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Alesse : Prevent Pregnancy
ALESSE - WOMEN'S HEALTH
ALESSE USES:
This medication is used to prevent pregnancy or to regulate your
menstrual cycle. Certain brands of birth control pills may be
used for treating acne or as a morning after pill for emergency
contraception. Consult your doctor or pharmacist. Use of this medication
does not protect you or your partner against sexually transmitted
diseases (e.g., HIV, gonorrhea).
HOW TO USE ALESSE:
Take this medication with food or immediately after a meal to prevent
stomach upset. Try to take alesse at the same time each day. This
may help you to remember to take it. Learn proper use of your particular
brand of medication. Follow your dosing schedule carefully. Be sure
to ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions. Use
a supplemental form of birth control during the first week of taking
this medication since it takes a while to be effective. Follow your
doctor s directions exactly if this drug is being used as a morning
after pill.
SIDE EFFECTS:
ALESSE 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.
ALESSE PRECAUTIONS:
Before you take ALESSE, 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. Alesse 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.
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.
ALESSE STORAGE:
Store Alesse 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.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
ALESSE may be used no sooner than 4 weeks postpartum in women who
choose not to breast-feed. Consult your healthcare professional
before using this drug.
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