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