ETHINYLESTRADIOL+GESTODENE

Do not take ETHINYLESTRADIOL+GESTODENE if you are allergic to any of its components. Inform your doctor if you have/had heart disease, stroke, heart attack, deep vein thrombosis (clot in the legs), pulmonary embolism (clot in the lungs), migraine with aura, blood disorders, liver disease, uncontrolled diabetes, uncontrolled hypertension, very high blood cholesterol, clotting disorders, varicose veins, gall-bladder disease, pancreatic disorders, breast/uterine/cervical cancer, bowel disease, absorption disorders, SLE (lupus), HUS (haemolytic uraemic syndrome), or any kind of anaemia. Keep your doctor informed of your entire family history of any hormone-dependent cancers. Consult your doctor before taking ETHINYLESTRADIOL+GESTODENE during pregnancy or if you are breastfeeding, as it is not recommended in these states. Do not consume ETHINYLESTRADIOL+GESTODENE with alcohol. Women with a tendency for chloasma/melasma (a skin condition commonly seen in middle-aged women) should avoid sun exposure after taking ETHINYLESTRADIOL+GESTODENE. Women with a history of angioedema should exercise caution while taking ETHINYLESTRADIOL+GESTODENE as it may worsen the angioedema. Inform your doctor of any medications you are currently on, especially if you are on any antibiotics, antidepressants, antiepileptics, anti-virals, sedatives or any herbal remedies for depression.

Drug-Drug Interactions: ETHINYLESTRADIOL+GESTODENE is known to interact with antiepileptics (e.g. carbamazepine, phenytoin), blood-thinners (e.g. warfarin), anti-diabetics (e.g. insulin), HRT (e.g. tamoxifen), antidepressants (e.g. St. John’s wort), antibiotics (e.g. rifampicin), antifungal (e.g. griseofulvin), anti-HIV drugs (e.g. ritonavir), sedatives (e.g. secobarbital, phenobarbital), and steroids (e.g. dexamethasone). 

Drug-Food Interactions: Grapefruit juice, caffeine, and fats may interfere with the absorption of ETHINYLESTRADIOL+GESTODENE. Proceed with caution.

Drug-Disease Interactions: Inform your doctor if you have abnormal vaginal bleeding, angioedema, carcinomas, hypertension, DVT (deep vein thrombosis), pulmonary embolism, liver cancers, hypercalcemia, hypercholesterolaemia, uncontrolled diabetes, or migraine with aura.

• As nausea and vomiting may occur using ETHINYLESTRADIOL+GESTODENE, make sure to take it on light, small meals. 
• After starting ETHINYLESTRADIOL+GESTODENE, use another alternative non-hormonal contraceptive for at least ten days.
• Avoid grapefruit juice while taking ETHINYLESTRADIOL+GESTODENE as this may interact with ETHINYLESTRADIOL+GESTODENE and affect its absorption. 
• Avoid smoking. Smoking interferes with ETHINYLESTRADIOL+GESTODENE absorption.
• Maintaining a healthy weight can go a long way in promoting healthy female reproductive health. Make sure you exercise for at least 30 minutes every day. However, do not engage in very strenuous physical exercise, which can worsen bleeding. 
• Regularly working night shifts can affect hormone production. Try to avoid night shifts. 
• Maintain good sexual hygiene and prevent sexually transmitted diseases by practising safe sex.

• Do not skip tablets or delay intake by more than 12 hours. Use a condom for seven days after a missed dose.  
• Chart your menstrual cycle and take ETHINYLESTRADIOL+GESTODENE on Day 1 of your cycle, i.e. Day 1 of your period. 
• Use a condom or any non-hormonal contraceptive for the first ten days after starting ETHINYLESTRADIOL+GESTODENE.
• Please inform the doctor immediately if you notice breast lump, dark urine, yellowing of the skin, mood changes, headache, palpitations, severe fatigue or any alarming changes in vaginal bleeding. 
• Call the doctor right away in case of any stroke symptoms such as breathlessness, confusion, dizziness, left arm pain, jaw pain or sudden vision changes and pulmonary embolism symptoms such as cough, leg pain, warmth, pain in the calf etc. 
• Your doctor may advise regular blood tests and cervical smear tests while you are on ETHINYLESTRADIOL+GESTODENE.
• Inform your doctor in case you have an impending surgery or operation. 
• Severe nausea, vomiting, or diarrhoea following the use of the tablet can be considered a missed dose. In this case, additional contraceptive measures are advised.