Gemmily (birth control)

What is Gemmily?

Gemmily contains a combination of female hormones to prevent ovulation, or the release of an egg. This medication can also cause changes to your cervical mucus or uterine lining. These changes make it more difficult for sperm and fertilized eggs to attach to your uterus. Gemmily can be used to prevent pregnancy. Gemmily can also be used to treat mild acne in women over 15 who have begun menstruating and wish to take birth control pills. There are several brands of ethinyl esteradiol and norethindrone. This leaflet does not list all brands. This medication guide does not list all possible uses of Gemmily.

Side effects of Gemmily

When experiencing symptoms of an allergic reaction, seek medical help immediately - including difficulty breathing, hives or facial or throat swelling.

This medicine can cause serious side effects. If you experience:

• Signs of stroke: sudden numbness, weakness, headaches, slurred words, vision problems, balance issues;
• Signs of a blood clot in the lungs: chest pain, sudden cough, shortness of breath, or dizziness;
• Signs of a deep blood clot—pain, swelling, or warmth in a leg;
• Heart attack symptoms include chest pain, pressure or pain that spreads to the jaw or shoulder area, nausea, and sweating.
• Liver problems: swelling around the midsection of your body; upper right stomach pain; loss of appetite; dark urine or stools with clay colors; jaundice.
• Increased Blood Pressure--severe headache, blurry vision or an intermittent pounding in your neck or ears are telltale signs that indicate increased blood pressure levels.
• Depression is characterized by mood changes, low self-esteem, sleep disturbances, and thoughts of harming yourself.
• A lump in the breast, hands, feet, or ankles;
• A change in the frequency or intensity of migraine headaches

Gemmily can cause the following side effects:

• Nausea, vomiting;
• Breast tenderness or bleeding.
• Headache or contact lens problems

There may be other side effects. Call your physician if experiencing side effects. For additional medical guidance on potential adverse reactions.The FDA can be contacted at 1-800-FDA-1088 to report side effects.

Warnings

Avoid using birth control pills when you are pregnant or have just had a child. Do not use birth control pills if: you are uncontrolled; you have high blood pressure; you have heart disease; you have coronary artery diseases; you have circulation problems, especially with diabetes; you have undiagnosed bleeding in the vaginal area; you have liver disease; you have liver cancer; or you have severe migraine headaches. Also, do not take birth-control pills. If your condition is uncontrolled, you have uncontrolled heart disease. Smoking or taking birth control pills, especially if over 35 years old, can increase the risk of blood clots or strokes.

Before you take this drug

Birth control pills may increase your risk for blood clots or stroke. If you have diabetes, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol and are overweight, you're at even greater risk. The risk of stroke and blood clots is greatest during the first year you take birth control pills. You are at high risk when you start taking birth control pills again after a break of 4 weeks or more. Smoking increases your risk of stroke, heart attack, and blood clots caused by birth-control pills, particularly if you're older than 35. Do not use it if you are pregnant. Stop using Gemmily immediately and inform your doctor if you are pregnant or if two consecutive menstrual cycles have been missed. Wait at least four weeks postpartum if you just gave birth.

If you are pregnant, or if:

• Untreated or uncontrolled hypertension or heart disease
• An increased risk of blood clots as a result of a heart condition or hereditary blood disorder.
• Circulatory problems (especially when caused by diabetes)
• A history of cancers of the breast, uterus, cervix, or vagina
• Unusual vaginal bleeding that has not been addressed by a healthcare provider;
• Liver disease or cancer affects approximately 44,000 americans every year.
• Serious migraine headaches often strike those over 35.
• Birth control pills or pregnancy can contribute to jaundice.
• If you are over 35 and currently smoke, consider quitting now to protect the rest of your health and the lives of future generations.
• You should inform your physician immediately if taking hepatitis c medications containing ombitasvir, paritaprevir or ritonavir along with or without dasabuvir.
• Discuss with your physician any of the following conditions: if you suffer from cardiovascular illness, high blood pressure or are at high risk for blood clots then this product could help.
• If you have high cholesterol, triglycerides, or are overweight, this may be a sign.
• Depression;
• A seizure or migraine headache;
• Gallbladder disease and an underactive thyroid can both be considered indicators of diabetes.
• Liver or kidney disease
• Uneven menstrual cycles, fibrocystic breast disease, lumps, nodules, or an abnormal mammogram

Ask your doctor if you can safely breastfeed if you are taking this medication.

How to take Gemmily?

Read all instructions or guides that came with your medication, and follow all directions as directed on its label. As soon as you start taking this medication, a backup method of birth control such as condoms with spermicide might be required to protect against pregnancy. Please follow your physician's advice regarding how best to use it. One pill per day should be taken, no more frequently than every 24 hours, starting a new package when your current ones run out. Failure to take one may increase your risk of pregnancy. Some birth control packages contain "reminder pills" to assist you with keeping to your regular cycle and your period will likely begin when starting these pills. If severe diarrhea or vomiting arises, use backup birth control. Your skin could have been bleeding. If this continues or worsens, consult a medical provider immediately. In some instances, however, major surgery or long-term bed rest could require temporarily discontinuing taking this medication. You should let any doctor or surgeon that treats you know you're using Gemmily. You will need to see your doctor regularly if you are taking birth control pills. Store away from heat and moisture at room temperature.

What happens if I miss the dose?

Reading all instructions or guides included with your medication is critical to success and can increase the risk of pregnancy significantly if any pill goes undetected. In such an instance, take two pills on the following day instead of just one per pack until all have been used up. If you missed two consecutive active pills during Weeks 1-2, take two pills every other day for two days and one pill daily thereafter until all packages have been used up. In addition, use another method of birth control for at least seven days following any missed pill(s). If you miss two active pills consecutively during Week 3, discard and begin another pack on Day 1 (ie Day 1 would have been Monday or Tuesday for those starting on Monday/Tuesday/etc) by taking one daily until Sunday when discard the remainder and start another package (eg Sunday for Monday starting).

If you miss three active pills consecutively during Weeks 1-3, discard all remaining capsules and start over on Day 4; or if starting Sunday instead of Day 1, continue taking one pill daily until Sunday; at that time discard what remains and begin fresh with another package. Missing two active pills may prevent your period. See your physician immediately if this has happened to you for two consecutive months as it could indicate pregnancy.  If you forget to take a pill reminder, just throw it out and continue taking one reminder pill a day until your pack is empty.

What happens if I overdose?

Call the Poison Helpline on 1-800-222-1222 if experiencing poison-related symptoms and seek emergency medical help immediately.An overdose can cause nausea or bleeding.

What should be avoided?

Do not smoke while taking birth control pills, especially if you're older than 35. BBirth control pills do not protect against sexually transmissible diseases like HIV and AIDS. The only way to prevent these diseases is by using a condom.

Interaction with other drug

Tell your doctor all of your other medications, including:

• Rifampin;
• Troglitazone;
• Atorvastatin;
• Glecaprevir/pibrentasvir;
• Anticonvulsants such as phenobarbital (antiepileptics), phenytoin, and carbamazepine.

This list is incomplete. Gemmily may be affected by other drugs, such as prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. This list does not include all possible drug-drug interactions.