ORTHO-McNeil-Janssen: maker of the Number 1 Birth Control Pill Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo



	Effective

	Once A Week

	Discreet

	Stays Put

	How it works

	From the Maker with 75 Years of Contraceptive Experience













	For Prescribers

	Full US Prescribing Info

ORTHO EVRA^® is made by ORTHO WOMEN'S HEALTH & UROLOGY™, Division of Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc, a leading manufacturer of prescription contraceptives.

ORTHO WOMEN'S HEALTH & UROLOGY has been at the forefront of developing and marketing women's healthcare products for generations. Among the company's accomplishments are the first progestin-only birth control pill, the first biphasic and triphasic birth control pills, the first low-dose triphasic birth control pill, and the first and only birth control patch.

More than 6 decades before its merger with McNeil Pharmaceutical, Ortho Pharmaceutical Corporation introduced the nation's first prescription contraceptive jelly in 1931. By 1957, Ortho scientists were investigating hormone combinations that could prevent pregnancy. The company marketed its first birth control pill in 1963, and by 1965, the Pill became the nation's leading reversible method of contraception.

The ensuing decades brought continued research, discovery and innovation. In 1996, ORTHO TRI-CYCLEN® (norgestimate/ethinyl estradiol) was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as an oral contraceptive as well as a treatment for moderate acne, in women ages 15 or older. In May 2002, Ortho-McNeil achieved yet another first—the FDA approved ORTHO EVRA as the first and only weekly birth control patch.

Today, ORTHO WOMEN'S HEALTH & UROLOGY is a market leader in oral and patch contraceptive products as well as diaphragms. Beyond contraception, other women's health products include prescription products for yeast infections, overactive bladder and interstitial cystitis (an inflammatory condition of the bladder).

Important Safety Information
Serious as well as minor side effects have been reported with the use of the Patch. Serious risks, which can be life threatening, include blood clots, stroke and heart attacks and are increased if you smoke cigarettes. Cigarette smoking increases the risk of serious cardiovascular side effects, especially if you are over 35. Women who use the Patch are strongly advised not to smoke. Some women should not use the Patch, including women who have blood clots, certain cancers, a history of heart attack, blood clots, or stroke, as well as those who are or may be pregnant.

Hormones from ORTHO EVRA^® get into the blood stream and are processed by the body differently than hormones from birth control pills. You will be exposed to about 60% more estrogen if you use ORTHO EVRA^® than if you use a typical birth control pill containing 35 micrograms of estrogen. In general, increased estrogen may increase the risk of side effects. The risk of venous thromboembolic events (blood clots in the legs and/or the lungs) may be increased with ORTHO EVRA^® use compared with use of birth control pills. Studies examined the risk of these serious blood clots in women who used either ORTHO EVRA^® or birth control pills containing one of two progestins (levonorgestrel or norgestimate) and 30-35 micrograms of estrogen. Results of these studies ranged from an approximate doubling of risk of serious blood clots to no increase in risk in women using ORTHO EVRA^® compared to women using birth control pills.

You should discuss with your healthcare professional whether ORTHO EVRA^® is a good method of contraception for you. The Patch does not protect against HIV or sexually transmitted diseases.

Please see the Full Product Information.

© Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2008 . All rights reserved. Your use of the information on this site is subject to the terms of our Legal Notice. Please see our Privacy Policy. This site is published by Ortho Women's Health & Urology™, Division of Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, which is solely responsible for its contents.

Capitalized product names are registered trademarks of Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

This information is intended for use by our customers, patients and healthcare professionals in the United States only. Ortho Women's Health & Urology™, Division of Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals recognizes that the Internet is a global communications medium; however, laws, regulatory requirements and medical practices for pharmaceutical products vary from country to country. The prescribing information included here may not be appropriate for use outside the United States.

Last Modified Jun 18 2008 at 14:23:38 EDT

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