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Tri-Sprintec

norgestimate and ethinyl estradiol · Kit

Prescription ANDA TE AB Official labelling
Informational index, not medical advice. Content is reproduced from public FDA and NLM data. Always confirm against the manufacturer's current prescribing information.

Overview

Brand name
Tri-Sprintec
Generic name
norgestimate and ethinyl estradiol
Dosage form
Kit
Route
—
Marketing category
ANDA · ANDA
Labeler
Preferred Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Product type
Human Prescription Drug
DEA schedule
Not scheduled
Active ingredients
0
NDC product codes
3
Packages
3
Data completeness
76% of corroborating sources present

Forms, strengths and routes

Source: NDC Directory
Dosage form
Kit
Route of administration
—
Presentations
6

Regulatory status

Source: Drugs@FDANDC Directory
Application number
075808
Application type
ANDA · Abbreviated New Drug Application
Approval date
December 29, 2003
Sponsor
BARR
Products on application
1
Submissions recorded
8
Products approved under application 075808.
Product Trade name Form Strength Ingredient Status TE Flags
075808-001 TRI-SPRINTEC TABLET ETHINYL ESTRADIOL; NORGESTIMATE Prescription AB

Therapeutic equivalence

Source: Orange Book
TE code
AB
Reference Listed Drug
No
Reference Standard
No

What this rating means: Therapeutically equivalent — bioequivalence demonstrated by in vivo or in vitro testing

Codes beginning with “A” indicate products the FDA considers therapeutically equivalent. Codes beginning with “B” indicate bioequivalence has not been established. See methodology.

Approval history

Source: Drugs@FDA
Most recent submissions on application 075808.
Type No. Action Status Date Review
Supplement 45 Labeling Approved November 27, 2023 Standard
Supplement 43 Labeling Approved November 27, 2023 Standard
Supplement 40 Labeling Approved April 29, 2022 Standard
Supplement 34 Labeling Approved January 27, 2022 Standard
Supplement 31 Labeling Approved April 13, 2016 Standard
Supplement 30 Labeling Approved April 13, 2016 Standard
Supplement 29 Labeling Approved February 21, 2013 Standard
Original application 1 Approved December 29, 2003 —

Review documents

  • 0 · Original application · July 6, 2007

Prescribing information

Source: openFDA Drug Labeling

Reproduced verbatim from the Structured Product Labeling submitted to the FDA (effective 20251001). This is the manufacturer's labelling text, not a summary and not advice.

HUMAN PRESCRIPTION DRUG · 20251001 HUMAN PRESCRIPTION DRUG · 20250312 HUMAN PRESCRIPTION DRUG · 20200101

Boxed Warning

openFDA Drug Labeling

WARNINGS: CARDIOVASCULAR RISK ASSOCIATED WITH SMOKING Cigarette smoking increases the risk of serious cardiovascular events from combination oral contraceptive use. This risk increases with age, particularly in women over 35 years of age, and with the number of cigarettes smoked. For this reason, combination oral contraceptives, including Tri-Sprintec ® , should not be used by women who are over 35 years of age and smoke.

Cigarette smoking increases the risk of serious cardiovascular events from combination oral contraceptive use. This risk increases with age, particularly in women over 35 years of age, and with the number of cigarettes smoked. For this reason, combination oral contraceptives, including Tri-Sprintec ® , should not be used by women who are over 35 years of age and smoke.

Do not use Tri-Sprintec ® if you smoke cigarettes and are over 35 years old. Smoking increases your risk of serious cardiovascular side effects (heart and blood vessel problems) from combination oral contraceptives, including death from heart attack, blood clots or stroke. This risk increases with age and the number of cigarettes you smoke.

Do not use Tri-Sprintec ® if you smoke cigarettes and are over 35 years old. Smoking increases your risk of serious cardiovascular side effects (heart and blood vessel problems) from combination oral contraceptives, including death from heart attack, blood clots or stroke. This risk increases with age and the number of cigarettes you smoke.

Recent Major Changes

openFDA Drug Labeling

Contraindications, Pregnancy ( 4 ) Removed 06/2023

Indications and Usage

openFDA Drug Labeling

INDICATIONS AND USAGE Tri-Sprintec ® (norgestimate and ethinyl estradiol tablets USP) is indicated for the prevention of pregnancy in women who elect to use oral contraceptives as a method of contraception. Tri-Sprintec (norgestimate and ethinyl estradiol tablets USP) is indicated for the treatment of moderate acne vulgaris in females at least 15 years of age, who have no known contraindications to oral contraceptive therapy and have achieved menarche. Tri-Sprintec (norgestimate and ethinyl estradiol tablets USP) should be used for the treatment of acne only if the patient desires an oral contraceptive for birth control. Oral contraceptives are highly effective for pregnancy prevention. Table 2 lists the typical accidental pregnancy rates for users of combination oral contraceptives and other methods of contraception. The efficacy of these contraceptive methods, except sterilization, the IUD, and the Norplant ® System, depends upon the reliability with which they are used. Correct and consistent use of methods can result in lower failure rates. Table 2: Percentage of Women Experiencing an Unintended Pregnancy During the First Year of Typical Use and the First Year of Perfect Use of Contraception and the Percentage Continuing Use at the End of the First Year. United States. % of Women Experiencing an Unintended Pregnancy within the First Year of Use % of Women Continuing Use at One Year Among couples attempting to avoid pregnancy, the percentage who continue to use a method for one year. Method Typical Use Among typical couples who initiate use of a method (not necessarily for the first time), the percentage who experience an accidental pregnancy during the first year if they do not stop use for any other reason. Perfect Use Among couples who initiate use of a method (not necessarily for the first time) and who use it perfectly (both consistently and correctly), the percentage who experience an accidental pregnancy during the first year if they do not stop use for any other reason. (1) (2) (3) (4) Chance The percents becoming pregnant in columns (2) and (3) are based on data from populations where contraception is not used and from women who cease using contraception in order to become pregnant. Among such populations, about 89% become pregnant within one year. This estimate was lowered slightly (to 85%) to represent the percent who would become pregnant within one year among women now relying on reversible methods of contraception if they abandoned contraception altogether. 85 85 Spermicides Foams, creams, gels, vaginal suppositories, and vaginal film. 26 6 40 Periodic abstinence 25 63 Calendar 9 Ovulation Method 3 Sympto-Thermal Cervical mucus (ovulation) method supplemented by calendar in the pre-ovulatory and basal body temperature in the post-ovulatory phases. 2 Post-Ovulation 1 Cap With spermicidal cream or jelly. Parous Women 40 26 42 Nulliparous Women 20 9 56 Sponge Parous Women 40 20 42 Nulliparous Women 20 9 56 Diaphragm 20 6 56 Withdrawal 19 4 Condom Without spermicides. Female (Reality ® ) 21 5 56 Male 14 3 61 Pill 5 71 Progestin Only 0.5 Combined 0.1 IUD Progesterone T 2 1.5 81 Copper T380A 0.8 0.6 78 LNg 20 0.1 0.1 81 Depo-Provera ® 0.3 0.3 70 Norplant ® and Norplant-2 ® 0.05 0.05 88 Female Sterilization 0.5 0.5 100 Male Sterilization 0.15 0.10 100 Hatcher et al., 1998 Ref. #1. Emergency Contraceptive Pills: Treatment initiated within 72 hours after unprotected intercourse reduces the risk of pregnancy by at least 75%. The treatment schedule is one dose within 72 hours after unprotected intercourse, and a second dose 12 hours after the first dose. The Food and Drug Administration has declared the following brands of oral contraceptives to be safe and effective for emergency contraception: Ovral ® (1 dose is 2 white pills), Alesse ® (1 dose is 5 pink pills), Nordette ® or Levlen ® (1 dose is 2 light-orange pills), Lo/Ovral ® (1 dose is 4 white pills), Triphasil ® or Tri-Levlen ® (1 dose is 4 yellow pills). Lactatio …

Dosage and Administration

openFDA Drug Labeling

2 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION • Take one tablet daily by mouth at the same time every day. ( 2.1 ) • Take tablets in the order directed on the blister pack. ( 2.1 ) • Do not skip or delay tablet intake. ( 2.1 ) 2.1 Recommended Dosage and Administration Take one tablet by mouth at the same time each day with or without food. Table 1 provides the recommended dosage and administration instructions for Tri-Sprintec ® (norgestimate and ethinyl estradiol tablets). Table 1: Instructions for Administration of Tri-Sprintec® Starting COCs in women not currently using hormonal contraception (Day 1 Start or Sunday Start) Important: Consider the possibility of ovulation and conception prior to initiation of this product. Tablet Color: • Tri-Sprintec ® active tablets are gray (Day 1 to Day 7), light blue (Day 8 to Day 14) and blue (Day 15 to Day 21). • Tri-Sprintec ® has white inactive tablets (Day 22 to Day 28). Day 1 Start: • Take first active tablet without regard to meals on the first day of menses. • Take subsequent active tablets once daily at the same time each day for a total of 21 days. • Take one white inactive tablet daily for 7 days and at the same time of day that active tablets were taken. • Begin each subsequent pack on the same day of the week as the first cycle pack (i.e., on the day after taking the last inactive tablet) Sunday Start: • Take first active tablet without regard to meals on the first Sunday after the onset of menses. Due to the potential risk of becoming pregnant, use additional non-hormonal contraception (such as condoms and spermicide) for the first seven days of the patient’s first cycle pack of Tri-Sprintec ® . • Take subsequent active tablets once daily at the same time each day for a total of 21 days. • Take one white inactive tablet daily for the following 7 days and at the same time of day that active tablets were taken. • Begin each subsequent pack on the same day of the week as the first cycle pack (i.e., on the Sunday after taking the last inactive tablet) and additional non-hormonal contraceptive is not needed. Switching to Tri-Sprintec ® from another oral contraceptive Start on the same day that a new pack of the previous oral contraceptive would have started. Switching from another contraceptive method to Tri-Sprintec ® Start Tri-Sprintec ® : • Transdermal patch • On the day when next application would have been scheduled • Vaginal ring • On the day when next insertion would have been scheduled • Injection • On the day when next injection would have been scheduled • Intrauterine contraceptive • On the day of removal • If the IUD is not removed on first day of the patient’s menstrual cycle, additional non-hormonal contraceptive (such as condoms and spermicide) is needed for the first seven days of the first cycle pack. • Implant • On the day of removal Complete instructions to facilitate patient counseling on proper tablet usage are located in the FDA-Approved Patient Labeling. Starting Tri-Sprintec ® after Abortion or Miscarriage First-trimester • After a first-trimester abortion or miscarriage, Tri-Sprintec ® may be started immediately. An additional method of contraception is not needed if Tri-Sprintec ® is started immediately. • If Tri-Sprintec ® is not started within 5 days after termination of the pregnancy, the patient should use additional non-hormonal contraception (such as condoms and spermicide) for the first seven days of her first cycle pack of Tri-Sprintec ® . Second-trimester • Do not start until 4 weeks after a second-trimester abortion or miscarriage, due to the increased risk of thromboembolic disease. Start Tri-Sprintec ® , following the instructions in Table 1 for Day 1 or Sunday start, as desired. If using Sunday start, use additional non-hormonal contraception (such as condoms and spermicide) for the first seven days of the patient’s first cycle pack of Tri-Sprintec ® [see Contraindications ( 4 ) and Warnings and Precautions ( )]. Starting Tri-Sprintec ® after Childbirth • Do …

Dosage Forms and Strengths

openFDA Drug Labeling

3 DOSAGE FORMS AND STRENGTHS Tri-Sprintec ® (norgestimate and ethinyl estradiol tablets USP) is available in blister cards. Each blister card contains 28 tablets in the following order: 7 gray, round, flat-faced, beveled-edge, unscored tablets debossed with stylized b on one side and 985 on the other side contains 0.18 mg norgestimate, USP and 0.035 mg ethinyl estradiol, USP 7 light blue, round, flat-faced, beveled-edge, unscored tablets debossed with stylized b on one side and 986 on the other side contains 0.215 mg norgestimate, USP and 0.035 mg ethinyl estradiol, USP 7 blue, round, flat-faced, beveled-edge, unscored tablets debossed with stylized b on one side and 987 on the other side contains 0.25 mg norgestimate, USP and 0.035 mg ethinyl estradiol, USP 7 white, round, flat-faced, beveled-edge, unscored tablets debossed with stylized b on one side and 143 on the other side contains inert ingredients Tri-Sprintec ® (norgestimate and ethinyl estradiol tablets USP) consists of 28 round, flat-faced, beveled-edge, unscored tablets in the following order (): • 7 gray tablets each containing 0.18 mg norgestimate and 0.035 mg ethinyl estradiol • 7 light blue tablets each containing 0.215 mg norgestimate and 0.035 mg ethinyl estradiol • 7 blue tablets each containing 0.25 mg norgestimate and 0.035 mg ethinyl estradiol • 7 white tablets (inert)

Contraindications

openFDA Drug Labeling

4 CONTRAINDICATIONS Tri-Sprintec ® is contraindicated in females who are known to have or develop the following conditions: A high risk of arterial or venous thrombotic diseases. Examples include women who are known to: Smoke, if over age 35 [see Boxed Warning and Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 )] Have deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism, now or in the past [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 )] Have inherited or acquired hypercoagulopathies [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 )] Have cerebrovascular disease [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 )] Have coronary artery disease [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 )] Have thrombogenic valvular or thrombogenic rhythm diseases of the heart (for example, subacute bacterial endocarditis with valvular disease, or atrial fibrillation) [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 )] Have uncontrolled hypertension [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.4 )] Have diabetes mellitus with vascular disease [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.6 )] Have headaches with focal neurological symptoms or migraine headaches with aura [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.7 )] Women over age 35 with any migraine headaches [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.7 )] Liver tumors, benign or malignant, or liver disease [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.2 )] Undiagnosed abnormal uterine bleeding [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.8 )] Current diagnosis of, or history of, breast cancer, which may be hormone-sensitive [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.10 )] Use of Hepatitis C drug combinations containing ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir, with or without dasabuvir, due to the potential for ALT elevations [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.3 )] A high risk of arterial or venous thrombotic diseases ( 4 ) Liver tumors or liver disease ( 4 ) Undiagnosed abnormal uterine bleeding ( 4 ) Breast cancer ( 4 ) Co-administration with Hepatitis C drug combinations containing ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir, with or without dasabuvir ( 4 )

Warnings and Cautions

openFDA Drug Labeling

5 WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS Thromboembolic Disorders and Other Vascular Problems: Stop Tri-Sprintec ® if a thrombotic event occurs. Stop at least 4 weeks before and through 2 weeks after major surgery. Start no earlier than 4 weeks after delivery, in women who are not breastfeeding. ( 5.1 ) Liver disease: Discontinue Tri-Sprintec ® if jaundice occurs. ( 5.2 ) High blood pressure: If used in women with well-controlled hypertension, monitor blood pressure and stop Tri-Sprintec ® if blood pressure rises significantly. ( 5.4 ) Carbohydrate and lipid metabolic effects: Monitor prediabetic and diabetic women taking Tri-Sprintec ® . Consider an alternate contraceptive method for women with uncontrolled dyslipidemia. ( 5.6 ) Headache: Evaluate significant change in headaches and discontinue Tri-Sprintec ® if indicated. ( 5.7 ) Bleeding Irregularities and Amenorrhea: Evaluate irregular bleeding or amenorrhea. ( 5.8 ) 5.1 Thromboembolic Disorders and Other Vascular Problems Stop Tri-Sprintec ® if an arterial thrombotic event or venous thromboembolic (VTE) event occurs. Stop Tri-Sprintec ® if there is unexplained loss of vision, proptosis, diplopia, papilledema, or retinal vascular lesions. Evaluate for retinal vein thrombosis immediately [see Adverse Reactions ( 6.2 )] . If feasible, stop Tri-Sprintec ® at least 4 weeks before and through 2 weeks after major surgery or other surgeries known to have an elevated risk of VTE as well as during and following prolonged immobilization. Start Tri-Sprintec ® no earlier than 4 weeks after delivery, in women who are not breastfeeding. The risk of postpartum VTE decreases after the third postpartum week, whereas the risk of ovulation increases after the third postpartum week. The use of COCs increases the risk of VTE. However, pregnancy increases the risk of VTE as much or more than the use of COCs. The risk of VTE in women using COCs is 3 to 9 cases per 10,000 woman-years. The risk of VTE is highest during the first year of use of COCs and when restarting hormonal contraception after a break of 4 weeks or longer. The risk of thromboembolic disease due to COCs gradually disappears after use is discontinued. Use of COCs also increases the risk of arterial thromboses such as strokes and myocardial infarctions, especially in women with other risk factors for these events. COCs have been shown to increase both the relative and attributable risks of cerebrovascular events (thrombotic and hemorrhagic strokes). This risk increases with age, particularly in women over 35 years of age who smoke. Use COCs with caution in women with cardiovascular disease risk factors. 5.2 Liver Disease Impaired Liver Function Tri-Sprintec ® is contraindicated in women with liver disease, such as acute viral hepatitis or severe (decompensated) cirrhosis of liver [see Contraindications ( 4 )] . Acute or chronic disturbances of liver function may necessitate the discontinuation of COC use until markers of liver function return to normal and COC causation has been excluded. Discontinue Tri-Sprintec ® if jaundice develops. Liver Tumors Tri-Sprintec ® is contraindicated in women with benign and malignant liver tumors [see Contraindications ( 4 )] . Hepatic adenomas are associated with COC use. An estimate of the attributable risk is 3.3 cases/100,000 COC users. Rupture of hepatic adenomas may cause death through intra-abdominal hemorrhage. Studies have shown an increased risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma in long-term (>8 years) COC users. However, the risk of liver cancers in COC users is less than one case per million users. 5.3 Risk of Liver Enzyme Elevations with Concomitant Hepatitis C Treatment During clinical trials with the Hepatitis C combination drug regimen that contains ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir, with or without dasabuvir, ALT elevations greater than 5 times the upper limit of normal (ULN), including some cases greater than 20 times the ULN, were significantly more frequent in women using ethinyl estrad …

WARNINGS Cigarette smoking increases the risk of serious cardiovascular events from combination oral contraceptive use. This risk increases with age, particularly in women over 35 years of age, and with the number of cigarettes smoked. For this reason, combination oral contraceptives, including Tri-Sprintec ® , should not be used by women who are over 35 years of age and smoke. The use of oral contraceptives is associated with increased risks of several serious conditions including myocardial infarction, thromboembolism, stroke, hepatic neoplasia, and gallbladder disease, although the risk of serious morbidity or mortality is very small in healthy women without underlying risk factors. The risk of morbidity and mortality increases significantly in the presence of other underlying risk factors such as hypertension, hyperlipidemias, obesity and diabetes. Practitioners prescribing oral contraceptives should be familiar with the following information relating to these risks. The information contained in this package insert is principally based on studies carried out in patients who used oral contraceptives with higher formulations of estrogens and progestogens than those in common use today. The effect of long-term use of the oral contraceptives with lower formulations of both estrogens and progestogens remains to be determined. Throughout this labeling, epidemiological studies reported are of two types: retrospective or case control studies and prospective or cohort studies. Case control studies provide a measure of the relative risk of a disease, namely, a ratio of the incidence of a disease among oral contraceptive users to that among nonusers. The relative risk does not provide information on the actual clinical occurrence of a disease. Cohort studies provide a measure of attributable risk, which is the difference in the incidence of disease between oral contraceptive users and nonusers. The attributable risk does provide information about the actual occurrence of a disease in the population (adapted from refs. 2 and 3 with the author's permission). For further information, the reader is referred to a text on epidemiological methods. 1. Thromboembolic Disorders and Other Vascular Problems a. Myocardial Infarction An increased risk of myocardial infarction has been attributed to oral contraceptive use. This risk is primarily in smokers or women with other underlying risk factors for coronary artery disease such as hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, morbid obesity, and diabetes. The relative risk of heart attack for current oral contraceptive users has been estimated to be two to six. 4-10 The risk is very low under the age of 30. Smoking in combination with oral contraceptive use has been shown to contribute substantially to the incidence of myocardial infarctions in women in their mid-thirties or older with smoking accounting for the majority of excess cases. 11 Mortality rates associated with circulatory disease have been shown to increase substantially in smokers, especially in those 35 years of age and older, and in nonsmokers over the age of 40 among women who use oral contraceptives. (See Figure 1 .) Figure 1: Circulatory Disease Mortality Rates per 100,000 Women-Years by Age, Smoking Status and Oral Contraceptive Use Oral contraceptives may compound the effects of well-known risk factors, such as hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemias, age and obesity. 13 In particular, some progestogens are known to decrease HDL cholesterol and cause glucose intolerance, while estrogens may create a state of hyperinsulinism. 14-18 Oral contraceptives have been shown to increase blood pressure among users (see Section 9 in WARNINGS ). Similar effects on risk factors have been associated with an increased risk of heart disease. Oral contraceptives must be used with caution in women with cardiovascular disease risk factors. Norgestimate has minimal androgenic activity (see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY ), and there is some evidence that the risk …

Adverse Reactions

openFDA Drug Labeling

6 ADVERSE REACTIONS The following serious adverse reactions with the use of COCs are discussed elsewhere in labeling: Serious cardiovascular events and stroke [see Boxed Warning and Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 )] Vascular events [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 )] Liver disease [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.2 )] The most common adverse reactions reported during clinical trials (≥2%) were: headache/migraine, breast issues (including breast pain, enlargement, and discharge), vaginal infection, abdominal/gastrointestinal pain, mood disorders (including mood alteration and depression), genital discharge, changes in weight (including weight increased or decreased). ( 6.1 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Teva at 1-888-838-2872 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch . 6.1 Clinical Trial Experience Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in clinical practice. The safety of norgestimate and ethinyl estradiol was evaluated in 4,826 healthy women of child-bearing potential who participated in 6 clinical trials and received at least 1 dose of norgestimate and ethinyl estradiol for contraception. Two trials were randomized active-controlled trials and 4 were uncontrolled open-label trials. In 3 trials, subjects were followed for up to 24 cycles; in 2 trials, subjects were followed for up to 12 cycles; and in 1 trial, subjects were followed for up to 6 cycles. Common Adverse Reactions (≥ 2% of subjects) : The most common adverse reactions reported by at least 2% of the 4,826 women were the following in order of decreasing incidence: headache/migraine (33.6%), breast issues (including breast pain, enlargement, and discharge) (8.0%), vaginal infection (7.1%), abdominal/gastrointestinal pain (5.6%), mood disorders (including mood alteration and depression) (3.8%), genital discharge (3.2%), and changes in weight (including weight fluctuation, increased or decreased) (2.5%). Adverse Reactions Leading to Study Discontinuation: Over the trials, between 9 to 27% of subjects discontinued the trial due to an adverse reaction. The most common adverse reactions (≥1%) leading to discontinuation were: metrorrhagia (4.3%), nausea/vomiting (2.8%), headache/migraine (2.4%), mood disorders (including depression and mood altered) (1.1%), and weight increased (1.1%). Serious Adverse Reactions: breast cancer (1 subject), carcinoma of the cervix in situ (1 subject), hypertension (1 subject), and migraine (2 subjects). 6.2 Postmarketing Experience Five studies that compared breast cancer risk between ever-users (current or past use) of COCs and never-users of COCs reported no association between ever use of COCs and breast cancer risk, with effect estimates ranging from 0.90 - 1.12 (Figure 1). Three studies compared breast cancer risk between current or recent COC users (<6 months since last use) and never users of COCs (Figure 1). One of these studies reported no association between breast cancer risk and COC use. The other two studies found an increased relative risk of 1.19 - 1.33 with current or recent use. Both of these studies found an increased risk of breast cancer with current use of longer duration, with relative risks ranging from 1.03 with less than one year of COC use to approximately 1.4 with more than 8-10 years of COC use. Figure 1: Relevant Studies of Risk of Breast Cancer with Combined Oral Contraceptives RR = relative risk; OR = odds ratio; HR = hazard ratio. “ever COC” are females with current or past COC use; “never COC use” are females that never used COCs. The following additional adverse reactions have been reported from worldwide postmarketing experience with norgestimate/ethinyl estradiol. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always poss …

Drug Interactions

openFDA Drug Labeling

8. Drug Interactions Consult the labeling of concurrently-used drugs to obtain further information about interactions with hormonal contraceptives or the potential for enzyme alterations. Effects of Other Drugs on Combined Hormonal Contraceptives Substances Decreasing the Plasma Concentrations of COCs and Potentially Diminishing the Efficacy of COCs Drugs or herbal products that induce certain enzymes, including cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4), may decrease the plasma concentrations of COCs and potentially diminish the effectiveness of CHCs or increase breakthrough bleeding. Some drugs or herbal products that may decrease the effectiveness of hormonal contraceptives include phenytoin, barbiturates, carbamazepine, bosentan, felbamate, griseofulvin, oxcarbazepine, rifampicin, topiramate, rifabutin, rufinamide, aprepitant, and products containing St. John’s wort. Interactions between hormonal contraceptives and other drugs may lead to breakthrough bleeding and/or contraceptive failure. Counsel women to use an alternative method of contraception or a back-up method when enzyme inducers are used with CHCs, and to continue back-up contraception for 28 days after discontinuing the enzyme inducer to ensure contraceptive reliability. Substances Increasing the Plasma Concentrations of COCs Coadministration of atorvastatin or rosuvastatin and certain COCs containing EE increase AUC values for EE by approximately 20 to 25%. Ascorbic acid and acetaminophen may increase plasma EE concentrations, possibly by inhibition of conjugation. CYP3A4 inhibitors such as itraconazole, voriconazole, fluconazole, grapefruit juice, or ketoconazole may increase plasma hormone concentrations. Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)/Hepatitis C virus (HCV) Protease Inhibitors and Non-Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors Significant changes (increase or decrease) in the plasma concentrations of estrogen and/or progestin have been noted in some cases of coadministration with HIV protease inhibitors (decrease [e.g., nelfinavir, ritonavir, darunavir/ritonavir, (fos)amprenavir/ritonavir, lopinavir/ritonavir, and tipranavir/ritonavir] or increase [e.g., indinavir and atazanavir/ritonavir]) /HCV protease inhibitors (decrease [e.g., boceprevir and telaprevir]) or with nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (decrease [e.g., nevirapine] or increase [e.g., etravirine]). Colesevelam Colesevelam, a bile acid sequestrant, given together with a combination oral hormonal contraceptive, has been shown to significantly decrease the AUC of EE. A drug interaction between the contraceptive and colesevelam was decreased when the two drug products were given 4 hours apart. Effects of Combined Hormonal Contraceptives on Other Drugs COCs containing EE may inhibit the metabolism of other compounds (e.g., cyclosporine, prednisolone, theophylline, tizanidine, and voriconazole) and increase their plasma concentrations. COCs have been shown to decrease plasma concentrations of acetaminophen, clofibric acid, morphine, salicylic acid, temazepam and lamotrigine. Significant decrease in plasma concentration of lamotrigine has been shown, likely due to induction of lamotrigine glucuronidation. This may reduce seizure control; therefore, dosage adjustments of lamotrigine may be necessary. Women on thyroid hormone replacement therapy may need increased doses of thyroid hormone because serum concentrations of thyroid-binding globulin increases with use of COCs. 9. Interactions with Laboratory Tests Certain endocrine and liver function tests and blood components may be affected by oral contraceptives: a. Increased prothrombin and factors VII, VIII, IX, and X; decreased antithrombin 3; increased norepinephrine-induced platelet aggregability. b. Increased thyroid binding globulin (TBG) leading to increased circulating total thyroid hormone, as measured by protein-bound iodine (PBI), T4 by column or by radioimmunoassay. Free T3 resin uptake is decreased, reflecting the elevated TBG, free T4 c …

Use in Specific Populations

openFDA Drug Labeling

8 USE IN SPECIFIC POPULATIONS Lactating women: Not recommended; can decrease milk production. ( 8.2 ) 8.1 Pregnancy Risk Summary There is no use for contraception in pregnancy, therefore, norgestimate and ethinyl estradiol tablets should be discontinued during pregnancy. Epidemiologic studies and meta-analyses have not found an increased risk of genital or non-genital birth defects (including cardiac anomalies and limb reduction defects) following exposure to CHCs before conception or during early pregnancy. In the U.S. general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2 to 4 percent and 15 to 20 percent, respectively. 8.2 Lactation Risk Summary Contraceptive hormones and/or metabolites are present in human milk. CHCs can reduce milk production in breastfeeding females. This reduction can occur at any time but is less likely to occur once breastfeeding is well-established. When possible, advise the nursing female to use other forms of contraception until she discontinues breast-feeding. The developmental and health benefits of breast-feeding should be considered along with the mother’s clinical need for norgestimate and ethinyl estradiol tablets and any potential adverse effects on the breast-fed child from norgestimate and ethinyl estradiol tablets or from the underlying maternal condition. 8.4 Pediatric Use Safety and efficacy of norgestimate and ethinyl estradiol tablets has been established in women of reproductive age. Efficacy is expected to be the same for post‐pubertal adolescents under the age of 18 and for users 18 years and older. Use of this product before menarche is not indicated. There was no significant difference between norgestimate and ethinyl estradiol tablets and placebo in mean change in total lumbar spine (L1-L4) and total hip bone mineral density between baseline and Cycle 13 in 123 adolescent females with anorexia nervosa in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter, one-year treatment duration clinical trial for the Intent To Treat (ITT) population. 8.5 Geriatric Use Norgestimate and ethinyl estradiol tablets has not been studied in postmenopausal women and is not indicated in this population. 8.6 Hepatic Impairment The pharmacokinetics of norgestimate and ethinyl estradiol tablets has not been studied in subjects with hepatic impairment. However, steroid hormones may be poorly metabolized in patients with hepatic impairment. Acute or chronic disturbances of liver function may necessitate the discontinuation of COC use until markers of liver function return to normal and COC causation has been excluded [see Contraindications ( 4 ) and Warnings and Precautions ( 5.2 )] . 8.7 Renal Impairment The pharmacokinetics of norgestimate and ethinyl estradiol tablets has not been studied in women with renal impairment.

Mechanism of Action

openFDA Drug Labeling

12.1 Mechanism of Action • Oral Contraception COCs lower the risk of becoming pregnant primarily by suppressing ovulation. • Acne Acne is a skin condition with a multifactorial etiology, including androgen stimulation of sebum production. While the combination of ethinyl estradiol and norgestimate increases sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) and decreases free testosterone, the relationship between these changes and a decrease in the severity of facial acne in otherwise healthy women with this skin condition has not been established.

Description

openFDA Drug Labeling

DESCRIPTION Tri-Sprintec ® (norgestimate and ethinyl estradiol tablets USP) is a combination oral contraceptive containing the progestational compound norgestimate, USP and the estrogenic compound ethinyl estradiol, USP. Each gray tablet contains 0.18 mg of the progestational compound, norgestimate, USP (18,19-Dinor-17-pregn-4-en-20-yn-3-one, 17-(acetyloxy)-13-ethyl-, oxime, (17α)-(+)-) and 0.035 mg of the estrogenic compound, ethinyl estradiol, USP (19-Nor-17α-pregna,1,3,5(10)-trien-20-yne-3, 17-diol), and the inactive ingredients include anhydrous lactose, lactose monohydrate, lake blend black LB 636 (ingredients include aluminum sulfate solution, aluminum-chloride solution, FD&C blue no. 2, FD&C red no. 40, FD&C yellow no. 6, sodium bicarbonate and sodium carbonate), magnesium stearate, and pregelatinized corn starch. Each light blue tablet contains 0.215 mg of the progestational compound norgestimate, USP (18,19-Dinor-17-pregn-4-en-20-yn-3-one,17-(acetyloxy)-13-ethyl-, oxime, (17α)-(+)-) and 0.035 mg of the estrogenic compound, ethinyl estradiol, USP (19-Nor-17α-pregna,1,3,5(10)-trien-20-yne-3, 17-diol), and the inactive ingredients include anhydrous lactose, FD&C blue no. 2 aluminum lake (ingredients include aluminum sulfate solution, aluminum-chloride solution, FD&C blue no. 2, sodium bicarbonate and sodium carbonate), lactose monohydrate, magnesium stearate, and pregelatinized corn starch. Each blue tablet contains 0.25 mg of the progestational compound norgestimate, USP (18,19-Dinor-17-pregn-4-en-20-yn-3-one, 17-(acetyloxy)-13-ethyl-, oxime, (17α)-(+)-) and 0.035 mg of the estrogenic compound, ethinyl estradiol, USP (19-Nor-17α-pregna,1,3,5(10)-trien-20-yne-3, 17-diol), and the inactive ingredients include anhydrous lactose, FD&C blue no. 2 aluminum lake (ingredients include aluminum sulfate solution, aluminum-chloride solution, FD&C blue no. 2, sodium bicarbonate and sodium carbonate), lactose monohydrate, magnesium stearate, and pregelatinized corn starch. Each white tablet contains only inert ingredients as follows: anhydrous lactose, hypromellose, magnesium stearate, and microcrystalline cellulose. The structural formulas are as follows: Norgestimate C23H31NO3 M.W. 369.50 C23H31NO3 M.W. 369.50 Ethinyl Estradiol C20H24O2 M.W. 296.40 C20H24O2 M.W. 296.40 Norgestimate Structure Ethinyl Estradiol Structure

OVERDOSAGE Serious ill effects have not been reported following acute ingestion of large doses of oral contraceptives by young children. Overdosage may cause nausea and withdrawal bleeding may occur in females.

How Supplied / Storage and Handling

openFDA Drug Labeling

HOW SUPPLIED Tri-Sprintec ® (norgestimate and ethinyl estradiol tablets USP) 0.18 mg/0.035 mg are gray, round, flat-faced, beveled-edge, unscored tablets debossed with stylized b on one side and 985 on the other side; 0.215 mg/0.035 mg are light blue, round, flat-faced, beveled-edge, unscored tablets debossed with stylized b on one side and 986 on the other side; 0.25 mg/0.035 mg are blue, round, flat-faced, beveled-edge, unscored tablets debossed with stylized b on one side and 987 on the other side; placebo tablets are white, round, flat-faced, beveled-edge, unscored tablets, debossed with stylized b on one side and 143 on the other side. Tri-Sprintec ® (norgestimate and ethinyl estradiol tablets USP) are packaged in cartons of six blister cards. Each card contains 28 tablets as follows: Each gray tablet contains 0.18 mg of the progestational compound, norgestimate, USP, together with 0.035 mg of the estrogenic compound, ethinyl estradiol, USP. Each light blue tablet contains 0.215 mg of the progestational compound, norgestimate, USP, together with 0.035 mg of the estrogenic compound, ethinyl estradiol, USP. Each blue tablet contains 0.25 mg of the progestational compound, norgestimate, USP, together with 0.035 mg of the estrogenic compound, ethinyl estradiol, USP, and the 7 white placebo tablets contain inert ingredients. Store at 20° to 25°C (68° to 77°F) [See USP Controlled Room Temperature]. PROTECT FROM LIGHT. KEEP THIS AND ALL MEDICATIONS OUT OF THE REACH OF CHILDREN.

Packaging and NDCs

Source: NDC Directory
Every National Drug Code package associated with this medication. The NDC is the identifier used for dispensing, billing and pharmacovigilance in the United States.
Package NDC Product NDC Labeler Description Marketing start
68788-6325-2 68788-6325 Preferred Pharmaceuticals Inc. 1 BLISTER PACK in 1 POUCH (68788-6325-2) / 1 KIT in 1 BLISTER PACK October 18, 2016
63187-458-28 63187-458 Proficient Rx LP 6 POUCH in 1 CARTON (63187-458-28) / 1 BLISTER PACK in 1 POUCH / 1 KIT in 1 BLISTER PACK January 1, 2019
0555-9018-58 0555-9018 Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc. 6 POUCH in 1 CARTON (0555-9018-58) / 1 BLISTER PACK in 1 POUCH / 1 KIT in 1 BLISTER PACK December 29, 2003
68788-6325 68788-6325 Preferred Pharmaceuticals Inc. — October 18, 2016
63187-458 63187-458 Proficient Rx LP — December 29, 2003
0555-9018 0555-9018 Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc. — December 29, 2003

Sources for this page

Every dataset that contributed a fact to this page.
Dataset Agency Used for
NDC Directory FDA Identity, ingredients, strengths, forms, routes, labelers, packages
Drugs@FDA FDA Application, sponsor, submissions, review documents, marketing status
Orange Book FDA Therapeutic equivalence codes, reference drug flags, patents, exclusivity
Drug Labeling FDA / NLM Prescribing information reproduced above

Generated September 25, 2026 · 8 sections on this page.