Desogestrel-Ethinyl Estrad Oral

Your pill pack contains 21 pills (enough for 3 weeks) with a combination of estrogen and progestin. The last week of the pack contains 2 reminder pills with no medication and 5 pills that have a low dose of estrogen. Take one active pill (with both hormones) once daily for 21 days in a row. After the combination pills are finished, continue taking 1 tablet daily, starting with the 2 reminder tablets and finishing with the 5 estrogen-only tablets, or take as directed by your doctor. You should have your period during the fourth week of the cycle. After you have taken the last estrogen-only tablet in the pack, start a new pack the next day whether or not you have your period. If you do not get your period, consult your doctor.

If this is the first time you are using this medication and you are not switching from another form of hormonal birth control (e.g., patch, other birth control pills), take the first tablet in the pack on the first Sunday following the beginning of your menstrual period or on the first day of your period. If your period begins on a Sunday, begin taking this medication on that day. For the first cycle of use only, use an additional form of non-hormonal birth control (e.g., condoms, spermicide) for the first 7 days to prevent pregnancy until the medication has enough time to work. If you start on the first day of your period, you do not need to use back-up birth control the first week.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist for information about how to switch from other forms of hormonal birth control (e.g., patch, other birth control pills) to this product. If any of this information is unclear, consult the Patient Information Leaflet or your doctor or pharmacist.

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Dosage and Storage