portia
Portia is a combined hormonal birth control pill that's taken by mouth every day. It's monophasic, which means that the amounts of hormones in all of the active tablets are the same. While this medication works well to prevent pregnancy, it isn't the best option for females with certain medical conditions.
What is Portia?
What is Portia used for?
To prevent pregnancy
How Portia works
Portia is a combined contraceptive that contains two hormones: ethinyl estradiol (an estrogen) and levonorgestrel (a progestin). Both hormones work together to prevent pregnancy by:
Suppressing ovulation (release of an egg from the ovary)
Changing cervical mucus to block sperm movement
Creating an unfriendly environment for the fertilized egg by changing the lining in the uterus (womb)
Drug Facts
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What are the side effects of Portia?
Common Side Effects
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Stomach cramps
- Bloating
- Spotting
- Breast tenderness
- Weight changes (up or down)
- Headache
- Raised blood pressure
- Depression
Other Side Effects
- Yeast infection
- Spotty darkening of skin
- Change in sex drive
- Acne
- Change in appetite
Serious Side Effects
- Heart attack: chest pain, stomach discomfort, sweating, nausea, dizziness
- Stroke: sudden numbness or weakness in the arm, leg, or face, confusion, trouble seeing, headache, difficulty walking
- Deep vein thrombosis (blood clot in the leg): leg cramp, swelling, pain, muscle tightness
- Pulmonary embolism (blood clot in the lung): cough, chest pain, trouble breathing, racing heart
- Liver problems: yellowing of the skin or the whites of the eyes, tiredness, stomach pain
Source: DailyMed
The following side effects have also been reported
Healthy women who do not smoke cigarettes have almost no chance of having a severe side effect from taking oral contraceptives. For most women, more problems occur because of pregnancy than will occur from taking oral contraceptives. But for some women who have special health problems, oral contraceptives can cause some unwanted effects. Some of these unwanted effects include benign (not cancerous) liver tumors, liver cancer, or blood clots or related problems, such as a stroke. Although these effects are very rare, they can be serious enough to cause death. You may want to discuss these effects with your doctor.
Smoking cigarettes during the use of oral contraceptives has been found to greatly increase the chances of these serious side effects occurring. To reduce the risk of serious side effects, do not smoke cigarettes while you are taking oral contraceptives. Cigarette smoking increases the risk of serious cardiovascular side effects from oral contraceptive use. The risk increases with age and with heavy smoking (15 or more cigarettes per day) and is quite marked in women over 35 years of age.
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
The following side effects may be caused by blood clots. Get emergency help immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
Rare
Abdominal or stomach pain (sudden, severe, or continuing)
coughing up blood
headache (severe or sudden)
loss of coordination (sudden)
loss of vision or change in vision (sudden)
pains in chest, groin, or leg (especially in calf of leg)
shortness of breath (sudden or unexplained)
slurring of speech (sudden)
weakness, numbness, or pain in arm or leg (unexplained)
Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:
More common
usually less common after the first 3 months of oral contraceptive use
Changes in the uterine bleeding pattern at menses or between menses, such as decreased bleeding at menses, breakthrough bleeding or spotting between periods, prolonged bleeding at menses, complete stopping of menstrual bleeding that occurs over several months in a row, or stopping of menstrual bleeding that only occurs sometimes
Less common
Headaches or migraines (although headaches may lessen in many users, in others, they may increase in number or become worse)
increased blood pressure
vaginal infection with vaginal itching or irritation, or thick, white, or curd-like discharge
For women with diabetes mellitus
Mild increase of blood sugar—Faintness, nausea, pale skin, or sweating
For women who smoke tobacco
Pains in stomach, side, or abdomen
yellow eyes or skin
For women with a history of breast disease
Lumps in breast
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
More common
Abdominal cramping or bloating
acne (usually less common after first 3 months and may improve if acne already exists)
breast pain, tenderness, or swelling
dizziness
swelling of ankles and feet
unusual tiredness or weakness
vomiting
Less common
Brown, blotchy spots on exposed skin
gain or loss of body or facial hair
increased or decreased interest in sexual intercourse
increased sensitivity of skin to sunlight
weight gain or loss
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Pros and cons of Portia
Pros
Once-daily dosing
Works better to prevent pregnancy compared to some other birth control methods
Available as a lower-cost generic
Can take with or without food
Pills are in an easy-to-follow blister pack
Cons
Higher amounts of hormones compared to some other birth control pills
Not a good option for females over 35 who smoke
Can cause unpleasant side effects like nausea, vomiting, and headaches
Doesn't protect against sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)
Must take it at the same time every day for it to work well
Pharmacist tips for Portia
Before starting Portia, discuss your full medical history with your provider. This medication can worsen certain conditions. Some examples are chloasma (a condition that causes dark skin patches) and hereditary angioedema (episodes of severe swelling in your body). If you have a history of chloasma, avoid sun exposure while taking Portia.
Set an alarm to help you remember to take Portia at the same time every day. Forgetting to take your pill raises the chance of getting pregnant. If you miss a dose, refer to the instructions that came with your blister pack or call your provider for further instructions.
It's normal to have spotting (light bleeding outside of your period) or feel sick to your stomach for the first few packs of Portia. This should get better over time, but if it doesn't contact your provider.
If you have vomiting or diarrhea or take certain medications, Portia might not work as well for you. Always use a back-up birth control method until you're able to check with your healthcare provider.
Any time you vomit within 3 to 4 hours after taking Portia, it's considered a missed dose and you should refer to the instructions for missed doses that came with your prescription or ask your pharmacist or provider.
Contact your eye provider if you wear contact lenses and notice vision changes when wearing them or when wearing your glasses while taking Portia.
If you've been taking Portia as instructed and miss your period or feel like you might be pregnant, check in with your provider so they can confirm whether or not you're pregnant and provide prenatal care if needed. While Portia shouldn't cause any birth defects if you accidentally take it during early pregnancy, you'll no longer need to take it when you're pregnant.
If you want to stop taking Portia and become pregnant, speak to your provider. While you can stop this medication at anytime, you might want to consider seeing your provider for a pre-pregnancy checkup before stopping your birth control.
Portia has been prescribed specifically for you, so don't share it with anyone who wants to take birth control. Their provider should evaluate them to make sure they get a safe option.
Frequently asked questions about Portia
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What are the risks and warnings for Portia?
Portia can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Cigarette smoking and serious heart problems
Risk factors: Females over 35 years old who smoke cigarettes
If you smoke cigarettes, using combined oral contraceptives (COCs), like Portia, raises your risk for serious health problems, such as strokes, heart attacks, and blood clots. Females age 35 years and older who smoke are at even higher risk for these problems. If you smoke, talk with your provider about safer birth control alternatives.
Blood clots and strokes
Risk factors: Females over 35 years old who smoke | Females over 40 years old who don't smoke | Recent surgery with a long period of bed rest | Starting Portia less than a month after childbirth | High blood pressure | People identified as obese | High cholesterol | Diabetes | Higher dose of estrogen
Portia raises your risk of blood clots. These clots can occur anywhere in your body, including your lungs (pulmonary embolism or PE), legs (deep vein thrombosis or DVT), brain (stroke), and heart (heart attack). Get emergency help right away if you have any signs of a blood clot:
Brain: weakness or numbness in your arms, legs, or face on one side of the body, trouble speaking, blurred vision, dizziness, loss of balance, trouble walking, or confusion
Eyes: trouble seeing, bulging eye, double vision
Heart: chest pain, sweating, nausea, or dizziness
Lungs: trouble breathing, chest pain, or cough
Legs: cramps, swelling, pain, or muscle tightness
If you need to have surgery, tell your provider you're taking Portia. They might have you stop taking it 4 weeks before until 2 weeks after your surgery to lower your risk of blood clots.
Risk of breast and cervical cancer
Risk factors: History of breast cancer | Taking COCs for a long time
Study results are mixed, but there's a possibility that Portia and other COCs can raise your risk for breast and cervical cancer.
Don't use Portia if you have breast cancer because some types of breast cancer grow faster in the presence of estrogen, an ingredient in this birth control pill. To help with early breast cancer detection, you can do monthly breast self-checks at home and yearly breast exams with your healthcare provider. Call your healthcare provider if you notice any abnormal changes or feel lumps, pain, or swelling in your breasts.
Get medical help right away if you experience abnormal vaginal bleeding, discharge, or pain during sex, since these could be signs of cervical cancer.
Liver problems
Risk factors: Liver problems or infection in the liver | Taking COCs with 50 mcg of estrogen or higher
Though rare, Portia can cause liver problems, such as liver damage and liver tumors. These problems are linked more with earlier formulations of COCs that contained higher levels of estrogen (50 mcg of higher), and less so with Portia since it only contains 30 mcg of estrogen. Don't use this medication if you already have liver problems. Call your provider right away if you experience symptoms of liver problems, such as tiredness, stomach pain, or yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes.
High blood pressure
Risk factors: High blood pressure | Older age | Using COCs for a long time | Kidney problems
Portia and other COCs can raise your blood pressure. Your provider might ask you to check your blood pressure regularly. If you notice your blood pressure is higher while you're taking this medication, contact your provider. If you have uncontrolled high blood pressure, Portia might not be the best option for you.
High blood sugar and lipids (fats)
Risk factors: Prediabetes or diabetes | Personal or family history of high triglycerides
COCs like Portia might raise your blood sugar and triglyceride (fat) levels. In addition, some progesterones could raise LDL levels ("bad" cholesterol). If you have diabetes, let your provider know if you experience any changes in your blood sugar. Make sure to go to all of your check-ups so your provider can monitor any changes.
Headache
Headaches are a common side effect of COCs like Portia. But, if you experience a new migraine, a migraine that's worse than normal, or a new headache that keeps coming back or is severe, call your provider so you can be checked out.
Irregular bleeding
Breakthrough bleeding and spotting are common side effects of hormonal birth control pills. This is more common during the first 3 months of using Portia. Let your provider know if you experience any vaginal bleeding outside of your period, or if your period has stopped completely. There are other causes besides your birth control pills for irregular bleeding that your provider will evaluate.
Depression
Risk factors: History of depression
Let your provider know if you experience symptoms of depression or worsening depression while taking Portia. In cases of serious depression, your provider might have you stop taking it.
Interactions with other medications
Certain medications can make Portia get broken down faster in your body, making it less effective (not work as well) and can lead to pregnancy. Some examples include carbamazepine (Tegretol) and phenytoin (Dilantin). You'll likely need to use a back-up method or other form of birth control for several weeks after stopping any of these medications. Other medications can raise the amount of Portia in your body, which can lead to more side effects. Make sure to tell your provider or pharmacist all of your medications so they can make sure they don't interact with Portia.
If you have hepatitis C and need to be treated with Viekira Pak (dasabuvir / ombitasvir / paritaprevir / ritonavir), let your provider know right away that you're taking a COC. You'll need to stop Portia before starting Viekira Pak because taking them together can cause liver problems. You can start Portia again 2 weeks after you stop Viekira Pak.
Portia dosage forms
| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28 tablets of 0.15mg/0.03mg | 3 packages | $17.72 | $5.91 |
Typical dosing for Portia
Your medication might look different and have slightly different directions depending on which branded generic your provider prescribes. Please take the medication as instructed by your provider. In general:
Portia (and its branded generics) comes in a 28-day pack. There are 21 active tablets and they each contains 0.15 mg levonorgestrel and 30 mcg ethinyl estradiol. There are 7 placebo tablets and they don't contain any active medications.
The typical dose is to take 1 active tablet by mouth daily for 21 days, followed by 1 placebo tablet daily for the remaining 7 days.
Interactions between Portia and other drugs
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your healthcare professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.
How much does Portia cost?
Portia contraindications
Smoking and over the age of 35
Currently have or history of DVT or other blood clotting problems
Coronary artery disease
Cerebrovascular disease (problems with blood flow in the brain)
Certain heart valve or heart rhythm problems
Uncontrolled high blood pressure or high blood pressure with blood vessel problems
Diabetes with high blood pressure, blood vessel problems, or other organ damage
Diabetes for greater than 20 years or if you're over 35 years old
Certain types of headaches with neurological symptoms
Migraine with aura or if you're over 35 years old
Currently have or have a history of breast cancer
Undiagnosed abnormal genital bleeding
Liver tumors
Liver disease
Pregnancy
Taking hepatitis C medication containing ombitasvir / paritaprevir / ritonavir, with or without dasabuvir
What are alternatives to Portia?
Portia images
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