• What is the most important information I should know about birth control pills?
• What are birth control pills?
• What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking birth control pills?
• How should I take my birth control pills?
• What happens if I miss a dose?
• What happens if I overdose?
• What should I avoid while taking my birth control pills?
• What are the possible side effects of my birth control pills?
• What other drugs will affect my birth control pills?
• How long can I stay on the "Pill"?
• Do I need a break from the Pill?
• Does the birth control pill protect against AIDS?
• Are there any side effects with the Pill?
• Does the Pill cause weight gain?
• What happens if I take other medications?
• What should I do if I want to become pregnant?
• If I miss a period, am I pregnant?
• If I forget to take one pill, what should I do?
• What makes the birth control pill low-dose?
• How does the Pill prevent pregnancy?
• Do you ship to Canada?
• Do I need to send in my original prescription?
• What if I need to return my order?

What is the most important information I should know about birth control pills?

• Take your pill at the same time every day. Each dose should come no more than 24 hours after the last dose.
  
  
• Avoid smoking cigarettes while taking birth control pills. Smoking greatly increases the risk of having a heart attack, stroke, or blood clot.
  
  
• Use another form of birth control if you miss several doses (see the package insert) or if you are taking drugs that decrease the effectiveness of birth control pills (see the section of this leaflet titled "What other drugs will affect my birth control pills?").
  
  

What are birth control pills?

• Birth control pills contain a combination of hormones that is used to prevent ovulation (the release of an egg from an ovary). The pills contain a form of estrogen and a form of progesterone, which are both female hormones involved in conception.
  
  
• Birth control pills also have other effects that inhibit pregnancy. They cause the cervical mucous to thicken, which makes it harder for sperm to move toward the uterus, and they prevent the attachment of an egg to the uterus.
  
  
• Birth control pills are used to prevent pregnancy.
  
  
• Birth control pills may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.
  
  

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking birth control pills?

• Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you
  · have high blood pressure, angina, or heart disease;
  · have had a stroke;
  · have a bleeding or blood-clotting disorder;
  · have breast, uterine, or another hormone-related cancer;
  · have liver disease or a history of jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes) caused by use of birth control in the past;
  · have undiagnosed, abnormal vaginal bleeding;
  · have migraines;
  · have asthma; or
  · have seizures or epilepsy.
  
  
• You may not be able to take birth control pills, or you may require a lower dose or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listed above.
  
  
• Birth control pills are in the FDA pregnancy category X. This means that birth control pills will cause birth defects in an unborn baby. Hormonal changes during pregnancy can have very serious negative effects on a developing baby. Do not take birth control pills if you are pregnant or if you think you might be pregnant.
  
  
• The hormones in birth control pills pass into breast milk and may decrease milk production. Do not take birth control pills without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
  
  

How should I take my birth control pills?

• Take your birth control pills exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you.
  
  
• Take the first pill in a package on the first Sunday after your period begins (unless otherwise directed by your doctor).
  
  
• Take one pill every day, no more than 24 hours after your last dose. Try to take the pills at a time that you will remember every day--for example just before bed, with a meal, or first thing in the morning.
  
  
• Taking your pill at night may help to reduce any nausea or headache that you may experience because of the hormones.
  
  
• If you are on a 28-day cycle, take one pill every day. When the pack runs out, throw it away. Begin a new pack the following day. The 28-day cycle contains seven pills that are either placebos (with no active ingredients) or iron supplements. These are "reminder" pills to keep you on your regular cycle. They are taken while you are menstruating.
  
  
• If you are on a 21-day cycle, take one pill every day for 21 days, then do not take any pills for 7 days. You should have your period during the 7 days with no pills. Resume your pills on the 8th day with a new package.
  
  
• Follow your doctor's instructions about using a second form of birth control when you first start taking birth control pills, when you are taking antibiotics, or if you miss a pill. If you are unsure what to do in any of these cases, talk to your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor about how to ensure that you will not become pregnant.
  
  
• Store birth control pills at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose?

• Missing a pill increases the risk of becoming pregnant.
  
  
• Follow the exact directions on your package information insert concerning missed doses. If you do not have a package information insert, call your pharmacist, doctor, or nurse to find out what to do.
  
  
• In general:
  
  • If you miss one dose, take it as soon as you remember or take two pills at the time of your next regularly scheduled dose. There is little likelihood that ovulation will occur. You may, however, want to use a second method of birth control such as a condom or a spermicidal cream, jelly, or foam for at least seven consecutive days following the missed tablet to ensure protection from pregnancy.
  • If you miss two tablets in a row, take the two missed tablets as soon as you remember or with your next regularly scheduled dose (three total). Or, you may take two tablets each for the next two regularly scheduled doses (one missed tablet plus one regularly scheduled tablet for 2 days in a row). Chances are much greater that you may ovulate so you must use another form of birth control for at least 7 days following the missed tablets. It is even better to use a second method of birth control until your next period.
  • If you miss three tablets in a row, throw away the package and start a new package on the 7th day after the last day you took a pill. Use another method of birth control until you have taken a pill for 7 days in a row. Your period should occur during the 7 days without pills. If it doesn't, have a pregnancy test before beginning a new package of pills.
  
  
  
• Read all of the information in your package information insert. It may have slightly different instructions in the case of missed pills. Talk to your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor if you have any questions.
  
  

What happens if I overdose?

• Death is not likely to occur from an overdose of birth control pills. Consult a doctor, an emergency room, or a poison control left for advice.
  
  
• Symptoms of an overdose include nausea, vomiting, and menstrual bleeding.
  
  

What should I avoid while taking my birth control pills?

• Avoid smoking. Smoking greatly increases your risk of a heart attack, stroke, or blood clot formation.
  
  
• Birth control pills do not protect you from sexually transmitted diseases--including HIV and AIDS.
  
  

What are the possible side effects of my birth control pills?

• If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop taking your birth control pills and seek emergency medical attention:
  
  • an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of your throat; swelling of your lips, tongue, or face; or hives);
  • a blood clot in the lung (shortness of breath or pain in the chest);
  • a blood clot in an arm or leg (pain, redness, swelling, or numbness of an arm or leg);
  • high blood pressure (severe headache, flushing, blurred vision); or
  • liver damage (yellowing of the skin or eyes, nausea, abdominal pain or discomfort, unusual bleeding or bruising, severe fatigue).
• Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue to take your birth control pills and talk to your doctor if you experience:
  
  • headache or dizziness;
  • nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea;
  • breakthrough bleeding; or
  • breast tenderness.
• These side effects may disappear or be less noticeable after 3 to 6 months of birth control use. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice if you find any side effect very bothersome.
  
  
• The side effects listed below generally occur very rarely and are not considered serious. If you experience any of the following, talk to your doctor:
  
  • depression,
  • changes in weight or appetite,
  • vaginal yeast infection,
  • changes in your menstrual cycle,
  • oily skin or acné,
  • changes in your sex drive,
  • lethargy or fatigue,
  • bloating,
  • changes in your skin color, or,
  • changes in your blood sugar.
• Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.
  
  

What other drugs will affect my birth control pills?

• Some drugs may decrease the effectiveness of birth control pills, which may result in pregnancy. Use a second form of birth control if you are taking:
  
  • a penicillin antibiotic such as amoxicillin (Amoxil, Polymox, Trimox, Wymox, Utimox, A-Cillin, Larotid, Augmentin, others), ampicillin (Principen, Omnipen, Penamp, Polycillin, Amplin, Amcill, Totacillin, others), bacampicillin (Spectrobid), carbenicillin (Geocillin), cloxacillin (Cloxapen, Tegopen), dicloxacillin (Dynapen, Dycill, Pathocil), nafcillin (Nafcil, Nallpen, Unipen), oxacillin (Bactocill, Prostphlin), or penicillin (Veetids, Pen Vee K, Bicillin, Permapen, others);
  • a tetracycline antibiotic such as demeclocycline (Declomycin), doxycycline (Doryx, Doxy, Vibramycin, Vibra-Tabs, others), minocycline (Minocin), or tetracycline (Sumycin, Teracyn, Achromycin, Robitet, Panmycin, others);
  • a barbiturate such as amobarbital (Amytal), butabarbital (Butisol), mephobarbital (Mebaral), secobarbital (Seconal), or phenobarbital (Luminal, Solfoton);
  • rifampin (Rifadin);
  • phenytoin (Dilantin);
  • carbamazepine (Tegretol); or
  • griseofulvin (Grisactin, Grifulvin V, Fulvicin PG).
• Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with birth control pills. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines.
  
  

How long can I stay on the "Pill"?

As long as you are healthy and you don't smoke, you can stay on the Pill as long as you and your health care provider decide it's the right contraceptive for you.

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Do I need a break from the Pill?

No. In fact, the idea of needing to give your body a "rest" from the Pill is just a myth. What's more, many forms of contraception usually aren't as effective as the Pill, so there's a greater chance that you'll get pregnant.

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Does the Pill protect against AIDS?

No. Oral contraceptives don't protect against HIV infection (AIDS) and other STDs.

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Are there any side effects with the Pill?

Serious as well as minor side effects have been associated with oral contraceptives. Most side effects of the Pill are not serious. The most common side effects are nausea, vomiting, bleeding between menstrual periods, weight gain, breast tenderness, and difficulty wearing contact lenses. These side effects, especially nausea and vomiting, may subside within the first 3 months of use. Be sure to discuss any concerns you may have with your health care provider. Please read the Detailed Patient Labeling included with the sample pack.

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Does the Pill cause weight gain?

Although the Pill is one of the most effective birth control methods available, many women surveyed would stop using it--or avoid taking it altogether--because of the fear of weight gain.

As always, how much you weigh mostly depends on what you eat and how much exercise you get.

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What happens if I take other medications?

Certain drugs, including antibiotics, may cause your pills to be less effective. Use a backup contraceptive method (condoms or foam) until you check with your health care provider.

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What should I do if I want to become pregnant?

Simply stop taking your pills. Be sure to discuss your decision with your health care provider so that you can plan for a healthy pregnancy.

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If I miss a period, am I pregnant?

Not always. If you miss a period even though you took your pills exactly as you were supposed to, keep taking them as usual into your next cycle and be sure to inform your health care provider before doing so.

If you haven't taken your pills correctly, or if you miss two periods in a row, contact your health care provider to arrange for a pregnancy test. Stop taking your pills and use another method of birth control until you have seen your health care provider.

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If I forget to take one pill, what should I do?

Take the Pill as soon as you remember. Take the next pill at the regular time.

If you forget to take two or more pills, please see the missed pill instructions.

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What makes the birth control pill low dose?

Today's pill is now available in a number of low-dose formulations with less hormones than the Pills your mother may have taken. These different brands have either 35 micrograms (mcg), 30 mcg, or 20 mcg of estrogen - and all are 99% effective when taken as directed.

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How does the Pill prevent pregnancy?

The Pill prevents pregnancy in two ways: it directly stops the ovary from releasing an egg, and it prevents the man's sperm from entering the uterus by thickening the mucus produced by the woman's cervix so that it forms a natural barrier.

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Do you ship to Canada?

At this point in time we do not ship any of our products to Canada.

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Do I need to send in my original prescription?

Once you have placed your order either by phone or online you are required to mail in your original prescription to us at P.O. Box 88614, Surrey, British Columbia, V3W 0X1, Canada.

* Note: This address is ONLY for original prescriptions. Product returns will not be accepted at this address.

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What if I need to return my order?

Prescription items and Non-prescription items are not returnable. Over-the-counter medications that are expired or damaged are eligible for return for a refund or credit within 16 days of receiving. Shipping charges can only be refunded if the return is due to our error. All returns must be accompanied by the packing slip. After a returned item has been received, it will take 1-2 weeks to process the return. If using a credit card, refunds will be applied to your credit card and if paying by cheque or money order, a credit is placed on to your Birth Control account.

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