Ethinyl Estradiol and Desogestrel Side Effects and Warnings

What are the precautions when taking this medicine?

• If you have any circulation problems, talk with healthcare provider.

• If you have gallbladder disease, talk with healthcare provider.

• If you have heart disease, talk with healthcare provider.

• If you have kidney disease, talk with healthcare provider.

• If you have liver disease, talk with healthcare provider.

• If you have migraines, talk with healthcare provider.

• Tell dentists, surgeons, and other healthcare providers that you use this medicine.

• Check medicines with healthcare provider. This medicine may not mix well with other medicines.

• Avoid grapefruit and grapefruit juice.

• Do not take St John's wort, dong quai, black cohosh, saw palmetto, red clover, or ginseng with this medicine.

• If you are taking this medicine and have high blood pressure, talk with healthcare provider before using over-the-counter products that may increase blood pressure. These include cough or cold remedies, diet pills, stimulants, ibuprofen or like products, and certain natural products or supplements.

• Avoid cigarette smoking. Persons older than 35 years of age and/or smoking more than 15 cigarettes per day are at an increased risk for heart disease.

• Limit alcohol intake (includes wine, beer, and liquor).

• To protect against sexually-transmitted diseases, use a latex condom.

• Tell healthcare provider if you are breast-feeding.

What are some possible side effects of this medicine?

• Weight gain.

• Headache.

• Belly pain.

• Nausea or vomiting. Small frequent meals, frequent mouth care, sucking hard, sugar-free candy, or chewing sugar-free gum may help.

• Menstrual changes. These include lots of bleeding, spotting, or bleeding between cycles.

• Swelling.

• Breast enlargement.

• For females, vaginal yeast infection. Report itching or discharge.

• Gallbladder disease, blood clots, heart attacks, and other vascular problems can rarely occur.

Reasons to call healthcare provider immediately

• If you suspect an overdose, call your local poison control center or emergency department immediately.

• Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing; chest tightness; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits; or swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat.

• Chest pain or pressure.

• Difficulty breathing.

• Change in strength on one side greater than the other, difficulty speaking or thinking, change in balance, or blurred vision.

• Swelling or pain of leg or arm.

• Severe headache.

• Severe belly pain.

• Severe nausea or vomiting.

• Not able to eat.

• Dark urine or yellow skin or eyes.

• Change in contact lens tolerance.

• Sudden change in vision, eye pain, or irritation.

• A lump in the breast or breast tenderness.

• For females, if you become pregnant while taking this medicine.

• Any rash.

• No improvement in condition or feeling worse.