Side
Effects
This medication may cause dizziness, headache, lightheadedness, stomach upset,
bloating, or nausea. If these effects persist or worsen, contact your doctor.
Notify your doctor if you experience: severe depression, groin or calf pain,
sudden severe headache, chest pain, shortness of breath, lumps in the breast,
weakness or tingling in the arms or legs, yellowing of the eyes or skin. If
you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.
Precautions
Before you take this medication, tell your doctor your entire medical history,
including family medical history, especially: asthma, high blood pressure,
kidney disease, liver heart disease, stroke, history of jaundice (yellowing
skin/eyes) or high blood pressure during pregnancy, excessive weight gain
or fluid retention during menstrual cycle, blood clots, heart attack, seizures,
migraine headaches, breast cancer, high blood level of cholesterol or lipids
(fats), diabetes, depression. Depending on strength, this drug may cause
a patchy, darkening of the skin on the face (melasma). Higher strengths are
more likely to cause melasma. Sunlight may intensify this darkening and you
may need to avoid prolonged sun exposure and sunlamps. Consult your doctor
regarding use of sunscreens and protective clothing. It may take a long time
for you to become pregnant after you stop taking birth control pills. Consult
your doctor. Do not smoke cigarettes. Birth-control pills slightly increase
your risk of strokes, blood clots, high blood pressure, heart attacks, gallbladder
disease, vision problems, and liver tumors. Cigarette smoking (especially
15 or more cigarettes daily) and age (women older than 35/smokers or 40/nonsmokers
years of age) further increase the risk of stroke, blood clots, high blood
pressure and heart attacks. Ask your pharmacist or doctor for a copy of the
patient labeling which explains these risks in more detail. Consult your
doctor for any questions, including possible use in nonsmokers over 40 years
of age. If you are near-sighted or wear contact lenses, you may develop vision
problems. Also, your tolerance of the lenses may decrease. Contact your eye
doctor if these problems occur. Before having surgery, including dental surgery,
tell the doctor that you take birth control pills. This drug must not be
used during pregnancy. If you become pregnant or think you may be pregnant,
inform your doctor immediately. This medication passes into breast milk.
This may affect milk production and may have harmful effects on a nursing
infant. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.
Drug Interactions
Tell your doctor what prescription and nonprescription drugs you are taking.
Drugs that may decrease the effectiveness of the pill include: griseofulvin,
many antibiotics (e.g., penicillins, macrolides, tetracyclines, sulfas, cephalosporins),
chloramphenicol, many seizure medications (e.g., phenytoin, barbiturates,
primidone, carbamazepine), dapsone, rifamycins (e.g., rifampin), modafinil,
nevirapine, nelfinavir, ritonavir, St John's wort, troglitazone. Ask your
doctor if you should use additional birth control methods while taking any
of the drugs mentioned above while taking birth control pills. Also tell
your doctor if you use: thyroid hormone drugs, certain benzodiazepines (e.g.,
diazepam, chlordiazepoxide), prednisone-like drugs, certain antidepressants
(e.g., tricyclics), beta-blockers (e.g., metoprolol), "blood thinners" (anticoagulants
such as warfarin), insulin. This product can affect the results of certain
lab tests (e.g., thyroid). Inform all laboratory personnel that you use this
drug. Birth control pills may significantly intensify the effects of alcohol.
Consult your doctor or pharmacist about this. Do not start or stop any medicine
without doctor or pharmacist approval.
Overdose
If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency
room immediately. Symptoms of overdose may include nausea and vomiting. Females
may experience vaginal bleeding.
Notes
Do not allow anyone else to take this medication. Keep all appointments with
your doctor and the laboratory. 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 examining your own breasts, and report any lumps immediately.
A manufacturer's fact sheet about this drug should be dispensed with each
prescription. Read the information carefully. Ask your doctor or pharmacist
any questions you may have.
Missed Dose
Missed dose advice differs and depends on the brand used, and the number of
doses missed. Refer to the product package information for advice on missed
doses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.
Storage
Store at room temperature between 59 and 86 degrees F (between 15 and 30 degrees
C) away from moisture and sunlight. Do not store in the bathroom.
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