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