|
Alesse
| Medication |
Quantity |
Price |
Payment Methods |
Visit Online Pharmacy |
Important Information:
Cigarette smoking increases the risk of serious side
effects from Alesse, including heart attacks, blood
clots, and strokes. This risk is higher for women over
35 years old and heavy smokers (15 or more cigarettes
per day). If you take Alesse, you should not smoke.
Medication Information
Alesse (birth-control
pills) is 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. Alesse are
a very effective method of birth control, but they do
not prevent the spread of AIDS and other sexually
transmitted diseases. /h2> Alesse comes in packets of
21 or 28 tablets to take by mouth once a day. To avoid
upset stomach, take Alesse 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 Alesse.
Before taking Alesse, 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 Alesse, tell your doctor and pharmacist if you
are allergic to estrogen, progestin, or any other
medications.
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.
tell your doctor what herbal
products you are taking, especially St. John's wort.
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.
do not take
Alesse if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or
are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking
Alesse, call your doctor immediately. if you are having
surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or
dentist that you are taking Alesse.
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?
Alesse may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if
any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:
upset stomach
vomiting
stomach cramps or
bloating
diarrhea
constipation
gingivitis
(swelling of the gum tissue)
weight gain or weight
loss
brown or black skin patches
acne
swelling of the hands, feet, or lower legs
hair
growth in unusual places
bleeding or spotting
between menstrual periods
painful or missed periods
breast tenderness, enlargement, or discharge
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:
severe headache shortness of breath
severe
vomiting
partial or complete loss of vision double
vision
speech problems
dizziness or faintness
weakness or numbness of an arm or leg
crushing
chest pain or chest heaviness
coughing up blood
calf pain
severe stomach pain
yellowing of
the skin or eyes
severe depression
unusual
bleeding
loss of appetite
extreme tiredness,
weakness, or lack of energy
fever
dark-colored
urine
light-colored stool
rash
Alesse 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.
Alesse 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 Alesse, 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 Alesse 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 Alesse, especially if you have never had a
baby or if you had irregular, infrequent, or complete
absence of menstrual periods before taking Alesse.
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. |
