Important note
The following information is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the expertise and judgment of your physician, pharmacist or other healthcare professional. It should not be construed to indicate that use of the Seasonale birth control pill is safe, appropriate, or effective for you. Consult your healthcare professional before using Seasonale birth control pills.
About Seasonale
When the birth control pill was first developed, it was thought that women would be more
likely to take it if they still had their "period" each month. That was why a 28-day cycle birth control pill was developed.
There is no medical reason to have a period every 28 days when you're on the birth control pill, because you're not getting a real period.
Seasonale is the same kind of trusted hormones as the normal birth control pill. It gives the same reliable effectiveness except you only get 4 periods a year.
Using Seasonale
You take 1 active Seasonale birth control pill daily daily for 84 consecutive days followed by 7 days inactive Seasonale pills.
Side effects
The risks associated with Seasonale birth control pills are similar to those with all birth control pills. Most side effects are not serious and those that are occur infrequently.
Serious as well as minor side effects have been reported with the use of hormonal contraceptives. Serious risks include blood clots, stroke, and heart attack. Cigarette smoking increases the risk of serious cardiovascular side effects, especially in women over 35 years. Women who take birth control pills should not smoke.
Precautions
When considering Seasonale, the convenience of fewer planned menses (4 per year instead of 13 per year) should be weighed against the inconvenience of increased intermenstrual bleeding and/or spotting.
Some women should not use birth control pills, including women who have blood clots, certain cancers, a history of heart attack or stroke, as well as those who are or may be pregnant.
Heavy smokers over the age of 35 should not take the Seasonale birth control pill.
Birth control pills do not protect against HIV infection (AIDS) and other sexually transmitted diseases. A condom must be used for protection from these diseases.
Do not share >birth control pills with others.
Do not use the Seasonale birth control pill for other health conditions.
Keep out of the reach of children.
Seasonale Drug Interactions
Interactions with Anti-infective agents and anticonvulsants
Birth control effectiveness may be reduced when hormonal contraceptives are coadministered with antibiotics, anticonvulsants, and other drugs that increase the metabolism of contraceptive steroids. Unintended pregnancy or breakthrough bleeding could result. Examples include rifampin, barbiturates, phenylbutazone, phenytoin, carbamazepine, felbamate, oxcarbazepine, topiramate, and griseofulvin. Several cases of contraceptive failure and breakthrough bleeding have been reported in the literature with concomitant administration of antibiotics such as ampicillin and tetracyclines. However, clinical pharmacology studies investigating drug interaction between combined oral contraceptives and these antibiotics have reported inconsistent results.
Interactions with Anti-HIV protease inhibitors
Several of the anti-HIV protease inhibitors have been studied with co-administration of oral combination hormonal contraceptives; significant changes (increase and decrease) in the plasma levels of the estrogen and progestin have been noted in some cases. The safety and efficacy of combination oral contraceptive products may be affected with co-administration of anti-HIV protease inhibitors.
Interactions with Herbal products
Herbal products containing St. Johns Wort may reduce the effectiveness of contraceptive steroids. They may also result in breakthrough bleeding.
Seasonale Overdose
If an overdose of Seasonale birth control pills is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately.
Buy Seasonale online - no prescription required prior to ordering, US certified physicians and pharmacies.
