Sprintec (Ethinyl Estradiol / Norgestimate)

Description

Sprintec is a birth control pill used to prevent pregnancy. It contains the two hormones norgestimate and ethinyl estradiol in each active pill. It works mainly by preventing the ovaries from releasing an egg. It also thickens mucus in the cervix and makes the uterine lining thinner, making it harder for sperm to reach an egg or for pregnancy to occur.

Directions

Take one tablet by mouth at the same time each day, following the order on the blister pack. Do not skip or delay tablets. Start your next pack the day after you finish the previous pack, so you do not go more than 7 days without taking an active tablet. Your healthcare provider will tell you when to start your first pack and whether you need backup birth control, such as condoms, for the first 7 days.

If you miss one active tablet in weeks 1, 2, or 3, take it as soon as you remember, then continue taking one tablet daily. If you miss two active tablets in week 1 or 2, take two tablets as soon as possible, take two tablets the next day, then continue as usual, and use condoms or another backup method for 7 days. If you miss two active tablets in week 3, or three or more active tablets in a row at any time, follow the patient leaflet and use backup birth control. Ask a healthcare provider or pharmacist if you are unsure. Missing white inactive tablets does not affect pregnancy risks.

Ingredients

The active ingredients in Sprintec are norgestimate and ethinyl estradiol, with each blue tablet containing 0.25 mg of norgestimate and 0.035 mg of ethinyl estradiol. Inactive ingredients in the blue tablets may include anhydrous lactose, FDandC Blue No. 2 aluminum lake, lactose monohydrate, magnesium stearate, and pregelatinized corn starch. The white inactive tablets contain anhydrous lactose, hypromellose, magnesium stearate, and microcrystalline cellulose.

Cautions

• Before using this medication, you may want to consult a healthcare provider about the following:
  • Any existing health conditions
  • Any allergies
  • A list of all medications currently being taken
• Cigarette smoking while on a combination pill may increase the risk of serious cardiovascular events.
• If a clot is suspected at any point, Sprintec should be discontinued. Ideally it is also paused from 4 weeks ahead of major surgery until 2 weeks afterward.
• Anyone who has recently delivered a baby and is not breastfeeding should hold off for at least 4 weeks before beginning Sprintec.
• Estrogen-containing pills can lower milk production, which is why they are usually avoided while nursing.
• Jaundice, meaning a yellow tint to the eyes or skin, is a reason to stop the pill and get in touch with a healthcare provider.
• Because this medication can increase blood pressure, readings should be tracked and the pill discontinued if there is a significant rise.
• Glucose tolerance and lipid levels can change, so extra follow-up makes sense for anyone with prediabetes, diabetes, or elevated cholesterol.
• Breakthrough bleeding, spotting, and skipped periods are common early on and usually settle down. Bleeding that persists or a period that does not arrive should be evaluated.
• Any new or serious episodes of low mood are worth consulting a healthcare provider about.
• The pill is not intended for use in pregnancy and should be stopped if pregnancy occurs.
• Some drugs and supplements speed up how the liver clears hormones, rifampin, several antiseizure medications, and St. John’s wort among them, which can reduce the pill’s reliability and calls for an additional method.
• Sprintec offers no protection against HIV or any other sexually transmitted infection.

Contraindications

Avoid taking or using this medication if any of the following apply:

• Being older than 35 and a smoker
• Any condition carrying a high risk of clots in the arteries or veins, such as a past or present deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism, cerebrovascular disease, coronary artery disease, or a clotting disorder
• Valve or rhythm disorders of the heart that cause clots, such as atrial fibrillation or subacute bacterial endocarditis affecting a valve
• High blood pressure that is not under control
• Diabetes that has already damaged the blood vessels
• Migraine with aura, headaches that come with focal neurological symptoms, or migraine of any kind after age 35
• Liver disease or a liver tumor
• Vaginal bleeding that is unexplained
• Breast cancer now or in the past, or another cancer that responds to hormones
• Hepatitis C treatment that includes ombitasvir, paritaprevir, and ritonavir, with or without dasabuvir

Side Effects

Common side effects of Sprintec include:

• Headache or migraine
• Cramping or discomfort in the abdomen
• Yeast or other vaginal infection
• Unusual vaginal discharge
• Sore, swollen, or tender breasts
• Shifts in mood, including feeling low
• Bloating and gas
• Feeling jittery or on edge
• Skin rash
• Breakthrough bleeding or mid-cycle spotting

Certain symptoms may indicate a clot and call for emergency care, such as pain or swelling in a leg, breathlessness that comes on suddenly, chest pain, coughing up blood, a headache that turns severe, one-sided weakness or numbness, slurred speech, or a sudden loss of vision. Reach out to a healthcare provider for jaundice, urine that looks dark, intense pain in the abdomen, a lump in the breast, a headache that feels different from usual ones, or vaginal bleeding that is unusually heavy or will not stop. Swelling of the face, lips, or throat, along with hives or itching, suggests an allergic reaction and needs urgent attention.

References

Sprintec Drug Label Information. North Wales, PA: Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc.; 2024.

About Dr. Gerardo Sison (Page Author)

An honors graduate of the University of Florida, Dr. Sison started his pharmacy career in a community setting, extending his services to hospitals and clinics over time. He has also worked in medication therapy management, advising patients on proper medication use for their chronic health conditions. Read More....