Avoid cigarettes. Smoking during your Ortho Tri-Cyclen treatment can increase the risk of heart attack, stroke, and blood clot formation.
Also, do not take Ortho Tri-Cyclen if you are pregnant or you think you may be pregnant or breast-feeding. Ortho Tri-Cyclen is in the FDA pregnancy category X, which means that it's known to cause birth defects in unborn babies and nursing infants.
Remember, birth control pills do not protect you from sexually transmitted diseases. The only way you can protect yourself from HIV and other sexually transmitted viruses is through the use of condoms.
More common Ortho Tri-Cyclen side effects may include: dizziness, headache, lightheadedness, stomach upset, bloating, or nausea.
Less common Ortho Tri-Cyclen side effects may include: severe depression, groin or calf pain, sudden severe headache, chest pain, shortness of breath, lumps in the breast, weakness or tingling in the arms or legs, yellowing of the eyes or skin.