Ortho Tri-Cyclen vs. Apri
See how Ortho Tri-Cyclen and Apri compare on approved uses, dosing, side effects, and cost.
Key Takeaways
Ortho Tri-Cyclen is a triphasic pill also FDA-approved to treat moderate acne, while Apri is a monophasic pill approved only for pregnancy prevention.
Ortho Tri-Cyclen uses three step-up hormone doses across the cycle, while Apri delivers the same dose every active day.
Both carry similar cardiovascular warnings for smokers over 35 and are taken as one tablet daily in a 28-day pack.
Ortho Tri-Cyclen vs. Apri Drug Summary
Ortho Tri-Cyclen
Ortho Tri-Cyclen is a triphasic combination oral contraceptive containing norgestimate and ethinyl estradiol. It is taken as one tablet daily in a 28-day pack, with the hormone dose stepping up every seven days to mimic natural cycle fluctuations. It also carries FDA approval to treat moderate acne in women who want oral contraception.
Apri
Apri is a monophasic combination oral contraceptive containing desogestrel and ethinyl estradiol. It is taken as one tablet daily in a 28-day pack, with the same hormone dose in every active tablet rather than stepping up over the cycle. It is approved only for pregnancy prevention.
Ortho Tri-Cyclen vs. Apri Side Effects
Ortho Tri-Cyclen
Apri
Ortho Tri-Cyclen vs. Apri Dosage
Ortho Tri-Cyclen
Apri
| STAGE | DOSE | WHEN |
| Starting dose | 0.180 mg/0.035 mg daily | Days 1-7 |
| Maximum dose | Placebo tablet daily | Days 22-28 |
| Dose changes | 3 increases | Every 7 days |
| STAGE | DOSE | WHEN |
| Starting dose | 1 tablet once daily | Days 1-28 |
| Maximum dose | 1 tablet once daily | Same as starting |
| Dose changes | None | Fixed dose |
Ortho Tri-Cyclen
| STAGE | DOSE | WHEN |
| Starting dose | 0.180 mg/0.035 mg daily | Days 1-7 |
| Maximum dose | Placebo tablet daily | Days 22-28 |
| Dose changes | 3 increases | Every 7 days |
Apri
| STAGE | DOSE | WHEN |
| Starting dose | 1 tablet once daily | Days 1-28 |
| Maximum dose | 1 tablet once daily | Same as starting |
| Dose changes | None | Fixed dose |
Ortho Tri-Cyclen vs. Apri Indications
Ortho Tri-Cyclen
Ortho Tri-Cyclen prevents pregnancy and is also approved to treat moderate acne in females 15 and older who want oral contraception. It is not approved for use as emergency contraception or for preventing sexually transmitted infections.
Prevention of pregnancy
Treatment of moderate acne in females 15+
Not approved for STI or HIV prevention
Not recommended for women over 35 who smoke
Apri
Apri is approved only to prevent pregnancy in women who choose an oral contraceptive. It has no FDA approval for acne or any other non-contraceptive use.
Prevention of pregnancy
Not approved for acne treatment
Not approved for STI or HIV prevention
Not recommended for women over 35 who smoke
Ortho Tri-Cyclen vs. Apri Pros and Cons
Ortho Tri-Cyclen
Ortho Tri-Cyclen stands out for its dual approval to treat acne alongside contraception and its decades-long safety record since 1989. The triphasic dosing adds an extra step compared with single-dose pills, and the brand itself has been discontinued in favor of generics.
Pros
Only combination pill option here also approved to treat moderate acne
Long real-world track record dating to 1989 approval
Triphasic dosing designed to mirror natural hormone patterns
Cons
Three different hormone doses to track across the cycle
Brand name no longer sold, only generics remain
Not approved for acne in women under 15
Apri
Apri offers a simpler, single-dose daily regimen without the step-up schedule of a triphasic pill. Its desogestrel progestin has minimal androgenic activity, though the drug carries no acne indication and its pricing varies more widely by pharmacy.
Pros
Same hormone dose every active day, simpler to track
Desogestrel progestin has minimal androgenic activity
Generic of Ortho-Cept, well-established formulation since 1999
Cons
No FDA approval for treating acne
Cash price range is wider and less predictable
Single fixed dose rather than a cycle-mimicking hormone pattern
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