$Unique_ID{BRK02060}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{ORAL CONTRACEPTIVES}
$Subject{Brevicon (Syntex)
Demulen (Searle)
Enovid-E (Searle)
Loestrin (Parke-Davis)
Lo/Ovral (Wyeth)
Modicon (Ortho)
Nordette (Wyeth)
Norinyl (Syntex)
Norlestrin (Parke-Davis)
Ortho-Novum (Ortho)
Ovcon (Mead Johnson)
Ovral (Wyeth)
Ovulen (Searle)
Tri-Levlen (Berlex)
Tri-Norinyl (Syntex)
Triphasil-21 (Wyeth)}
$Volume{}
$Log{}

Copyright (C) 1991 Publications International, Ltd.


ORAL CONTRACEPTIVES
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BRAND NAMES (Manufacturers):
     Brevicon (Syntex)
     Demulen (Searle)
     Enovid-E (Searle)
     Loestrin (Parke-Davis)
     Lo/Ovral (Wyeth)
     Modicon (Ortho)
     Nordette (Wyeth)
     Norinyl (Syntex)
     Norlestrin (Parke-Davis)
     Ortho-Novum (Ortho)
     Ovcon (Mead Johnson)
     Ovral (Wyeth)
     Ovulen (Searle)
     Tri-Levlen (Berlex)
     Tri-Norinyl (Syntex)
     Triphasil-21 (Wyeth)
TYPE OF DRUG:
     Oral contraceptive
INGREDIENTS:
     Estrogens and progestins
DOSAGE FORM:
     Tablets (in packages of 21 or 28 tablets; when 28 tablets are present,
       seven of the tablets either are placebos or contain iron)
STORAGE:
     Oral contraceptives should be stored at room temperature.  They should be
       kept in their original container, which is designed to help you keep
       track of your dosing schedule.

USES

     Oral contraceptives change the hormone balance of the body to prevent
pregnancy.

TREATMENT

     To avoid stomach irritation, you can take oral contraceptives with food
or with a full glass of water or milk.
     In order to become accustomed to taking this medication, try to take it
at the same time every day.
     Use a supplemental method of birth control for the first week after you
start taking oral contraceptives (the medication takes time to become fully
effective).
     Even if you do not start to menstruate on schedule at the end of the pill
cycle, begin the next cycle of pills at the prescribed time.  Many women
taking oral contraceptives have irregular menstruation.
     If you miss a dose of this medication and you are on a 21-day schedule,
take the missed dose as soon as you remember.  If you don't remember until the
next day, take the dose of that day plus the one you missed; then return to
your regular dosing schedule.  If you miss two days' doses, you should take
two tablets a day for the next two days; then return to your regular dosing
schedule.  You should also use another form of birth control during those four
days.  If you miss your dose three days in a row, you should stop taking this
drug and use a different method of birth control until you check with your
doctor.  Your doctor may want you to start a new package seven days after the
last tablet was missed and use an additional method of birth control until the
start of your next period.  If you are on the 28-day schedule and you miss
taking any one of the first 21 tablets, you should follow the instructions for
the 21-day schedule.  If you missed taking any of the last seven tablets,
there is no danger of pregnancy, but you should take the first pill of the
next month's cycle on the regularly scheduled day.

SIDE EFFECTS

     Minor.

     Abdominal cramps, acne, backache, bloating, change in appetite, changes
in sexual desire, diarrhea, dizziness, fatigue, headache, nasal congestion,
nausea, nervousness, vaginal irritation, or vomiting.  These side effects
should disappear as your body adjusts to the medication.
     This medication can increase your sensitivity to sunlight.  Avoid
prolonged exposure to sunlight and sunlamps. wear protective clothing and
sunglasses, and use an effective sunscreen.
     If you feel dizzy, sit or lie down for a while; get up slowly from a
sitting or reclining position, and be careful on stairs.

     Major.

     Tell your doctor about any side effects that are persistent or
particularly bothersome.  IT IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT TO TELL YOUR DOCTOR about
abdominal pain; breakthrough vaginal bleeding (spotting); changes in menstrual
flow; chest pain; depression; difficult or painful urination; enlarged or
tender breasts; hearing changes; increase or decrease in hair growth; migraine
headaches; numbness or tingling; pain in your calves; rash; skin color
changes; swelling of the feet, ankles, or lower legs; unusual bleeding or
bruising; vaginal itching; weight changes; or yellowing of the eyes or skin.

INTERACTIONS

     These drugs interact with several other types of drugs:
     1. Pain relievers, antimigraine preparations, rifampin, barbiturates,
phenylbutazone, phenytoin, primidone, carbamazepine, isoniazid, neomycin,
griseofulvin, penicillins, tetracycline, chloramphenicol, sulfonamide
antibiotics, nitrofurantoin, and ampicillin can decrease the effectiveness of
oral contraceptives.
     2. Oral contraceptives can reduce the effectiveness of oral
anticoagulants (blood thinners, such as warfarin), anticonvulsants, tricyclic
antidepressants, antihypertensive agents, oral antidiabetic agents, and
vitamins.
     3. Oral contraceptives can increase the blood levels of caffeine,
diazepam, chlordiazepoxide, metoprolol, propranolol, adrenocorticosteroids
(cortisone-like medications), imipramine, clomipramine, phenytoin, and
phenylbutazone, which can lead to an increase in side effects.
     4. Oral contraceptives can decrease the blood levels and, therefore, the
effectiveness of lorazepam and oxazepam.
     Before starting to take oral contraceptives, BE SURE TO TELL YOUR DOCTOR
about any medications you are currently taking, especially any of those listed
above.

WARNINGS

     * Tell your doctor about unusual or allergic reactions you have had to
any medications, especially to estrogens, progestins, or progesterones.
     * Before starting to take this medication, be sure to tell your doctor if
you now have or if you have ever had asthma, bleeding problems, breast cancer,
clotting disorders, diabetes mellitus, endometriosis, epilepsy, gallbladder
disease, heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney disease, liver disease,
mental depression, migraine headaches, porphyria, strokes, thyroid disease,
uterine tumors, vaginal bleeding, or vitamin deficiencies.
     * Some women who have used an oral contraceptive have had difficulty
becoming pregnant after discontinuing use.  Most of these women had had scanty
or irregular periods before starting oral contraceptives.  Possible subsequent
difficulty in becoming pregnant is a matter you should discuss with your
doctor before using an oral contraceptive.
     * Every prescription comes with a booklet that explains birth control
pills.  Read this booklet carefully.  It contains exact directions on how to
use this medicine correctly and describes the risks involved.
     * Women over 30 years of age and women who smoke while taking this
medication have an increased risk of developing serious heart or blood vessel
side effects.
     * If this drug makes you dizzy, avoid taking part in any activity that
requires alertness, such as driving a car or operating potentially dangerous
machinery.
     * Oral contraceptives can change the clotting properties of blood.
Before surgery or other medical or dental treatment, tell your doctor or
dentist you are taking this drug.
     * This type of drug has been suspected of causing cancer.  If you have a
family history of cancer, you should consult your doctor before taking oral
contraceptives.
     * Be sure to tell your doctor if you are pregnant.  Oral contraceptives
have been associated with birth defects in animals and in humans.  Because
hormones have long-term effects on the body, oral contraceptives should be
stopped at least three months prior to becoming pregnant.  Another method of
birth control should be used for those three months.  Also, tell your doctor
if you are breast-feeding an infant.  This medication passes into breast milk.

----------------

The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace 
the counsel and advice of your personal physician.  Promptly consulting your 
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical 
problem.
