Drug Uses

Mircette is a contraceptive used to prevent pregnancy.

How Taken

Oral birth control tablets should be taken regularly in order to be a secure protection against pregnancy. You may take Mircette with or after a meal to avoid stomach problems. You may try taking the pills at the same time every day because in this way you will not forget to take them. The packages of contraceptive pills contain 21 or 28 tablets. If you have a period of 21 days, you should use a package of 21 pills and take a pill every day for 21 days in a row. Then you should discontinue the usage of the pills for the next 7 days and on the 8th day should start a new package. If your period is 28 days you should take one pill every day in the specified order. The last seven tablets are in a different color so it is not necessary to count how many pills you have already taken. These seven pills contain iron or other inactive substances and are used to ensure regular daily dosing for the complete cycle of 28 days. You should use a second contraceptive method for about 7 days after you start taking the medicine to ensure that you will not get pregnant. Read the instructions on the package carefully and follow them strictly. You should follow the instruction very carefully. You should take the first tablet exactly on the noted day – on the first or the fifth day of your menstruation, on the first Sunday or after the bleeding starts. Do not use more or less pills unless your doctor told you so. Do not discontinue using Mircette without a consultation with your doctor.

Warnings/Precautions

Before you start taking Mircette, you should inform your doctor if you have high blood pressure, angina, or heart disease; had a stroke; a bleeding or blood-clotting disorder; breast, uterine, or another hormone-related cancer; liver disease or a history of jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes) caused by use of birth control in the past; undiagnosed, abnormal vaginal bleeding; migraines; asthma; or seizures or epilepsy. If you suffer from any of the above-mentioned conditions, you may not been able to use Mircette or your dosage may have to be adjusted, or you may have to be monitored during the treatment. Contraceptives fall into the FDA pregnancy category X which means they are know to cause birth defects to a fetus. Hormonal changes during a pregnancy may affect a developing baby. Do not use contraceptives if you are pregnant or suspect you are pregnant. The hormones of birth control tablets pass into breast milk and reduce the production of milk. Consult your doctor before taking any contraceptives if you are breast feeding a baby.

Missed Dose

If you miss 1 active pill (colored in white): 1. Take the missed tablet as soon as you remember and take the next pill as scheduled. Thus you will take two tablets on one day. 2. There is not need to use a second method of contraception when you have sex. If you miss 2 active pills (colored in white) in a row in the 1st or 2nd week of the package: 1. Take two tablets on the day you remember the missed dose and two tablets on the day after that. 2. Take one pill per day until the package finishes. 3. You must use a second contraceptive method in the seven days after the missed dose because there is a possibility to become pregnant. If you miss 2 active pills (colored in white) in a row in the 3rd week of the package: 1. Throw out the rest of the pills in the package and start a new package the same day. Thus you start all over again from day 1. If your first day is Sunday, you should continue taking a tablet every day until Sunday, and then you should throw out the rest of the pills and start a new package the same day. 2. It is normal that you don’t have a menstruation this month but if you don’t have a menstruation two months you should contact your doctor because you may be pregnant. 3. You must use a second contraceptive method in the seven days after the missed dose because there is a possibility to become pregnant. If you miss 3 or more active pills (colored in white) in a row (during the first three weeks of the usage): 1. Throw out the rest of the pills in the package and start a new package the same day. Thus you start all over again from day 1. If your first day is Sunday, you should continue taking a tablet every day until Sunday, and then you should throw out the rest of the pills and start a new package the same day. 2. It is normal that you don’t have a menstruation this month but if you don’t have a menstruation two months you should contact your doctor because you may be pregnant. 3. You must use a second contraceptive method in the seven days after the missed dose because there is a possibility to become pregnant.

Possible Side Effects

Discontinue the usage of Mircette and search for medical help if you experience any of these serious adverse effects: an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives); a blood clot in the lung (shortness of breath or pain in the chest); a blood clot in an arm or leg (pain, redness, swelling, or numbness of an arm or leg); high blood pressure (severe headache, flushing, blurred vision); or liver damage (yellowing of the skin or eyes, nausea, abdominal pain or discomfort, unusual bleeding or bruising, severe fatigue). Other less serious side effect may also occur. Consult your doctor but do not stop using Mircette if you experience: headache or dizziness; nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea; breakthrough bleeding; or breast tenderness. These adverse reactions may disappear after 3-6 months of usage of birth control pills. In case any of the side effects bother you, consult your doctor or pharmacist. The following side effects occur very rarely and are not serious: depression; changes in weight or appetite; vaginal yeast infection; changes in your menstrual cycle; oily skin or acne; changes in your sex drive; lethargy or fatigue; bloating; changes in skin color; or changes in blood sugar. You may also experience other adverse effects that are not mentioned in this leaflet. Consult your doctor if you experience some other side effects.

Storage

Mircette should be stored at a temperature below 86° F (30° C).

Overdose

A Mircette overdose may cause nausea, and withdrawal bleeding may occur in females. No serious reactions have been reported after ingestion of excessive doses of contraceptives by children.

More Information

You should avoid smoking because it enhances the risk of a heart attack, stroke or formation blood clot. Contraceptive pills cannot protect you from sexually transmitted diseases like HIV and AIDS. You can use a condom to protect yourself from such diseases.

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.