From the Guidelines
Tri Lo Marzia (norgestimate and ethinyl estradiol) should be taken as one tablet daily at the same time each day for 28 days, following the sequence indicated on the pill pack, with the active tablets containing varying doses of hormones in a triphasic pattern. The recommended dosing regimen for Tri Lo Marzia is based on the guidelines provided in the study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology 1.
Key Points to Consider:
- The active tablets contain varying doses of hormones in a triphasic pattern:
- Days 1-7 contain 0.18 mg norgestimate and 0.025 mg ethinyl estradiol
- Days 8-14 contain 0.215 mg norgestimate and 0.025 mg ethinyl estradiol
- Days 15-21 contain 0.25 mg norgestimate and 0.025 mg ethinyl estradiol
- Days 22-28 are inactive tablets
Administration and Missed Doses:
- For the first cycle, start taking the pill on the first Sunday after your period begins or on the first day of your period
- If you miss a pill, take it as soon as you remember, even if it means taking two pills in one day
- If you miss two or more pills, use a backup contraceptive method for 7 days This triphasic dosing regimen is designed to mimic the natural hormonal fluctuations of the menstrual cycle, potentially reducing side effects while maintaining contraceptive efficacy by preventing ovulation, thickening cervical mucus, and altering the endometrial lining to prevent implantation, as discussed in the context of contraception for adolescents 1.
From the FDA Drug Label
DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION Take one tablet daily by mouth at the same time every day. DOSAGE FORMS AND STRENGTHS Norgestimate and Ethinyl Estradiol Tablets consists of 28 round tablets in the following order ( 3): 21 blue tablets each containing 0.25 mg norgestimate and 0. 035 mg ethinyl estradiol 7 green tablets (inert)
The recommended dose of Tri Lo Marzia (norgestimate and ethinyl estradiol) is one tablet daily. The active tablets contain 0.25 mg norgestimate and 0.035 mg ethinyl estradiol. 2
From the Research
Recommended Doses of Tri Lo Marzia
The recommended doses of Tri Lo Marzia, a combination oral contraceptive containing norgestimate and ethinyl estradiol, are as follows:
- The formulation is taken for up to 24 cycles, with a low incidence of failed withdrawal bleeding in single cycles (less than 1.0% after cycle 6) 3
- The triphasic combination of norgestimate and ethinyl E2 is an effective treatment for metrorrhagic, menometrorrhagic, oligomenorrheic, and polymenorrheic dysfunctional uterine bleeding 4
- A use-efficacy (overall) Pearl index of 0.25 pregnancies per 100 woman-years was calculated based on 342,348 cycles, with reductions in mean cycle length and duration of bleeding noted 5
- The efficacy and safety of a new monophasic oral contraceptive, norgestimate/ethinyl estradiol, containing the third-generation progestin, norgestimate (250 micrograms), and ethinyl estradiol (35 micrograms), are reviewed 6
Key Findings
- Effective long-term cycle control was demonstrated in women who used this OC agent 3
- More than 80% of subjects receiving triphasic norgestimate-ethinyl E2 had improvements in their abnormal bleeding patterns as assessed by investigators, and the subjects themselves compared with fewer than 50% of subjects in the placebo treatment group 4
- Treatment with norgestimate/ethinyl estradiol had minimal effects on weight, blood pressure, pulse, lipid metabolism, and blood glucose 5
- Norgestimate/ethinyl estradiol demonstrates excellent contraceptive efficacy, with a Pearl index of 0.25, and cycle control is reliable, with a low incidence of breakthrough bleeding and spotting 6