Microgynon 30/Microgynon 30 ED Special Precautions

If the doctor has not been told about any of the following, tell him/her before starting taking Microgynon 30/Microgynon 30 ED.
Tell the doctor if there are allergies to any other medicines, foods, preservatives or dyes.
Microgynon 30/Microgynon 30 ED contains lactose. If there is an intolerance to some sugars, tell the doctor before starting taking Microgynon 30/Microgynon 30 ED.
Tell the doctor if: the patient smokes; the patient or anyone in the immediate family has had blood clots in the legs (DVT), or lungs (PE), a heart attack, a stroke, breast cancer or high cholesterol.
Tell the doctor if the patient has, or had any of the following medical conditions: diabetes; high blood pressure; heart valve disorders or certain heart rhythm disorders; migraine; cancer; hyperhomocysteinaemia, a condition characterised by high levels of the amino acid homocysteine in the blood; high or low level of fats in the blood.
Ask the doctor to check if the patient: is overweight; has any hereditary or acquired conditions that may make it more likely to get blood clots; has high cholesterol or triglycerides; has liver disease; has gall bladder disease; has jaundice (yellowing of the skin) and/or pruritus (itching of the skin) related to cholestasis (condition in which the flow of bile from the liver stops or slows); has Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis (chronic inflammatory bowel disease); has systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE - a disease affecting the skin all over the body); has haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS - a disorder of blood coagulation causing failure of the kidneys); has sickle cell disease; has a condition that occurred for the first time, or worsened during pregnancy or previous use of sex hormones (e.g. hearing loss, a metabolic disease called porphyria, a skin disease called herpes gestationis, a neurological disease called Sydenham's chorea); has chloasma (yellowish-brown pigmentation patches on the skin, particularly of the face) - if so, avoid exposure to the sun or ultraviolet radiation; has hereditary angio-oedema - the patient should see the doctor immediately if experiencing symptoms of angio-oedema, such as swollen face, tongue and/or pharynx and/or difficulty swallowing, or hives together with difficulty in breathing.
If any of the previously mentioned conditions appear for the first time, recur or worsen while taking Microgynon 30/Microgynon 30 ED, the patient should tell the doctor.
Things the patient must do: Tell any doctors, dentists and pharmacists who treat the patient that she is taking this medicine.
If about to have any blood tests, tell the doctor that this medicine is being taken.
It may interfere with the results of some tests.
Have regular check-ups with the doctor.
When the patient is taking the Pill, the doctor will tell to return for regular check-ups, including getting a Cervical Screening Test. The doctor will advise how often the patient needs a Cervical Screening Test. A Cervical Screening Test can detect abnormal cells lining the cervix. Sometimes abnormal cells can progress to cancer.
If about to start on any new medicine, remind the doctor and pharmacist that Microgynon 30/Microgynon 30 ED is being taken.
Stop taking Microgynon 30/Microgynon 30 ED and see the doctor immediately if the following signs are noticed: One-sided swelling of the leg and/or foot or along a vein in the leg; Pain or tenderness in the leg which may be felt only when standing or walking; Increased warmth in the affected leg, red or discoloured skin on the leg; Sudden onset of unexplained shortness of breath or rapid breathing; Sudden coughing or coughing up of blood; Sharp chest pain or sudden severe pain in the chest which may increase with deep breathing; Severe light headedness or dizziness; Rapid or irregular heartbeat; Sudden pain, swelling and slight blue discoloration of an extremity; Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body; Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination; Sudden confusion, slurred speech or aphasia, sudden partial or complete loss of vision, double vision, painless blurring of vision which can progress to loss of vision; Sudden, severe, or prolonged headache with no known cause; Loss of consciousness or fainting with or without seizure; Pain, discomfort, pressure, heaviness, sensation of squeezing or fullness in the chest arm, or below the breastbone; Discomfort radiating to the back, jaw, throat, arm, stomach; Feeling of being full, having indigestion or choking; Sweating, nausea, vomiting; Extreme weakness and anxiety.
If the patient is going to have surgery, tell the surgeon or anaesthetist beforehand that Microgynon 30/Microgynon 30 ED is being taken.
The risk of having blood clots is temporarily increased as a result of major surgery, any surgery to the legs or pelvis, neurosurgery or major trauma. In women who take Microgynon 30/Microgynon 30 ED, the risk may be higher.
In women at risk of prolonged immobilisation (including major surgery, any surgery to the legs or pelvis, neurosurgery, or major trauma), the doctor may tell her to stop taking (in the case of elective surgery at least four weeks in advance) and not resume until two weeks after complete remobilisation.
Another method of contraception should be used to avoid unintentional pregnancy. The doctor may prescribe other treatment (e.g. treatment for blood clots) if Microgynon 30/Microgynon 30 ED has not been discontinued in advance.
Other risk factors for blood clotting include temporary immobilisation including air travel of greater than 4 hours, particularly in women with other risk factors.
Consult the doctor if planning to air travel for greater than 4 hours.
Consult the doctor if high blood pressure is developed while taking Microgynon 30/Microgynon 30 ED - the patient may be told to stop taking it.
If the patient vomits within 3 to 4 hours, or has severe diarrhoea after taking a beige active tablet, the active ingredients may not have been completely absorbed. This is like missing a tablet. Follow the advice for missed tablets.
If having unexpected bleeding and it continues, becomes heavy, or occurs again, tell the doctor.
When taking this Pill for the first few months, the patient can have irregular vaginal bleeding (spotting or breakthrough bleeding) between periods. The patient may need to use sanitary products, but continue to take the tablets as normal. Irregular vaginal bleeding usually stops once the body has adjusted to the Pill, usually after about 3 months.
If the patient has missed a period, but she has taken all tablets, it is unlikely that she is pregnant, as long as: She has taken the beige active tablets at the right time; She has not been taking a medicine(s) that may interfere with the pill; She has not vomited or had severe diarrhoea during this cycle.
If this is so, continue to take Microgynon 30/Microgynon 30 ED as usual. If having any concerns, consult the doctor or pharmacist.
If the patient misses her period twice in a row, she may be pregnant, even if she has taken the Pill correctly. Stop taking Microgynon 30/Microgynon 30 ED and seek advice from the doctor. The patient must use a non-hormonal method of contraception, (such as condoms or a diaphragm) until the doctor rules out pregnancy.
Microgynon 30/Microgynon 30 ED will not protect the patient from HIV-AIDS or any other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), such as chlamydia, genital herpes, genital warts, gonorrhoea, hepatitis B, human papilloma virus and syphilis.
To protect the patient from STIs, she will need to use additional barrier contraceptives (e.g. condoms).
Things the patient must not do: Do not take Microgynon 30/Microgynon 30 ED to treat any other conditions, unless the doctor tells to.
Do not give the medicine to anyone else.
Do not stop taking the medicine or change the dosage without checking with the doctor.
The patient may become pregnant if she is not using any other contraceptive and she stops taking Microgynon 30/Microgynon 30 ED, or does not take a tablet every day.