alesse contraceptive
Ethinyl Estradiol and Levonorgestrel(ETH in ill ess tra DYE ole and LEE voe nor jess trel)
Alesse, Aviane, Levlen, Levlite, Levora, Tri-Levlen, Triphasil, Triphasil-28,Trivora
What is the most important information I should know about Alesse?
• Take your pill at the same time every day alesse contraceptive. Each dose should come no morethan 24 hours after the last dose alesse contraceptive.
• Avoid smoking cigarettes while taking Alesse alesse contraceptive. Smoking greatly increasesthe risk of having a heart attack, stroke, or blood clot alesse contraceptive.
• Use another form of birth control if you miss several doses (see thepackage insert) or if you are taking drugs that decrease the effectiveness ofAlesse (see the section of this leaflet titled "What other drugs will affectAlesse?") alesse contraceptive.
What are Alesse?
• Alesse contains a combination of hormones that is used to prevent ovulation(the release of an egg from an ovary) alesse contraceptive. The pills contain a form of estrogenand a form of progesterone, which are both female hormones involved in conception alesse contraceptive.
• Alesse also have other effects that inhibit pregnancy alesse contraceptive. They cause thecervical mucous to thicken, which makes it harder for sperm to move toward theuterus, and they prevent the attachment of an egg to the uterus alesse contraceptive.
• Alesse is used to prevent pregnancy alesse contraceptive.
• Alesse may also be used for purposes other than those listed in thismedication guide alesse contraceptive.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking Alesse?
• Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you
· have high blood pressure, angina, or heart disease;
· have had a stroke;
· have a bleeding or blood-clotting disorder;
· have breast, uterine, or another hormone-related cancer;
· have liver disease or a history of jaundice (yellowing of the skinand eyes) caused by use of birth control in the past;
· have undiagnosed, abnormal vaginal bleeding;
· have migraines;
· have asthma; or
· have seizures or epilepsy alesse contraceptive.
• You may not be able to take Alesse, or you may require a lower dose orspecial monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listedabove alesse contraceptive.
• Alesse is in the FDA pregnancy category X alesse contraceptive. This means that Alesse willcause birth defects in an unborn baby alesse contraceptive. Hormonal changes during pregnancy canhave very serious negative effects on a developing baby alesse contraceptive. Do not take Alesseif you are pregnant or if you think you might be pregnant alesse contraceptive.
• The hormones in Alesse pass into breast milk and may decrease milk production alesse contraceptive. Do not take Alesse without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feedinga baby alesse contraceptive.
How should I take Alesse?
• Take Alesse exactly as directed by your doctor alesse contraceptive. If you do not understandthese directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you alesse contraceptive.
• Take the first pill in a package on the first Sunday after your periodbegins (unless otherwise directed by your doctor) alesse contraceptive.
• Take one pill every day, no more than 24 hours after your last dose alesse contraceptive. Try to take the pills at a time that you will remember every day--for examplejust before bed, with a meal, or first thing in the morning alesse contraceptive.
• Taking your pill at night may help to reduce any nausea or headache thatyou may experience because of the hormones alesse contraceptive.
• If you are on a 28-day cycle, take one pill every day alesse contraceptive. When the packruns out, throw it away alesse contraceptive. Begin a new pack the following day alesse contraceptive. The 28-day cyclecontains seven pills that are either placebos (with no active ingredients) oriron supplements alesse contraceptive. These are "reminder" pills to keep you on your regularcycle alesse contraceptive. They are taken while you are menstruating alesse contraceptive.
• If you are on a 21-day cycle, take one pill every day for 21 days, thendo not take any pills for 7 days alesse contraceptive. You should have your period during the 7 dayswith no pills alesse contraceptive. Resume your pills on the 8th day with a new package alesse contraceptive.
• Follow your doctor's instructions about using a second form of birthcontrol when you first start taking Alesse, when you are taking antibiotics,or if you miss a pill alesse contraceptive. If you are unsure what to do in any of these cases, talkto your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor about how to ensure that you will not becomepregnant alesse contraceptive.
• Store Alesse at room temperature away from moisture and heat alesse contraceptive.
What happens if I miss a dose?
• Missing a pill increases the risk of becoming pregnant alesse contraceptive.
• Follow the exact directions on your package information insert concerningmissed doses alesse contraceptive. If you do not have a package information insert, call your pharmacist,doctor, or nurse to find out what to do alesse contraceptive.
• In general:
• If you miss one dose, take it as soon as you remember or take two pillsat the time of your next regularly scheduled dose alesse contraceptive. There is little likelihoodthat ovulation will occur alesse contraceptive. You may, however, want to use a second method ofbirth control such as a condom or a spermicidal cream, jelly, or foam for atleast seven consecutive days following the missed tablet to ensure protectionfrom pregnancy alesse contraceptive.
• If you miss two tablets in a row, take the two missed tablets as soonas you remember or with your next regularly scheduled dose (three total) alesse contraceptive. Or,you may take two tablets each for the next two regularly scheduled doses (onemissed tablet plus one regularly scheduled tablet for 2 days in a row) alesse contraceptive. Chancesare much greater that you may ovulate so you must use another form of birthcontrol for at least 7 days following the missed tablets alesse contraceptive. It is even betterto use a second method of birth control until your next period alesse contraceptive.
• If you miss three tablets in a row, throw away the package and starta new package on the 7th day after the last day you took a pill alesse contraceptive. Use anothermethod of birth control until you have taken a pill for 7 days in a row alesse contraceptive. Yourperiod should occur during the 7 days without pills alesse contraceptive. If it doesn't, have a pregnancytest before beginning a new package of pills alesse contraceptive.
• Read all of the information in your package information insert alesse contraceptive. It mayhave slightly different instructions in the case of missed pills alesse contraceptive. Talk to yourpharmacist, nurse, or doctor if you have any questions alesse contraceptive.
What happens if I overdose?
• Death is not likely to occur from an overdose of Alesse alesse contraceptive. Consult a doctor,an emergency room, or a poison control center for advice alesse contraceptive.
• Symptoms of an overdose include nausea, vomiting, and menstrual bleeding alesse contraceptive.
What should I avoid while taking Alesse?
• Avoid smoking alesse contraceptive. Smoking greatly increases your risk of a heart attack,stroke, or blood clot formation alesse contraceptive.
• Alesse do not protect you from sexually transmitted diseases--includingHIV and AIDS alesse contraceptive. Using a condom is the only way to protect yourself from thesediseases alesse contraceptive.
What are the possible side effects of Alesse?
• If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop takingAlesse and seek emergency medical attention:
· an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of your throat;swelling of your lips, tongue, or face; or hives);
· a blood clot in the lung (shortness of breath or pain in the chest);
· a blood clot in an arm or leg (pain, redness, swelling, or numbnessof an arm or leg);
· high blood pressure (severe headache, flushing, blurred vision); or
· liver damage (yellowing of the skin or eyes, nausea, abdominal painor discomfort, unusual bleeding or bruising, severe fatigue) alesse contraceptive.
• Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur alesse contraceptive. Continueto take Alesse and talk to your doctor if you experience
· headache or dizziness;
· nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea;
· breakthrough bleeding; or
· breast tenderness alesse contraceptive.
• These side effects may disappear or be less noticeable after 3 to 6 monthsof birth control use alesse contraceptive. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice if you find anyside effect very bothersome alesse contraceptive.
• The side effects listed below generally occur very rarely and are notconsidered serious alesse contraceptive. If you experience any of the following, talk to your doctor:
· depression,
· changes in weight or appetite,
· vaginal yeast infection,
· changes in your menstrual cycle,
· oily skin or acne,
· changes in your sex drive,
· lethargy or fatigue,
· bloating,
· changes in your skin color, or
· changes in your blood sugar alesse contraceptive.
• Side effects other than those listed here may also occur alesse contraceptive. Talk to yourdoctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome alesse contraceptive.
What other drugs will affect Alesse?
• Some drugs may decrease the effectiveness of Alesse, which may resultin pregnancy alesse contraceptive. Use a second form of birth control if you are taking
· a penicillin antibiotic such as amoxicillin (Amoxil, Polymox, Trimox,Wymox, Utimox, A-Cillin, Larotid, Augmentin, others), ampicillin (Principen,Omnipen, Penamp, Polycillin, Amplin, Amcill, Totacillin, others), bacampicillin(Spectrobid), carbenicillin (Geocillin), cloxacillin (Cloxapen, Tegopen), dicloxacillin(Dynapen, Dycill, Pathocil), nafcillin (Nafcil, Nallpen, Unipen), oxacillin(Bactocill, Prostphlin), or penicillin (Veetids, Pen Vee K, Bicillin, Permapen,others);
· a tetracycline antibiotic such as demeclocycline (Declomycin), doxycycline(Doryx, Doxy, Vibramycin, Vibra-Tabs, others), minocycline (Minocin), or tetracycline(Sumycin, Teracyn, Achromycin, Robitet, Panmycin, others);
· a barbiturate such as amobarbital (Amytal), butabarbital (Butisol),mephobarbital (Mebaral), secobarbital (Seconal), or phenobarbital (Luminal,Solfoton);
· rifampin (Rifadin);
· phenytoin (Dilantin);
· carbamazepine (Tegretol); or
· griseofulvin (Grisactin, Grifulvin V, Fulvicin PG) alesse contraceptive.
• Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with Alesse alesse contraceptive. Talkto your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-countermedicines alesse contraceptive.
Where can I get more information?
• Your pharmacist has additional information about Alesse written for healthprofessionals that you may read alesse contraceptive.
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