Alesse (Levonorgestrel/Ethinyl Estradiol)

DrugDescription: This medication is used to prevent pregnancy. Alesse works by preventing an egg from being released from an ovary (ovulation) and cause changes to the uterine and cervical lining which will make it will be more difficult for a sperm to reach the uterus and for a fertilized egg to attach to the uterus.This medication should be stored at room temperature. Keep the medication away from light and moisture. Read the directions on the prescription label. Do not take larger doses than prescribed by your doctor. Take this medication as directed on the label or by your pharmacist, doctor, or other healthcare provider. When first starting Alesse, it is important to use back-up birth control including spermicide or condoms. If you are taking the Alesse 28 day pack, you will have 7 ""reminder"" sugar pills to help you maintain a daily pill taking routine so that you will not miss a pill at any point in a pack. In the sugar pill week, you should have your period. If you are taking the Alesse 21 day pack, you will have a 7 day pill free week where you will have your period. When taking Alesse for the first time, you may experience breakthrough bleeding in the first 3 months of Alesse. Contact your doctor if the breakthrough bleeding continues after 3 months or becomes very heavy. Take Alesse once every day. Be sure not to take it more than 24 hours apart because it will increase your risk of becoming pregnant. It is important to refill your prescription before you finish the last pack completely because you may get pregnant if you do not take Alesse regularly. You may need to stop taking Alesse for a short period of time if you are going to have any medical test or surgery, let your doctor or surgeon know that you are on Alesse.Do not take this medication if you recently had a baby or are pregnant, have a history of blood clots, a hormone-related cancer (ie. Breast or uterine cancer, liver disease or liver cancer, a history of jaundice caused by birth control pills, abnormal vaginal bleeding, migraine headaches, severe high blood pressure). Patients who have had a baby recently should wait at least 4 weeks if you are not breastfeeding and 6 weeks if you are before taking Alesse. Before using this medicine, tell your health care providers about any of the following: if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding; if you have missed two menstrual periods in a row; if you have recently had a baby; a history of depression; high blood pressure, heart disease, angina (chest pain), congestive heart failure, or a history of heart attack; high cholesterol or if you are overweight; gallbladder disease; diabetes; a history of irregular menstrual cycles, seizures or epilepsy; a history of fibrocystic breast disease, lumps, nodules, or an abnormal mammogram; varicose veins; tuberculosis; or uterine fibroid tumors.When taking Alesse or any other birth control (hormones), you will have an increased risk of heart attack, stroke, or blood clots, especially if you smoke and are older than 35 years old.Severe: Confusion pain behind the eyes, problems with balance, vision, and speech or sudden headache; sudden weakness or numbness, especially on one side of the body; a change in the pattern or severity of migraine headaches; chest pain or heavy feeling, Common: Changes in your menstrual periods, decreased sex drive; headache, dizziness, nervousness, tired feeling; problems with contact lenses; vaginal itching or discharge; increased hair growth, loss of scalp hair; changes in weight or appetite; freckles or darkening of facial skin; mild nausea, vomiting, bloating, stomach cramps; breast pain, tenderness, or swelling.Other: None.

Indication: This medication is used to prevent pregnancy. Alesse works by preventing an egg from being released from an ovary (ovulation) and cause changes to the uterine and cervical lining which will make it will be more difficult for a sperm to reach the uterus and for a fertilized egg to attach to the uterus.

Storage: This medication should be stored at room temperature. Keep the medication away from light and moisture.

ProductInfo:

General:

Precautions: Before using this medicine, tell your health care providers about any of the following: if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding; if you have missed two menstrual periods in a row; if you have recently had a baby; a history of depression; high blood pressure, heart disease, angina (chest pain), congestive heart failure, or a history of heart attack; high cholesterol or if you are overweight; gallbladder disease; diabetes; a history of irregular menstrual cycles, seizures or epilepsy; a history of fibrocystic breast disease, lumps, nodules, or an abnormal mammogram; varicose veins; tuberculosis; or uterine fibroid tumors.

Warnings: When taking Alesse or any other birth control (hormones), you will have an increased risk of heart attack, stroke, or blood clots, especially if you smoke and are older than 35 years old.

PatientFamilyInfo: Read the directions on the prescription label. Do not take larger doses than prescribed by your doctor. Take this medication as directed on the label or by your pharmacist, doctor, or other healthcare provider. When first starting Alesse, it is important to use back-up birth control including spermicide or condoms. If you are taking the Alesse 28 day pack, you will have 7 ""reminder"" sugar pills to help you maintain a daily pill taking routine so that you will not miss a pill at any point in a pack. In the sugar pill week, you should have your period. If you are taking the Alesse 21 day pack, you will have a 7 day pill free week where you will have your period. When taking Alesse for the first time, you may experience breakthrough bleeding in the first 3 months of Alesse. Contact your doctor if the breakthrough bleeding continues after 3 months or becomes very heavy. Take Alesse once every day. Be sure not to take it more than 24 hours apart because it will increase your risk of becomin

ContraIndication: Do not take this medication if you recently had a baby or are pregnant, have a history of blood clots, a hormone-related cancer (ie. Breast or uterine cancer, liver disease or liver cancer, a history of jaundice caused by birth control pills, abnormal vaginal bleeding, migraine headaches, severe high blood pressure). Patients who have had a baby recently should wait at least 4 weeks if you are not breastfeeding and 6 weeks if you are before taking Alesse.

SevereSideEff: Severe: Confusion pain behind the eyes, problems with balance, vision, and speech or sudden headache; sudden weakness or numbness, especially on one side of the body; a change in the pattern or severity of migraine headaches; chest pain or heavy feeling,

CommonSideEff: Common: Changes in your menstrual periods, decreased sex drive; headache, dizziness, nervousness, tired feeling; problems with contact lenses; vaginal itching or discharge; increased hair growth, loss of scalp hair; changes in weight or appetite; freckles or darkening of facial skin; mild nausea, vomiting, bloating, stomach cramps; breast pain, tenderness, or swelling.

OtherSideEff: Other: None.