Orthro Tri Sprintec

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-05-2006
Orthro Tri Sprintec
4
Sat, 12-16-2006 - 1:04pm

Hello, I'm back! Now that I've picked up my new prescription today. My doctor switched me from Portia now to Ortho Tri-Sprintec, before I was on Portia I was on Lessina.

I'm confused about the Tri-Sprintec. What does the tri mean? I notice there's 4 different colors in my 4 week pill pack now instead of just two different colors (red and white) like my other two brands had. Now the colors are purpleish/brownish, light blue, dark blue, then the last week of white placebos/nonactive/iron. Why are they different colors now and what does it all mean?

Also, my dr. wasn't having me take the placebos at all on my other pills and now he wants me to take the placebos so that I will have a period each month again. I'm just finishing taking my last pack of Portia, but I'm going to skip the placebos on Portia because I've never taken them while I've been on them and I also don't want to have my period during Christmas, so I'm going to start having a period again and taking the placebos on Tri-Sprintec. So instead of taking the placebos then switching, I'm going to finish my last active pill of Portia tonight and then start Tri-Sprintec tomorrow.

What's the difference between the Portia and the Othro Tri-Sprintec? The Tri and the 4 different colors compared to the two kind of confuse me!

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Sat, 12-16-2006 - 3:34pm

Hi stephanien719, welcome!


      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-05-2006
Sat, 12-16-2006 - 3:45pm

Why would they put a different level of hormone for each week? Then the week of the placebos there aren't any hormones so wouldn't that cause your hormones to completely drop then you wouldn't be as protected?

If I don't end up liking these do you think my doctor would put me back on Portia or after Portia is the triphasic pills the only way to go?

I'll try it until Feburary which is when my next dr. checkup is to see how I'm doing. He said if it gets worse with the spotting and such then to call him but he said if I find that these work the best for me then to call him also either way.

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Sat, 12-16-2006 - 5:36pm

Hi again hon,


      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-05-2006
Sun, 12-17-2006 - 12:54am
Alright, thank you! I will write back if/when I notice a change at all. I start taking Tri-Sprintec tomorrow night. :)