Advice to patients (22) Combined oral contraceptives: 21-day monophasic products
- These tablets are usually called "the pill". They are used for contraception and occasionally for menstrual problems.
- You take one tablet each day for 21 days. Then leave a gap of seven days before you start the next pack of 21.
- If you are not on the pill already, you usually start taking them on the day your period (bleeding) starts. Contraceptive protection starts immediately.
- If you are changing from another type of pill, the start day depends on which pill you have been taking. Do you remember what it is called?
- Sickness or diarrhoea, and some medicines (eg, antibiotics) can make this pill less effective. In such cases you should keep taking the pill, but use another type of contraception as well (eg, condoms). I can advise you about this.
- Like all medicines, this one can cause some side effects. The leaflet inside the pack includes more information about this. Speak to me or your doctor if you are unsure about any side effects.
This series of "advice tips" on commonly used drugs is written by
pharmacists from the Sussex Pharmacy Academic Practice Unit. It is intended
as a reminder of points to be made by pharmacists as they hand out dispensed
medicines. The list is not intended to be comprehensive but to cover some important
points.
By Carina and Duncan Livingstone
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