Levonorgestrel 150mcg, Ethinylestradiol 30mcg (21-day regimen)

What is Levonorgestrel 150mcg, Ethinylestradiol 30mcg used for​​​?

This medication is a combined oral contraceptive (COC) tablet. It is used by women to prevent pregnancy. A COC contains two hormones (ethinylestradiol and levonorgestrel) that are similar to the natural hormones, oestrogen and progesterone, which are produced by your body.

Dosage and How to Use​

Levonorgestrel 150mcg, Ethinylestradiol 30mcg is a product that contains 21 tablets. This means that you need to take one tablet every day for 21 days. This is followed by 7 days where you take no tablets.

• Take your tablet at the same time every day.
• Swallow each tablet whole with water. Do not chew the tablet.
• The back of the tablet strip states the days of the week (Monday – Sunday). Start your course by taking a tablet marked with the correct day of the week. Follow the direction of the arrows on the strip and take one tablet every day until you have finished all 21 tablets.
• After you have taken all 21 tablets in the strip, there will be 7 days where you take no tablets. This means that if you take the last tablet of one pack on a Friday, you will take the first tablet of your next pack on the Saturday of the following week.
• A few days after taking the last tablet from the strip, you will experience a withdrawal bleed that is similar to having your period.
• Start taking your next strip of medication after the 7 tablet-free days even if you are still having menstrual bleeding. Always start the new strip on time.
• During the 7 tablet-free days, you do not need to use extra contraception such as condoms as long as you have taken your tablets correctly and start the next strip of medication on time.

What are the possible side effects of this medicine?​

This medicine may cause nausea, breast soreness, bloating, mood changes, headache, vaginal bleeding between periods (spotting) and missed or irregular period. These symptoms normally improve within two to three months without treatment.

If you missed 2 menstrual periods in a row (or 1 menstrual period if the tablet has not been used correctly), contact your doctor for a pregnancy test.

It may also cause chloasma (yellow brown patches on the skin). This may happen even if you have been using the medicine for a number of months. You can reduce this by avoiding exposure to the sun or ultraviolet light while taking this medicine.

This medicine might increase your risk of problems such as blood clots, heart problems and breast cancer. Your doctor will monitor you for any problems.

How do I​​ know if I am allergic to the medication?

The symptoms of a drug allergy include one or more of the following:

• Swollen face/eyes/lips
• Difficulty in breathing
• Itchy skin rashes over your whole body

​If you experience any of these symptoms, you should stop your medicine immediately and see your doctor.​

What precautions should I follow when​​ taking the medicine?

Inform your doctor if you smoke or have the following medical conditions before starting this medicine:

• Blood clots or heart problems
• Migraine
• Breast cancer
• Liver problems
• ​If you’re going to have an operation, make sure your doctor knows you are taking this medicine. You may need to stop taking the medicine about 4–6 weeks before the operation to reduce the chance of a blood clot.
• There are several medicines that affect the level of the medication in your body. Please see your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicines, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins and herbal products. Please make sure that the doctor who treats you knows that you are on Levonorgestrel 150mcg, Ethinylestradiol 30mcg. 
• Smoking increases your chance of blood clots and heart problems while you are taking this medicine. The chance increases with age and with the number of cigarettes you smoke. You should try to quit smoking if possible.
• ​Levonorgestrel 150mcg, Ethinylestradiol 30mcg should not be used during pregnancy. If pregnancy happens when you are using this medicine, you should stop taking this medication immediately.
• Small amounts of this medicine may be present in breast milk. If you are breastfeeding, this medicine may also change the quality of your breast milk. It is recommended that you do not use this medicine until after you have stopped breastfeeding.
• ​This medication may cause blotchy, dark areas on your skin. Sunlight may worsen this effect. Avoid prolonged sun exposure, sunlamps, and tanning booths. Use sunscreen, and wear protective clothing when outdoors.

Handling and storage

• ​Keep your medicines in the original container or packaging, tightly closed or sealed in a cool and dry place, away from direct sunlight.
• Keep the medicine out of reach of children.
• Throw away all expired medicines.

The above information answers some common questions about this medicine. It does not contain all the available information. It also does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist.

References

https://www.healthhub.sg/a-z/medications/134/Ethinylestradiol-levonorgestrel