ethinyl estradiol/drospirenone-oral (cont.)
PRECAUTIONS: Tell your doctor your medical history, especially of: heart problems, stroke, gallbladder disease, diabetes, high cholesterol or triglyceride levels, high blood pressure, migraines, seizures, irregular vaginal bleeding, depression, any allergies. This medication is not recommended for use if you have the following medical conditions: liver problems, kidney or adrenal gland problems, history of blood clots (thrombophlebitis), blood vessel problems (e.g., cerebral vascular disease, coronary artery disease), history of certain cancers (especially endometrial or breast cancer), heavy smoking (especially if older than 35 years of age). If you are near-sighted or wear contact lenses, you may develop vision problems or have trouble wearing your contact lenses. Contact your eye doctor if this occurs. If you stop taking this birth control medicine and want to become pregnant, it may take a longer time than is usually seen with women not taking birth control medicine. Consult your doctor. Do not smoke cigarettes. Birth control pills combined with smoking cigarettes, especially in women older than 35 years of age, puts you at a much higher risk of developing serious health problems than with birth control pills alone. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more information. If you will be having surgery, be confined to a chair or bed for a long period of time (e.g., a long plane flight), or have recently delivered a baby, notify your doctor beforehand. Special precautions may need to be taken in these circumstances while you are taking this drug. This medication must not be used during pregnancy. If you become pregnant or think you may be pregnant, inform your doctor immediately. This medication passes into breast milk and has had undesirable effects on nursing infants. Consult your doctor before breast- feeding.
DRUG INTERACTIONS: Certain drugs can decrease the effectiveness of combination-type birth control pills by decreasing the amount of birth control pill hormones in your system (impaired enterohepatic recirculation or hepatic induction). This can result in pregnancy. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for details. Drugs that may cause this effect include: many antibiotics (e.g., cephalosporins, chloramphenicol, macrolides, penicillins, tetracyclines, sulfas), aprepitant, bexarotene, bosentan, dapsone, griseofulvin, certain HIV protease inhibitors (e.g., amprenavir, nelfinavir, ritonavir), modafinil, nevirapine, rifamycins (e.g., rifampin), many seizure medications (e.g., barbiturates, carbamazepine, phenytoin, primidone, topiramate), St. John's wort. Ask your doctor if you should use additional reliable birth control methods while taking any of the drugs mentioned above while also taking birth control pills. Before taking this medication, tell your doctor of all prescription and nonprescription medication you may use, especially of: ACE inhibitors (e.g., enalapril, lisinopril), angiotensin receptor blockers (e.g., losartan, valsartan), potassium-sparing "water pills" (e.g., spironolactone, triamterene), potassium supplements, heparin, NSAIDs (e.g., ibuprofen, naproxen), atorvastatin, cyclosporine, corticosteroids (e.g., prednisone, prednisolone) theophylline, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), acetaminophen, morphine, temazepam, clofibric acid. This product can affect the result of certain lab tests (e.g., liver function tests, blood tests). Make sure laboratory personnel and your doctors know you use this drug. Do not start or stop any medicine without doctor or pharmacist approval.
Report Problems to the Food and Drug Administration
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit the FDA MedWatch website or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
- Hormonal Methods of Birth Control - Read about hormonal birth control methods, such as oral contraceptives, the patch, birth control injection, and vaginal ring. The hormones used in hormonal birth control are estrogen and/or progesterone.
- Pregnancy Planning - The goals of pregnancy planning are to create a healthy environment for the fetus and to prevent birth defects and other pregnancy related problems.
- Sexual Health: FAQs About Sex and Relationships - Read about the frequently asked questions about sex and relationshiops. What are the most common causes of sex problems among couples? What causes sexual problems in women?
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