Desogestrel/Ethinyl Estradiol (By mouth)

des-oh-JES-trel, ETH-i-nil es-tra-DYE-ol

Prevents pregnancy.

Drug classes

Contraceptive (About this – PubMed Health)

Uses

Uses of This Medicine

Desogestrel and ethinyl estradiol combination is used to prevent pregnancy. It is a birth control pill that contains two types of hormones, desogestrel and ethinyl estradiol, and when taken properly, prevents pregnancy. It works by stopping a woman’s egg from fully developing each month. The egg can no longer accept a sperm and fertilization is prevented.

No contraceptive method is 100 percent effective. Birth control methods such as having surgery to become sterile or not having sex are more effective than birth control pills. Discuss your options for birth control with your doctor.

This medicine does not prevent HIV infection or other sexually transmitted diseases. It will not help as emergency contraception, such as after unprotected sexual contact.

This medicine is available only with your doctor’s prescription.

Other uses (PubMed Health)

How To Use

Tablet

Your doctor will tell you how much medicine to use. Do not use more than directed.

Each brand of birth control pills comes with specific directions. Read and follow the patient instructions that come with your prescribed brand. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.

It is best to take your pill at the same time every day. Birth control pills work best when there is no more than 24 hours between doses.

Missed dose: Read and carefully follow the patient instructions on what to do if you miss a dose. Call your doctor if you have any questions. Use a second form of birth control for 7 days after you miss a dose.

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light.

Drugs and Foods to Avoid

Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.

Some foods and medicines can affect how birth control pills work. Tell your doctor if you are also using any of the following:

Acetaminophen, aprepitant, ascorbic acid, aspirin, atorvastatin, boceprevir, bosentan, clofibrate, colesevelam, cyclosporine, morphine, prednisolone, rifabutin, rifampicin, rosuvastatin, St John’s wort, telaprevir, temazepam, theophylline, tizanidine Medicine to treat an infection, including fluconazole, ketoconazole, itraconazole, voriconazole Medicine to treat HIV/AIDS Medicine to treat seizures Thyroid replacement medicine

Do not eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice while you are using this medicine.

When Not To Use

This medicine is not right for everyone. Do not use it if you had an allergic reaction to desogestrel or ethinyl estradiol, or if you are pregnant or have unusual vaginal bleeding that has not been checked by a doctor. Do not use it if you have liver tumors, breast cancer, problems with blood clots, certain heart problems, or diabetes with kidney, eye, nerve, or blood vessel damage.

Warnings

It is not safe to take this medicine during pregnancy. It could harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant.

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding, or if you had a baby within 4 weeks before you start using this medicine. Tell your doctor if you have kidney disease, diabetes, epilepsy, migraine headaches, heart or blood vessel disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, a family history of breast cancer, or a personal history of cervical cancer, depression, or jaundice during pregnancy. Tell your doctor if you smoke cigarettes.

This medicine may cause the following problems:

Higher risk of heart attack, stroke, or blood clots (blood clots more likely when you first start taking birth control pills, or when starting again after not using them for at least a month) Possible increased risk of breast or cervical cancer Liver cancer or tumors Vision changes Gallbladder disease High blood pressure

You may need to stop using this medicine for a few weeks before and after you have surgery, because of the risk of blood clots.

This medicine will not protect you from HIV/AIDS or other sexually transmitted infections.

Tell any doctor or dentist who treats you that you are using this medicine. This medicine may affect certain medical test results.

Your doctor will check the effects of this medicine at regular visits. He may also want to monitor your blood pressure while you take this medicine. Keep all appointments.

Keep all medicine out of the reach of children. Never share your medicine with anyone.

Possible side effects

Summary More details

Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:

Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing

Chest pain that may spread, unusual sweating, nausea, fainting

Dark urine or pale stools, loss of appetite, stomach pain, yellow skin or eyes

Heavy vaginal bleeding, irregular or missed menstrual period

Numbness or weakness on one side of your body, pain in your lower leg (calf), sudden or severe headache, problems with vision, speech, or walking

Trouble breathing or coughing up blood

Vision loss, double vision

If you notice these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor:

Darkening of the skin, especially on the face

Depression, mood changes

Headache

Vaginal spotting or light bleeding between periods

If you notice other side effects that you think are caused by this medicine, tell your doctor.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

More side effects of this drug

Brand names include

Apri, Azurette, Bekyree, Caziant, Cesia, Cyclessa, Cyred, Desogen, Emoquette, Enskyce, Juleber, Kariva, Kimidess, Marvelon 21, Marvelon 28 – White Tablet, Mircette, Ortho-Cept, Pimtrea, Reclipsen, Solia, Velivet

There may be other brand names for this medicine.