Drug Uses

Alesse is among the most effective birth control methods; its efficiency reaches 99% if the drug is taken as directed. Alesse is made of natural hormones which do not allow the ovary to release and egg and stops sperm from entering the uterus. The usage of Alesse will make feel calm and at ease, and you will be able to enjoy all intimate moments with your partner.

How Taken

You should take the first pill in the package on the first Sunday after your menstruation begins. You should take one pill a day and should be careful the period between doses to not be more than 24 hours. It is recommended that you take the pill at the same time every day so you will not forget, for example before you go to bed, with a meal or in the morning. If you take your pill at night you may avoid nausea or headache that may be caused by the hormones in the pills. If your cycle is 28 days, you should take one pill every day. Throw away the package when you the pills are over and begin a new package the next day. The package for a 28-days cycle contains seven pills that are “reminder” pills and that contain no hormonal ingredients. They are placebo pills or contain iron supplements and help keeping you on your regular 28-days cycle. These seven pills should be taken during the menstruation. If your cycle is of 21 days you should take a pill every day for a period of 21 days and then discontinue the usage for the next seven days. You should have your menstruation during these seven days when you don’t take any pills. You should resume the usage of the pills on the 8th day with a new package. It is recommended that you use a second birth control method when you are taking antibiotics or if you miss a pill. Consult your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions or if you don’t know what to do in case you miss a dosage.

Warnings/Precautions

Inform your doctor before taking Alesse in case you have high blood pressure, angina, or heart disease; have had a stroke; have a bleeding or blood-clotting disorder; have breast, uterine, or another hormone-related cancer; have liver disease or a history of jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes) caused by use of birth control in the past; have undiagnosed, abnormal vaginal bleeding; have migraines; have asthma; or have seizures or epilepsy. If you have any of the above-mentioned medical conditions, you may not been able to use Alesse or your dosage may have to be adjusted, or you may have to be monitored during the treatment. Oral contraceptives fall into the FDA pregnancy category X which means they cause defects to a fetus. Hormonal changes during pregnancy may have serious negative effects on a fetus. Do not use oral contraceptives in case you are pregnant or you suspect to be pregnant. Consult your doctor before taking oral contraceptives if you are breast feeding because the hormones they contain may pass into breast milk and reduce milk production.

Missed Dose

A missed dose increases the risk to get pregnant. This applies to starting a package later. If you miss more pills, the risk to get pregnant in the following seven days is bigger. The efficiency of the pills may be reduced if you miss pink active pills and especially if you miss the first few or the last few pink pills. Missed dosages may cause light bleeding or spotting, even in case you have made up the missed pills. You may experience some sickness to the stomach in the days you take two or more pills to make up for missed doses.

Possible Side Effects

- Vaginal bleeding
- Fluid retention
- Melasma.
Other side effects cause by Alesse may be nausea, breast tenderness, change in appetite, headache, nervousness, depression, dizziness, loss of scalp hair, rash, vaginal infections, inflammation of the pancreas, and allergic reactions. If any of the above-mentioned side effects are bothersome, consult your doctor or pharmacist.

Storage

Alesse should be store at a controlled room temperature of 20° to 25°C (68° to 77°F). Keep the medicine in its original container and away from children.

Overdose

Symptoms of an overdose with oral contraceptives in adults and children may be nausea, vomiting, and drowsiness/fatigue; withdrawal bleeding may occur in females. There is no specific treatment of an overdose but if such is necessary, it is directed to the symptoms.

More Information

Your doctor will ask you about your medical history and the medical history of your family, and will perform a medical examination before they prescribe you any oral contraceptives. The examination may be postponed if you request that and if your doctor thinks this would be appropriate. It is recommended that you are reexamined at least once a year. Make sure you have informed your doctor in case you have suffered from any of the diseases listed in this leaflet. You should keep al appointments with your doctor because at these appointments may be determined any signs of adverse effects caused by birth control pills. Use the medicine only for the medical condition it was prescribed. Do not share your drug with other people who want to use contraceptives. Avoid smoking because it enhances the risk of a heart attack, stroke or formation of blood clot.

Disclaimer

This drug information is for your information purposes only, it is not intended that this information covers all uses, directions, drug interactions, precautions, or adverse effects of your medication. This is only general information, and should not be relied on for any purpose. It should not be construed as containing specific instructions for any particular patient. We disclaim all responsibility for the accuracy and reliability of this information, and/or any consequences arising from the use of this information, including damage or adverse consequences to persons or property, however such damages or consequences arise. No warranty, either expressed or implied, is made in regards to this information.