What is Ortho Evra prescribed for?

Ortho Evra is a type of birth control patch that is used to prevent pregnancy. It is a combination hormonal contraceptive because it contains two hormones, estrogen and progestin. It does not protect against STD’s like HIV or any other sexually transmitted diseases.

Who should not take Ortho Evra?

Cigarette smoking increases the risk of serious adverse effects on the heart and blood vessels from the use of hormonal birth control methods. This risk increases with age and with heavy smoking (15 or more cigarettes per day) and is quite marked in women over 35 years of age. Women who use hormonal birth control methods should not smoke.

Ortho Evra should not be used by women who have:

• a history of heart attack or stroke
• blood clots in the legs, lungs (pulmonary embolism), or eyes
• a history of blood clots in the deep veins of the legs
• chest pain
• known or suspected breast cancer or cancer of the lining of the uterus, cervix or vagina
• unexplained vaginal bleeding
• yellowing of the whites of the eyes or of the skin (jaundice) during pregnancy or during previous use of hormonal contraceptives
• liver tumor (benign or cancerous)
• known or suspected pregnancy
• severe high blood pressure
• diabetes with complications of the kidneys, eyes, nerves, or blood vessels
• an allergy to Ortho Evra or to any of its ingredients

General Precautions to take when on Ortho Evra:

For the majority of women, Ortho Evra can be used safely. But some women are at high risk of developing certain serious diseases that can be life threatening or may cause temporary or permanent disability or death. The risks associated with using Ortho Evra increase significantly if you:

• smoke
• have high blood pressure, diabetes, or high cholesterol
• have or have had clotting disorders, heart attack, stroke, chest pain (angina pectoris), and cancer of the breast or reproductive organs, jaundice, or malignant or benign liver tumors

Ortho Evra may be less effective in women weighing more than 198 pounds.

There are some things that you should tell your Doctor including:

Tell your doctor:

• about all your medical conditions
• if you smoke cigarettes
• about all the medications you take, including prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Some medicines can affect Ortho Evra and make it less effective.

What side effects can you expect when taking Ortho Evra? (This is NOT a complete list of side effects reported with Ortho Evra. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for a complete list of possible side effects and drug interactions..)

Some common side effects with combination hormonal contraceptives like Ortho Evra are:

• breast tenderness and enlargement
• headache
• nausea
• menstrual changes
• abdominal cramps and bloating
• vaginal discharge

Ortho Evra may also cause skin irritation at the application site.

Impotant Information About this dangerous Drug?

The FDA has notified healthcareprofessionals and patients of revisions to the label for Ortho Evra, it includes a bolded warning about higher exposure to estrogen for females using the weekly patch compared to taking a daily birth control pill containing 35 micrograms of estrogen. A Female on Ortho Evra may be exposed to approximately 60% more estrogen than if she were taking a typical 35 microgram estrogen birth control pill. Estrogen use is linked to blood clots in the legs and lungs and other clotting problems such as strokes and heart attacks. It is not known if women using Ortho Evra have a higher risk of serious side effects than females taking the typical 35 microgram estrogen pills.

What Makes Ortho Evra a dangerous Drug ( side effects):

• Common side effects women experienced include breast symptoms, a reaction of the site of application, headache, nausea, upper respiratory infection, and menstrual cramps.
• Serious risks, which can be life threatening, include blood clots, stroke or heart attacks and are increased if you smoke cigarettes.

Common Misspelling or other names: oartho evera, otho evera, orzo evral, Ortho Evrae

For more detailed information about Ortho Evra, ask your doctor and pharmacist.