Alesse
Generic Name: Levonorgestrel and Ethinyl Estradiol
Brand Name: Alesse
Indications
Alesse is indicated for the prevention of pregnancy in women who choose the method of contraception.
Dosage and Administration
Alesse-28 tablets (0.10 mg levonorgestrel and 0.02 mg ethinyl estradiol) are available in packages of 3 MINI-PACKÔ dispensers of 28 tablets each.
Normal Dosage: recommended is that it should be taken at regular intervals not exceeding 24 hours. You need to know your ovulation and conception calendar prior to taking the medication. The dispenser should be kept in the wallet supplied to avoid possible fading of the pills. If the pills fade, patients should continue to take them as directed.
The dosage of Alesse-28 is one pink tablet daily for 21 consecutive days, followed by one light-green inert tablet daily for 7 consecutive days, according to the prescribed schedule.
It is recommended that Alesse-28 tablets be taken at the same time each day.
Overdose?
Over dosage of the medicine can lead to nausea, vomiting, and drowsiness/fatigue; withdrawal bleeding may occur in females.
Drug Description
21 pink active tablets each containing 0.10 mg of levonorgestrel, d(-)-13b-ethyl-17a-ethinyl- 17b- hydroxygon-4-en-3-one, a totally synthetic progestogen, and 0.02 mg of ethinyl estradiol, 17a-ethinyl-1,3,5(10)-estratriene-3, 17b-diol. The inactive ingredients present are cellulose, hypromellose, iron oxide, lactose, magnesium stearate, polacrilin potassium, polyethylene glycol, titanium dioxide, and wax E.
7 light-green inert tablets, each containing cellulose, FD&C blue no. 1, hypromellose, iron oxide, lactose, magnesium stearate, polacrilin potassium, polyethylene glycol, titanium dioxide, and wax E.
Side Effects
Some of the common side effects that occur are nausea, vomiting, breakthrough bleeding, spotting, fluid retention, weight changes, headache, depression, yeast infection, intolerance to contact lenses, swelling of ankles and feet, fluid retention and so on.
Precautions
- Women who use oral contraceptives should be strongly advised not to smoke.
- Patients should be counseled that oral contraceptives do not protect against transmission of HIV (AIDS) and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)
- Oral contraceptives may cause some degree of fluid retention.
- Patients becoming significantly depressed while taking oral contraceptives should stop the medication and use an alternate method of contraception in an attempt to determine whether the symptom is drug related.
- Nursing mothers should avoid using such medicines.
Drug Interaction
Administering Alesse can decrease the effect of:
- Griseofulvin
- Chloramphenicol
- Dapsone
- Modafinil
- Nevirapine
- Ritonavir
