Oral Contraceptives

• If you miss a dose...
  If you neglect to take only one estrogen/progestin pill, take it as soon as you remember, take the next pill at your regular time, and continue taking the rest of the medication cycle. The risk of pregnancy is small if you miss only one combination pill per cycle. If you miss more than one tablet, check your product's patient information for instructions.

Missing a single progestin-only tablet increases the chance of pregnancy. Consult your doctor immediately if you miss a single dose or if you take it 3 or more hours late, and use another method of birth control until your next period begins or pregnancy is ruled out.

• Storage instructions...
  To help keep track of your doses, use the original container. Store at room temperature.

What side effects may occur?

Side effects cannot be anticipated. If any develop or change in intensity, inform your doctor as soon as possible. Only your doctor can determine if it is safe for you to continue taking an oral contraceptive.

• Common side effects may include:
  Breakthrough bleeding between menstrual periods (spotting), depression, loss of menstrual periods, migraine, nausea, vomiting, water retention, weight gain, yeast infection

Serious, and possibly life-threatening, side effects are also possible, especially for women who smoke. Seek medical attention immediately if you have any of the following:

• Chest pain, coughing up blood, or shortness of breath (indicating a possible blood clot in the lung)
• Pain in the calf (indicating a possible blood clot in the leg)
• Crushing chest pain or heaviness (indicating a possible heart attack)
• Sudden, severe headache or vomiting, dizziness, fainting, vision or speech problems, weakness, or numbness in an arm or leg (indicating a possible stroke)
• Sudden partial or complete loss of vision (indicating a possible blood clot in the eye)
• Breast lumps (indicating possible breast cancer or fibrocystic breast disease)
• Severe pain or tenderness in the stomach (indicating a possible liver tumor)
• Difficulty sleeping, lack of energy, fatigue, change in mood (possibly indicating depression)
• Yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes (jaundice), sometimes accompanied by fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, dark-colored urine, or light-colored bowel movements (indicating possible liver problems)