GENERIC NAME: LEVONORGESTREL/ETHINYL ESTRADIOL EXTENDED CYCLE ORAL CONTRACEPTIVE (LEE-voe-nor-jes-trel/ETH-in-il es-tra-DYE-ole)
BRAND NAME(S): Seasonale
Warning | Medication Uses | How To Use | Side Effects | Precautions | Drug Interactions | Overdose | Notes | Missed Dose | Storage
WARNING: Smoking cigarettes while using this medication increases your chance of having heart problems. Do not smoke. The risk of heart problems increases with age (especially in women greater than 35 years of age) and with frequent smoking (15 cigarettes per day or greater).
USES: This medication is used to prevent pregnancy. This medication is a combination of two types of hormones (levonorgestrel, a progestin and ethinyl estradiol, an estrogen). Besides preventing pregnancy, similar birth control pills have been shown to decrease anemia, painful periods (dysmenorrhea), ovarian cysts, the number of episodes of pelvic inflammatory disease, and decrease the occurrence of certain cancers (uterine, ovarian). Using this medication does not protect you or your partner against sexually transmitted diseases (e.g., HIV, gonorrhea).
HOW TO USE: Begin taking this medication on the first Sunday following the beginning of your period (menstruation). If your period begins on a Sunday, begin taking this medication on that day. Take one "active" pill (pills that contain the hormones) once daily for 84 days in a row. Following these active pills, you will then take an "inactive" pill (pills that do not contain the hormones) once daily for 7 days in a row. After the last inactive pill, you will repeat the same cycle the very next day, starting again with an active pill. For this medication to be effective you must try to take this medication at the same time each day, not more than 24 hours apart. Pick a time that will be easy for you to remember. Use an additional form of birth control (e.g., condom or spermicide) during the first week of taking this medication since it will take a while to be effective. A Patient Information Leaflet about this drug should be dispensed with each prescription. Read the information carefully. Ask your doctor or pharmacist any questions you may have regarding this medication.
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.
- Anemia - Read about anemia (low blood cell count, low hemoglobin) causes like iron deficiency, stomach ulcers, medications, colon cancer, trauma, vitamin 12 or folate deficiency, leukemia, myltiple myeloma and more.
- Ovarian Cysts - Learn about ovarian cysts symptoms including pelvic or abdominal pain. There are several types of ovarian cysts, and the treatment will depend upon the type of cyst.
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