This article is not medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or use the medication guide.

Sprintec information

What Kind of Birth Control is Sprintec?

Sprintec (Norgestimate and Ethinyl estradiol) is a combined oral contraceptive pill. This drug is composed of estrogen and progesterone hormones and it’s mainly used to prevent pregnancy. Sprintec 28 works by preventing your ovaries from releasing a mature egg (ovulation). Sprintec also inhibits the movement of sperm through the cervix towards the uterus by thickening the cervical mucus.

Besides birth control, some products that contain the active ingredients in this drug may also be prescribed for other purposes, including treating acne.

Sprintec is a generic drug for the brand name drug Mononessa, but it’s also available in other names, such as;

• Estarylla
• Ortho-Cyclen (discontinued)
• Mono-Linyah
• Previfem
• Norgestimate/Ethinyl Estradiol
• Mili
• Femynor

What’s the difference between Sprintec and Tri Lo Sprintec?

Sprintec and Tri Lo Sprintec birth control pills are 2 different trade names. However, they use pretty much the same composition and are used for similar purposes. In addition, they have quite similar side effects and interactions with other drugs and medical conditions.

The major difference between Sprintec and Tri Lo Sprintec is on pricing. Tri Lo Sprintec costs almost twice the price of Sprintec. However, going through Sprintec birth control reviews, these pills are often rated as the most effective.

Proper use of Sprintec

Sprintec is taken orally with water before or after meals. If you experience nausea after taking drugs, you may want to take it after eating or before sleeping.

Sprintec comes in a conventional pack of 28 pills. Of these, you’ll get 21 active tablets (blue) and 7 inactive pills (white).

You may take these pills on a Day 1 Start cycle or Sunday Start cycle. If you opt for the Day 1 start, you’ll take the first active control pill on the day that you start your menses and take another pill every day for 21 days.

You’ll have your periods between day 22 and 28. During this week, continue taking the 7 remaining pills. These pills are inactive and only act as a reminder of when you need to start another pack of birth control tablets. The main advantage of Day 1 start cycle is that you’re protected from pregnancy right away.

With the Sunday start cycle, you start taking the active pills on the Sunday following your menstruation cycle and then a pill every day for 21 days. After the 21 days, start taking the white inactive tablets. Most people opt for the Sunday start cycle if they don’t want to have their menses during the weekend. If this is convenient for you, you may want to go with this cycle.

Whether you opt for the Sunday start or Day 1 start cycle, employ another non-hormonal contraception, such as condoms, for the first 7 days after beginning this regimen. This is because your body may take this long before adjusting to Sprintec birth control effectiveness.

Switching to Sprintec from another birth control method

• If you’re switching from a contraceptive injection, vaginal ring, or transdermal switch, start taking Sprintec on the day that the next application was scheduled.
• If you’re switching from an implant or intrauterine contraceptive, start Sprintec birth control dosage on the scheduled day of removal.

Taking Sprintec after miscarriage, abortion, and childbirth

If you’ve had an abortion or miscarriage within the first trimester, you can go ahead and start taking Sprintec birth control generic pills immediately. However, if this happens during the second trimester, don’t take Sprintec until after 4 weeks due to the risk of thromboembolic disease. After childbirth, it’s also recommendable to start Sprintec 28 dosage 4 weeks after delivery to eliminate the risk of thromboembolic disease.

Sprintec Birth Control Pills Dose

Sprintec (Mononessa generic) is a 28-pill regimen consisting of 21 active and 7 inactive tablets. Take one pill every day, starting with the active pills. On the 22nd day, start taking the white inactive pills until the 28th day and start a new pack the following day.

Missed dose

What should I do if I missed a Sprintec birth control pill?

• If you miss 1 active pill, administer 2 pills the following day and continue with 1 pill/day regimen.
• If you miss 2 pills on 2 consecutive days in Week 1 or 2, take 2 days per day for 2 consecutive days and then go back to 1 pill per day.
• If you’re a Day 1 starter and have missed 2 pills in week 3, discard the whole blister card and start a new one the same day. For Sunday starters, continue taking 1 pill from the day you remember to the following Sunday. On Sunday, throw away the current Sprintec 28 blister card and start a new one.
• If you miss the pill for 3 consecutive days in week 1, 2, or 3, you’ll need to discard the entire card and start a fresh one. Always follow up a missed dose with another non-hormonal contraceptive, such as condoms, to lower the risk of pregnancy.

Uses of Sprintec 28

Sprintec birth control pills are used to;

• Prevent conception and pregnancies
• Treat acne (pimples)
• Your doctor may prescribe it for other reasons

Before using Sprintec birth control

Before taking these pills, tell your doctor whether you have (or ever had) any of the following issues;

• Allergies due to birth pills
• Irregular menstrual cycles
• Heart problems
• Liver disease
• Kidney disease
• Hypertension
• Cases of blood clot
• Depression
• Migraine headache
• Seizure
• Jaundice due to pregnancy or birth control pill

Sprintec birth control pills and allergies

Similar to other birth control pills, Sprintec does not cause allergies (at least for most women). However, discuss with your doctor if you’re allergic to other birth control pills before taking Sprintec.

Sprintec 28 Interactions with other drugs and medications

Sprintec interacts with over 400 common drugs and 21 diseases. This list does not exhaust all the drugs and diseases. Talk to your doctor if you’re taking other medicines or have an existing medical problem before taking Sprintec birth control pills.

Drugs that interact with Sprintec

• Metformin
• Clonazepam
• Levothyroxine
• Lamictal
• Xanax
• Cetirizine
• Amphetamine
• Ibuprofen
• Cymbalta

Diseases that interact with Sprintec

• Abnormal vaginal bleeding
• Thromboembolism
• High blood pressure
• Carcinoma
• Hepatic neoplasm
• Liver disease
• Angioedema
• Gallbladder disease

Special conditions

Pregnancy: don’t take Sprintec during pregnancy. If you get pregnant mid-regimen, stop taking the drug and consult your doctor.

Breastfeeding: Sprintec is excreted into breast milk. Don’t take it while breastfeeding.

Sprintec warnings

1. Similar to other birth control pills, Sprintec increases your risk of heart attack, blood clot, and stroke.
2. Talk to your doctor before using Sprintec if you have high blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, or overweight.
3. Sprintec (Mononessa generic) has FDA’s black box warning against smoking, especially among women above 35 years. Smoking increases your risk of heart attacks, stroke, and blood clots.
4. Don’t take Sprintec if you’ve previously had hormonal-related cancer or breast/vaginal/cervix cancer.

Sprintec birth control side effects

• Headache
• Nervousness
• Stomach pain
• Gas
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Acne
• Weight gain
• Vaginal itching
• Discharge
• Rash

Storage

Sprintec pills should stay in their original blister cards and package. Store at room temperature 68° to 77°F (20° to 25°C) away from light.

Sprintec cost/price

Sprintec is moderately priced, and it’s covered by Medicare and most insurances. The cost is very low, too, if you have a Sprintec coupon. From January to May 2020, the price of 1 pack of Sprintec (28 tablets) has been ranging between $20 and $43 in different stores. Currently, the best price for Sprintec without insurance or coupon is $20. With the best Sprintec coupon, you can get the 28-tablet package for as low as $8.45.

Sprintec Mechanism of Action

When used for birth control, Sprintec works by suppressing ovulation. It also works by causing changes in the cervical mucus. These changes make it hard for sperm penetration into the uterus. They also inhibit the necessary endometrial changes that are vital for implantation.

Sprintec may also be used to manage acne, but health experts are yet to establish the actual mechanism involved.