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