Loestrin Fe 1/20 (birth control)

What is Loestrin Fe 1/20 (birth control)?

Loestrin Fé 1/20 is a combination pill that contains female hormones to prevent ovulation. This medication can also cause changes to your cervical mucus or uterine lining. These changes make it more difficult for sperm and fertilised eggs to attach to the uterus.Loestrin Fe is used to prevent pregnancy. Loestrin Fe 1/20 can also be used to treat mild acne among women over 15 who have begun menstruating and wish to take birth-control pills. There are several brands of estradiol and norethindrone. This leaflet does not list all brands.Loestrin Fe 1/20 can be used in other ways not mentioned in this guide.

Side effects of Loestrin Fe 1/20 (birth control)

If you experience any of the following symptoms of an allergic reaction, seek immediate medical attention: difficulty breathing, hives, swelling of your lips, face, or throat.

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

• Signs of a Stroke: sudden numbness, weakness, severe headache, slurred or shaky speech, or problems with vision, balance, or coordination;
• Signs of a blood clot in the lungs: chest pain, sudden cough or shortness of breath, dizziness, and coughing blood
• Signs of a deep blood clot—pain, swelling, or warmth in a leg;
• Heart attack symptoms: chest pain or pressure, spreading pain to your jaw and shoulders, nausea, or sweating.
• Liver problems: swelling around the midsection of your body; upper right stomach pain; lack of appetite; dark coloured urine; clay-coloured stool; jaundice (yellowing skin or eyes);
• Increased blood pressure—a severe headache, blurred or distorted vision, or pounding in the neck, ears, or head;
• Depression: mood changes, low self-esteem, lack of interest in activities you used to enjoy, sleep disturbances, thoughts of harming yourself
• A breast lump or swelling of the hands, feet, ankles, or legs
• A change in the frequency or intensity of migraine headaches

Loestrin Fe side effects may include:

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

There may be other side effects. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. The FDA can be contacted at 1-800-FDA-1088 to report side effects.

Similar/related drugs

Norethindrone, Levonorgestrel, Medroxyprogesterone, Depo-Provera, Provera, and Nexplanon

Warnings

Avoid using birth control pills while pregnant or after having a recent baby.Birth control pills should not be used if: you have uncontrolled high blood pressure, heart problems, coronary artery diseases, circulation issues (especially in diabetes), undiagnosed bleeding vaginal, liver disease or cancer, severe headaches or migraines, if your surgery will require major surgery, if you are smoking and older than 35, if a blood clot has occurred, if jaundice was caused by pregnancy, birth control pills, or cancer of the breast, uterus, cervix, or vaginaSmoking or taking birth control pills, especially if over 35 years old, can increase the risk of blood clots or stroke.

Before you take this drug

Birth control pills may increase your risk for blood clots or stroke. If you suffer from high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, or obesity, you're at an even greater risk. The risk of a stroke or blood clot increases 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 Loestrin FE 1/20 immediately if your period is missed twice in a row or you fall pregnant. Wait at least four weeks after giving birth if you've just had a child.

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 not checked by a physician;
• Liver disease or liver cancer
• Severe migraine headaches, especially if older than 35.
• Jaundice caused by pregnancy or birth-control pills
• Smoking is not allowed for anyone older than 35 years.
• If you are taking any hepatitis C medications that contain ombitasvir or paritaprevir or ritonavir (with or without dasabuvir).

Inform your doctor if you experience any of these symptoms:

• If you have heart problems, high blood pressure, or are susceptible to blood clots, then this is the product for you.
• If you have high triglycerides or cholesterol or are overweight,
• Depression;
• A seizure or migraine headache;
• Gallbladder disease and an underactive thyroid are both examples of diabetes.
• Liver or kidney disease
• Uneven menstrual cycles, fibrocystic breast disease, lumps, nodules, or abnormal mammograms

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

How to take Loestrin Fe 1/20 (birth control)?

Read all instructions or guides that come with your medication and follow all instructions on the label. Follow the directions on the label.When you first begin using this medication, it may be necessary to use a backup birth control method, such as spermicide condoms. You should follow your doctor's advice.One pill per day is recommended, but no more than one every 24 hours. Start a new package the next day when the pills are finished. If you don't take one pill every day, you may become pregnant.Some birth control packages contain "reminder pills" to help you maintain your regular cycle. Usually, your period will begin when you start taking these reminder pills.If you have severe nausea or diarrhoea, use backup birth control.You could have been bleeding through the skin. If it persists or becomes very heavy, tell your doctor.You may have to temporarily stop taking this medication if you are going to be undergoing major surgery or confined for long periods of time. You should let any doctor or surgeon that treats you know that you use Loestrin FE 1/20.You will need to see your doctor regularly if you are taking birth control pills.Keep away from moisture and heat at room temperature.

What happens if I miss the dose?

You should read all instructions and guides included with your medications.You are more likely to become pregnant if you miss a pill.Take two pills the next day if you forget to take one. For the rest of the package, take 1 pill per day.If you missed 2 active pills consecutively in Weeks 1 or 2, then take 2 pills a day for two days. Take one pill a day for the remainder of the package. After missing a pill, use a backup birth control method for at least seven days.If you missed two active pills consecutively in Week 3, you can throw the remaining pack out and start another pack on the same day if you started Day 1. If you started on Sunday, continue taking one pill each day until Sunday. On Sunday, discard the remainder of the package and begin a new one.If you missed 3 active pills consecutively in Weeks 1, 2, and 3, you can throw the rest out and start over with a new package on the same date if you started Day 1. If you started on Sunday, continue taking one pill each day until Sunday. On Sunday, discard the remainder of the package and begin a new one.You may not get a period if you miss two or more active pills. Call your doctor if you have missed a period in two consecutive months. You might be pregnant.If you forget to take a pill reminder, just throw it out and continue taking one reminder pill per day till the pack is gone.

What happens if I overdose?

Call the Poison Help Line at 1-800-222-1222 or seek emergency medical care. 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.Birth control pills do not protect against sexually transmissible diseases, including HIV and AIDS. The only way to prevent these diseases is by using a condom.

Interaction with other drug

Tell your doctor about your other medications, including:

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

This list is incomplete. Loestrin FE 1/20 may be affected by other drugs, such as vitamins and herbs. This list does not include all possible interactions with other drugs.