seasonale
ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel (extended-cycle oral contraceptive)
What is the most important information I should know about Seasonale?
• Seasonale does not provide protection from sexually transmitted diseases--includingHIV and AIDS seasonale. Using a condom is the only way to protect yourself from thesediseases seasonale.
• Take one pill every day at the same time, no more than 24 hours afterthe last dose seasonale. Try to take the pills at a time that you will remember everyday--for example just before bed, with a meal, or first thing in the morning seasonale.
• Avoid smoking cigarettes while taking ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel seasonale. Smoking greatly increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, and blood clot formation seasonale.
• Follow your doctor's instructions about using a second form of birthcontrol when you first start taking ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel, whenyou are taking antibiotics or other medications, or if you miss a pill seasonale. If youare unsure what to do in any of these cases, talk to your pharmacist, nurse,or doctor about how to ensure that you will not become pregnant seasonale.
What is ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel?
• Ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel are hormones that affect the ovulatoryand menstrual cycle of women seasonale. Ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel prevent ovulation(the release of an egg from an ovary), therefore preventing the possibilityof pregnancy seasonale. Seasonale may also inhibit pregnancy by causing the cervical mucousto thicken, which makes it harder for sperm to move toward the uterus, and reducingthe likelihood of attachment of a fertilized egg to the uterus seasonale.
• The extended-cycle formulation of Seasonale has a 91-day treatment cycle,resulting in 4 menstrual periods per year seasonale.
• Seasonale is used to prevent pregnancy seasonale.
• Seasonale may also be used for purposes other than those listed in thismedication guide seasonale.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking ethinyl estradioland levonorgestrel?
• Do not take Seasonale without first talking to your doctor if you:
· smoke;
· have a bleeding or blood-clotting disorder or a history of blood clots;
· have current or past heart or blood vessel disease, heart attack orstroke, uncontrolled high blood pressure, angina (chest pain), problems withheart valves, or irregular heart beats;
· have diabetes;
· current or past liver problems;
· have breast, uterine, or another hormone-related cancer;
· have undiagnosed, abnormal vaginal bleeding; or
· need to have surgery that will require extended bed-rest or immobilization seasonale.
• Other medical conditions may also affect treatment with ethinyl estradioland levonorgestrel seasonale. Talk to your doctor before taking this medication if you
· have seizures, migraines, or depression;
· have a history of very light or irregular menstrual periods
· have breast nodules, fibrocystic disease of the breast, abnormal breastx-ray or mammogram;
· are obese;
· have high cholesterol, triglycerides, or blood pressure; or
· have gallbladder disease or kidney disease seasonale.
• You may not be able to take ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel, oryou may require special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditionslisted above seasonale.
• Seasonale is in the FDA pregnancy category X seasonale. This means that Seasonaleis known to cause birth defects in an unborn baby seasonale. Hormonal changes during pregnancycan have very serious negative effects on a developing baby seasonale. Do not take Seasonaleif you are pregnant or if you think you might be pregnant seasonale.
• The hormones in Seasonale pass into breast milk and may decrease milkproduction or affect a nursing baby seasonale. Do not take Seasonale without first talkingto your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby seasonale.
How should I take ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel?
• Take Seasonale exactly as directed by your doctor seasonale. If you do not understandthese directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you seasonale.
• The extended-cycle form of Seasonale involves a 91-day treatment cycleresulting in 4 menstrual periods per year (which occurs when you are takingthe 7 white pills) seasonale.
• An increase in bleeding or spotting between periods (compared to takinga standard 21- or 28-day birth control pill cycle) is expected to occur seasonale. Duringthe first cycle of pills, about 1 in 3 women may have 20 or more days of unplannedbleeding or spotting seasonale. This tends to decrease during later cycles seasonale. Treatmentwith Seasonale should not be stopped due to spotting or bleeding seasonale. If the spottingcontinues for more than 7 consecutive days or if the bleeding is heavy, contactyour healthcare provider seasonale.
• Take the first pill in a package on the first Sunday after your periodbegins, even if you are still bleeding seasonale. If your period starts on Sunday, takethe first pill that day seasonale. Use another form of birth control anytime you havesex for the first 7 days you take the pills seasonale.
• Take one pill every day at the same time, no more than 24 hours afterthe last dose seasonale. Try to take the pills at a time that you will remember everyday--for example just before bed, with a meal, or first thing in the morning seasonale. Taking the pill at night may help to reduce nausea or headache, which may beside effects seasonale.
• Your period should occur during the 7 days you are taking the white pills(these pills are inactive and do not contain hormones) seasonale. If it doesn't, havea pregnancy test before beginning a new package of pills seasonale.
• After taking the last white pill from a pack, start a new pack the verynext day seasonale. Do not skip any days seasonale.
• Follow your doctor's instructions about using a second form of birthcontrol when you first start taking ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel, whenyou are taking antibiotics or other medications, or if you miss a pill seasonale. If youare unsure what to do in any of these cases, talk to your pharmacist, nurse,or doctor about how to ensure that you will not become pregnant seasonale.
• Store Seasonale at room temperature away from moisture and heat seasonale.
What happens if I miss a dose?
• Missing a pill increases the chance of becoming pregnant seasonale. Follow theexact directions on the package information insert concerning missed doses seasonale. If you do not have a package information insert, call your pharmacist, doctor,or nurse to find out what to do seasonale.
• 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 seasonale. There is little likelihoodthat ovulation will occur seasonale.
• If you miss two tablets in a row, take two tablets each for the nexttwo regularly scheduled doses (one missed tablet plus one regularly scheduledtablet for 2 days in a row) seasonale. There is an increased chance of ovulation and unintendedpregnancy seasonale. Use an additional form of birth control until you have taken a pillfor 7 days in a row seasonale.
• If you miss three tablets in a row, do not remove the missed tabletsfrom the package, they will not be taken seasonale. Take the next pill in the packagefor the current day seasonale. Continue to take one pill per day until the cycle is completed seasonale. There is an increased chance of ovulation and unintended pregnancy seasonale. Use an additionalform of birth control until you have taken a pill for 7 days in a row.You mayexperience menstrual bleeding during the week following the missed pills seasonale.
• If you miss any of the 7 white inactive pills, they can be thrown away seasonale. Keep taking the scheduled pills until the pack is finished seasonale. No back-up methodof birth control is needed seasonale.
What happens if I overdose?
• Death or serious harm is not likely to occur from an overdose of ethinylestradiol and levonorgestrel seasonale. Consult a doctor, an emergency room, or a poisoncontrol center for advice seasonale.
• Symptoms of an overdose may include nausea, vomiting, and menstrual bleeding seasonale.
What should I avoid while taking my ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel?
• Seasonale does not provide protection from sexually transmitted diseases--includingHIV and AIDS seasonale. Using a condom is the only way to protect yourself from thesediseases seasonale.
• Avoid smoking cigarettes while taking ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel seasonale. Smoking greatly increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, and blood clot formation seasonale.
What are the possible side effects of ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel?
• If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop takingSeasonale and seek emergency medical attention or contact your doctor immediately:
· an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat;swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives);
· possible blood clot in the lung (shortness of breath, coughing up blood,or pain in the chest); the leg (pain, redness, swelling, or numbness of theleg); or the eye (partial or complete loss of vision);
· chest pain or heaviness in the chest (possible heart attack);
· severe headache or vomiting, dizziness or fainting, vision or speechdisturbances, weakness or numbness in an arm or leg (may indicate a stroke);
· breast lumps;
· possible liver problems (yellowing of the skin or eyes, nausea, abdominalpain or discomfort, unusual bleeding or bruising, severe fatigue) seasonale.
• Other, less serious side effects may also occur seasonale. Continue to take Seasonaleand talk to your doctor if you experience
· breakthrough bleeding or spotting;
· headache;
· nausea or vomiting;
· breast tenderness;
· depression;
· changes in weight or appetite;
· changes in skin color; or
· changes in fit of contact lenses seasonale.
• Side effects other than those listed here may also occur seasonale. Talk to yourdoctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome seasonale.
What other drugs will affect my ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel?
• Many other drugs may interact with ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel seasonale. Some interactions (e.g seasonale. with certain antibiotics, protease inhibitors, and othermedications) may result in decreased effectiveness of the medication and thereforeincrease the risk of unintended pregnancy seasonale. Talk to your doctor or pharmacistbefore taking any other prescription or over-the-counter medications, includingherbal products, while taking ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel seasonale.
Where can I get more information?
• Your pharmacist has additional information about Seasonale written forhealth professionals that you may read seasonale.
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