The prescription oral contraceptive or birth control pill Ortho Tri-cyclen contains a combination of norgestimate and ethinyl estradiol hormones. Despite its effectiveness at preventing pregnancy, Ortho Tri-cyclen poses a risk for side effects in some women.

Types of Side Effects

Side effects of Ortho Tri-cyclen include nausea, bloating, breast tenderness, mood changes, headaches, changes in vaginal secretions, menstrual spotting or irregular menstruation and changes in weight.

Time Frame

The common side effects of Ortho Tri-cyclen often begin when you first begin using the drug and diminish over the first few months of treatment as your body becomes acclimated to the effects of the drug, explains the Mayo Clinic. Taking your dose of the drug at the same time each day may reduce the severity of side effects.

Drug Interactions

Some drugs increase concentrations of Ortho Tri-Cyclen in your body, increasing your risk for side effects, explains the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Such drugs include protease inhibitors prescribed for HIV, St. John's wort herbal supplements and the cholesterol drug atorvastatin.

Risks

Taking oral contraceptives like Ortho Tri-cyclen poses a risk for cardiovascular effects like blood clots, stroke and heart attack, particularly in women over the age of 35 and those who smoke, warns the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Other risks associated with the drug include benign liver tumors, estrogen-dependent tumors like breast cancer, gall bladder disease and ectopic pregnancies.

Considerations

Ortho Tri-cyclen is not safe for use while breast feeding. If you have a history of blood clots, heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, migraines, breast or uterine cancer, uterine bleeding, jaundice or liver disease, it may not be safe for you to take Ortho Tri-cyclen, reports the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Source:

U.S. National Library of Medicine Daily Med: ORTHO TRI-CYCLEN LO (norgestimate and ethinyl estradiol) kit

Mayo Clinic: Combination Birth Control Pills