Desogestrel

Adults: Take one Desogestrel tablet at the same time each day, continuously and without a break. Try to keep within 3 hours of that time every day. When and how to take the tablets Each strip of Desogestrel contains 28 tablets. Arrows are printed on the front of the strip, between the tablets. If you turn the strip over, the day of the week for each tablet is printed next to it. Take your tablet at about the same time each day and swallow it whole with water. Each time you start a new strip of Desogestrel, take a tablet from the top row. For example, if you start on Wednesday, take the tablet in the top row marked with that day. Then take one tablet a day until the strip is empty, always following the direction of the arrows. This way you can easily check whether you have taken your daily tablet. You may have some bleeding while using Desogestrel, but you must carry on taking your tablets as normal. When a strip is empty, start a new pack of Desogestrel the next day, without a gap and without waiting for a bleed. You can stop taking Desogestrel whenever you want. From the day you stop, you are no longer protected against pregnancy. Starting your first pack of Desogestrel If you are not using hormonal contraception at present (or haven't in the past month), wait for your period to begin. Take the first Desogestrel tablet on the first day of your period. If you take your first tablet on days 2 to 5 of your period, use an additional barrier method of contraception for the first 7 days of tablet taking. Changing from a combined pill Start Desogestrel on the day after the last active tablet of the combined pill. Additional contraceptive precautions are not necessary in this case. Changing from a mini-pill, injection, implant or hormonal IUD You can switch from another mini pill on any day. Start Desogestrel on the day an implant or IUD is removed, or on the day your next injection would be due. Additional contraceptive precautions are not necessary. After a baby or an abortion Start immediately after a first trimester abortion. Additional contraceptive precautions are not necessary. After delivery or a second trimester abortion, start before your periods return. If more than 21 days have passed, pregnancy must be ruled out and an additional barrier method of contraception should be used for the first 7 days. If you forget to take one or more tablets If you are more than 12 hours late, take a tablet as soon as you remember and take the next one at the usual time. This may mean taking two tablets in one day, which is not harmful. (If you have forgotten more than one tablet, you don't need to take the earlier missed ones.) You are not protected against pregnancy. Continue taking your tablets as usual, but use an extra method, such as a condom, for the next seven days. If you are more than 12 hours late with your tablet and have had sex, it is safe to use emergency contraception. If you are less than 12 hours late, take the tablet as soon as you remember and take the next tablet at the usual time. The contraceptive action of Desogestrel is maintained. If you missed one or more tablets in the first week of tablet intake and had intercourse in the week before missing the tablets, there is a possibility of becoming pregnant. The more consecutive tablets you have missed, the higher the risk that the contraceptive efficacy is decreased. If you vomit or use medical charcoal If you vomit or use medical charcoal within 3 to 4 hours after taking your Desogestrel tablet, the active ingredient may not have been completely absorbed. Follow the advice for missed tablets.