Desogen

Common use

Desogen is a birth control pill used for contraception to prevent pregnancy. Desogen contains a combination of female hormones that prevent ovulation (the release of an egg from an ovary). This medicine also causes changes in your cervical mucus and uterine lining, making it harder for sperm to reach the uterus and harder for a fertilized egg to attach to the uterus.

Dosage and direction

You will take your first pill on the first day of your period or on the first Sunday after your period begins. You may need to use back-up birth control, such as condoms or a spermicide, when you first start using Desogen. Follow your doctor's instructions.
Take one pill every day, no more than 24 hours apart. When the pills run out, start a new pack the following day. You may get pregnant if you do not take one pill daily. Desogen packs contain seven "reminder" pills to keep you on your regular cycle. Your period will usually begin while you are using these reminder pills.

Precautions

To make sure Desogen are safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had: heart disease, high blood pressure, or if you are prone to having blood clots; varicose veins; high cholesterol or triglycerides, or if you are overweight; depression; migraine headaches; diabetes, gallbladder disease; liver or kidney disease; irregular menstrual cycles; or fibrocystic breast disease, lumps, nodules, or an abnormal mammogram.

Contraindications

Do not use Desogen if you are pregnant. Stop using this medicine and tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant, or if you miss two menstrual periods in a row. If you have recently had a baby, wait at least 4 weeks before taking birth control pills.
The hormones in Desogen can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. This medicine may also slow breast milk production. Do not use if you are breast feeding a baby.
You should not use Desogen if you have: uncontrolled high blood pressure, heart disease, coronary artery disease, circulation problems (especially with diabetes), undiagnosed vaginal bleeding, liver disease or liver cancer, severe migraine headaches, if you also take certain hepatitis C medication, if you will have major surgery, if you smoke and are over 35, or if you have ever had a heart attack, a stroke, a blood clot, jaundice caused by pregnancy or birth control pills, or cancer of the breast, uterus/cervix, or vagina.

Possible side effect

Common Desogen side effects may include: nausea, vomiting (especially when you first start taking this medicine); breast tenderness; breakthrough bleeding; acne, darkening of facial skin; weight gain; or problems with contact lenses.

Drug interaction

Other drugs may interact with ethinyl estradiol and desogestrel, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Some drugs can make birth control pills less effective, which may result in pregnancy. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using.

Missed dose

If you miss one active pill, take two pills on the day you remember. Then take one pill per day for the rest of the pack.
If you miss two active pills in a row in Week 1 or 2, take two pills per day for two days in a row. Then take one pill per day for the rest of the pack. Use back-up birth control for at least 7 days following the missed pills.
If you miss two active pills in a row in Week 3, throw out the rest of the pack and start a new pack the same day if you are a Day 1 starter. If you are a Sunday starter, keep taking a pill every day until Sunday. On Sunday, throw out the rest of the pack and start a new pack that day.
If you miss a reminder pill, throw it away and keep taking one reminder pill per day until the pack is empty.

Overdose

Seek emergency medical attention. Overdose symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, and vaginal bleeding.

Storage

Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Keep away from children and pets.