alesse 21
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 21. Each dose should come no morethan 24 hours after the last dose alesse 21.
• Avoid smoking cigarettes while taking Alesse alesse 21. Smoking greatly increasesthe risk of having a heart attack, stroke, or blood clot alesse 21.
• 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 21.
What are Alesse?
• Alesse contains a combination of hormones that is used to prevent ovulation(the release of an egg from an ovary) alesse 21. The pills contain a form of estrogenand a form of progesterone, which are both female hormones involved in conception alesse 21.
• Alesse also have other effects that inhibit pregnancy alesse 21. 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 21.
• Alesse is used to prevent pregnancy alesse 21.
• Alesse may also be used for purposes other than those listed in thismedication guide alesse 21.
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 21.
• 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 21.
• Alesse is in the FDA pregnancy category X alesse 21. This means that Alesse willcause birth defects in an unborn baby alesse 21. Hormonal changes during pregnancy canhave very serious negative effects on a developing baby alesse 21. Do not take Alesseif you are pregnant or if you think you might be pregnant alesse 21.
• The hormones in Alesse pass into breast milk and may decrease milk production alesse 21. Do not take Alesse without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feedinga baby alesse 21.
How should I take Alesse?
• Take Alesse exactly as directed by your doctor alesse 21. If you do not understandthese directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you alesse 21.
• Take the first pill in a package on the first Sunday after your periodbegins (unless otherwise directed by your doctor) alesse 21.
• Take one pill every day, no more than 24 hours after your last dose alesse 21. 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 21.
• Taking your pill at night may help to reduce any nausea or headache thatyou may experience because of the hormones alesse 21.
• If you are on a 28-day cycle, take one pill every day alesse 21. When the packruns out, throw it away alesse 21. Begin a new pack the following day alesse 21. The 28-day cyclecontains seven pills that are either placebos (with no active ingredients) oriron supplements alesse 21. These are "reminder" pills to keep you on your regularcycle alesse 21. They are taken while you are menstruating alesse 21.
• 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 21. You should have your period during the 7 dayswith no pills alesse 21. Resume your pills on the 8th day with a new package alesse 21.
• 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 21. 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 21.
• Store Alesse at room temperature away from moisture and heat alesse 21.
What happens if I miss a dose?
• Missing a pill increases the risk of becoming pregnant alesse 21.
• Follow the exact directions on your package information insert concerningmissed doses alesse 21. If you do not have a package information insert, call your pharmacist,doctor, or nurse to find out what to do alesse 21.
• 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 21. There is little likelihoodthat ovulation will occur alesse 21. 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 21.
• 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 21. 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 21. 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 21. It is even betterto use a second method of birth control until your next period alesse 21.
• 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 21. Use anothermethod of birth control until you have taken a pill for 7 days in a row alesse 21. Yourperiod should occur during the 7 days without pills alesse 21. If it doesn't, have a pregnancytest before beginning a new package of pills alesse 21.
• Read all of the information in your package information insert alesse 21. It mayhave slightly different instructions in the case of missed pills alesse 21. Talk to yourpharmacist, nurse, or doctor if you have any questions alesse 21.
What happens if I overdose?
• Death is not likely to occur from an overdose of Alesse alesse 21. Consult a doctor,an emergency room, or a poison control center for advice alesse 21.
• Symptoms of an overdose include nausea, vomiting, and menstrual bleeding alesse 21.
What should I avoid while taking Alesse?
• Avoid smoking alesse 21. Smoking greatly increases your risk of a heart attack,stroke, or blood clot formation alesse 21.
• Alesse do not protect you from sexually transmitted diseases--includingHIV and AIDS alesse 21. Using a condom is the only way to protect yourself from thesediseases alesse 21.
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 21.
• Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur alesse 21. Continueto take Alesse and talk to your doctor if you experience
· headache or dizziness;
· nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea;
· breakthrough bleeding; or
· breast tenderness alesse 21.
• These side effects may disappear or be less noticeable after 3 to 6 monthsof birth control use alesse 21. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice if you find anyside effect very bothersome alesse 21.
• The side effects listed below generally occur very rarely and are notconsidered serious alesse 21. 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 21.
• Side effects other than those listed here may also occur alesse 21. Talk to yourdoctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome alesse 21.
What other drugs will affect Alesse?
• Some drugs may decrease the effectiveness of Alesse, which may resultin pregnancy alesse 21. 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 21.
• Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with Alesse alesse 21. Talkto your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-countermedicines alesse 21.
Where can I get more information?
• Your pharmacist has additional information about Alesse written for healthprofessionals that you may read alesse 21.
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