HOW TO USE: Take mircette pills by mouth. Before you start taking these pills decide what is a suitable time of day and always take them at the same time of day and in the order directed. Swallow the pills with a drink of water. Take with food to reduce stomach upset. Do not take more often than directed.
Most products (except Mircette™) contain a 21-day supply of pills containing the active ingredients. Some products contain an additional 7 pills containing iron or inactive ingredients to be taken during the week of menstruation; this reduces the chance of missing the first day of the next cycle. Most products are to be started on the first Sunday after you start your period or on the first day of your period. You may need to ask your health care provider which day you should start your packet.
If you are taking the Mircette™ product, most of the 28 tablets contain active hormones. This product should be started on the first Sunday after you start your period or on the first day of your period.
Before starting this medication, read the paper on your prescription provided by your pharmacist. This paper will tell you about the specific product you are taking. Make certain you understand the instructions.
Keep an extra month's supply of your pills available to ensure that you will not miss the first day of the next cycle.
Contact your pediatrician or health care professional regarding the use of this medicine in children. Special care may be needed.
SIDE EFFECTS: Severe side effects are relatively rare in women who are healthy and do not smoke while they are taking oral contraceptives. On average, more women have problems due to complications from getting pregnant than have problems with oral contraceptives. Many of the minor side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. However, the potential for severe side effects does exist and you may want to discuss these with your health care provider.
The following symptoms or side effects may be related to blood clots and require immediate medical or emergency help: chest pain; coughing up blood; dizziness or fainting spells; leg, arm or groin pain; severe or sudden headaches; stomach pain (severe); sudden shortness of breath; sudden loss of coordination, especially on one side of the body; swelling of the hands, feet or ankles, or rapid weight gain; vision or speech problems; weakness or numbness in the arms or legs, especially on one side of the body.
Other serious side effects are rare. Contact your health care provider as soon as you can if the following side effects occur: breast tissue changes or discharge; changes in vaginal bleeding during your period or between your periods; headaches or migraines; increases in blood sugar, especially if you have diabetes; increases in blood pressure, especially if you are known to have high blood pressure; symptoms of vaginal infection (itching, irritation or unusual discharge); tenderness in the upper abdomen; vomiting; yellowing of the eyes or skin.
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your health care provider if they continue or are bothersome): breakthrough bleeding and spotting that continues beyond the 3 initial cycles of pills; breast tenderness; mild stomach upset; mood changes, anxiety, depression, frustration, anger, or emotional outbursts; increased or decreased appetite; increased sensitivity to sun or ultraviolet light; nausea; skin rash, acne, or brown spots on the skin; tiredness; weight gain.
PRECAUTIONS: Visit your health care provider for regular checks on your progress. You should have a complete check-up every 6 to 12 months. If you have any unusual vaginal bleeding contact your prescriber or health care professional for advice. If you miss a period, the possibility of pregnancy must be considered. See your prescriber or health care provider as soon as you can.
Use an additional method of contraception during the first cycle that you take these tablets.
If you stop taking these tablets and want to get pregnant, a return to normal ovulation can take some time. You may not return to normal ovulation and fertility for 3 to 6 months. Discuss your pregnancy plans with your health care provider.
If you are taking oral contraceptives for the treatment of acne, hirsutism (male-like hair growth), endometriosis or other hormone related problems, it may take several months of continued treatment to notice improvement in your symptoms or condition.
Tobacco smoking increases the risk of getting a blood clot or having a stroke while you are taking mircette, especially if you are more than 35 years old. You are strongly advised not to smoke.
Oral contraceptives can increase your sensitivity to the sun and you may burn more easily. Use sunscreen and protective clothing during long periods outdoors. Tanning booths should be used with caution.
If you wear contact lenses and notice visual changes, or if the lenses begin to feel uncomfortable, consult your eye care specialist.
In some women, tenderness, swelling, or minor bleeding of the gums may occur. Notify your dentist if this happens. Brushing and flossing your teeth regularly may help limit this. See your dentist regularly and inform your dentist of the medicines you are taking.
You may get a vaginal yeast infection. If you have never had a yeast infection before, see your prescriber or other health care provider to confirm the problem. If you have had yeast infections in the past and are comfortable with self-medicating the problem, get and use a nonprescription medication to treat the yeast infection.
If you are going to have elective surgery, you may need to stop taking your contraceptive pills one month beforehand. Consult your health care professional for advice prior to scheduling the surgery.
Taking contraceptive pills does not protect you against HIV infection (AIDS) or any other sexually transmitted diseases.
DRUG INTERACTIONS: Antibiotics or medicines for infections, especially rifampin, rifabutin, rifapentine, and griseofulvin; aprepitant, a medicine used for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting; barbiturate medicines for producing sleep or treating seizures (convulsions); bosentan; carbamazepine; caffeine; clofibrate; cyclosporine; dantrolene; grapefruit juice; hydrocortisone; medicines for anxiety or sleeping problems, such as diazepam or temazepam; medicines for mental depression; medicines for diabetes, including troglitazone and pioglitazone; mineral oil; modafinil; mycophenolate; nefazodone; oxcarbazepine; phenytoin; prednisolone; ritonavir or other medicines for the treatment of the HIV virus or AIDS; selegiline; soy isoflavones supplements; St. John's wort; tamoxifen or raloxifene; theophylline; topiramate; warfarin.
Tell your prescriber or health care professional about all other medicines you are taking, including non-prescription medicines, nutritional supplements, or herbal products. Also tell your prescriber or health care professional if you are a frequent user of drinks with caffeine or alcohol, if you smoke, or if you use illegal drugs. These may affect the way your medicine works. Check before stopping or starting any of your medicines.
NOTES: Prescriber needs to know if you have or ever had any of these conditions: blood clots; blood sugar problems, like diabetes; cancer of the breast, cervix, ovary, uterus, vagina, or unusual vaginal bleeding that has not been evaluated by a health care professional; depression; fibroids; gallbladder disease; heart or circulation problems; high blood pressure; jaundice; liver disease; menstrual problems; migraine headaches; tobacco smoker; stroke; an unusual or allergic reaction to estrogen/progestin, other hormones, medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives; pregnant or trying to get pregnant; breast-feeding.
MISSED DOSE: Try not to miss a dose. If you do, it may be necessary to consult your health care professional, especially if you are taking Mircette™.
For all products (except Mircette™)
21-day schedule: If you miss one dose, take it as soon as you remember and then take the next pill at the regular time as usual. You may take 2 tablets in one day. If you miss two doses (days) in a row, take 2 tablets for the next 2 days, then, continue with your regular schedule. Whenever 1 or 2 doses are missed, you should use a second method of contraception for the next 7 days in addition to taking the pills. If you miss three doses in a row, you should notify your physician or other health care professional for instructions. You will probably need to throw away the rest of the tablets in that cycle pack and start over. Another method of contraception should be used until at least 7 doses have been taken in the new cycle. Missing a pill can cause spotting or light bleeding. Make sure that no more than 7 days pass at the end of the 21 day cycle, before you start your next pack of pills.
28-day schedule: Follow the same directions as above for the first 21 days of the schedule. If you miss 1 of the last 7 pills, you can either double the dose or skip it, but it is important to start the next month's cycle on the scheduled day.
For Mircette™: You will need to contact your health care provider for specific instructions based on which tablets have been missed, for how many days they have been missed, and based on what week of your current cycle you are currently taking tablets.
STORAGE: Keep out of the reach of children.
Store at room temperature between 15 and 30 degrees C (59 and 86 degrees F). Keep container tightly closed. Throw away any unused medicine after the expiration date.
Oral contraceptives (birth-control pills) are used to prevent pregnancy. Estrogen and progestin are two female sex hormones. Combinations of estrogen and progestin work by preventing the release of eggs from the ovaries (ovulation) and changing the cervical mucus and the lining of the uterus. Oral contraceptives are a very effective method of birth control, but they do not prevent the spread of AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases.
How should this medicine be used?
Oral contraceptives come in packets of 21 or 28 tablets to take by mouth once a day. To avoid upset stomach, take oral contraceptives with food or milk. Take the tablet routinely at the same time every day (e.g., after dinner or at bedtime) to help you remember to take the tablet regularly. Missing doses increases your risk of becoming pregnant.
When first starting on this medicine, use an additional method of birth control until you have correctly taken 7 days' worth of medicine.
If you have a 21-tablet packet, take one tablet daily for 21 days and then none for seven days. Then start a new packet.
If you have a 28-tablet packet, take one tablet daily for 28 days. The last seven tablets are a different color. These tablets are not birth-control pills; they contain iron (ferrous fumarate) or an inactive ingredient. You should take one tablet daily continuously for 28 days in the order specified in your packet, starting a new packet the day after taking your 28th tablet.
Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully concerning when to take your first tablet (on the first or fifth day of your menstrual period or on the first Sunday after or on which bleeding begins). Take the oral contraceptive exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor. Do not stop taking this medicine without talking to your doctor.
If you have recently given birth, wait until 4 weeks after giving birth to begin taking oral contraceptives.
Before taking oral contraceptives, ask your pharmacist or doctor for a copy of the manufacturer's information for the patient and read it carefully.
Other uses for this medicine
This medication may be prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
What special precautions should I follow?
Before taking oral contraceptives,
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tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to estrogen, progestin, or any other medications.
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tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, and nutritional supplements you are taking. Be sure to mention any of the following: acetaminophen (APAP, Tylenol); antibiotics; anticoagulants ('blood thinners') such as warfarin (Coumadin); atorvastatin (Lipitor); clofibrate (Atromid-S); cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune); griseofulvin (Fulvicin, Grifulvin, Grisactin); HIV protease inhibitors such as indinavir (Crixivan) and ritonavir (Norvir); medications for seizures such as carbamazepine (Tegretol), phenobarbital (Luminal, Solfoton), phenytoin (Dilantin), and topiramate (Topamax); morphine (Kadian, MS Contin, MSIR, others); oral steroids such as dexamethasone (Decadron, Dexone), methylprednisolone (Medrol), prednisone (Deltasone), and prednisolone (Prelone); phenylbutazone; rifabutin (Mycobutin); rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane); temazepam (Restoril); theophylline (Theobid, Theo-Dur); and thyroid medication such as levothyroxine (Levothroid, Levoxyl, Synthroid). Before taking Yasmin, tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are taking angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors such as benazepril (Lotensin), enalapril (Vasotec), and lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril); angiotensin II antagonists such as irbesartan (Avapro), losartan (Cozaar), and valsartan (Diovan); aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDS) such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn); diuretics ('water pills') such as amiloride (Midamor), spironolactone (Aldactone), and triamterene (Dyrenium); or heparin. Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.
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tell your doctor what herbal products you are taking, especially St. John's wort.
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tell your doctor if you have or have ever had breast lumps or cancer; endometrial cancer; high blood pressure; high blood cholesterol and fats; diabetes (high blood sugar); asthma; stroke; blood clots; toxemia (high blood pressure during pregnancy); heart attack; epilepsy (seizures); migraine headaches; depression; liver, heart, gallbladder, or kidney disease; adrenal insufficiency (for Yasmin); jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); vaginal bleeding between menstrual periods; and excessive weight gain and fluid retention (bloating) during the menstrual cycle.
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do not take oral contraceptives if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking oral contraceptives, call your doctor immediately.
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if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking oral contraceptives.
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tell your doctor and pharmacist if you wear contact lenses. If you notice changes in vision or ability to wear your lenses while taking hormone replacement therapy, see an eye doctor.
What special dietary instructions should I follow?
Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, continue your normal diet.
What should I do if I forget a dose?
If you miss doses of your oral contraceptive, you may be at risk for becoming pregnant. Instructions about missed doses are different for different products. Carefully read the instructions in the manufacturer's information for the patient. If you have any questions, call your doctor or pharmacist. If you miss pills, you may need to use a backup method of birth control for 7 days or until the end of the cycle.
What side effects can this medication cause?
Oral contraceptives may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:
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upset stomach
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vomiting
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stomach cramps or bloating
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diarrhea
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constipation
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gingivitis (swelling of the gum tissue)
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weight gain or weight loss
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brown or black skin patches
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acne
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swelling of the hands, feet, or lower legs (fluid retention)
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hair growth in unusual places
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bleeding or spotting between menstrual periods
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changes in menstrual flow
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painful or missed periods
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breast tenderness, enlargement, or discharge
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difficulty wearing contact lenses
Some side effects can be seious. The following symptoms are uncommon, but if you experience any of them, call your doctor immediately:
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severe headache
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shortness of breath
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severe vomiting
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partial or complete loss of vision
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double vision
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speech problems
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dizziness or faintness
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weakness or numbness of an arm or leg
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crushing chest pain or chest heaviness
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coughing up blood
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calf pain
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severe stomach pain
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yellowing of the skin or eyes
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severe depression
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unusual bleeding
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loss of appetite
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extreme tiredness, weakness, or lack of energy
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fever
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dark-colored urine
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light-colored stool
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rash
Oral contraceptives may increase the risk of developing endometrial and breast cancer, gallbladder disease, liver tumors, heart attack, stroke, and blood clots. Talk to your doctor about the risks of taking this medication.
Oral contraceptives may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication.
What storage conditions are needed for this medicine?
Keep this medication in the packet it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom). Throw away any medication that is outdated or no longer needed. Talk to your pharmacist about the proper disposal of your medication.
In case of emergency/overdose
In case of overdose, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call local emergency services at 911.
What other information should I know?
Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. You should have a complete physical examination every year, including blood pressure measurements, breast and pelvic exams, and a Pap test. Follow your doctor's directions for examining your breasts; report any lumps immediately.
Before you have any laboratory tests, tell the laboratory personnel that you take oral contraceptives, as this medication may interfere with some laboratory tests.
If you miss one menstrual period and have taken your tablets as directed, continue taking them. However, if you miss one period and have not taken your tablets as directed or if you miss two menstrual periods and have taken the tablets as directed, call your doctor and use another method of birth control until you have a pregnancy test.
If you wish to stop taking oral contraceptives and become pregnant, use another method of birth control for at least 3 months after you stop taking the tablets to be sure that the medication will not harm the fetus. It may take a long time for you to become pregnant after you stop taking oral contraceptives, especially if you have never had a baby or if you had irregular, infrequent, or complete absence of menstrual periods before taking oral contraceptives. Questions should be discussed with your doctor.
Do not let anyone else take your medication. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your prescription |
