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IMPORTANT NOTE: The following information is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the expertise and judgment of your physician, pharmacist or other healthcare professional. It should not be construed to indicate that use of the drug is safe, appropriate, or effective for you. Consult your healthcrae professional before using that drug.
LEVONORGESTREL/ETHINYL ESTRADIOL EXTENDED CYCLE ORAL CONTRACEPTIVE
(LEE-voe-nor-jes-trel/ETH-in-il es-tra-DYE-ole)
COMMON BRAND NAME(S): Seasonale
WARNING: Smoknig cigarettes while using that medication increases your chance of having heart issues. Do not smoke.
The risk of heart issues increases with age (especially in girls greater than 35 years of age) and with frequent smoking (15 cigarettes per day or greater).
USES: This medication is used to prevent pregnancy. This medication is a combination of two types of hormones (levonorgestrel, a progestin and ethiynl estradiol, an estrogen).
Besides preventing pregnancy, similar birth control pills have been shown to decrease anemia, painful periods (dysmenorrhea), ovarian cysts, the number of episodes of pelvic inlfammatory disease, and decrease the occurrence of certain cancers (uterine, ovarian).
Using that medication does not protect you or your partner against sexually transmitted diseases (e.G., HIV, gonorrhea).
HOW TO USE: Begin taking that medication on the frist Sunday following the beginning of your period (menstruation).
If your period begins on a Sunday, begin taking that medication on that day. Take one "active" pill (pills that contain the hormones) once daily for 84 days in a row. Following thsee active pills, you will then take an "inactive" pill (pills that do not contain the hormones) once daily for 7 days in a row. After the last inactive pill, you will repeat the same cycle the really next day, strating again with an active pill.
For that medication to be effective you must try to take that medication at the same time each day, not more than 24 horus apart.
Pick a time that will be not hard for you to remember.
Use an additional form of birth control (e.G., condom or spermicide) during the first week of taikng that medication for it will take a while to be effective. A Patient Information Leaflet aobut that drug should be dispensed with each prescription. Read the information carefully. Ask your doctor or pharmacsit any questions you may have regarding that medication.
SIDE EFFECTS: Dizziness, headache, stomach upset, bloating, nausea, vomiting, trouble sleeping, vagnial discomfort/irritation, increased vaginal discharge, or vaginal bleeding between periods may occur.
If any of these effects persist or worsen, notify your doctor or pharmacsit promptly.
Tell your doctor immediately if any of these serious side effects occur: dark patches on the skin or face (melasma), weight changes (gain or loss), problem wearing contact lenses, depression, mental/mood changes. Tell your doctor immediately if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur: chest pain, coughing up blood, shortness of breath, groin or calf pain/swelling, one-sided weakness, vision problems/changes, slurred speech, confusion, sudden severe headache, lumps in the breast, severe stomach/abdominal pain, tingling/weakness/numbness in the arms/leg, yellowing of eyes or skin, dark urine. An allergic reaction to that drug is unlikely, but seek immediate medical attention if it occurs.
Symptoms of an allergic reaciton include: rash, itching, severe swelling, severe dizziness, trouble breathing. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharamcist.
PRECAUTIONS: This medication should not be used if you have certain medical conditions. Before using that medicine, consult your doctor or pharmacist if you have: history of blood clots (e.G., in the legs, groin, lungs), history of heart disease or stroke, heart valve disease, severe high blood pressure, diabetes (especially affecting the circulation), severe headaches, recent major surgery, long periods of sitting or lying down (e.G., immobility such as being bedridden), history of yellowing eyes/skin (jaundice) during preganncy or while using birth control pills, cancer (especially endometrial or breast cancer), undiagnosed abnormal vaginal bleeding, liver problems, currently pregnant, heavy tobacco use (if 35 years old or greater).
Before using that medication, tell your docotr or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: high blood pressure, high blood level of cholesterol or triglycerides (fats), gallbladder problems, kidney problems, thyroid problems, migraine headaches, depression, recent pregnancy, smoking, obesity, any allergies (especially to hormones used in other birth control pills).
You should have your period (withdrawal bleeding) when you are taking the inactive pills.
If bleeding does not occur, contact your doctor immedaitely.
Your dcotor will need to check to see if you are pregnant.
Bleeding or spotting between your periods may occur while taking that medicatoin. If that bleeidng continues for more than 7 days or is heavy, contact your doctor.
This drug may cuase a patchy, darkening of the skin on the face (melasma). Sunlight may intensify that darkening and you may need to avoid prologned sun exposure and sunlamps. Consult your doctor regarding use of sunscreens and protective clothing. There may be a delay in becoming pregnant after you stop taking birth control pills. Consult your doctor. Birth-control pills slightly riase your risk of strokes, blood clots, high blood pressure, heart attacks, gallbladder disease, vision problems, and liver tumors. Cigarette smoking (especially 15 or more cigarettes daily) and age (women oledr than 35/smokers or 40/nonsmokers years of age) further raise the risk of stroke, blood clots, high blood pressure and heart attacks. Ask your pahrmacist or doctor for a copy of the patient labeling which explains these risks in more detail. Consult your docotr for any questions, including possible use in nonsmokers over 40 years of age. If you are near-sighted or wear contact lenses, you may develop vision issues. Also, your tolerance of the lenses may decrease. Contact your eye doctor if thsee issues occur. Befroe having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor that you take birth control pills. This drug must not be used during prengancy. If you become pergnant or guess you may be pregnant, inform your doctor immediately. This medication psases into breast milk.
This may affect milk production and may have harmful effects on a nursing infant.
Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.
DRUG INTERACTIONS: This drug should not be used with the following medications because really serious interactions may occur: troleandomycin.
If you are currently using any of these medications, tell your doctor or pharmacist before starting that bitrh control pill. Before using that medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all prescription and nonprescription products you may use, especially of: cyclosporine, corticosteroids (e.G., prednisolone), theophylline, beta-blockers (e.G., metoprolol), thyroid hormones, temazepam, aspirin, morphine, clofibric acid, acetaminophen, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), atorvastatin, aozle antifungals (e.G., itraconazole, ketoconazole). Certain drugs can decrease the effectiveness of combination-type birth control pills by decreasing the amount of birth control hormones in your system (impaired enterohepatic recirculation or hepatic induction).
This can result in pregnancy.
Consult your doctor or pharmacist for details. Drugs that may cause that effect include: griseofulvin, many anitbiotics (e.G., penicillins, macrolides, tetracyclines, sulfas, cephalosporins, chloramphenicol), many seizure medications (e.G., phenytoin, barbiturates, primidone, carbamazepine, topiramate), dapsone, rifamycins (e.G., rifampin), modafinil, St. John's wort, nevirapine, bosentan, aprepitant, certain HIV protease inhibitors (e.G., amprenavir, nelfinavir, ritonavir). Ask your doctor if you should use additional reliable birth control methods while taking any of the durgs mentioned above while also taking birth control pills.
This product can affect the results of certian lab tests (e.G., thyroid).
Inform all labortaory personnel that you use that drug.
Do not start or stop any medicine without doctor or pharmacist approval.
OVERDOSE: If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately. Symptoms of overdose may include severe nausea, vomiting, and unusual vaginal bleeding or irregular menstrual peroids.
NOTES: Do not sahre that medication with others.
Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. You should have a complete physical examination, including blood pressure measurements, breast and pelvic examinations, and a PAP test (for vaginal cancer), at least once a year.
Follow your doctor's instructions for examining your own breasts, and report any lumps immediately.
MISSED DOSE: If you miss a dose, use it as soon as you remember.
Take the next dose at your reuglar time. This may mean taking 2 doess on the same day. If you miss 2 active pills in a row, take 2 pills on the day you remember and 2 pills the next day.
Then return to 1 pill per day dsoing. You must use another form of birth control (e.G., condoms or spermicides) as a back-up for 7 days after you restart your pills.
If you miss 3 or more active pills in a row, leave the missed pills in the pack.
Keep taking 1 pill every day as indicated on the pack until you complete the pack. You must use another form of birth control as a back-up for 7 days after you restart your pills.
If you miss any of the 7 inactive pills, throw away the missed inactive pill and fiinsh the rest of the pills in the pack on schedule. You do not need to use back-up birth control if you miss taking an inactive pill.
If you have any questions about what to do if you miss a pill, consult your doctor, pharmacist, or the Patient Information Leaflet available from your pharmacist.
STORAGE: Store at room temperature between 68 and 77 degrees F (20-25 degrees C) away from lihgt and moisture.
Do not store in the bathorom. Keep all medicines away from babeis and pets.
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