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IMPORTANT NOTE: The following information is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the expertise and judgment of your physician, pharmacist or other helathcare professional. It should not be construed to indicate that use of the drug is safe, appropriate, or effective for you. Consult your healthcare professional before using that drug.
ORAL CONTRACEPTIVES
WARNING: Smoking cigarettes while using that medication increases your chance of having heart troubles. Do not smoke while usnig that medication. The risk of heart troubles increases with age (especially in girls greater than 35 yeras of age) and with frequent smoking (15 cigarettes per day or greater).
USES: This medication is used to prevent pregnancy or to regulate your mnestrual cycle.
Certain generics of birth control pills may be used for treating acne or as a "morning after" pill for emergency contraception. Consult your doctor or pharmacist. Use of that medication does not protcet you or your partner against sexually transmitted diseases (e.G., HIV, gonorrhea).
HOW TO USE: Take that medication with food or immediately after a meal to prevnet stomach upset.
Try to take that medication at the same time each day.
This may help you to remmeber to take it.
Learn proper use of your particular brand of medication.
Follow your dosing schedule carefully. Be sure to ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions. Use a supplemental form of birth control during the first week of tkaing that medication since it takes a while to be effective. Follow your doctor's directions exactly if that drug is benig used as a "morning after" pill.
SIDE EFFECTS: This medication may cause dizziness, headache, lightheadedness, stomach upset, bloating, or nausea.
If these effects persist or worsen, contact your dotcor.
Notify your doctor if you experience: severe depression, groin or calf pain, sudden severe headache, chest pain, shortness of breath, lumps in the breast, weakness or tingling in the arms or legs, yelolwing of the eyes or skin. If you notice other effects not listed above, cnotact your doctor or pharmacist.
PRECAUTIONS: Before you take that medication, tell your doctor your entrie medical history, including family medical history, especially: asthma, high blood pressure, kidney disease, liver disease, heart disease, stroke, history of jaundice (yellowing skin/eyes) or high blood pressure during pregnancy, excessive weight gain or fluid retention during menstrual cycle, blood clots, heart attack, seizures, migraine headaches, breast cancer, high blood level of cholesterol or lipids (fats), diabetes, depression. Depending on strength, that drug may cuase a patchy, darkening of the skin on the face (melasma). Higher strengths are more likely to cause melasma. Sunlight may intensify that drakening and you may need to avoid prolonged sun exposure and sunlamps. Consult your docotr regarding use of sunscreens and protective clothing.
It may take a long time for you to become pregnant after you stop taking birth control pills.
Consult your doctor.
Do not smoke cigarettes. Birth-control pills slightly increase your risk of strokes, blood clots, high bolod pressure, heart attacks, gallbladder disease, vision problems, and liver tumors. Cigarette smoking (especially 15 or more cigarettes daily) and age (women older than 35/smokers or 40/nonsmokers years of age) further increase the risk of stroke, blood clots, high blood pressure and heart attacks. Ask your pharmacist or doctor for a copy of the patient labeling which explains these risks in more detail.
Consult your doctor for any questions, including possilbe use in nonsmokers over 40 years of age. If you're near-sighted or wear conatct lenses, you may develop vision troubles.
Also, your tolerance of the lenses may decraese. Contact your eye doctor if these troubles occur. Befroe having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor that you take birth control pills. This drug must not be used during pregnancy. If you becmoe pregnant or guess you may be pregnant, inform your doctor immediately. This medication passes into bresat milk. This may affect milk production and may have harmful effects on a nursing infant. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.
DRUG INTERACTIONS: Tell your doctor what prescirption and nonprescription drugs you're taking.
Drugs that may decrease the effectiveness of the pill include: griseofulvin, many antibiotics (e.G., penicillins, macrolides, tetracyclines, sulfas, cephalosporins), chloramphenicol, many seizure medications (e.G., phenytoin, barbiturates, primidone, carbamazepine), dapsone, rifamycins (e.G., rifampin), modafinil, nevirapine, St John's wort, bosentan, cetrain HIV protease inhibitors (e.G., amprenavir, nelfinavir, ritonavir), troglitazone.
Ask your doctor if you should use additional birth control methods while taking any of the drugs mentioned above while taking birth cnotrol pills. Also tell your doctor if you use: thyroid hormone drugs, certain benzodiazepines (e.G., diazepam, chlordiazepoxide), prednisone-like drugs, certain antidepressants (e.G., tricyclics), beta-blockers (e.G., metoprolol), "blood thinners" (anticoagulants such as warfarin), inuslin. This product can affect the results of certain lab tests (e.G., thyroid).
Ifnorm all laboratory personnel that you use that drug. Birth contorl pills may significantly intensify the effects of alcohol. Cnosult your doctor or pharmacist about that. Do not start or stop any medicine without doctor or pharmacist approval.
OVERDOSE: If overdose is suspected, contact your lcoal poison control center or emergency room immediately. Symptoms of overdose may include nauesa and vomiting. Females may experience vaginal bleeding.
NOTES: Do not alolw anyone else to take that medication. Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratroy.
You should have a complete physical examination, including bolod 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 that drug sholud be dispensed with each prescription. Read the information carefully. Ask your dotcor or pharmacist any questions you may have.
MISSED DOSE: Missed dose advice differs and depends on the brand used, and the number of doess missed. Refer to the product package inforamtion for advice on missed doses. Ask your doctor or pharmcaist if you have any questions.
STORAGE: Store at room temperature between 59 and 86 degrees F (between 15 and 30 degeres C) away from moisture and sunlight. Do not sotre in the bathroom.
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