Mircette (Generic)

Mircette (Desogestrel/ethinyl Estradiol)

General information

Mircette is a combined oral contraceptive, which contains two different types of hormones: estrogen (ethinyl estradiol) and a progesterone (desogestrel). It is used to prevent pregnancy. It works mainly by preventing the release of an egg (ovulation) during your menstrual cycle. It also can work by making vaginal fluid thicker to help prevent sperm from reaching an egg (fertilization) and by changing the lining of the uterus (womb) to prevent attachment of a fertilized egg. If a fertilized egg does not attach to the uterus, it passes out of the body.

Directions

Take Mircette exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Take your first pill on the first day of your period or on the first Sunday after your period begins. The first 21 tablets contain the active ingredients. The next two tablets do not contain any active ingredients, and the last five tablets just contain ethinyl estradiol (no desogestrel). During this last week, your body gets a little break from the hormones, allowing you to have a period. You may need to use back-up birth control, such as condoms or a spermicide, when you first start using this medication. Take one pill every day, no more than 24 hours apart. When the pills run out, start a new pack the following day.

Precautions

Before taking Mircette you should talk with your doctor if you have heart attack or stroke, blood clot or a clotting disorder, chest pain, high blood pressure (hypertension), yellowing of the eyes or skin, high cholesterol, gallbladder disease, depression, diabetes, epilepsy, high cholesterol, liver disease, liver failure, cirrhosis, hepatitis, liver tumors, cancer, unexplained vaginal bleeding. Do not smoke cigarettes or use tobacco. It increases your risk for stroke, blood clots, high blood pressure, and heart attacks, especially in women older than 35. If you have diabetes, this medication may make it harder to control your blood sugar levels.

Contraindications

You should not use Mircette if you are allergic to it, desogestrel, ethinyl estradiol, or any of the inactive components of the medication, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have breast cancer or endometrial cancer, undiagnosed abnormal genital bleeding, blood clotting disorder, heart disease, transient ischemic attack, liver tumors.

Possible side effect

Get emergency medical help if you have nausea and vomiting, breakthrough bleeding, changes in your eyes, bloating, changes in sex drive, headaches, breast tenderness and enlargement, acne, vaginal itching or discharge, nervousness, breast pain, tenderness, increased hair growth, changes in weight or appetite, mood changes, low fever, dark urine, breast lump, stomach cramps. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor.

Drug interactions

Tell your doctor about all other medications you use, especially: aminoglutethimide, barbiturate medications (butalbital, phenobarbital, pentobarbital), antibiotics, cyclosporine, aprepitant, seizure medications (oxcarbazepine, topiramate, phenytoin, carbamazepine), atorvastatin, modafinil, selegiline, protease inhibitors (atazanavir, indinavir, ritonavir, amprenavir), theophylline. Interaction between two medications does not always mean that you must stop taking one of them. Tell your doctor about all prescription, over-the-counter, and herbal medications you are taking.

Missed dose

Overdose

If you think you have overdosed the medicine seek emergency medical help at once. The overdose symptoms are unusual vaginal bleeding, vomiting, nausea.

Storage

Store the medicine at room temperature between 68-77 degrees F (20-25 degrees C) away from light and moisture. Do not store the drugs in the bathroom. Keep all drugs away from reach of children and pets.

Note

The information presented at the site has a general character. Note please this information cannot be used for self-treatment and self diagnosis. You should consult with your doctor or health care adviser regarding any specific instructions of your condition. The information is reliable, but we concede it could contain mistakes. We are not responsible for any direct, indirect, special or other damage caused by use of this information on the site and also for consequences of self-treatment.