Minidoz Dosage/Direction for Use

Minidoz is a low-dose combined oral contraceptive. Minidoz should be taken at regular intervals. Irregular intake may lead to breakthrough-bleeding and/or spotting and reduced contraceptive efficacy.
Minidoz should always be taken according to the doctor's instructions. The patient should check with the doctor or pharmacist if she is unsure.
Start of treatment (when no hormonal contraceptive has been used in the past month). Wait for the next period to occur. Take the first yellow tablet on the first day of bleeding. Start with a pill marked with number 1. It is important to follow the exact order administration of tablets, taking in first place the yellow tablets (active) and, once these are finished, the white tablets (inactive). The patient should try to take the pill in the same time everyday, for example, after breakfast.
During taking white tablets or inactive tablets, the patient will have a period. The periods will be regular, probably lighter than before and almost always painless. The feeling that often make the last days before a period unpleasant (called premenstrual syndrome) usually disappear.
Taking the next pack of Minidoz: In order to continue with the treatment, next day after ingesting the last white tablet, a new container must be used taking the first yellow tablet. With this scheme, 1 tablet must be administered every day (without stopping); during the time the contraception is wanted to be maintained.
When changing from another combined pill: The patient can start taking Minidoz the day after the last tablet from the present pill pack (this means no tablet-free break). If the present pill pack also contains inactive tablets, the patient can start Minidoz on the day after taking the last active tablets (if the patient is not sure which this is, ask the doctor or pharmacist). The patient can also start later, but never later than the day following the tablet-free break of the present pill (or the day after the last inactive tablet of the present pill). If the patient follows these instructions, it is not necessary to use an additional contraceptive method.
When changing from a progestogen-only pill (minipill): The patient can stop taking the minipill any day and start taking Minidoz the next day, at the same time. But make sure to also use an additional contraceptive method (a barrier method) for the first 7 days of tablet-taking when having intercourse.
Starting Minidoz after having a baby: If the patient just had a baby, the doctor may advise her to start taking Minidoz after 21 days delivery. The patient does not have to wait for a period. She will need to use another method of contraception until she starts Minidoz and for the first 7 days of pill taking. Follow the instructions as before. The patient must not breastfeed if she takes Minidoz.
What to do if the patient misses a period: In the case of absence of menstruation during 2 to 3 days after finishing the active tablets of the previous contraceptive, a physician must be consulted in order to avoid possibility of pregnancy, before starting treatment with Minidoz.
In the meantime, do not have sex unless using condoms or a cap plus spermicide.
What to do if the patient has bleeding between periods: A small number of women may have a little breakthrough bleeding or spotting while taking this medicine, especially during the first few months. Normally, this bleeding is nothing to worry about, and will stop in a day or two. Keep taking the pills as usual; the problem should disappear after the first few packs.
If the bleeding keeps on returning, is annoying or long-lasting, talk to the doctor. Also, if the patient starts to have breakthrough bleeding for the first time after being on this medicine for a long time, the patient should see the doctor.
Unexpected bleeding may also be a sign of irregular pill-taking, so try to take the pill at the same time every day.
What to do if the patient forgets to take a pill and are relying on Minidoz for contraceptive: 1. If more than 12 hours elapse from the time that the patient normally takes the tablet, the contraceptive protection in this cycle may be reduced. The patient must nevertheless continue to take the other tablets in the pack at the usual time, forgetting about the one she have missed. At the same time, however, a non-hormonal method of contraception (with the exception of the rhythm and temperature methods) must be employed additionally until bleeding occurs. The tablet or tablets which the patient missed should not be taken at all. After the pack has been used up, the usual 7 day tablet free interval follows during which a bleeding normally occurs. If bleeding fail to occur, the doctor must be consulted before tablet-taking is resumed.
2. If one pill is 12 hours late or less, don't worry. Contraceptive protection should not be affected if the patient takes the late pill at once, and keep taking the next pills at the usual time.