Tri-Legest Fe is an oral hormonal contraceptive, containing ethinyl estradiol and norethisterone. The drug is used to prevent pregnancy.
Contents:
Indications for use
- Oral contraception;
- Dysfunctional uterine bleeding (in menstrual disorders);
- Functional infertility;
- Underdevelopment of the uterus.
Mechanism of action
The active substances, ethinyl estradiol and norethisterone, have a depressant effect on the gonadotropic function of the pituitary: norethisterone acetate reduces the secretion of luteinizing hormone, ethinyl estradiol inhibits ovulation.
Dosage and mode of application
Each pack of Tri-Legest Fe contains 28 tablets:
- 7 light pink tablets each containing 1 mg norethindrone and 20 mcg ethinyl estradiol;
- 7 light yellow tablets each containing 1 mg norethindrone and 30 mcg ethinyl estradiol;
- 7 light blue tablets each containing 1 mg norethindrone and 35 mcg ethinyl estradiol;
- 7 hormone-free brown tablets each containing 75 mg ferrous fumarate.
Take 1 tablet per day for 28 days, starting from the 1st day of your period. The drug should be taken at the same hour. You do not need to make any breaks between packs. Menstruation occurs in the period of taking hormone-free brown tablets and may not end when it’s time to start the next pack.
Overdose
Cases of overdose have not been reported.
Side effects
Tri-Legest Fe can cause the following side effects in the first months of use:
- headache;
- depression;
- nausea;
- diarrhea;
- breast tenderness.
Long-term use of the drug in some cases can lead to the appearance of brown spots on the skin and the deterioration of the tolerance of contact lenses.
One package of the drug is intended for use during one menstrual cycle (“calendar” package). With extreme caution and under strict indications, the drug should be used in diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension, varicose veins, phlebitis, otosclerosis, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, liver disease, endometriosis, Sydenham disease.
Correction of the dosage regimen of hypoglycemic medications may be necessary.
You must stop taking birth control pills immediately if you have signs of pregnancy, migraine-like headaches, acute visual impairment, hearing and other symptoms of sensory dysfunction, acute thrombosis, stagnation of bile or jaundice, a significant increase in blood pressure, when you are expecting prolonged bed rest.
The use of hormonal contraceptives increases the risk of thromboembolic diseases, which is exacerbated by the presence of cardiovascular risk factors (smoking, high blood pressure, impaired blood clotting and lipid metabolism, overweight).
Given the risk of developing complications such as myocardial infarction, stroke, women over the age of 35 should either refrain from smoking or use other methods of birth control, especially if there are additional risk factors.
Due to the fact that a number of drugs can reduce the contraceptive activity of Tri-Legest Fe (see below), during treatment you should use additional contraceptive methods (for example, condoms). If it is necessary to undergo regular therapy with other drugs, the attending physician should be informed about the use of COCs.
The effectiveness of the contraceptive can be reduced by regular excessive drinking.
Contraindications
- Hormonally dependent tumors of the mammary glands or uterus;
- Severe abnormal liver function;
- Dubin-Johnson syndrome;
- Rotor syndrome;
- Liver tumorsIdiopathic jaundice or itching during a pre-pregnancy;
- Severe fat metabolism disorders;
- Transferred or existing thromboembolic diseases, arterial and venous thrombosis;
- Severe cardiovascular diseases;
- Severe hypertension;
- Sickle cell anemia;
- Otosclerosis;
- Herpes pregnant;
- Pregnancy.
Interactions
The effectiveness of birth control pills may decrease with the simultaneous use of drugs, analgesics, tranquilizers, anticonvulsants, certain antibiotics, and alcohol. When taking Tri-Legest Fe, the effectiveness of insulin or oral hypoglycemic drugs may decrease.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Tri-Legest Fe cannot be used during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
What if I miss a pill?
If you missed 1 or more light pink, light yellow or light blue tablets, following the given instructions:
You missed 1 tablet:
- take the tablet as soon as you remember, take the next tablet the next day at the usual time.
You missed 2 tablets in a row (Week 1 or Week 2)
- take 2 tablets as soon as you remember, take 2 tablets the next day, use an additional backup method of contraception for 7 days.
You missed 2 tablets in a row (Week 3)
Sunday-Start:
- take 1 tablet per day until Sunday, on Sunday throw out remaining tablets, start a new pack immediately, use an additional backup method of contraception for 7 days.
Day-1 Start:
- throw out remaining tablets, start a new pack that same day, use an additional backup method of contraception for 7 days.
You missed 3 or more tablets in a row:
Sunday-Start:
- take 1 tablet per day until Sunday, on Sunday throw out remaining tablets, start a new pack immediately, use an additional backup method of contraception for 7 days.
Day-1 Start:
- throw out remaining tablets, start a new pack that same day, use an additional backup method of contraception for 7 days.
Missing active tablets increases the possibility of ovulation and pregnancy. Besides, the possibility of spotting or bleeding is increased.
If you missed any of the seven brown tablets, discard them and keep taking 1 tablet per day until you finish the pack. You do not need an additional backup method of contraception. Start a new pack of Tri-Legest Fe no later than the 8th day after the last active tablet was used.
Precautions
Before starting hormonal contraception, you need to undergo gynecological examination. Catch-up examinations are required every 6 months.
The drug must be immediately canceled in the case of inflammation of the vein wall, thrombosis, vascular impairment, unusual leg pain, chest pain during breathing or coughing; first-time migraines, sudden impairment of hearing and vision, movement disorders.
The risk of cardiovascular complications increases with age and smoking (especially in women over 35 years).
Vomiting or diarrhea can lead to the removal of the active substances from the body, therefore, in cases where these symptoms disappear within 1 day, you should take an additional pill. With a longer persistence of these symptoms, you should temporarily resort to non-hormonal methods of contraception.
Tri-Legest Fe must be discontinued 6 weeks before the planned surgical intervention.
The risk of thrombosis increases with high blood pressure.
The drug is canceled with hepatitis, jaundice, itching, cholestasis, increased epilepsy attacks, primary or secondary porphyria.