Portia

Portia is a combined oral contraceptive, which is the most common type of birth control pill. It contains two different hormones (estrogen and progestin) that prevent pregnancy by stopping ovulation and altering the cervical mucus and lining of the uterus. Each pack of Portia comes with 28 tablets that must be taken once daily. Potential side effects include breast tenderness, nausea, and breakthrough bleeding.

 

What Is Portia?

Portia® (levonorgestrel/ethinyl estradiol) is a birth control pill (oral contraceptive) that is used to prevent pregnancy. It is a generic version of Nordette®.
 
(Click What Is Portia Used For? for more information on Portia uses, including possible off-label uses.)
   

Side Effects

As with any medicine, side effects are possible with Portia. However, not everyone who uses the contraceptive will experience side effects. In fact, most people tolerate it quite well. If side effects do occur, in most cases, they are minor and either require no treatment or can easily be treated by you or your healthcare provider. Serious side effects are less common.
 
Common side effects of Portia include, but are not limited to:
 
  • Nausea with or without vomiting
  • Breakthrough bleeding or spotting (between periods)
  • Breast swelling and tenderness
  • Acne
  • Headaches.
     
(Click Portia Side Effects to learn more, including potentially serious side effects that you should report immediately to your healthcare provider.)
 

What Should I Tell My Healthcare Provider?

You should talk with your healthcare provider prior to using Portia if you have:
 
Also, let your healthcare provider know if you:
 
Make sure to tell your healthcare provider about all other medicines you are taking, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
 
(Click Precautions and Warnings With Portia to learn more, including information on who should not Portia.)
 

How Does It Work?

Portia belongs to a group of birth control pills known as combined oral contraceptives, the most common type of birth control pill. It is called a combined oral contraceptive because it contains a combination of two different types of hormones. It contains both an estrogen (ethinyl estradiol) and a progestin (levonorgestrel).
 
The hormones in Portia prevent pregnancy mainly by preventing ovulation (the maturation and release of eggs from the ovaries). Portia also works in two other, less important ways. It changes the cervical mucus (the fluid of the cervix, which is the lower, narrow part of the uterus that is connected to the vagina), making it more difficult for sperm to enter the uterus. Portia also alters the lining of the uterus (called the endometrium), making it less receptive to an embryo.
 

When and How to Use Portia

General considerations for when and how to use the medication include the following:
 
  • Portia comes in tablet form. It is taken by mouth once a day.
     
  • Each pack of Portia contains 28 pills. Be sure to take them in order. Once you finish a pack, start a new pack right away. You will probably start your period during the last seven days of the pack.
     
  • It is very important to take Portia every day, at the same time each day. Try to pick a time that will be easy to remember (such as at bedtime or breakfast). If you have trouble remembering, please talk with your healthcare provider, as missing pills increases your risk of pregnancy.
     
  • You can take the medication with food or on an empty stomach. If the drug bothers your stomach, try taking it with food.
     
  • Make sure you know exactly what to do if you miss any pills. In some circumstances, you may need to use a backup method of contraception (such as condoms) for a week.
     
  • For the medication to work properly, it must be taken as prescribed.
     

Dosage Information

There is only one standard way to dose Portia, regardless of your age, weight, or medical conditions. As with any drug, do not adjust your dose unless your healthcare provider specifically instructs you to do so.
 
(Click Portia Dosing for more information.)
  

Drug Interactions With Portia

Portia can interact with several other medications (see Drug Interactions With Portia).
  

What If I Take an Overdose?

Women who take too much Portia may experience the following symptoms:
 
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Vaginal bleeding.
     
(Click Nordette Overdose for more information.)
 

Storage Methods

Keep Portia tablets in their original package. The packaging is designed to help you remember to take the tablets each day. Keep the package at room temperature, away from moisture or heat.
 
Keep Portia and all other medications out of the reach of children.
 

What If I Miss a Dose?

Missing doses of Portia increases the risk of pregnancy. What you should do depends on how many tablets you have missed and exactly where you are in your cycle. Refer to the patient information that comes with each pack of Portia or consult your healthcare provider if you are not sure what to do (also see Portia Dosing for more information).
 

Who Makes Portia?

Portia is made by Barr Laboratories (see Generic Nordette).
 

Strengths of Portia

Portia comes in packs of 28 tablets, containing 0.15 mg of levonorgestrel and 0.03 mg of ethinyl estradiol in each of the first 21 tablets. The last seven tablets of each pack contain no active ingredients.
 
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;