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Lessina Review


Lessina is a monophasic microdose birth control drug. It contains levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol that affects the ovulation in the best way preventing the unwanted pregnancy.

Contents:

Indications for use

Lessina is prescribed as an oral contraception.

Mechanism of action

Lessina is a microdose monophasic birth control with levonorgestrel and ethinylestradiol. The main effect of this birth control preparation is an inhibition of ovulation and a change in the viscosity of the cervical secretion. Finally, spermatozoa entering the uterine cavity is hindered. The application of hormonal birth control results in more regular and painless menstruation.

Mode of application and dosage

Lessina is applied within 28 days without any breaks. The first 21 pills contain ethinylestradiol and levonorgestrel. The latest 7 pills are placebo containing no hormone. The pill should be taken at one and the same time washed down with a little water. The menstruation will start when taking the second or third placebo pill.

Contraindications

  • Venous thromboembolism or its mention in the medical history (for example, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism);
  • Arterial thromboembolism or its mention in the medical history, in particular, myocardial infarction and cerebrovascular accident;
  • Serious or multiple risk factors for venous or arterial thrombosis: diagnosed or predisposed;
  • Predisposition to thrombosis;
  • Cardiovascular disease (eg, heart disease, heart valves and arrhythmia);
  • Severe arterial hypertension;
  • Diabetes mellitus with manifestations of micro or macroangiopathy;
  • Visual impairment of vascular etiology;
  • Diagnosed or suggested hormone-dependent malignant tumors of the mammary gland and genital organs;
  • Severe liver diseases or their presence in the medical history (before the normalization of the indicators of functional “hepatic” tests);
  • Hepatic tumors or their presence in the medical history (benign or malignant), pancreatitis (in the medical history);
  • Vaginal bleeding caused by unknown factor;
  • Migraine with focal neurological symptoms;
  • Hypersensitivity to the active substance or to any of the constituents;
  • Pregnancy and lactation;
  • Intolerance to galactose, lactase deficiency or malabsorption of glucose and galactose;
  • Women under 18 years.

Smoking in combination with taking combined birth control drugs magnifies the risk of serious cardiovascular negative circumstances. This risk is increased with the age and is dependent on the number of cigarettes smoked per day. In the case of the increased consumption (according to the results of epidemiological studies, smoking of 15 or more cigarettes a day is associated with a significant increase in risk) and is especially high in women over 35 years of age. Women taking combined oral contraceptives are strongly recommended to quit smoking. For smokers over 35, other contraceptive methods should be offered.

Side effects

Very often mentioned side effects of Lessina:

  • headache;
  • migraine;
  • intermenstrual bleeding/spotting.

Often (≥1 / 100 to <1/10):

  • weight gain
  • fluid retention
  • headache;
  • migraine;
  • nervousness;
  • depression;
  • irritability;
  • changes in libido;
  • mood swings, including depression, nervous excitability;
  • dizziness;
  • irritation of the eyes when wearing contact lenses;
  • visual disturbances
  • nausea;
  • vomiting;
  • abdominal pain;
  • acne;
  • irregular vaginal bleeding;
  • painful menstruation;
  • amenorrhoea;
  • hypomenorrhea;
  • tenderness of the mammary glands;
  • vaginitis, including candidiasis.

Not infrequently (≥1 / 1000 to <1/100) and Rarely (≥1 / 10000 to <1/1000):

  • breast cancer;
  • liver adenoma;
  • hepatocellular carcinoma;
  • cervical cancer;
  • systemic lupus erythematosus;
  • changes in serum lipids, including hypertriglyceridemia;
  • chorea;
  • otosclerosis;
  • arterial hypertension;
  • venous thromboembolism;
  • arterial thromboembolism;
  • vomiting;
  • cholelithiasis;
  • pancreatitis;
  • changes in appetite (increase or decrease);
  • colic in the abdomen;
  • bloating;
  • erythema nodosum, erythema multiforme, chloasma;
  • changes in the vaginal secretion;
  • chloasma/melasma, which can last a long time.

Rarely:

  • anaphylactic/anaphylactoid reactions, including rare cases of urticaria, angioedema, severe reactions with respiratory and circulatory symptoms;
  • impaired glucose tolerance;
  • intolerance to contact lenses;
  • cholestatic jaundice, nodal erythema, red and painful subcutaneous nodules;
  • the decrease in folate levels in serum.

Very rare:

  • hepatocellular carcinoma;
  • exacerbation of systemic lupus erythematosus;
  • exacerbation of porphyria, exacerbation of chorea;
  • neuritis of the optic nerve can lead to partial or complete loss of vision, thrombosis of the visual veins;
  • deterioration of varicose veins;
  • pancreatitis, ischemic colitis, disorders of the biliary tract, including cholelithiasis;
  • erythema multiforme;
  • hemolytic uremic syndrome.

In women using Lessina, the following serious adverse events were recorded:

  • arterial and venous thromboses, including myocardial infarction, stroke, transient ischemic attack, deep vein thrombosis of the lower extremities and veins of the pelvis, and pulmonary embolism
  • intraepithelial cervical dysplasia, cervical cancer;
  • hepatic tumors;
  • disorders of the skin and subcutaneous tissues: chloasma, erythema nodosum.

Among women using birth control drugs containing various combinations of hormones, the incidence of breast cancer has been slightly increased. Due to the fact that breast cancer in women under the age of 40 is rare, an additional number of such cases are few in relation to the overall risk of breast cancer.

Interactions

  • Some drugs can reduce the effectiveness of the drug: antiepileptic drugs (including primidone, phenytoin, barbiturates, carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, topiramate, felbamate), anti-tuberculosis drugs (including rifampicin, rifabutin), drugs for HIV infection (including nevirapine), medications and remedies based on St. John’s wort.
  • Reduction of contraceptive effectiveness can be manifested in the case of the simultaneous use with some antimicrobial drugs (ampicillin, rifampicin, chloramphenicol, neomycin, polymyxin B, sulfonamides, tetracyclines), which is associated with a change in the microflora in the intestinal flora.
  • When taking gestagen-estrogen drugs, you may need to adjust the dosage regimen for hypoglycemic drugs and indirect anticoagulants.

What if I miss a dose?

There are cases when a woman misses to take a pill. If the interval is less than 12 hours the pill should be taken immediately. The contraceptive effect is kept. There is no need to apply additional methods to protect yourself from unwanted pregnancy.

If the interval is greater than 12 hours you should take the pill at the time of this understanding. The contraceptive effect may be reduced, in this case. In this case, it is better to apply additional contraceptive methods.

Lessina and pregnancy

Lessina is contraindicated in pregnancy and during breastfeeding. If pregnancy is diagnosed while taking this medication, then it should be immediately discontinued.

Taking combined oral contraceptives can reduce the amount of breast milk and change its composition, so, as a rule, their use is contraindicated during breastfeeding.

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