Ortho Tri-Cyclen and Sarafem

• Generic Name: ethinyl estradiol / norgestimate
• Dosage Forms: tablets
• Other Brand Names: Estarylla, Femynor, Mono-Linyah, Mononessa, Ortho Tri-Cyclen, Previfem, Sprintec, Tri-Lo-Marzia>, TriNessa, Tri-Lo-Marzia, Ortho Tri-Cyclen, Ortho-Cyclen, Sprintec 28

Ortho Tri-Cyclen is a combination birth control pill containing the female hormones ethinyl estradiol and norgestimate. These hormones prevent ovulation (the release of an egg from an ovary).

Ortho Tri-Cyclen also causes changes in your cervical mucus and uterine lining, making it harder for sperm to reach the uterus and harder for a fertilized egg to attach to the uterus.

Ortho Tri-Cyclen is used as contraception to prevent pregnancy.

Ortho Tri-Cyclen is also used to treat moderate acne vulgaris in females who are at least 15 years old. This medicine should be used for the treatment of acne only if the patient desires an oral contraceptive for birth control.

• Generic Name: fluoxetine
• Dosage Forms: capsules
• Other Brand Names: Prozac, Prozac Weekly, Sarafem, PROzac Pulvules, Rapiflux, Selfemra

Sarafem is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) antidepressant. This medicine affects chemicals in the brain that may be unbalanced in people with depression, panic, anxiety, or obsessive-compulsive symptoms.

Sarafem is used to treat major depressive disorder, bulimia nervosa (an eating disorder) obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD).

Sarafem is sometimes used together with another medication called olanzapine (Zyprexa) to treat manic depression caused by bipolar disorder. This combination is also used to treat depression after at least 2 other medications have been tried without successful treatment of symptoms.

If you also take olanzapine (Zyprexa), read the Zyprexa medication guide and all patient warnings and instructions provided with that medication.

Sarafem may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.