Marvelon 28 0.15 mg / 0.03 mg

Indication

Oral contraception (family planning).

Ingredients

• 21 active tablets: Desogestrel 0.15 mg + Ethinylestradiol 0.03 mg
• 7 inactive tablets

Direction

Take 1 tablet daily at about the same time in the order shown on the blister, starting on day 1 of the menstrual cycle: 21 active tablets followed by 7 inactive tablets, then start the next pack the next day without a break; or as directed by the physician.

Side effects

• Nausea
• headache
• breast tenderness
• Irregular bleeding or spotting
• especially in the first months
• Mood changes
• weight change
• Rarely
• blood clots in veins or arteries (thrombosis)
• stroke or heart attack
• Consult a doctor or pharmacist if any side effect is severe or persists

Precautions

• Prescription medicine
• use under medical supervision
• Do not use if pregnant or with a history of blood clots
• stroke
• heart disease
• breast cancer or severe liver disease
• Smoking increases the risk of serious cardiovascular side effects
• especially in women over 35
• Some medicines (e.g. rifampicin
• certain anticonvulsants
• St John's wort) can reduce effectiveness
• Does not protect against HIV or other sexually transmitted infections
• Consult a doctor or pharmacist before use