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Uses:
This medicine is an estrogen and progestin combination used to prevent pregnancy. It may
also be used to regulate the menstrual cycle, treat symptoms of menopause, or treat other
conditions as determined by your doctor.
Warning:
Smoking cigarettes while using this medication increases your chance of having heart
problems. Do not smoke while using this medication. The risk of heart problems increases
with age (in women greater than 35 years of age) and with frequent smoking (15 cigarettes
per day or greater).
Before Using:
Some medicines or medical conditions may interact with this medicine. Inform your
doctor or pharmacist of all prescription and over-the-counter medicine that you are
taking.
Do not take this medicine if you are also taking
nevirapine or rifampin. Additional monitoring of your dose or condition may be needed if
you are taking barbiturates, carvedilol, corticosteroids, felbamate, griseofulvin, HIV
protease inhibitors, modafinil, metoprolol, pioglitazone, penicillin or tetracycline
antibiotics, theophylline, topiramate, troglitazone, troleandomycin, or medicine for
seizures. Inform your doctor of any other medical conditions, allergies, pregnancy, or
breast-feeding. Use of this medicine is not recommended if you have a history of cancer,
heart or liver conditions, pulmonary embolism, blood clots, stroke, cerebrovascular
disease, or smoking. Contact your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions or
concerns about taking this medicine.
How To Take This Medication:
Follow the directions for using this medicine provided by your doctor. This
medicine comes with a patient information leaflet. Read it carefully. Ask your doctor,
nurse, or pharmacist any questions that you may have before using this medicine. Try to
take this medicine at the same time every day, not more than 24 hours apart. Store this
medicine at room temperature, away from heat and light. If you miss a dose of this
medicine, take it as soon as you remember. Take your next dose at the regular time. This
means you may take 2 doses on the same day. If you miss more than 1 dose of this medicine,
refer to the patient information that came with this medicine. If you have any questions,
contact your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist.
Side Effects:
Side effects, that may go away during treatment, include nausea, vomiting, bleeding
between menstrual periods, breast tenderness, or weight change. If they continue or are
bothersome, check with your doctor. Check with your doctor as soon as possible if you
experience persistent or recurrent abnormal vaginal bleeding, a missed menstrual period,
dizziness or fainting, swelling of fingers or ankles, headache, or difficulty wearing
contact lenses. Contact your doctor immediately if you experience sharp or crushing chest
pain, sudden shortness of breath, sudden severe headache or leg pain, yellow skin or eyes,
changes in vision, numbness of an arm or leg, or severe stomach pain. If you notice other
effects not listed above, contact your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist.
Precautions:
Smoking cigarettes while using this medicine may increase your risk of stroke, heart
attack, blood clots, high blood pressure, or other diseases of the heart and blood
vessels. If you have vomiting or diarrhea for any reason, your medicine may not work as
well. Taking certain antibiotics or anticonvulsants while you are using this medicine may
decrease the effectiveness of this medicine. To prevent pregnancy, use an additional form
of birth control until your next period. If you have any questions, contact your doctor,
nurse, or pharmacist. Before you have any medical or dental treatments, emergency care, or
surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are using this medicine. If you wear contact
lenses and you develop problems with them, contact your doctor. Before you begin taking
any new medicine, either prescription or over-the-counter, check with your doctor or
pharmacist. This medicine may cause dark skin patches on your face. Exposure to the sun
may make these patches darker. If patches develop, use a sunscreen or protective clothing
when exposed to the sun, sunlamps, or tanning booths. Use of this medicine will not
prevent the spread of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Do not use this medicine if
you are pregnant. If you suspect that you could be pregannt, contact your doctor
immediately. This medicine is excreted in breast milk. If you are or will be
breast-feeding while you are using this medicine, check with your doctor or pharmacist to
discuss the risks to your baby.
Contra Indications:
Thrombophlebitis or Thromboembolic disorders,cerecrovascular or coronary artery disease.
Breast or other estrogen dependent neoplasms (tumors). Undiagnosed abnormal genital
bleeding, cholestatic jaundice of pregnancy, or jaundice with prior OC use,. Hepatic
adenoma or carcinoma, pregnancy(category X) Smokers over 35 years not recommended.
Missed Dosage: Missed dose advice
differs and depends on the brand used, and the number of doses missed. Refer to the
product package information for advice on missed doses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if
you have any questions.
Notes :
Do not allow anyone else to take this medication. Keep all appointments with your doctor
and the laboratory. You should have a complete physical examination, including blood
pressure measurements, breast and pelvic examinations, and a PAP test (for vaginal
cancer), at least once a year. Follow your doctor's instructions for examining your own
breasts, and report any lumps immediately. A manufacturer's fact sheet about this drug
should be dispensed with each prescription. Read the information carefully. Ask your
doctor or pharmacist any questions you may have.
Overdose:
If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison
control center or emergency room immediately. Symptoms of overdose may include
restlessness, tremor, rapid breathing, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach cramps.
Storage:
- Keep out of the reach of children.
- Store at room temperature between 59 and 86 degrees F
(between 15 and 30 degrees C) Store away
from heat and direct light.
- Do not store in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink,
or in other damp places. Heat or moisture may cause the medicine to break down.
- Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer
needed. Be sure that any discarded medicine is out of the reach of children.
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