Woman's Health > Birth Control > Seasonale

Seasonale

Item Name	Price	Shipping	Total	Buy Now
Seasonale .15mg 182 (6 months)
Seasonale .15mg 91 (3 months)

Important Note
The following information is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the expertise and judgment of your physician, pharmacist or other healthcare professional. It should not be construed to indicate that use of the drug is safe, appropriate, or effective for you. Consult your healthcare professional before using this drug.

Uses
Seasonale is used to prevent pregnancy or to regulate your menstrual cycle. Oral contraceptive products such as ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel (also called birth control pills) are more effective than any other method of contraception, but they are not effective in preventing the spread of AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases. This medication is sometimes prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

How to Use
Take one pill every day at the same time, no more than 24 hours after the last dose. Try to take the pills at a time that you will remember every day--for example just before bed, with a meal, or first thing in the morning.

Side Effects
Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away with time:

upset stomach
stomach cramps
bloating
diarrhea
constipation
gingivitis (swelling of the gum tissue)
appetite and weight changes
glucose intolerance (increased blood sugar)
brown or black skin patches acne
swelling of the hands, feet, or lower legs (fluid retention)
rash
hair growth in unusual places
bleeding or spotting between menstrual periods
changes in menstrual flow
painful or missed periods
breast tenderness, enlargement, or discharge

If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately:

severe headache
shortness of breath
severe vomiting
partial or complete loss of vision
speech problems
dizziness or faintness
weakness or numbness of an arm or leg
crushing chest pain or chest heaviness
coughing up blood
calf pain
yellowing of the skin or eyes
severe mental depression
unusual bleeding
loss of appetite

Precautions
Cigarette smoking increases the risk of serious cardiovascular side effects from oral contraceptive use. This risk increases with age, becoming quite marked in women over 35 years old, and is even greater for those who are heavy smokers (15 or more cigarettes per day). Women who use oral contraceptives are strongly advised not to smoke. Do not take oral contraceptives if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. Exposure to estrogen and progestin hormones can potentially harm a developing baby. If you become pregnant while taking oral contraceptives, you should stop taking it and call your doctor immediately. Because estrogens appear in breast milk, consult with your doctor before breast-feeding. Oral contraceptives slightly increase your risk of strokes, blood clots, high blood pressure, heart attacks, gallbladder disease, and liver tumors. Ask your pharmacist or doctor for a copy of the patient labeling which explains these risks in more detail. It may take a long time for you to become pregnant after you stop taking oral contraceptives. Discuss this issue with your doctor. This medication may cause a patchy, darkening of the skin on the face (melasma). Higher-strength oral contraceptives are more likely to cause melasma. Sunlight may intensify this darkening and you may need to avoid prolonged sun exposure and sunlamps. Consult your doctor regarding use of sunscreens and protective clothing. If you are near-sighted or wear contact lenses, you may develop vision problems while using oral contraceptives. Also, your tolerance for wearing contact lenses may decrease. Contact your eye doctor if these problems occur. Before having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor that you are taking an oral contraceptive. Discuss any concerns that you may have about the development of endometrial (uterine) or breast cancer with your doctor.

Drug Interactions
drugs may interact with ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel. Some interactions (e.g. with certain antibiotics, protease inhibitors, and other medications) may result in decreased effectiveness of the medication and therefore increase the risk of unintended pregnancy. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking any other prescription or over-the-counter medications, including herbal products, while taking ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel.

Overdose
Death or serious harm is not likely to occur from an overdose of ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel. Consult a doctor, an emergency room, or a poison control center for advice.
Symptoms of an overdose may include nausea, vomiting, and menstrual bleeding.

Missed Dose
Missing a pill increases the chance of becoming pregnant. Follow the exact directions on the package information insert concerning missed doses. If you do not have a package information insert, call your pharmacist, doctor, or nurse to find out what to do.

Storage
Store at 25° C (77°F); excursions permitted to 15°-30°C (59°-86°F) [See USP Controlled Room Temperature].