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Indications - Desogestrel is used to provide contraceptive efficacy in women who want to prevent pregnancy. Desogestrel has proved to be highly efficacious as a contraceptive pill and is an alternative for women who have a weak tolerance levels for the estrogen hormones or who are lactating or breast feeding.

Dosage & Administration - Desogestrel is used to provide contraceptive efficacy in women who want to prevent pregnancy. Desogestrel has proved to be highly efficacious as a contraceptive pill and is an alternative for women who have a weak tolerance levels for the estrogen hormones or who are lactating or breast feeding. Starting first pack of Desogestrel: If you are not using hormonal contraception at present (or in the past month) wait for your period to begin. On the first day of your period take the first Desogestrel tablet. If you take your first tablet on days 2 to 5 of your period use an additional barrier method of contraception for the first 7 days of tablet taking. When change from a combined pill: Start Desogestrel on the day after the last active tablet of the combined pill; in this case additional contraceptive precautions are not necessary. When change from a mini-pill, injection, implant or hormonal IUD: Switch on any day from another mini pill. Start Desogestrel the day an implant or IUD is removed or the day your next injection would be due, additional contraceptive precau-tions are not necessary. If you have a baby or abortion: Start immediately after first trimester abortion, additional contraceptive precautions are not necessary. After delivery or second trimester abortion, start before periods return. If more then 21 days have elapsed, pregnancy must be ruled out and an additional barrier method of contraception should be used for the first 7 days. If you forget to take one or more tablets If you are more than 12 hours late: Take a tablet as soon as you remember and take the next one at the usual time. This may mean taking two tablets in one day. This is not harmful. (If you have forgotten more than one tablet you don't need to take the earlier missed ones). You are not protected against pregnancy. Continue to take your tablets as usual but you must also use an extra method, such as a condom, for the next seven days. If you are more than 12 hours late taking your tablet and have had sex it is safe to use emergency contraception. If you are less than 12 hours late: Take the tablet as soon as you remember, and take the next tablet at the usual time. The contraceptive action of Desogestrel is maintained. If you missed one or more tablets in the first week of tablet intake and had intercourse in the week before missing the tablets, there is a possibility of becoming pregnant. The more consecutive tablets you have missed, the higher the risk that the contraceptive efficacy is decreased. If you vomit or use medical charcoal: If you vomit or use medical charcoal within 3 - 4 hours after taking your Desogestrel tablet, the active ingredient may not have been completely absorbed. Follow the advice for missed tablets.

Side Effects - Common: irregular bleeding, amenorrhoea, headache, weight gain, breast pain, nausea, acne, mood changes, decreased libido. Less common: Vaginitis, dysmenorrhoea, ovarian cysts, vomiting, alopecia, fatigue, difficulty wearing contact lenses. Rare: Rash, urticaria, erythema nodosum.

Contraindications - Known or suspected pregnancy, active venous thromboembolic disorder, presence or history of severe hepatic disease with current abnormal liver function tests, progestogen dependent tumors, undiagnosed vaginal bleeding, hypersensitivity to ingredients.

Others - Pregnancy & Lactation Not recommended for use during pregnancy. Desogestrel does not affect the production or quality of breast milk. Small amounts of the metabolite etonogestrel are excreted with the milk. Long term follow-up data are not available, however 7 month data do not indicate a risk to the nursing infant