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Ocella Review


Ocella is a combination birth control pill containing 2 hormones: an estrogen (ethinyl estradiol) and a progestin (drospirenone), that are used to prevent pregnancy

Contents:

Indications for use

  • Oral hormonal contraception.

The drug has a positive effect on the symptoms associated with fluid retention in the body, as well as on acne and seborrhea, due to its antimineralocorticoid and antiandrogenic effects.

Mechanism of action

The contraceptive effect of Ocella is based on the interaction of various factors, the most important of which is the inhibition of ovulation and changes in the endometrium.

The drug is a combined oral contraceptive with ethinyl estradiol and progestin-drospirenone. In a therapeutic dose, drospirenone also has an anti-androgenic and weak antimineralocorticoid action. The remedy does not have estrogenic, glucocorticoid or antiglucocorticoid activity. Thus, drospirenone has a pharmacological profile close to the natural hormone progesterone.

In clinical studies, it was found that the antimineralocorticoid properties of the contraceptive produce a weak antimineralocorticoid effect.

The medication has antiandrogenic activity, which leads to a decrease in the formation of acne and a decrease in production of sebaceous glands, it does not affect the increase in the production of globulin, which binds sex hormones (inactivation of endogenous androgens) caused by ethinylestradiol.

Dosage and mode of application

Ocella pack contains 21 active pills (drospirenone 3 mg and ethinyl estradiol 30mcg) and 4 inert pills (no hormones).

A pill is taken orally in the order indicated on the package, every day at about the same time, with a small amount of water.

Take one tablet a day continuously for 28 days. Start taking tablets from the next package as soon as the previous pack is empty. Menstrual-like bleeding usually develops when you start taking inert pills.

Side effects

Ocella pill can cause the following side effects:

  • headache;
  • emotional lability, depression;
  • nausea;
  • chest pain;
  • dizziness, migraine;
  • nervousness, drowsiness, mood reduction, paresthesia;
  • hypertension;
  • phlebeurysm;
  • tenderness and tension of the mammary glands, fibrocystic changes in the mammary gland;
  • nausea, vomiting, gastritis, abdominal pain, indigestion, flatulence, diarrhea;
  • acne, itchy skin, dry skin;
  • back pain, pain in the limbs, muscle cramps;
  • decreased libido;
  • vaginal discharge, candidiasis of the vagina, dryness in the vagina, vaginitis;
  • disorders of the menstrual cycle (dysmenorrhea, hypomenorrhea, menorrhagia);
  • asthenia, increased sweating, fluid retention in the body;
  • weight gain;
  • weight loss;
  • increased appetite, anorexia;
  • urticaria;
  • anemia, thrombocytopenia;
  • hyperkalemia, hyponatremia;
  • anorgasmia, insomnia;
  • vertigo, tremor;
  • epistaxis, fainting;
  • thromboembolism, venous thrombosis / thromboembolism, arterial thrombosis / thromboembolism;
  • conjunctivitis, dry eyes, poor tolerance of contact lenses;
  • tachycardia, arterial hypertension;
  • liver tumors;
  • Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis;
  • epilepsy;
  • endometriosis, uterine fibroids;
  • porphyria;
  • systemic lupus erythematosus;
  • herpes simplex;
  • Sydenham’s chorea;
  • hemolytic uremic syndrome;
  • cholestatic jaundice;
  • chloasma, dry skin, acne or contact dermatitis;
  • angioedema;
  • eczema, hypertrichosis, photodermatitis, erythema nodosum, erythema multiforme
  • a cyst of a mammary gland, a hyperplasia of a mammary gland;
  • painful intercourse, postcoital bleeding, cancellation bleeding, cervical polyps, endometrial atrophy, ovarian cyst, uterine enlargement;
  • increased libido.

Contraindications

Ocella birth control pills are contraindicated in any of the conditions listed below (including in the anamnesis):

  • pregnancy and breastfeeding;
  • vein thrombosis (deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism);
  • thrombosis of the arteries (myocardial infarction) or previous conditions (angina and transient ischemic attack);
  • cerebrovascular diseases;
  • severe or multiple risk factors for arterial thrombosis;
  • diabetes mellitus with vascular complications;
  • severe arterial hypertension;
  • severe dyslipoproteinemia;
  • hereditary or acquired predisposition to venous or arterial thrombosis, such as resistance to CAB (activated protein C, activated protein C), insufficiency of antithrombin III, protein C deficiency, protein S deficiency, hyperhomocysteinemia and antiphospholipid antibodies (antibodies to cardiolipin, lupus anticoagulant);
  • pancreatitis with severe hypertriglyceridemia;
  • severe liver disease (prior to the normalization of liver tests);
  • severe renal failure or acute renal failure;
  • liver tumors (benign or malignant);
  • hormone-dependent malignant diseases of the reproductive system (genitals, mammary glands);
  • vaginal bleeding of unknown origin;
  • a migraine with local neurological symptoms;
  • hypersensitivity to the active substances (ethinyl estradiol and drospirenone) or any of the excipients;
  • galactose intolerance, lactase deficiency or glucose malabsorption syndrome and galactose.

With caution: risk factors for thrombosis and thromboembolism – smoking under the age of 35, obesity, dyslipoproteinemia, controlled arterial hypertension, migraine without focal neurological symptoms, uncomplicated heart valve defects, hereditary predisposition to thrombosis; diabetes mellitus without vascular complications, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), hemolytic-uremic syndrome, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, sickle cell anemia, phlebitis of superficial veins; hereditary angioedema; hypertriglyceridemia; liver disease of severe degree; jaundice and / or itching associated with cholestasis, cholelithiasis, otosclerosis with hearing impairment, porphyria, small chorea (Sydenham’s disease), chloasma, postpartum period.

Interactions

The interaction of oral contraceptives with other drugs can lead to breakthrough bleeding and / or a decrease in contraceptive reliability. Women taking these drugs should temporarily use additional non-hormonal methods of contraception or choose another method of contraception.

Ocella may interact with:

  • phenytoin, barbiturates, primidone, carbamazepine, rifampicin, rifabutin, possibly also oxcarbazepine, topiramate, felbamate, griseofulvin, and preparations containing St. John’s Wort;
  • HIV protease inhibitors (eg ritonavir) and non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (eg, nevirapine) and their combination;
  • penicillins and tetracycline;
  • cyclosporine and lamotrigine;
  • omeprazole, simvastatin and midazolam;
  • antagonists of angiotensin II receptors, some anti-inflammatory drugs, potassium-sparing diuretics and aldosterone antagonists.

Ocella and pregnancy

The use of Ocella contraceptive is contraindicated during pregnancy and breastfeeding. If pregnancy occurred against the background of hormonal contraception, the drug should be canceled.

The studies on the unintentional intake of combined oral contraceptives during pregnancy did not reveal a teratogenic effect and an increased risk to children and women during childbirth.

Combined oral contraceptives affect lactation and can reduce the amount and composition of breast milk. Small amounts of ethinyl estradiol and drospirenone are found in milk and can affect the baby. The use of this contraceptive is possible after complete cessation of breastfeeding.

Precautions

Tobacco, grapefruit juice, caffeine and alcohol may interact with drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol. It is necessary to discuss the use of these substances with a doctor in order to prevent unwanted complications. In addition, the doctor should be informed of past history of menstrual irregularities, kidney or liver diseases, blood clots, cardiovascular diseases, stroke, high blood pressure, depression, high cholesterol or potassium levels in the blood, cancer and bladder diseases, because the listed factors can lead to unforeseen complications.

Ocella drug should be used only in accordance with the directions and prescriptions of an attending physician or a pharmacist. Do not change the dosage without the advice of a doctor or a pharmacist.

Before taking this medication, be sure to inform your doctor about:

  • pregnancy or breastfeeding;
  • any allergies;
  • presence of any other diseases, disorders;
  • taking any other medications, vitamins or food additives.

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