Nordette/Levonorgestrel & Ethinyl Estradiol

MORE ABOUT NORDETTE

Nordette is a birth-control pill, used to prevent pregnancy or to regulate the menstrual cycle. It may be prescribed for other purposes (such as the treatment of acne or as a "morning after" pill for emergency contraception) at the discretion of your doctor.

Proper Usage

If you are prescribed this drug for any reason other than preventative birth control, follow your doctor's directions exactly. Take a pill with food or immediately after a meal to prevent stomach upset. Try to take it at the same time every day: this may help to remember to take it. Use an additional method of birth control during the first week since the pills take a while to be effective. Follow the directions and schedule you were given exactly.

Proper Storage

Store at room temperature away from sunlight and moisture. Keep out of the reach of children.

Warnings

Tell your doctor your complete medical history and family medical history before you start taking Nordette. In particular tell your doctor about 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. Birth-control pills, depending on their strength, may cause a patchy, darkening of the skin on the face (melasma). Sunlight may intensify the effect, so you may need to avoid exposure to sun or sunlamps. Consult a doctor about use of sunscreen or protective clothing. It may take a long time for you to conceive after you quit using birth-control pills. Do not smoke while you are using birth-control pills. 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 and age raise the risk of stroke, blood clots, high blood pressure and heart attacks. Consult a pharmacist or doctor about these risks. Near-sighted women and women wearing contact lenses may experience vision problems. Tolerance to lenses may decrease, too. Contact your eye doctor if these problems occur. If you are having surgery, tell the doctor about the pills you are using. Nordette must not be used during pregnancy. If you think you may have become pregnant, notify a doctor immediately. Nordette is secreted in breast milk. It may affect milk production and may harm the baby. Consult a doctor before breast-feeding.

Side Effects

Some side effects associated with the use of Nordette are headache, dizziness, lightheadedness, bloating, stomach upset, or nausea. If these symptoms persist or are bothersome, consult a doctor. Notify your doctor if you experience one of the following more uncommon side effects: severe depression, groin or calf pain, 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.

Missed Dose

Refer to the product package information for advice on missed doses.

Other drug Interactions

Tell your doctor about all drugs you may be taking, whether prescription or non-prescription, and including natural or herbal medicine. The following drugs may lower the effectiveness of Nordette: griseofulvin, many antibiotics, chloramphenicol, many seizure medications, dapsone, rifamycins (such as rifampin), modafinil, nevirapine, nelfinavir, ritonavir, St John's wort, troglitazone. If you are using any of these drugs, consult your doctor; you may need to use additional birth control methods when taking any of the drugs mentioned above while using birth control pills. Additionally, tell your doctor if you are using thyroid hormone drugs, certain benzodiazepines (such as diazepam or chlordiazepoxide), prednisone-like drugs, certain antidepressants (such as tricyclics), beta-blockers (such as metoprolol), anticoagulants or "blood thinners" (such as warfarin), insulin. Nordette can influence the results of some lab tests (such as thyroid). Inform laboratory personnel that you are using this drug. Birth control pills may increase the effects of alcohol use significantly. Consult a physician about this. Do not start or stop using any drug without consulting a doctor or pharmacist.