Alesse

Oral contraceptives are known also as the Pill, OCs, BCs, BC tablets, or birth control pills. This medicine usually contains two types of hormones, estrogens (ES-troh-jenz ) and progestins ( proh-JES-tins) and, when taken properly, prevents pregnancy. It works by stopping a woman's egg from fully developing each month. The egg can no longer accept a sperm and fertilization is prevented. Although oral contraceptives have other effects that help prevent a pregnancy from occurring, this is the main action.

What is Alesse

Alesse (100 mcg levonorgestrel/20 mcg ethinyl estradiol tablets), a new low-dose birth control pill, has been approved for marketing. New Alesse represents the lowest dose combination of levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol marketed in the United States. Alesse contains 100 mcg of the progestin levonorgestrel, the most widely prescribed contraceptive progestin, and 20 mcg of ethinyl estradiol, the estrogen most frequently used in oral contraceptives. More than 40 percent of oral contraceptive prescriptions worldwide contain levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol. Alesse, packaged in the Mini-Pack, is available in 21- and 28-day regimens. The Mini-Pack, developed by Wyeth-Ayerst, represents the smallest oral contraceptive packaging available. It has several convenient features to help women remember to take their birth control pill daily and in the prescribed sequence.

Alesse, like other oral contraceptive, has proven to be more than 99 percent effective when taken as directed. In addition, birth control pills may provide protection from ovarian and endometrial cancer and pelvic inflammatory disease. They also may make a woman? period less painful by reducing cramps and increase menstrual cycle regularity. Women who use Alesse or other oral contraceptives may experience iron-deficiency anemia and ectopic pregnancy less frequently.

Oral contraceptives are known also as the Pill, OCs, BCs, BC tablets, or birth control pills. This medicine usually contains two types of hormones, estrogens (ES-troh-jenz ) and progestins ( proh-JES-tins) and, when taken properly, prevents pregnancy. It works by stopping a woman's egg from fully developing each month. The egg can no longer accept a sperm and fertilization is prevented. Although oral contraceptives have other effects that help prevent a pregnancy from occurring, this is the main action.

Sometimes a woman's egg can still develop even though the medication is taken once each day, especially when more than 24 hours pass between two doses. In almost all cases when the medicine was taken properly and an egg develops, fertilization can still be stopped by oral contraceptives. This is because oral contraceptives also thicken cervical mucus at the opening of the uterus. This makes it hard for the partner's sperm to reach the egg. In addition, oral contraceptives change the uterus lining just enough so that an egg will not stop in the uterus to develop. All of these effects make it difficult to become pregnant when properly taking an oral contraceptive.

No contraceptive method is 100 percent effective. Studies show that fewer than one of each one hundred women correctly using oral contraceptives becomes pregnant during the first year of use. Birth control methods such as having surgery to become sterile or not having sex are more effective. Using condoms, diaphragms, progestin-only oral contraceptives, or spermicides is not as effective as using oral contraceptives containing estrogens and progestins. Discuss with your health care professional your options for birth control.

The triphasic cycle product of norgestimate and ethinyl estradiol (the brand name Ortho Tri-Cyclen) and norethindrone acetate and ethinyl estradiol (the brand name Estrostep ) can be used for the treatment of moderate acne only if the patient is at least 15 years old, has acne that has not improved with topical anti-acne medicines, has gotten approval from her doctor, has begun to have menstrual periods, desires an oral contraceptive for birth control, and plans to stay on it for at least 6 months.

Sometimes these preparations can be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.

Alesse Side Effects

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.

Alesse PRECAUTIONS:

Cigarette smoking increases the risk of serious cardiovascular side effects. This risk increases with age and is most pronounced in women older than age 35. Women on oral contraceptives should not smoke. In addition, oral contraceptives do not protect a woman against HIV infection or other sexually transmitted diseases.

Visit your prescriber or 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 doctor or health care provider for advice. If you miss a period, the possibility of pregnancy must be considered. See your prescriber or health care professional 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.

Tobacco smoking increases the risk of getting a blood clot or having a stroke while you are taking oral contraceptives, 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.

Alesse DRUG INTERACTIONS:

Antibiotics or medicines for infections, especially rifampin; aprepitant; 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.

Alesse MISSED DOSE:

If you miss a dose of an emergency contraceptive prescription, or vomit the dose within an hour of taking it, you MUST contact your health care professional for instructions.

Try not to miss a dose of your regular birth control prescription. If you do, it may be necessary to consult your prescriber or health care professional. The following information describes only some of the ways that missed doses can be handled.

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.

Alesse Other information:

Alesse, which offers women a new birth control option with an improved side-effect profile.

In clinical trials, less than one percent of participants discontinued using the product due to weight gain, acne or other commonly-cited side effects. In the 1995 Canadian Contraception Study, 73 percent of women identified weight gain as the major side effect of oral contraceptives.

Other than the desire to get pregnant, most women have cited side effects as the number one reason why they stop taking the birth control pill. In the survey, 50 percent of Canadian women said side effects or concern about side effects were the reason for discontinuing the pill.

Alesse contains two female sex hormones ? estrogen (ethinyl estradiol) and progestin (levonorgestrel). The drug contains a low amount of estrogen while maintaining the optimum ratio of the estrogen to progestin.

When taken as directed, Alesse has been proven to be 99 per cent effective. As with other birth control pills, Alesse may additionally provide protection from ovarian cancer, endometrial cancer and pelvic inflammatory disease.

Alesse is available in a 21-day fand a 28-day dosage regimen. The product should not be used by women with a history of heart attack or heart disease, liver disease, breast cancer or abnormal vaginal bleeding. Cigarette smoking increases the risk of serious cardiovascular side effects.

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