Summer BanksOral Contraceptives
September 8th 2006 23:03
Treatment :
To avoid stomach irritation, you can take oral contraceptives with food or with a full glass of water or milk.
To become accustomed to taking this medication, try to take it at the same time every day.
Use a supplemental method of birth control for the first week after you start taking oral contraceptives. The medication takes time to become fully effective. Discuss this with your doctor.
Even if you do not start to menstruate on schedule at the end of the pill cycle, begin the next cycle of pills at the prescribed time. Many women taking oral contraceptives have irregular menstruation.
If you miss a dose of this medication and you are on a 21-day schedule, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If you don't remember until the next day, take the dose of that day plus the one you missed; then return to your regular dosing schedule. If you miss two days' doses, you should take two tablets a day for the next two days; then return to your regular dosing schedule.
You should also use another form of birth control for at least seven days following the missed pills.
If you miss your dose three days in a row, you should stop taking this drug and use a different method of birth control until you check with your doctor. Your doctor may want you to start a new package seven days after the last tablet was missed and use an additional method of birth control until the start of your next period.
If you are on the 28-day schedule and you miss taking any one of the first 21 tablets, you should follow the instructions for the 21-day schedule. If you missed taking any of the last seven tablets, there is no danger of pregnancy, but you should take the first pill of the next month's cycle on the regularly scheduled day.
Side Effects :
Minor: Abdominal cramps, acne, backache, bloating, change in appetite, changes in sexual desire, diarrhea, dizziness, fatigue, headache, nasal congestion, nausea, nervousness, vaginal irritation, or vomiting. These side effects should disappear as your body adjusts to the medication.
This medication can increase your sensitivity to sunlight. Avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight and sunlamps, wear protective clothing, and use a sunscreen.
If you feel dizzy or light-headed, sit or lie down for a while; get up slowly from a sitting or reclining position; and be careful on stairs.
To avoid dizziness or light-headedness when you stand, contract and relax the muscles in your legs for a few moments before rising. Do this by pressing one foot into the floor while raising the other foot slightly, alternating feet so that you are "pumping" your legs in a pedaling motion.
Major: Tell your doctor about any side effects that are persistent or particularly bothersome. IT IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT TO TELL YOUR DOCTOR about abdominal pain; breakthrough vaginal bleeding (spotting); changes in menstrual flow; chest pain; depression; difficult or painful urination; enlarged or tender breasts; hearing changes; increase or decrease in hair growth; migraine headaches; numbness or tingling; pain in your calves; rash; skin color changes; swelling of the feet, ankles, or lower legs; unusual bleeding or bruising; vaginal itching; weight changes; or yellowing of the eyes or the skin.
Interactions :
These drugs interact with several other medications:
Pain relievers, antimigraine preparations, rifampin, barbiturates, phenytoin, primidone, carbamazepine, isoniazid, neomycin, griseofulvin, penicillins, tetracycline, chloramphenicol, sulfonamide antibiotics, nitrofurantoin, theophylline, ritonavir, and ampicillin can reduce the effectiveness of oral contraceptives and increase the risk of pregnancy. Your doctor may advise you to use an extra form of contraception, such as a condom, if you take one of these drugs.
Oral contraceptives can reduce the effectiveness of oral anticoagulant medications (blood thinners, such as warfarin), anticonvulsants, tricyclic antidepressants, antihypertensive medications, oral antidiabetic medications, lorazepam, oxazepam, and vitamins.
Oral contraceptives can increase the blood levels of caffeine, diazepam, chlordiazepoxide, metoprolol, propranolol, adrenocorticosteroid drugs, imipramine, clomipramine, cyclosporine, and phenytoin, which can lead to an increase in side effects.
BE SURE TO TELL YOUR DOCTOR about any medications you are currently taking, especially any of the medications listed above.
Warnings :
Tell your doctor about unusual or allergic reactions you have had to any medications, especially to estrogens, progestins, or progesterones.
Before you start to take this medication, be sure to tell your doctor if you now have or if you have ever had asthma, bleeding problems, breast cancer, clotting disorders, diabetes mellitus, endometriosis, epilepsy, gallbladder disease, heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney disease, liver disease, mental depression, migraine headaches, porphyria, a stroke, thyroid disease, uterine tumors, unexplained vaginal bleeding, or vitamin deficiencies.
Some women who have used an oral contraceptive have had difficulty becoming pregnant after discontinuing use. Most of these women had had scanty or irregular periods before starting oral contraceptives. Possible subsequent difficulty in becoming pregnant is a matter you should discuss with your doctor before deciding to use an oral contraceptive.
Every prescription comes with a booklet that explains birth control pills. Read this booklet carefully. It contains exact directions on how to use this medicine correctly and describes the risks involved.
Do not smoke while taking oral contraceptives. Smoking may reduce the effectiveness of the contraceptives and increase the risk of side effects.
Women who are over age 30 and women who smoke while taking this medication have an increased risk of developing serious heart or blood-vessel side effects.
If this drug makes you dizzy, avoid taking part in any activity that requires alertness, such as driving an automobile or operating potentially dangerous tools, equipment, or machinery. Be careful on stairs.
Before surgery or other medical or dental treatment, tell your doctor or dentist you are taking this drug.
Be sure to tell your doctor if you are pregnant. Oral contraceptives have been associated with birth defects in animals and in humans. Because hormones have long-term effects on the body, women should stop taking oral contraceptives at least three months prior to becoming pregnant. Another method of birth control should be used for those three months. Also tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding an infant. This medication passes into breast milk.
To avoid stomach irritation, you can take oral contraceptives with food or with a full glass of water or milk.
To become accustomed to taking this medication, try to take it at the same time every day.
Use a supplemental method of birth control for the first week after you start taking oral contraceptives. The medication takes time to become fully effective. Discuss this with your doctor.
Even if you do not start to menstruate on schedule at the end of the pill cycle, begin the next cycle of pills at the prescribed time. Many women taking oral contraceptives have irregular menstruation.
If you miss a dose of this medication and you are on a 21-day schedule, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If you don't remember until the next day, take the dose of that day plus the one you missed; then return to your regular dosing schedule. If you miss two days' doses, you should take two tablets a day for the next two days; then return to your regular dosing schedule.
You should also use another form of birth control for at least seven days following the missed pills.
If you miss your dose three days in a row, you should stop taking this drug and use a different method of birth control until you check with your doctor. Your doctor may want you to start a new package seven days after the last tablet was missed and use an additional method of birth control until the start of your next period.
If you are on the 28-day schedule and you miss taking any one of the first 21 tablets, you should follow the instructions for the 21-day schedule. If you missed taking any of the last seven tablets, there is no danger of pregnancy, but you should take the first pill of the next month's cycle on the regularly scheduled day.
Side Effects :
Minor: Abdominal cramps, acne, backache, bloating, change in appetite, changes in sexual desire, diarrhea, dizziness, fatigue, headache, nasal congestion, nausea, nervousness, vaginal irritation, or vomiting. These side effects should disappear as your body adjusts to the medication.
This medication can increase your sensitivity to sunlight. Avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight and sunlamps, wear protective clothing, and use a sunscreen.
If you feel dizzy or light-headed, sit or lie down for a while; get up slowly from a sitting or reclining position; and be careful on stairs.
To avoid dizziness or light-headedness when you stand, contract and relax the muscles in your legs for a few moments before rising. Do this by pressing one foot into the floor while raising the other foot slightly, alternating feet so that you are "pumping" your legs in a pedaling motion.
Major: Tell your doctor about any side effects that are persistent or particularly bothersome. IT IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT TO TELL YOUR DOCTOR about abdominal pain; breakthrough vaginal bleeding (spotting); changes in menstrual flow; chest pain; depression; difficult or painful urination; enlarged or tender breasts; hearing changes; increase or decrease in hair growth; migraine headaches; numbness or tingling; pain in your calves; rash; skin color changes; swelling of the feet, ankles, or lower legs; unusual bleeding or bruising; vaginal itching; weight changes; or yellowing of the eyes or the skin.
Interactions :
These drugs interact with several other medications:
Pain relievers, antimigraine preparations, rifampin, barbiturates, phenytoin, primidone, carbamazepine, isoniazid, neomycin, griseofulvin, penicillins, tetracycline, chloramphenicol, sulfonamide antibiotics, nitrofurantoin, theophylline, ritonavir, and ampicillin can reduce the effectiveness of oral contraceptives and increase the risk of pregnancy. Your doctor may advise you to use an extra form of contraception, such as a condom, if you take one of these drugs.
Oral contraceptives can reduce the effectiveness of oral anticoagulant medications (blood thinners, such as warfarin), anticonvulsants, tricyclic antidepressants, antihypertensive medications, oral antidiabetic medications, lorazepam, oxazepam, and vitamins.
Oral contraceptives can increase the blood levels of caffeine, diazepam, chlordiazepoxide, metoprolol, propranolol, adrenocorticosteroid drugs, imipramine, clomipramine, cyclosporine, and phenytoin, which can lead to an increase in side effects.
BE SURE TO TELL YOUR DOCTOR about any medications you are currently taking, especially any of the medications listed above.
Warnings :
Tell your doctor about unusual or allergic reactions you have had to any medications, especially to estrogens, progestins, or progesterones.
Before you start to take this medication, be sure to tell your doctor if you now have or if you have ever had asthma, bleeding problems, breast cancer, clotting disorders, diabetes mellitus, endometriosis, epilepsy, gallbladder disease, heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney disease, liver disease, mental depression, migraine headaches, porphyria, a stroke, thyroid disease, uterine tumors, unexplained vaginal bleeding, or vitamin deficiencies.
Some women who have used an oral contraceptive have had difficulty becoming pregnant after discontinuing use. Most of these women had had scanty or irregular periods before starting oral contraceptives. Possible subsequent difficulty in becoming pregnant is a matter you should discuss with your doctor before deciding to use an oral contraceptive.
Every prescription comes with a booklet that explains birth control pills. Read this booklet carefully. It contains exact directions on how to use this medicine correctly and describes the risks involved.
Do not smoke while taking oral contraceptives. Smoking may reduce the effectiveness of the contraceptives and increase the risk of side effects.
Women who are over age 30 and women who smoke while taking this medication have an increased risk of developing serious heart or blood-vessel side effects.
If this drug makes you dizzy, avoid taking part in any activity that requires alertness, such as driving an automobile or operating potentially dangerous tools, equipment, or machinery. Be careful on stairs.
Before surgery or other medical or dental treatment, tell your doctor or dentist you are taking this drug.
Be sure to tell your doctor if you are pregnant. Oral contraceptives have been associated with birth defects in animals and in humans. Because hormones have long-term effects on the body, women should stop taking oral contraceptives at least three months prior to becoming pregnant. Another method of birth control should be used for those three months. Also tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding an infant. This medication passes into breast milk.
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