• headache, nervousness, dizziness
• problems with contact lenses
• freckles or darkening of facial skin, loss of scalp hair
• vaginal itching or discharge

Indication

This medication is used as contraception to prevent pregnancy. The medicine is also effective in the treatment of severe acne.

Precautions

You should discuss safeness of the medicine with your doctor if you have the following conditions:

• coronary artery disease, a severe or uncontrolled heart valve disorder, untreated or
• uncontrolled high blood pressure
• a history of a stroke, blood clot, or circulation problems
• a hormone-related cancer such as breast or uterine cancer
• unusual vaginal bleeding that has not been checked by a doctor
• liver disease or liver cancer
• severe migraine headaches
• a history of jaundice caused by pregnancy or birth control pills
• high blood pressure, heart disease, congestive heart failure, angina (chest pain), or a history of heart attack
• high cholesterol or triglycerides, or if you are overweight
• a history of depression
• gallbladder disease
• diabetes
• seizures or epilepsy
• a history of irregular menstrual cycles
• a history of fibrocystic breast disease, lumps, nodules or an abnormal mammogram

Dosage forms

It is very important to discuss the treatment plan and dose with your doctor. You may also need to use back-up birth control, such as condoms or a spermicide, when you first start using this medication.