Learn more about usage, cautions, and possible side effects .
Chemical Name: DESOGESTREL (des-oh-JES-trel) and ETHINYL ESTRADIOL (ETH-in-il ess-tra-DYE-ole)
This medicine is a triphasic oral contraceptive (birth control pill) containing estrogen and progestin hormones. It is used to prevent pregnancy. This medicine may be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.
WARNING: Smoking increases your risk of serious side effects from this medicine including blood clots, blockage of blood vessels, heart attack, stroke, and high blood pressure. Women who use this medicine should not smoke. 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 troleandomycin, nevirapine, rifampin, or St. John's wort. ADDITIONAL MONITORING OF YOUR DOSE OR CONDITION may be needed if you are taking carbamazepine, griseofulvin, modafinil, phenylbutazone, theophylline, troglitazone, barbiturate medicines, beta-blockers, penicillin or tetracycline antibiotics, corticosteroids, medicine for seizures, or medicines for HIV infection. Inform your doctor of any other medical conditions, allergies, pregnancy, or breast-feeding. USE OF THIS MEDICINE IS NOT RECOMMENDED if you have unexplained vaginal bleeding, chest pain (angina), or a history of blood clots, heart attack, stroke, cancer, or a liver, heart, or vascular condition. Contact your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions or concerns about taking this medicine.
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 taking this medicine. TAKE THIS MEDICINE at the same time every day, not more than 24 hours apart. Continue taking this medicine until the pack is empty. DO NOT SKIP ANY DOSES even if you feel sick to your stomach or have spotting or light bleeding. STORE THIS MEDICINE at room temperature at 25 degrees C (77 degrees F), away from heat and light. IF YOU MISS A DOSE OF THIS MEDICINE, take it as soon as you remember. Take the next dose at the regular time even if this means you take 2 doses on the same day. IF YOU MISS MORE THAN 1 DOSE OF THIS MEDICINE, refer to the patient information leaflet that came with this medicine or check with your doctor or pharmacist.
TAKING THIS MEDICINE WILL NOT PROTECT YOU FROM HIV infection (AIDS) or other sexually transmitted diseases. MISSING DOSES OR STARTING A PACK OF THIS MEDICINE LATE increases your risk of pregnancy. To prevent pregnancy, be sure you have ready at all times another form of birth control to use as a back-up in case you miss pills. IF IRREGULAR VAGINAL BLEEDING OR SPOTTING OCCURS during more than one cycle or lasts for more than a few days, check with your doctor. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A PERIOD for one or more cycles, make sure you are not pregnant or check with your doctor before continuing this medicine. IF YOU HAVE DIABETES, this medicine may affect your blood sugar. Check blood sugar levels closely and ask your doctor before adjusting the dose of your diabetes medicine. IF YOU HAVE VOMITING OR DIARRHEA OR IF YOU TAKE CERTAIN MEDICINES including some antibiotics, anticonvulsants, antifungals, and other drugs that decrease the contraceptive effectiveness of this medicine, use an additional form of birth control until your next period. BEFORE YOU BEGIN TAKING ANY NEW MEDICINE, either prescription or over-the-counter, check with your doctor or pharmacist. This includes herbal products containing St. John's Wort (hypericum perforatum). IF YOU WEAR CONTACT LENSES and you develop problems with them, contact your eye doctor. KEEP ALL DOCTOR AND LABORATORY appointments while you are taking this medicine. BEFORE YOU HAVE ANY MEDICAL OR DENTAL TREATMENTS, EMERGENCY CARE, OR SURGERY, tell the doctor or dentist that you are using this medicine. DO NOT TAKE THIS MEDICINE if you are pregnant. IF YOU SUSPECT THAT YOU COULD BE PREGNANT, contact your doctor immediately. THIS MEDICINE IS EXCRETED in breast-milk. Do not breast-feed while you are using this medicine.
SIDE EFFECTS that may occur while you are taking this medicine include breast tenderness or enlargement; changes in appetite or weight; dizziness; headache; mild hair loss; nausea; nervousness; spotting or breakthrough bleeding; stomach cramps or bloating; or vomiting. If they continue or are bothersome, check with your doctor. CHECK WITH YOUR DOCTOR AS SOON AS POSSIBLE if you experience change in the amount of urine produced; difficulty wearing contact lenses; persistent or recurrent vaginal bleeding; persistent or recurring headache or dizziness; swelling of fingers, hands, legs, or ankles; vaginal discomfort or irritation; or unusual vaginal discharge. CONTACT YOUR DOCTOR IMMEDIATELY if you experience a missed menstrual period; breast lump or discharge; calf/leg pain or swelling; chest pain; confusion; coughing up blood; dark urine; fainting; heavy vaginal bleeding; mental or mood changes (such as depression); migraines; numbness of an arm or leg; one-sided weakness; pale stools; severe stomach pain; severe dizziness; slurred speech; sudden severe headache or vomiting; sudden shortness of breath; unusual tiredness or weakness; vision changes (such as loss of vision); or yellowing of the skin or eyes (with or without fever). AN ALLERGIC REACTION to this medicine is unlikely, but seek immediate medical attention if it occurs. Symptoms of an allergic reaction include rash, itching, swelling, severe dizziness, or trouble breathing. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist. This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your healthcare provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Drug interactions can result in unwanted side effects or prevent a medicine from doing its job. Use our drug interaction checker to find out if your medicines interact with each other. Check drug interactions
IF OVERDOSE IS SUSPECTED, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately. Symptoms of overdose may include nausea, vomiting, and vaginal bleeding in females.
IF YOU HAVE TROUBLE REMEMBERING to take this medicine, discuss with your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist ways to help you remember or ask about other forms of birth control that may work better for you. DO NOT SHARE THIS MEDICINE with others for whom it was not prescribed. DO NOT USE THIS MEDICINE for other health conditions. KEEP THIS MEDICINE out of the reach of children. IF YOU WILL BE USING THIS MEDICINE FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, be sure to obtain necessary refills before your supply runs out.
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