Seasonale Info

What are Seasonale birth control tablets?
Seasonale products are effective as oral contraceptives (birth control pills or "the pill"). These products combine natural or synthetic estrogens and progestins, similar to the natural sex hormones (estrogen and progesterone) produced in a woman's body. Ethinyl estradiol is an estrogen and levonorgestrel is a progestin. These products can prevent ovulation and pregnancy. In general, a combination of estrogen and progestin works better than a single-ingredient product. After consultation with a doctor, this combination of products can be used under specific circumstances for emergency contraception after unprotected sex, contact your health care prescriber for information. Seasonale tablets can also help regulate menstrual flow, treat acne, or may be used for other hormone related problems in females. The type and amount of estrogen and/or progestin may be different from one product to another. Seasonale is an effective birth control pill.

What should I check before I use Seasonale?
Please verify if you have or ever had any of these conditions: blood clots, blood sugar problems like diabetes, cancer of the breast, cervix, ovary, uterus, vagina, or unusual vaginal bleeding that has not been evaluated by a doctor, depression, fibroids, gallbladder disease, heart or circulation problems, high blood pressure, jaundice, liver disease, menstrual problems, migraine headaches, tobacco smoker, stroke, an unusual or allergic reaction to estrogen/progestin, other hormones, medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives, pregnant or trying to get pregnant, breast-feeding.

How should I use Seasonale?

• For routine prevention of pregnancy:
  Take Seasonale pills by mouth. Before you start taking seasonale, decide what is a suitable time of day and always take them at the same time of day and in the order directed. Swallow seasonale with a drink of water. Take with food to reduce stomach upset. Do not take seasonale more often than directed.
  
  Seasonale contains a 91-day supply of pills. Seasonale has 84 pills with active ingredients and 7 inactive pills to be taken during the week of menstruation. Seasonale allows you to only have 4 menstrual cycles per year.
  
  Most products like Seasonale are to be started on the first Sunday after you start your period or on the first day of your period. You may need to ask your doctor which day you should start your Seasonale.
  
  

• For emergency prevention of pregnancy:
  Take Seasonale pills by mouth. You will need to follow the instructions provided by your doctor exactly. You will be told how many pills of Seasonale you should take for each dose. Take the first dose as soon as you can after having unprotected sex, preferably in the first 24 hours, but no later than 72 hours (3 days) after the event. You MUST take the second dose of Seasonale 12 hours after you take the first dose. Do not take any extra pills of Seasonale. Extra pills will not decrease your risk of pregnancy, but may increase your risk of side effects.
  
  

• For all uses of this medicine:
  Before starting Seasonale, read the paper on your prescription provided by your pharmacist. Make certain you understand the instructions.
  
  Keep an extra month's supply of Seasonale pills available to ensure that you will not miss the first day of the next cycle.
  

What if I miss a dose of Seasonale?
If you miss a dose of Seasonale or any other emergency contraceptive prescription, or vomit the dose within an hour of taking it, you MUST contact your doctor for instructions.

Try not to miss a dose of Seasonale. If you do, it may be necessary to consult your prescriber or doctor. The following information describes only some of the ways that missed doses can be handled.

For all cycles:

• 91-day schedule:
  If you miss one dose for the first 84 days of the schedule, take it as soon as you remember. Take the next pill at your regular time as usual, which means you may take 2 tablets in one day. If you miss 2 doses (days) in a row, take 2 tablets on the day you remember and 2 tablets the next day. Then, continue with your regular schedule. You could become pregnant if you have sex in the 7 days after you miss 2 doses in a row. You should use another method of birth control during the 7 days after you restart your pills. If you miss 3 doses (days) in a row, you will not take any of the 3 pills that you missed. Restart taking your pills for the actual day you restart. For example, if you resume taking the pill on Thursday, take the pill under 'Thursday' and do not take the missed pills. Keep taking 1 pill every day until you have completed all of the remaining pills in the pack. You may experience bleeding during the week following the missed pills. You could become pregnant if you have sex in the 7 days after you miss 3 doses in a row. You should use another method of birth control during the 7 days after you restart your pills. If you miss any of the last 7 pills, throw away the missed pills. You will not need a back-up method of birth control. Keep taking the scheduled pills until the pack is finished.

What drug(s) may interact with Seasonale?
Antibiotics or medicines for infections, especially rifampin, aprepitant, barbiturate medicines for producing sleep or treating seizures (convulsions), bosentan, carbamazepine, caffeine, clofibrate, cyclosporine, dantrolene, grapefruit juice, hydrocortisone, medicines for anxiety or sleeping problems, such as diazepam or temazepam omedicines for mental depression, medicines for diabetes, including troglitazone and pioglitazone, mineral oil, modafinil, mycophenolate, nefazodone, oxcarbazepine, phenytoin, prednisolone, ritonavir or other medicines for the treatment of the HIV virus or AIDS, selegiline, soy isoflavones supplements, St. John's wort, tamoxifen or raloxifene, theophylline, topiramate, warfarin.

On the questionaire needed to buy Seasonale online, inform of all medicines you are taking, including non-prescription medicines, nutritional supplements, or herbal products. Also include in the questionaire needed to buy Seasonale online if you are a frequent user of drinks with caffeine or alcohol, if you smoke, or if you use illegal drugs. These may affect the way your medicine works. Check before stopping or starting any of your medicines.

What side effects may I notice from taking Seasonale?
Severe side effects are relatively rare in women who are healthy and do not smoke while they are taking oral contraceptives. On average, more women have problems due to complications from getting pregnant than have problems with oral contraceptives. Many of the minor effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. However, the potential for severe side effects does exist and you may want to discuss these with your doctor.

The following symptoms or side effects may be related to blood clots and require immediate medical or emergency help: chest pain, coughing up blood, dizziness or fainting spells, leg, arm or groin pain, severe or sudden headaches, stomach pain (severe), sudden shortness of breath, sudden loss of coordination, especially on one side of the body, swelling of the hands, feet or ankles, or rapid weight gain, vision or speech problems, weakness or numbness in the arms or legs, especially on one side of the body.

Other serious effects are rare. Contact your doctor as soon as you can if the following side effects occur: breast tissue changes or discharge, changes in vaginal bleeding during your period or between your periods, headaches or migraines, increases in blood sugar, especially if you have diabetes, increases in blood pressure, especially if you are known to have high blood pressure, symptoms of vaginal infection (itching, irritation or unusual discharge), tenderness in the upper abdomen, vomiting, yellowing of the eyes or skin.

Effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your doctor if they continue or are bothersome): breakthrough bleeding and spotting that continues beyond the 3 initial cycles of pills, breast tenderness, mild stomach upset, mood changes, anxiety, depression, frustration, anger, or emotional outbursts, increased or decreased appetite, increased sensitivity to sun or ultraviolet light, nausea, skin rash, acne, or brown spots on the skin, tiredness, weight gain.

If you are taking Seasonale for emergency prevention of pregnancy, it is common to have nausea, headache, abdominal pain or cramping, breast tenderness and dizziness. You may vomit. If you throw-up within 1 hour of taking your dose, you will need to contact your health care professional for instructions. If any of the other effects are severe or continue, contact your health care professional. After you finish your Seasonale prescription, it is common for you to have changes in your next period, or to have spotting. If you do not get a period within 21 days of taking your Seasonale prescription, you should see your health care professional and get a pregnancy test.

What precautions should I take while taking Seasonale?
While taking seasonale, Visit your prescriber or doctor for regular checks on your progress. You should have a complete check-up every 6 to 12 months. If you have any unusual vaginal bleeding contact your doctor or doctor for advice. If you miss a period, the possibility of pregnancy must be considered. See your prescriber or health care professional as soon as you can.

Use an additional method of contraception during the first 7 days that you take Seasonale.

If you stop taking Seasonale and want to get pregnant, a return to normal ovulation can take some time. You may not return to normal ovulation and fertility for 3 to 6 months. Discuss your pregnancy plans with your doctor.

If you are taking Seasonale or other oral contraceptives for the treatment of acne, hirsutism (male-like hair growth), endometriosis or other hormone related problems, it may take several months of continued treatment to notice improvement in your symptoms or condition.

Tobacco smoking increases the risk of getting a blood clot or having a stroke while you are taking Seasonale and other oral contraceptives, especially if you are more than 35 years old. You are strongly advised NOT to smoke while taking Seasonale.

Seasonale and other Oral contraceptives can increase your sensitivity to the sun and you may burn more easily. While using seasonale, Use sunscreen and protective clothing during long periods outdoors. Tanning booths should be used with caution.

If you wear contact lenses while taking Seasonale and notice visual changes, or if the lenses begin to feel uncomfortable, consult your eye care specialist.

In some women, tenderness, swelling, or minor bleeding of the gums may occur. Notify your dentist if this happens. Brushing and flossing your teeth regularly may help limit this. See your dentist regularly and inform your dentist of the medicines you are taking including Seasonale.

You may get a vaginal yeast infection while taking Seasonale. If you have never had a yeast infection before, see your prescriber or other doctor to confirm the problem. If you have had yeast infections in the past and are comfortable with self-medicating the problem, get and use a nonprescription medication to treat the yeast infection.

If you are going to have elective surgery, you may need to stop taking your Seasonale pills one month beforehand. Consult your health care professional for advice prior to scheduling the surgery.

Taking Seasonale or any other contraceptive pills does not protect you against HIV infection (AIDS) or any other sexually transmitted diseases.

What if I overdose with Seasonale?
If Seasonale overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately. Symptoms of overdose may include nausea and vomiting. Females may experience vaginal bleeding.

Where can I keep my Seasonale?
Keep your Seaonale out of the reach of children.

Store at room temperature between 15 and 30 degrees C (59 and 86 degrees F). Keep container tightly closed. Throw away any unused Seasonale after the expiration date.