Drospirenone/Ethinyl Estradiol (By Mouth)

Drospirenone (droh-SPYE-re-none), Ethinyl Estradiol (ETH-in-il es-tra-DYE-ole)

Used to prevent pregnancy. This medicine is an oral contraceptive (birth control pill).

Brand Name(s):

Yasmin
There may be other brand names for this medicine.

When This Medicine Should Not Be Used:

You should not use this medicine if you have had an allergic reaction to drospirenone or ethinyl estradiol or if you are pregnant. You should not use this medicine if you have kidney, liver, heart, or adrenal gland disease, cancer of the breast, liver, or reproductive system, a blood vessel disorder, a history of blood clots or stroke, or unusual vaginal bleeding that has not been checked by a doctor, or if you smoke and are over 35 years old.

How to Use This Medicine:

Tablet

• Your doctor will tell you how much of this medicine to take and how often. Do not take more medicine or take it more often than your doctor tells you to.
• This medicine comes with patient instructions. Read and follow these instructions carefully. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.
• Never share your medicine with anyone.

If a dose is missed:

• This medicine needs to be taken every day on a fixed schedule. If you miss a dose or forget to take your medicine, 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.

How to Store and Dispose of This Medicine:

• Store the medicine at room temperature in the original container, away from heat, moisture, and direct light.
• Keep all medicine away from of children.

Drugs and Foods to Avoid:

Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.

• Make sure your doctor knows if you are also using rifampin (Rifadin®), St. John's Wort, blood pressure medicine (such as Accupril®, Avapro®, Cozaar®, Diovan®, Hyzaar®, Prinivil®, Teveten®, Vasotec®, Zestril®), pain or arthritis medicine (such as aspirin, ibuprofen, phenylbutazone, Advil®, Aleve®, Feldene®, Orudis®, Relafen®, Voltaren®), diuretics or "water pills" (such as amiloride, spironolactone, triamterene, Moduretic®), medicine for seizures (such as phenobarbital, Dilantin®, Tegretol®), or antibiotics (such as ampicillin, griseofulvin, tetracycline).

Warnings While Using This Medicine:

• Make sure your doctor knows if you are breastfeeding, or if you have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, breast lumps, history of depression, family history of breast cancer, or have recently been pregnant.
• This medicine can cause serious side effects such as heart attack or stroke, especially if you have certain health problems, smoke cigarettes, are overweight, are over 40 years old, or plan to use this medicine for several years.
• Make sure any doctor or dentist who treats you knows that you are using this medicine. You may need to stop using this medicine for a few weeks before and after having surgery, or if you will be on bed-rest or otherwise inactive.
• This medicine will not protect you from getting HIV/AIDS or other sexually transmitted diseases. If this is a concern for you, talk with your doctor.

Possible Side Effects While Using This Medicine:

Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:

• Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in face or hands, swelling or tingling in the mouth or throat, tightness in chest, trouble breathing
• Breast lump
• Confusion, weakness, irregular heartbeat, shortness of breath, numbness or tingling in hands, feet, or lips
• Heavy vaginal bleeding, or a missed or late period
• Pain in the chest, leg, or abdomen, sudden shortness of breath
• Severe or unusual headache
• Trouble seeing, double vision, blurry vision, bulging eyeballs
• Yellow skin or eyes, dark-colored urine, loss of appetite, pain in upper stomach

If you notice these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor:

• Light bleeding, spotting, or vaginal discharge between periods
• Nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps

If you notice other side effects that you think are caused by this medicine, tell your doctor.