How to Take Your Pills
Before You Start Taking Your Pills BE SURE TO READ THESE DIRECTIONS:
1. Before you start taking your pills and anytime you are not sure what to do, read the directions carefully.
2. The right way to take the pill is to take 1 pill every day at the same time. If you miss pills you could get pregnant. This includes starting the pack late. The more pills you miss, the more likely you are to get pregnant.
3. Many women have spotting or light bleeding, or may feel sick to their stomach during the first 1-3 packs of pills. If you feel sick to your stomach or have spotting or light bleeding, do not stop taking the pill. The problem will usually go away. If it doesn’t go away, check with your healthcare professional.
4. Missing pills can also cause spotting or light bleeding, even when you make up these missed pills. On the days you take 2 pills to make up for missed pills, you could also feel a little sick to your stomach.
5. If you have diarrhea or vomiting, or if you take some medicines, including some antibiotics, your pills may not work as well. Use a back-up method (such as a condom or spermicide) until you check with your healthcare provider.
6. If you have trouble remembering to take the pill, talk to your healthcare provider about how to make pill-taking easier or about using another method of birth control.
7. If you have any questions or are unsure about the information provided contact your healthcare provider for further instructions.
Before You Start Taking Your Pills
1. Decide what time of day you want to take your pill. It is important to take the pill at approximately the same time every day.
2. Look at your pill pack. The pill pack has 21 “active” pills to be taken for 3 weeks. This is followed by 1 week of “reminder” dark green pills (without hormones). There are 7 white “active” pills, 7 light blue “active” pills 7 blue “active” and 7 dark green “reminder” pills.
Also find:
1. Where on the pack to start taking the pills and what order to take the pills.
2. Be sure to have a back- up method (condoms/spermicide) on hand and an extra full pack of pills.
WHEN TO START THE FIRST PACK OF PILLS
You have a choice of which day to start taking your first pack of pills. TriNessa ® Tablets are available in a 28 day tablet dispenser pre-printed for a Sunday Start. Day 1 Start is also provided. Decide with your healthcare professional which the best day is for you. Pick a time of day which will be easy to remember.
DAY 1 START:
1. Take the first “active” white pill of the first pack during the first 24 hours of your period.
2. You will not need to use a back-up method of birth control, since you are starting the pill at the beginning of your period.
SUNDAY START:
1. Take the first “active” white pill of the first pack on the Sunday after your period starts, even if you are still bleeding. If your period begins on Sunday, start the pack that same day.
2. Use another method of birth control as a back-up method if you have sex anytime from the Sunday you start your first pack until the next Sunday (7 days). Condoms or spermicides are good backup methods of birth control.
WHAT TO DO DURING THE MONTH
Take one pill at the same time every day until pack is empty. Do not skip pills even if you are spotting or bleeding between monthly periods or feel sick to your stomach (nausea).
When you finish a pack or switch your brand of pills start the next pack on the day after your last “reminder” pill. Do not wait any days between packs
WHAT TO DO IF YOU MISS PILLS
If you miss 1 white, light blue, or blue “active” pill:
1. Take it as soon as you remember. Take the next pill at your regular time. This means you may take 2 pills in 1 day.
2. You do not need to use a back-up birth control method.
If you miss 2 white or light blue “active” pills in a row in WEEK 1 OR WEEK 2 of your pack:
1. Take 2 pills on the day you remember and 2 pills the next day.
2. Then take 1 pill a day until you finish the pack.
3. You COULD BECOME PREGNANT if you have sex in the 7 days after you miss pills. You MUST use another birth control method (such as a condom or spermicide) as a back-up for those 7 days.
If you miss 2 blue “active” pills in a row in THE 3RD WEEK:
If you are a Sunday Starter:
Keep taking 1 pill every day until Sunday. On Sunday, THROW OUT the rest of the pack and start a new pack of pills that same day.
If you are a Day 1 Starter:
THROW OUT the rest of the pill pack and start a new pack that same day.
You may not have your period this month but this is expected. However, if you miss your period 2 months in a row, call your healthcare professional because you might be pregnant.
You could become pregnant if you have sex in the 7 days after you miss pills. You MUST use another birth control method (such as a condom or spermicide) as a back-up for those 7 days.
If you miss 3 OR MORE white, light blue, or blue “active” pills in a row (during the first 3 weeks):
If you are a Sunday Starter:
Keep taking 1 pill every day until Sunday. On Sunday, THROW OUT the rest of the pack and start a new pack of pills that same day.
If you are a Day 1 Starter (first day of your period):
THROW OUT the rest of the pill pack and start a new pack that same day.
You may not have your period this month but this is expected. However, if you miss your period 2 months in a row, call your healthcare professional because you might be pregnant.
You could become pregnant if you have sex in the 7 days after you miss pills. You MUST use another birth control method (such as a condom or spermicide) as a back-up for those 7 days.
Reminder Tablets:
If you forget any of the 7 dark green “reminder” pills in WEEK 4:
THROW AWAY the pills you missed and keep taking 1 pill each day until the pack is empty. You do not need a back-up method.
If you are still not sure what to do about any pills you have missed use a back-up method anytime you have sex and keep taking one “active” pill each day until you can notify your healthcare provider.
Even if spotting or light bleeding should occur, continue taking the pill according to the schedule. Should spotting or light bleeding persist, you should notify your doctor or clinic.
WARNING
Do not smoke while taking birth control pills. Cigarette smoking raises the chance of very serious heart and blood-related side effects. This chance is higher with age (older than 35 years of age) and with heavy smoking (15 or more cigarettes per day). Birth control pills do not stop the spread of diseases caused by having sex.
Sometimes drugs are not safe when you take them with certain other drugs. Taking them together can cause serious side effects. This is one of those drugs. Inform your doctor and pharmacist of of all drugs (over-the-counter, homeopathic, supplements and any prescription) you take.