Mircette

Mircette? (desogestrel/ethinyl estradiol and ethinyl estradiol) Tablets has excellent cycle control as demonstrated by clinical trials. The regimen begins with 21 days of 20 mcg ethinyl estradiol and 150 mcg desogestrel. The last seven days in the cycle start with two days of placebo pills, followed by five days of 10 mcg ethinyl estradiol pills.The Mircette oral contraceptive regimen reduces the daily estrogen dose while maintaining cycle control and a favourable tolerability profile. Mircette has a novel dosage regimen based on the patented shortened hormone-free interval. The dosing begins with 21 days of 20 mcg ethinyl estradiol and 150 mcg desogestrel. The last seven days in the Mircette cycle start with two days of placebo pills, followed by five days of 10 mcg ethinyl estradiol pills. In contrast, all other combined oral contraceptives currently available in the U.S. have an initial three-week estrogen/progestin cycle, followed by the traditional one week of placebo pills.

Item	Count	Type	Retail	Price	Order
Mircette 0.15mg	28	tablets	$99.00	$77.00
Mircette 0.15mg	84	tablets	$209.00	$189.00

Mircette Medical Information

Mircette Chemical Name

ethinyl estradiol and desogestrel (EH thih nill ess tra DYE ole and des oh JESS trel)

Brand Names

Brevicon, Demulen, Lo/Ovral, Loestrin, Modicon, Nordette, Norinyl, Ortho-Novum, Ovcon, Ovral,Tri-Phasil

Mircette Drug Manufacturer

Organon Inc

Common Uses of Mircette

Mircette is used to prevent pregnancy or to regulate your menstrual cycle. Certain brands of birth control pills may be used for treating acne or as a "morning after" pill for emergency contraception. Consult your doctor or pharmacist. Use of Mircette does not protect you or your partner against sexually transmitted diseases (e.g., HIV, gonorrhea).

How to take Mircette

Take Mircette with food or immediately after a meal to prevent stomach upset. Try to take Mircette at the same time each day. This may help you to remember to take it. Learn proper use of your particular brand of medication. Follow your dosing schedule carefully. Be sure to ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions. Use a supplemental form of birth control during the first week of taking Mircette since it takes a while to be effective. Follow your doctor's directions exactly if Mircette is being used as a "morning after" pill.

Mircette Possible Side Effects

Mircette may cause dizziness, headache, lightheadedness, stomach upset, bloating, or nausea. If these effects persist or worsen, contact your doctor. Notify your doctor if you experience severe depression, pain the groin or calf, sudden severe headache, chest pain, shortness of breath, lumps in the breast, weakness or tingling in the arms or legs, yellowing of the eyes or skin. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

Precautions with Mircette

WARNING:Smoking cigarettes while using Mircette increases your chance of having heart problems. Do not smoke while using Mircette. The risk of heart problems increases with age (in women greater than 35 years of age) and with frequent smoking (15 cigarettes per day or greater).

Before you take Mircette, tell your doctor your entire medical history, including family medical history, especially asthma, high blood pressure, kidney disease, liver heart disease, stroke, history of jaundice (yellowing skin/eyes) or high blood pressure during pregnancy, excessive weight gain or fluid retention during menstrual cycle, blood clots, heart attack, seizures, migraine headaches, breast cancer, high blood level of cholesterol or lipids (fats), diabetes, depression. Depending on strength, Mircette may cause a patchy, darkening of the skin on the face (melasma). Higher strengths 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. It may take a long time for you to become pregnant after you stop taking birth control pills. Consult your doctor. Do not smoke cigarettes. Birth-control pills slightly increase your risk of strokes, blood clots, high blood pressure, heart attacks, gallbladder disease, vision problems, and liver tumors. Cigarette smoking (especially 15 or more cigarettes daily) and age (women older than 35/smokers or 40/nonsmokers years of age) further increase the risk of stroke, blood clots, high blood pressure and heart attacks. Ask your pharmacist or doctor for a copy of the patient labeling which explains these risks in more detail. Consult your doctor for any questions, including possible use in nonsmokers over 40 years of age. If you are near-sighted or wear contact lenses, you may develop vision problems. Also, your tolerance of the lenses may decrease. Contact your eye doctor if these problems occur. Before having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor that you take birth control pills. Mircette must not be used during pregnancy. If you become pregnant or think you may be pregnant, inform your doctor immediately. Mircette passes into breast milk. This may affect milk production and may have harmful effects on a nursing infant. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.

Mircette Drug Interactions

Tell your doctor what prescription and nonprescription drugs you are taking. Drugs that may decrease the effectiveness of the pill include
griseofulvin; many antibiotics (e.g., penicillins, macrolides, tetracyclines, sulfas, cephalosporins); chloramphenicol; many seizure medications (e.g., phenytoin, barbiturates, primidone, carbamazepine); dapsone; rifamycins (e.g., rifampin); modafinil; nevirapine; nelfinavir; ritonavir; St John's wort; troglitazone. Ask your doctor if you should use additional birth control methods while taking any of the drugs mentioned above while taking birth control pills. Also tell your doctor if you use

thyroid hormone drugs; certain benzodiazepines (e.g., diazepam, chlordiazepoxide); prednisone-like drugs; certain antidepressants (e.g., tricyclics); beta-blockers (e.g., metoprolol); "blood thinners" (anticoagulants such as warfarin); insulin. This product can affect the results of certain lab tests (e.g., thyroid). Inform all laboratory personnel that you use Mircette. Birth control pills may significantly intensify the effects of alcohol. Consult your doctor or pharmacist about this. Do not start or stop any medicine without doctor or pharmacist approval.

Mircette Overdose

If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately. Symptoms of overdose may include nausea and vomiting. Females may experience vaginal bleeding.

Notes

Do not allow anyone else to take Mircette. Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. You should have a complete physical examination, including blood pressure measurements, breast and pelvic examinations, and a PAP test (for vaginal cancer), at least once a year. Follow your doctor's instructions for examining your own breasts, and report any lumps immediately. A manufacturer's fact sheet about Mircette should be dispensed with each prescription. Read the information carefully. Ask your doctor or pharmacist any questions you may have.

Mircette Missed Dose

Missed dose advice differs and depends on the brand used, and the number of doses missed. Refer to the product package information for advice on missed doses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.