Alesse (100 mcg levonorgestrel/20 mcg ethinyl estradiol tablets)
Company: Wyeth-Ayerst Laboratories
Approval Status: Approved April 1997
Treatment for: birth control
Areas: Obstetrics/Gynecology
| General Information | Side Effects | Additional Information |
General Information
Alesse, like other oral contraceptive, has proven to be more than 99 percent effective when taken as directed. In addition, birth control pills may provide protection from ovarian and endometrial cancer and pelvic inflammatory disease. They also may make a woman’s period less painful by reducing cramps and increase menstrual cycle regularity. Women who use Alesse or other oral contraceptives may experience iron-deficiency anemia and ectopic pregnancy less frequently.
Side Effects
Common side effects associated with oral contraceptives include nausea, headache and breast tenderness. Serious side effects occur infrequently, especially if a woman is in good health and does not smoke. These may include blood clots, heart disease, stroke, liver tumors and gallbladder disease. Several studies have found no overall increase in the risk of developing breast cancer in women taking oral contraceptives. Some women should not use oral contraceptives, including those who have had blood clots, certain cancers, or a history of heart attack or stroke, as well as those who are or may be pregnant.Additional Information
Cigarette smoking increases the risk of serious cardiovascular side effects. This risk increases with age and is most pronounced in women older than age 35. Women on oral contraceptives should not smoke. In addition, oral contraceptives do not protect a woman against HIV infection or other sexually transmitted diseases.The FDA drug information shown here is licensed from Thomson CenterWatch. The information provided here is for general educational purposes only and does not constitute medical or pharmaceutical advice which should be sought from qualified medical and pharmaceutical advisers.
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