Description
Rigevidon is a combined oral contraceptive, also called the pill. It contains two types of female hormones: an oestrogen,
ethinylestradiol, and a progestogen, levonorgestrel in a low dose
The combined contraceptive pill protects you against getting pregnant in three ways. These hormones
- stop the ovary from releasing an egg each month (ovulation)
- also thicken the fluid (at the neck of the womb) making it more difficult for the sperm to reach the egg
- alter the lining of the womb to make it less likely to accept a fertilised egg.
General information
If taken correctly, the pill is an effective reversible form of contraception. However, in certain circumstances the effectiveness of the pill may reduce or you should stop taking the pill (see later). In these cases either do not have sex, or use extra non-hormonal contraceptive precautions (such as condoms or another barrier method) during intercourse to ensure effective contraception.
Remember, combined oral contraceptive pills like Rigevidon will not protect you against sexually-transmitted diseases (such as AIDS). Only condoms can help to do this.
Warnings
If the condition develops, or gets worse while you use Rigevidon, you should also tell your doctor.
- if you have elevated levels of fat in the blood (hypertriglyceridaemia) or a positive family history for this condition. Hypertriglyceridaemia has been associated with an increased risk of developing pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas).
- if you need an operation, or you are off your feet for a long time
- if you or your close family have ever had problems with your heart, or circulation such as high blood pressure.
- if you have an inflammation in the veins under the skin (superficial thrombophlebitis).
- if you have varicose veins.
- if you or your close family have ever had problems with blood clotting.
- if you have migraine.
- if you have diabetes.
- if you have Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis (chronic inflammatory bowel diseases).
- if you have the inherited form of deafness known as otosclerosis.
- if you have depressed mood (depression or mood changes).
- if you have the movement disorder called Sydenham’s chorea.
- if you have liver and/or gall bladder disease (yellowing of the skin, gallstones).
- if you have the inherited disease called porphyria.
- if you have sickle cell anaemia (an inherited disease of the red blood cells).
- if you have a blood disorder called haemolytic uraemic syndrome – HUS (a disorder where blood clots cause the kidneys to fail).
- if you have systemic lupus erythematosus SLE -; a disease affecting your natural defence system.
- if you have the rash known as herpes gestationis (eruption of vesicles on the skin during pregnancy).
- if you have brown patches on your face and body (chloasma), which you can reduce by staying out of the sun and not using sunbeds or sunlamps.
See patient information leaflet for more details.
Side Effects
Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people):
Vaginitis, including vaginal candidiasis, mood swings including depression, altered sexual desire, nervousness, dizziness, feeling sick, being sick, abdominal pain, acne, breast pain, breast enlargement and discharge, painful menstruation, irregular bleeding, no or reduced bleeding, abnormality of cervix (change in cervical ectopion) and vaginal secretion, fluid retention/edema, changes in weight.
See patient information leaflet for more details.
Ingredients
The active substances are levonorgestrel and ethinylestradiol.
One coated tablet contains 150 micrograms levonorgestrel and 30 micrograms ethinylestradiol.
The other ingredients are:
Colloidal anhydrous silica, magnesium stearate, talc, maize starch, lactose monohydrate (33 mg), sucrose, calcium carbonate, titanium dioxide (E171), copovidone, macrogol 6000, povidone carmellose sodium.
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