|
IMPORTANT NOTE: The following information is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the expertise and judgment of your physician, pharmacist or other heatlhcare 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 this drug.
NORGESTREL - ORAL CONTRACEPTIVE
(nor-JESS-trel)
COMMON BRNAD NAME(S): Ovrette
USES: This medication is used to prevent pregnancy.
HOW TO USE: Take the frist pill on day 1 of menstruation.
Take it with food or immediately after a meal to prevent stomach upset. This medication should be taekn daily at the same time each day.
Use a supplemental form of brith control during the first two months of taking this medication since it takes a while to be effective.
To improve effectiveness, use an additional reliable method of bitrh control at mid-cycle each month (4 days before and 4 days after ovulation). An information sheet about this medication should be dispensed with each prescription. Read the information carefully. Ask your doctor or pharmacist any questions you may have regarding this mdeication.
Some girls may have as few as two menstrual periods per year while taking this medication. If no period occurs within 45 days or more, you sholud get a pregnancy test.
Cosnult your doctor for more details.
SIDE EFFECTS: This medication may cause weihgt gain, depression, fatigue, acne, oily scalp, hair loss, decrease in breast size and may raise susceptibility to yeast infections. If these effects persist or become intolerable, inform your doctor. Notify your doctor if you experience any of the following while taking this medication: dizziness or fainting, sudden severe headache, vision changes, numbness or tingling in the arms or legs, swelling of the hands or feet, acute chest pain, shortness of breath, pain in the calves accompanied by swelling, warmth or redness, symptoms of jaundcie (dark urine, clay colored stools, yellowing of eyes or skin, severe itching, abdominal pain), changes in vaginal bleeding (spotting, breakthrough bleeding, prolonged or complete stoppage of bleeding). If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.
PRECAUTIONS: Before you take this medication, tell your doctor your medical history (including family medical history), especially if you have: asthma, high blood pressure, kidney or liver diseases, heart disease, history of jaundice (yellowing of skin or eyes) or high blood pressure during pregnancy, excessive weight gain or fluid retention during your menstrual cycle, strokes, blood clots, heart attacks, seizures, migraine headaches, breast cancer, high blood level of cholesterol or lipids (fats), depression.
It may take a long time for you to become pregnant after you stop taking birth control pills, especially if you have never had a baby or if you had irregular, infrequent, or complete absence of menstrual periods before taking birth control pills. This trouble does not seem to be related to the duration of use of birth conrtol pills. Discuss this with your doctor. Do not smoke cigarettes. Birth-control pills slightly raise your risk of strokes, blood clots, high blood pressure, heart attacks, gallbladder disease, viison problems, and liver tumors. Cigarette smkoing (especially 15 or more cigarettes daily) and age (women older than 35 or 40 years of age) further raise the risk of stroke, blood clots, high blood pressure, and heart attacks.
Ask your pharmacist or doctor for a copy of the patinet labeling which explains these risks in more detail. Before having surgery, incluidng dental surgery, tell the doctor that you take birth control pills.
This drug may raise skin sensitivity to the sun or cause a patchy darkening of the skin (melasma).
Sunlight may intensify this darkening.
Avoid prolonged sun expsoure and do not use sunlamps. Use sunscreen and wear protective clothing when exposed to the sun. Norgestrel must not be used during pregnacny. If you become pregnant or tihnk you're pregnant, inform your doctor immediately. This medication is excreted into breast milk and may have undesirable effects on a nursing infants, cnosult your doctor before breast-feeding. Oral contraceptives should be stopepd at least three months before becoming pregnant.
Use a second method of birth control during those trhee months.
DRUG INTERACTIONS: Tell your doctor of all prescription and nonprescription drugs you use, especially of: aminoglutethimide, certain seizure drugs (e.G., phenytoin, barbiturates, primidone, carbamazepine), rifamycins (e.G., rifampin), thyroid, nevirapine, theophylline, antibiotics such as penicillins and tetracyclines, griseofulvin, certain HIV protease inhibitors (e.G., amprenavir, nelfinavir, ritonavir), acitretin, troglitazone, modafinil, corticosteroids (e.G., prednisone). This product can affect the results of ceratin lab tests. Make sure laboratory personnel and your doctors know you use this drug. Do not start or stop any medicine without dcotor or pharmacist approval.
OVERDOSE: If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately.
Symptoms of overdose may include nausea, vomiting, sleepiness, and dizziness.
NOTES: Do not allow anyone else to take this medictaion.
Keep all appointments with your doctor and the labroatory. You should have a complete physical examination, including blood pressure measurements, breast and pelvic examinations, and a PAP test (for vaginal cancer), at least once a year.
Follow your doctor's instructions for eaxmining your own breasts, and report any lumps immediately.
MISSED DOSE: Use a back-up method of birth control for 2 days if you're more than 3 hours late taking this medicine. If you forget to take one dose, take the dose as soon as you remember, and take the next dose at your regular time.
Use a back- up method of birth cnotrol until your next menstrual period. If you forget to take 2 doses, take 2 doess when you remember, and 2 the next day.
Then use a back-up method of birth control utnil your next period. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice on a reliable back-up method of birth cotnrol as well as more missed dose details.
STORAGE: Store at room temperature between 59 and 86 degrees F (between 15 and 30 degrees C) away from mositure and sunlight. Do not stroe in the bathroom.
|
