Mircette is a combined oral contraceptive preparation for continuous administration containing as active substances the estrogen Ethinyl estradiol and the progestagen desogestrel. Clinical studies have revealed that the oral contraceptive preparations containing ethinyl estradiol and desogestrel lack undesirable metabolic effects. These effects are thought to result from the androgenic activity of some progestagens in oral contraceptives. Because of this, Mircette may have a favourable effect on androgen-related skin disorders such as acne and hirsutism.

When taken according to the recommended dosage scheme Mircette suppresses the hypophyseal gonadal function and thereby ovulation. In addition, it induces a regular uterine bleeding which, with respect to amount of flow and duration, resembles a normal menstrual bleeding. Usually this bleeding starts two or three days after the intake of the last active tablet and is painless.

Mircette pills may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

Oral contraceptives are taken every day for a 3-week period, followed by 1 week of no oral contraceptives; this cycle is repeated each month.

1)Mircette may be initiated using either a Sunday start or any other day as a Day 1 start whichever is convenient.

2) Wait 1 week before taking any more Mircette tablets. Your menstrual period should occur during this time.

3) Following this 1-week waiting time, begin taking a daily tablet again for the next 21 days.
To achieve maximum contraceptive effectiveness, Mircette must be taken exactly as directed and at intervals not exceeding 24 hours.

Each cycle pack dispenser is preprinted with the days of the week, starting with Sunday, to facilitate a Sunday start regimen. Six different \"day label strips\" are provided with each cycle pack dispenser in order to accommodate a Day 1 start regimen. In this case, the patient should place the self-adhesive \"day label strip\" that corresponds to her starting day over the preprinted days.

The possibility of ovulation and conception prior to initiation of use of Mircette should be considered.

The use of Mircette for contraception may be initiated 4 weeks postpartum in women who elect not to breast feed. When the tablets are administered during the postpartum period, the increased risk of thromboembolic disease associated with the postpartum period must be considered.

If the patient starts on Mircette postpartum, and has not yet had a period, she should be instructed to use another method of contraception until the tablet has been taken daily for 7 days.

If you miss a Mircette dose
Mircette needs to be taken every day on a fixed schedule. If you miss a dose or forget to take Mircette, take it as soon as you can. Then take your next pill at the regular time. This means you may take two pills in one day.
If you miss two or more pills in a row, see your patient instructions or call your doctor or pharmacist.

Mircette Overdose
Serious ill effects have not been reported following ingestion of large doses of Mircette by young children.
Mircette overdose may cause nausea and withdrawal bleeding in females. In case of overdose, contact your doctor or pharmacist.
Mircette Storage instructions
To help keep track of your Mircette doses, use the original container. Store at room temperature

Preparations of Mircette : Desogestrel 0.15mg + Ethinyl Estradiol 0.02mg

Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
Amitriptyline (Elavil)
Ampicillin (Principen)
Aspirin
Atorvastatin (Lipitor)
Barbiturates (phenobarbital, Seconal)
Carbamazepine (Tegretol)
Chloramphenicol (Chloromycetin)
Clofibrate (Questran)
In addition, before using the Mircette check with your doctor if you regularly take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as Motrin and Aleve, potassium supplements such as Micro-K, certain water pills such as Aldactone, and certain high blood pressure medications, including Avapro, Capoten, Cozaar, Diovan, Vasotec, and Zestril.
Mircette may affect tests for blood sugar levels and thyroid function and may cause an increase in blood cholesterol levels.

Mircette (like all other oral contraceptives) is intended to prevent pregnancy. Mircette does not protect against transmission of HIV (AIDS) and other sexually transmitted diseases such as Chlamydia, Genital Herpes, Genital Warts, Gonorrhea, Hepatitis B, and Syphilis.

Mircette precautions if you are pregnant or breastfeeding
If you are breast feeding, consult your doctor or clinic before starting Mircette. Some of the drug will be passed on to the child in the milk. A few adverse effects on the child have been reported, including yellowing of the skin (jaundice) and breast enlargement. In addition, Mircette may decrease the amount and quality of your milk. If possible, do not use Mircette while breast feeding. You should use another method of contraception since breast feeding provides only partial protection from becoming pregnant and this partial protection decreases significantly as you breast feed for longer periods of time. You should consider starting Mircette only after you have weaned your child completely.

Special warnings about Mircette

• Women using Mircette should have regular medical check-ups.
• Women who do get pregnant while using a Mircette may have a greater risk of the pregnancy occuring outside the womb (ectopic pregnancy) than other women. For this reason, you should consult your doctor if you experience any abnormal abdominal pain combined with menstrual irregularities, particularly if you have no bleeding, while taking Mircette.
• Women who suffer from a condition called chloasma, which causes yellowish-brown patches of colouring on the skin, particularly the face, should avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight or ultraviolet radiation, eg sunbeds or UV lamps, while using this medicine, as they can make this condition worse.
• Consult your doctor if you are taking Mircette and are due to have surgery. It may be recommended that you stop taking Mircette for a certain period before planned surgery and during long periods of immobility.
• It is important to be aware that women using Mircette appear to have a small increase in the risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer, compared with women who do not use these contraceptives. However, this risk must be weighed against the benefits of using the contraceptive, which can be discussed with your doctor.
• You may experience irregular menstrual bleeding while taking Mircette. This may be slight spotting, heavier bleeding, or no bleeding at all. Consult your doctor if you experience bleeding that is heavy and prolonged, or if you miss two consecutive menstrual bleeds.
• If you vomit or use medical charcoal within three or four hours of taking a Mircette pill the contraceptive may not have been fully absorbed. This means it may not be effective and you should take another pill as soon as possible. If this second pill is more than 12 hours later than your usual time to take your pill, you may not be protected from pregnancy. You should use extra contraception, eg condoms, for the next seven days while continuing with normal Mircette pill taking.

Stop taking Mircette and inform your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following while taking this medicine :-

• severe swelling or stabbing pains in either of your legs
• breathlessness
• pain on breathing or coughing
• chest pain
• itching of the whole body
• yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice)
• sudden severe abdominal pain
• if you feel a lump in your breast, or if you become pregnant.
  

If you have ever had breast cancer or cancer in the reproductive organs or liver tumors, you should not take Mircette.

If you have or have ever had a stroke, heart disease, liver disease, angina (severe chest pain), or blood clots, you should not take Mircette. Mircette is not recommended for women with significant high blood pressure. Women who have had pregnancy-related jaundice or jaundice stemming from previous use of any other contraceptive should not take Mircette.

If you have undiagnosed and/or unexplained abnormal vaginal bleeding, do not take Mircette.

Possible Mircette Side effects
More common side effects of Mircette may include:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Bleeding between menstrual periods
• Weight gain
• Breast tenderness
• Headache
• Difficulty wearing contact lenses

Serious side effects of Mircette may include:
The serious side effects of Mircette occur very infrequently, especially if you are in good health and are young. However, you should know that the following medical conditions have been associated with or made worse by Mircette:

• Blood clots in the legs (thrombophlebitis) or lungs (pulmonary embolism)
• stoppage or rupture of a blood vessel in the brain (stroke)
• blockade of blood vessels in the heart (heart attack or angina pectoris) or other organs of the body
• Liver tumours
• High blood pressure