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