Ethinylestradiol and Gestodene are combined in this medicine.
Ethinylestradiol + Gestodene is an oral contraceptive (birth control pill). This medicine is used to prevent pregnancy.
Take Ethinylestradiol + Gestodene exactly as directed by your doctor or according to the instructions on the label. Do not take more or less than instructed by your doctor.
Try to take it at the same time each day.
If you missed a dose and it is within 12 hours of your usual schedule, take the missed dose and return to your normal dosing schedule.
If you are more than 12 hours late, skip the missed dose (discard the unused tablet) and return to your normal dosing schedule.
DO NOT double a dose under any circumstances.
If you often forget to take your medicine, let your doctor and pharmacist know.
Alert your doctor if you have the following conditions:
- current or previous blood clot disorder or at risk of having a blood clot disorder e.g. prolonged immobilisation (including major surgery), stroke, very high blood pressure, high levels of cholesterol and fats in the blood, smoking, diabetes, migraine, family history
- undiagnosed vaginal bleeding
- current or previous inflammation of the pancreas due to high level of fats (known as triglycerides) in the blood
- breast tumours or other types of tumour that need hormones to grow and spread
- current or previous liver tumours
- severe liver disease
as Ethinylestradiol + Gestodene may not be suitable for you.
Do not take this medicine if you are pregnant. If you become pregnant while on Ethinylestradiol + Gestodene therapy, alert your doctor immediately. This medicine may cause harm to your unborn child.
Do not take Ethinylestradiol + Gestodene with medicines used to treat hepatitis C. Please see the section “Can I take this with other medicines?” below for more information.
Inform your doctor if you have the following conditions:
- risk factors for heart disease e.g. high blood pressure, high fat levels
- history of depression
- inflammation of the large intestines
- Crohn’s disease (long-term inflammatory disease of the digestive tract)
- systemic lupus erythematosus (an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation)
- hereditary angioedema (a rare genetic condition that causes swelling of the limbs, face or airways)
- asthma
- kidney disease
- mild to moderate liver disease
- other risk factors for blood clot formation e.g. obesity, smoking
Let your doctor know if you are breastfeeding.
Ethinylestradiol + Gestodene does not lower the risk of getting HIV infection or any other sexually transmitted diseases. Ensure that you use proper precautions to avoid getting these diseases.
Keep your appointments with your doctor. Your doctor needs to monitor your condition and check your response to the medication regularly.
- Pregnancy tests must be done before treatment to know if this medicine is suited for you to take.
- Your blood pressure may rise to unsafe levels without you noticing it. Monitor your blood pressure before and during treatment.
If you smoke, you should try to quit. Smoking is harmful to your blood pressure, heart and overall health. Speak to your doctor or pharmacist about ways to stop your smoking habit.
Ethinylestradiol + Gestodene may cause any of the following side effects: headache, dizziness, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, weight changes, changes in mood, changes in sex drive, spotting or bleeding, dysmenorrhoea, missed menstruation, and breast pain or tenderness.
Some side effects may need immediate medical help. Alert your doctor quickly if you experience any of the following:
- swelling of one leg or along a vein in the leg or foot, sudden breathlessness or rapid breathing, sudden cough
- chest pain, heaviness or discomfort, sudden loss of vision, blurred vision, indigestion or choking feeling, upper body discomfort radiating to the back, arm, stomach, jaw or throat
- dizziness, sweating, nausea, vomiting, extreme weakness, rapid or irregular heartbeats
- sudden weakness or numbness of the face, arm or leg, confusion, trouble speaking
- dimpling of the skin, changes in the nipple or any lumps you can see or feel
- vaginal discharge that smells and/or contains blood, unusual vaginal bleeding, pelvic pain, painful sex
- severe pain in your upper abdomen, yellow skin or eyes
Inform your doctor if any of these side effects do not go away or are severe, or if you experience other side effects.
Do not take Ethinylestradiol + Gestodene with medicines used in hepatitis C combination therapy that includes ombitasvir, paritaprevir, ritonavir, and dasabuvir.
Inform your doctor and pharmacist if you are taking any of these medicines:
- other medicines to treat viral infection e.g. nevirapine
- medicines for epilepsy (fits or seizures) e.g. phenytoin, lamotrigine
- medicines to treat TB (lung infection known as tuberculosis) e.g. rifampicin
- medicines for fungal infection e.g. itraconazole
- certain antibiotics e.g. ampicillin, erythromycin
- ciclosporin (medicine used in organ transplant or certain immune diseases)
- theophylline (asthma medicine)
- tizanidine (muscle relaxant)
- paracetamol (medicine to relieve pain and fever)
- etoricoxib (medicine for pain and inflammation)
- atorvastatin (cholesterol-lowering medicine)
- St. John’s wort (herbal medicine)
This list does not include all medicines that may interact with Ethinylestradiol + Gestodene.
Always notify your doctor and pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including herbal tonics such as traditional Chinese medicines, supplements and medicines that you buy without a prescription.
Avoid alcohol.
Store in a cool, dry place away from the reach of children.
Medicines must not be used past the expiry date.
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