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| Brand Names |
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| Lunelle™ |
|
|
| Therapeutic
Categories |
|
|
Contraceptive |
|
|
| What key warnings should I know
about before taking this
medicine? |
|
|
- This medicine does not protect against HIV disease and other
sexually transmitted diseases.
|
|
|
| Reasons not to take this
medicine |
|
|
- If you have an allergy to estrogens, medroxyprogesterone, or any other
part of the medicine.
- If you have any of the following conditions: Unexplained vaginal
bleeding, any history of blood clots, severe high blood pressure, heart problems
related to a heart valve, history of stroke or disease of the arteries in the
brain, disease of the arteries in the heart, breast cancer, cancer whose growth
is increased by estrogen, liver disease, specific type of headache, diabetes
that has affected the blood vessels.
- If you are older than 35 years of age and smoke 15 or more cigarettes
a day.
- If you are pregnant or think you may be pregnant.
- If you turned yellow (jaundice) or had severe itching when pregnant.
- If you turned yellow (jaundice) when taking birth control pills.
- If you have had a baby less than 4 weeks ago and are not
breast-feeding.
- If you have had a baby less than 6 weeks ago and are
breast-feeding.
|
|
|
| What is this medicine used
for? |
|
|
- This medicine is used to prevent you from getting
pregnant.
|
|
|
| How does it work? |
|
|
- Estradiol and medroxyprogesterone prevent the eggs from maturing and
may make getting pregnant more
difficult.
|
|
|
| How is it best taken? |
|
|
- This medicine is given in the healthcare provider's office once a
month as a shot. The first shot is giving within the first 5 days of your
period.
- It must be given once every 28 to 30 days. If you cannot get your next
shot on time contact healthcare provider for an earlier
one.
|
|
|
| What do I do if I miss a
dose? |
|
|
- Get to your healthcare provider's office for the shot as soon as
possible.
- If more than 33 days have passed since your last shot then you need a
pregnancy test first.
|
|
|
| What are the precautions when
taking this
medicine? |
|
|
- Do not smoke. Smoking may increase the risk of heart disease and cause
circulation problems when used with this medicine. If you are over 35 years of
age the risk increases.
- Limit alcohol intake (includes wine, beer, and liquor). Routine use
may increase risk of breast cancer.
- Side effects may increase in people with high blood pressure, high
triglyceride levels in the blood, or diabetes. Talk with healthcare provider.
- Use caution if you have gallbladder disease. Talk with healthcare
provider.
- Use caution if you have a weakened heart or any problems with extra
fluid. Talk with healthcare provider.
- Tell surgeons about this medicine. If you are having surgery you may
need to stop the medicine. This will reduce the risk of developing blood clots.
If you are unable to get out of bed while recuperating from surgery then stay
off the medicine. Talk with healthcare provider.
- Check medicines with healthcare provider. This medicine may not mix
well with other medicines.
- Do not use St. John's wort. You could get pregnant if you use with
birth control.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are allergic to any medicine. Make
sure to tell about the allergy and how it affected you. This includes telling
about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of
face, lips, tongue, throat; or any other symptoms involved.
- This medicine does not protect against HIV disease and other sexually
transmitted diseases.
- Do not use in pregnancy.
- This birth control may not work any longer if you have not had a shot
in 33 days. Use another form of birth control.
- Do not use if you are breast-feeding and your baby is less than 6
weeks old.
- If you want to get pregnant then stop your monthly shots. Most women
begin to produce eggs again in about 2 to 3 months after their last shot. Be
sure to start folic acid supplements before trying to get
pregnant.
|
|
|
| What are the common side effects
of this
medicine? |
|
|
- Weight gain.
- Emotional ups and downs.
- Swelling and bloating.
- Breast enlargement and tenderness.
- Nausea. Small frequent meals, frequent mouth care, sucking hard candy,
or chewing gum may help.
- Headache. Mild pain medicine may help.
- Vaginal bleeding (breakthrough bleeding, spotting) may
occur.
|
|
|
| What should I monitor? |
|
|
- If you are a contact lens wearer, look for changes in comfort of lens.
If lenses become uncomfortable, call healthcare provider.
- If shot is not given within 33 days, a pregnancy test must be done
before you get another shot.
- Periodic breast and gynecologic exams.
- Check lipid (triglyceride) panel if you have a history of high
triglyceride levels in your blood. Talk with healthcare provider.
- Follow up with healthcare provider every month for next
shot.
|
|
|
| Reasons to call healthcare
provider
immediately |
|
|
- Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing;
tightness in the chest; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits;
swelling of face, lips, tongue, throat.
- Change in eyesight or vision loss.
- Sharp chest pain or pressure.
- Leg pain or sudden shortness of breath.
- Severe headaches.
- Change in speech, weakness or numbness on one side of body.
- Nausea, vomiting, belly pain, feeling tired, dark urine, yellow eyes
or skin, not hungry.
- Breast lump.
- Unusual vaginal bleeding. This includes lots of bleeding, spotting, or
bleeding between cycles.
- Any rash.
- You are pregnant.
|
|
|
| How should I store this
medicine? |
|
|
- This medicine will be stored in your healthcare provider's
office.
|
|
|
| General statements |
|
|
- Do not share your medicine with others and do not take anyone else's
medicine.
- Keep all medicine out of the reach of children and pets.
- Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, herbal/supplements,
vitamins, over-the-counter) with you. Give this list to healthcare provider
(doctor, nurse, pharmacist, physician assistant).
- Talk with healthcare provider before starting any new medicine,
including over-the-counter or natural products (herbs,
vitamins).
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