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