Dosage: How should you take Ovral?

Ovral should be taken daily, every 24 hours, for the duration of the prescribed cycle. Start the cycle according to package directions.

Taking your pill at night may help to reduce any nausea or headache that you may experience because of the hormones.

Ovral is to be taken every day for a 3-week period, followed by 1 week of no Ovral ; this cycle is repeated each month.

1) Starting on the first Sunday after the beginning of your menstrual period, take one tablet daily (at the same time each day) for the next 20 days. Note: If your period begins on Sunday, take the first tablet that day.

2) Wait 1 week before taking any more 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 20 days.

4) Follow your doctor s instructions about using a second form of birth control when you first start taking birth control pills, when you are taking antibiotics. If you are unsure what to do in any of these cases, talk to your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor about how to ensure that you will not become pregnant.

Missing a pill increases the risk of becoming pregnant.

• Follow the exact directions on your package information insert concerning missed doses.

• If you miss one dose, take Ovral as soon as you remember or take two pills at the time of your next regularly scheduled dose. There is little likelihood that ovulation will occur. You may, however, want to use a second method of birth control such as a condom or a spermicidal cream, jelly, or foam for at least seven consecutive days following the missed tablet to ensure protection from pregnancy.

• If you miss two tablets in a row, take the two missed tablets of Ovral as soon as you remember or with your next regularly scheduled dose (three total). Or, you may take two tablets each for the next two regularly scheduled doses (one missed tablet plus one regularly scheduled tablet for two days in a row). Chances are much greater that you may ovulate so you must use another form of birth control for at least 7 days following the missed tablets. It is even better to use a second method of birth control until your next period.

• If you miss three tablets in a row, throw away the package and start a new package on the 7th day after the last day you took a pill. Use another method of birth control until you have taken a pill for 7 days in a row. Your period should occur during the 7 days without pills. If it does not, have a pregnancy test before beginning a new package of pills.

• Read all of the information in your package information insert. It may have slightly different instructions in the case of missed pills. If you do not have a package information insert, call your pharmacist, doctor, or nurse to find out what to do.

The risk of pregnancy is small if you miss only one Ovral per cycle. If you miss more than one tablet, check your product s patient information for instructions.

Ovral taken in excess can cause serious consequences. Seek medical help immediately.

• nausea,
• vomiting,
• vaginal bleeding (in females).

Death is not likely to occur from an overdose of Ovral .

Ovral Storage instructions

To help keep track of your doses, use the original container.
Store at room temperature away from moisture and sunlight.

Ovral Preparations:
Ovral Tablets: Norgestrel 0.5 mg + Ethinyl estradiol 0.05 mg