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Microgestin 1 / 20 Review


Microgestin 1 / 20 is a birth control drug aiming at providing the suppression of the ovulation. The suppression is carried out by ethinyl estradiol and norethindrone by means of the increase in cervical mucus secretion.

Contents:

Indications for use

Oral contraception. The following health conditions of the female organism may be treated by this preparation:

  • premenstrual syndrome;
  • mammalgia;
  • menstrual cycle with a reduced secretory phase;
  • dysfunctional uterine bleeding;
  • cystic glandular hyperplasia;
  • endometriosis;
  • adenomyosis;
  • suppression and prevention of lactation;
  • dysfunctional bleeding during menopause.

Mechanism of action

Microgestin 1 / 20 has a contraceptive effect. It contains the optimal ratio of 2 hormones – progestogen (norethisterone) and estrogen (ethinyl estradiol). It aims at suppressing the production of gonadotropic hormones, inhibits the maturation of the follicle (the structural and functional ovary element) and ovulation. The birth control drug does not affect the lipid metabolism.

Mode of application and dosage

Microgestin 1 / 20 is prescribed for an oral administration. The pattern is 1 tablet daily, starting from the 5th day of the menstrual cycle (that is, the 5th day after the onset of menstruation). The package contains 21 pills, after taking the last one a 7- days break is required. If menstruation is delayed, the diagnosis of pregnancy should be excluded. At the onset of menstruation, the application of the drug is renewed after 7 days the last tablet of the previous cycle is taken. If a regular menstruation does not occur on the background of birth control drug, after the doctor doesn’t confirm pregnancy, the reception is continued.

Contraindications

  • Increased sensitivity to norethisterone and ethinyl estradiol;
  • Breast and genital cancers;
  • Thromboembolic complications, including in the anamnesis;
  • Expressed varicose veins of the tibia and hemorrhoidal veins;
  • Cholecystitis;
  • Hepatitis;
  • Hepatic function disorders;
  • Functional family hyperbilirubinemia (Rotor’s, Dubin-Johnson syndromes);
  • Hepatic tumor;
  • Pruritus;
  • Herpes including during pregnancy;
  • Severe kidney failure;
  • Cardiovascular pathology;
  • Bronchial asthma;
  • Epilepsy;
  • Pregnancy.

Side Effects

Breakthrough irregular bleeding is the most common side effect caused by Microgestin 1 / 20 and any other hormonal contraceptive drug.

Adverse reactions are subdivided according to the following frequency of their appearance:

  • often (≥1 / 100,
  • infrequently (≥1 / 1000,
  • rarely (≥1 / 10000 and
  • the frequency is unknown (it is not possible to estimate the frequency because of additional side effects, discovered only in the process of postmarketing observations).
often (≥1 / 100, infrequently (≥1 / 1000, rarely (≥1 / 10000 and the frequency is unknown
headache
  • vaginitis/vulvovaginitis;
    vaginal candidiasis or other fungal vulvovaginal infections;
  • increased appetite;
  • mental disorders;
  • insomnia;
  • sleep disorders;
  • aggression;
  • dizziness;
  • migraine;
  • increased blood pressure;
  • lowering blood pressure;
  • allergic dermatitis;
  • atopic dermatitis/neurodermatitis;
  • eczema;
  • psoriasis;
  • hyperhidrosis;
  • chloasma;
  • pigmentation disorder/hyperpigmentation;
  • seborrhea;
  • dandruff;
  • hirsutism;
  • skin changes;
  • skin reactions;
  • “orange peel”;
  • vascular sprouts;
  • pain in the mammary glands;
  • a feeling of discomfort;
  • tenderness of the mammary glands;
  • infrequent changes in the volume;
  • duration and interval of menstrual bleeding;
  • painful menstrual-like bleeding;
  • allocations from the genital tract;
  • ovarian cysts;
  • pelvic pain
  • uterine myoma;
  • breast lipoma;
  • salpingoophoritis (adnexitis);
  • anorexia;
  • decreased mood;
  • depression;
  • urinary tract infections;
  • cystitis;
  • mastitis;
  • cervicitis;
  • fungal infections;
  • candidiasis;
  • herpetic infection of the oral cavity;
  • influenza;
  • bronchitis;
  • sinusitis;
  • upper respiratory infections;
  • viral infection;
  • anemia;
  • virilism;
  • mood changes;
  • decreased libido;
  • increased libido;
  • ischemic stroke;
  • cerebrovascular disorders;
  • dystonia;
  • irritation of the mucous membrane of the eyes;
  • oscilloscopy;
  • visual impairment;
  • cardiovascular disorders;
  • tachycardia;
  • venous and arterial thromboembolic complications;
  • thrombophlebitis;
  • diastolic hypertension;
  • orthostatic circulatory dystonia;
  • hot flashes;
  • venous disease;
  • hyperventilation;
  • abdominal pain;
  • nausea;
  • vomiting;
  • diarrhea;
  • gastritis;
  • enteritis;
  • dyspepsia;
  • acne;
  • alopecia;
  • rash;
  • back pain;
  • discomfort in the muscles and skeleton;
  • myalgia;
  • cervical dysplasia;
  • cysts of the uterine appendages;
  • cysts of the mammary glands;
  • fibrocystic mastopathy;
  • dyspareunia;
  • galactorrhea;
  • menstrual irregularities.
  • intolerance to contact lenses (discomfort when wearing them);
  • hives;
  • erythema nodosum;
  • erythema multiforme.

Interactions

  • Substances that increase the clearance: phenytoin, barbiturates, primidone, carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, rifampicin, rifabutin, topiramate, felbamate, penicillin, tetracycline, griseofulvin, and also St. John’s wort.
  • Substances with a different effect on clearance. When combined with a combination of ethinylestradiol + norethindrone, many HIV protease inhibitors or hepatitis C and NNRTI can both increase and decrease the concentration of estrogens or progestins in the blood plasma. In some cases, such an effect may be clinically significant.
  • Strong and moderate inhibitors of CYP3A4, such as azole antifungal agents (eg itraconazole, voriconazole, fluconazole), verapamil, cimetidine, macrolides (eg clarithromycin, erythromycin), diltiazem and grapefruit juice, can increase plasma concentrations of estrogen or progestin, or both.

Effect of a combination of ethinyl estradiol + norethindrone on other drugs

Microgestin 1 / 20 can affect the metabolism of other drugs, leading to an increase (eg, cyclosporine) or a decrease (for example, lamotrigine) in their plasma and tissue concentrations.

In vitro, ethinyl estradiol is a reversible inhibitor of CYP2C19, CYP1A1 and CYP1A2, as well as an irreversible inhibitor of CYP3A4 / 5, CYP2C8 and CYP2J2. In clinical studies, the application of a hormonal contraceptive containing ethinylestradiol did not lead to any increase or resulted only in a slight increase in the concentration of CYP3A4 substrates in plasma (eg midazolam), while plasma concentrations of CYP1A2 substrates may increase slightly (for example, theophylline) or Moderately (eg melatonin, tizanidine).

What if I miss a dose?

If you miss a dose within 12 hours or less take the pill immediately. If more than 12 hours have passed you should take the pill even if 2 pills simultaneously need to be taken. If you skip the placebo pill just throw it away.

Microgestin 1/20 and pregnancy

The combination of ethinyl estradiol + norethindrone is contraindicated during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

If the pregnancy is diagnosed when this drug was applied, the reception should be immediately arrested. Extensive epidemiological trials have not discovered an increased risk of developmental defects in children born by women having undergone the course of hormonal contraceptives.

The application of Microgestin 1/20 can reduce the amount of breast milk and change its composition, so its use is contraindicated during breastfeeding. A small amount of sex hormones and/or their metabolites can penetrate into breast milk and affect the the child’s health.

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