SEASONALE®
is the FDA-approved extended-cycle
birth control pill for the prevention
of pregnancy that reduces your
monthly periods to just 4 times
a year.
Seasonale Directions?
Take 1 pink tablet daily
for 84 consecutive days. Follow with 7 days
of white inactive tablets. Begin taking SEASONALE®
on the first Sunday after the onset of menstruation.
If menstruation begins on a Sunday, the first
pink tablet is taken that day. Withdrawal
bleeding should occur during the 7 days following
discontinuation of pink active tablets.
Seasonale Side Effects?
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. Oral contraceptives do
not protect against HIV infection (AIDS) and
other sexually transmitted diseases.
Seasonale Warnings?
Seasonale is in the
FDA pregnancy category X. This means that
Seasonale is known to cause birth defects
in an unborn baby. Hormonal changes during
pregnancy can have very serious negative effects
on a developing baby. Do not take Seasonale
if you are pregnant or if you think you might
be pregnant.
Seasonale Drug Interactions?
Seasonale does not
provide protection from sexually transmitted
diseases--including HIV and AIDS. Using a
condom is the only way to protect yourself
from these diseases. Avoid smoking cigarettes
while taking Seasonale. Smoking greatly increases
the risk of heart attack, stroke, and blood
clot formation.
Seasonale Missed
Dose?
If you miss one
dose, take it 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.
If you miss two tablets in a row,
take two tablets each for the next two regularly
scheduled doses (one missed tablet plus
one regularly scheduled tablet for 2 days
in a row). There is an increased chance
of ovulation and unintended pregnancy. Use
an additional form of birth control until
you have taken a pill for 7 days in a row.
If you miss three tablets in a row,
do not remove the missed tablets from the
package, they will not be taken. Take the
next pill in the package for the current
day. Continue to take one pill per day until
the cycle is completed. There is an increased
chance of ovulation and unintended pregnancy.
Use an additional form of birth control
until you have taken a pill for 7 days in
a row.You may experience menstrual bleeding
during the week following the missed pills.
If you miss any of the 7 white inactive
pills, they can be thrown away. Keep
taking the scheduled pills until the pack
is finished. No back-up method of birth
control is needed.
Seasonale Storage?
Store it at room temperature
away from sunlight and moisture. Keep this
and all medications out of the reach of children.
Anything Else I Should
Know About Seasonale?
Seasonale are hormones
that affect the ovulatory and menstrual cycle
of women. Seasonale prevent ovulation (the
release of an egg from an ovary), therefore
preventing the possibility of pregnancy. Seasonale
may also inhibit pregnancy by causing the
cervical mucous to thicken, which makes it
harder for sperm to move toward the uterus,
and reducing the likelihood of attachment
of a fertilized egg to the uterus. The extended-cycle
formulation of Seasonale has a 91-day treatment
cycle, resulting in 4 menstrual periods per
year. Seasonale is used to prevent pregnancy.
NOTE: The above
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 the use of the product is safe,
appropriate, or effective for you. Consult
your healthcare professional before taking
the product.
