Ocella drug: Uses, indications and notes when using

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Ocella is a combination of two hormones estrogen and progestin, used to prevent pregnancy. Ocella works mainly by preventing the release of an egg during the menstrual cycle, changing the lining of the uterus to prevent a fertilized egg from attaching, and making vaginal fluid thicker to help prevent sperm from reaching the uterus. egg.

1. What does Ocella do?

Ocella is a combination of two hormones estrogen (ethinyl estradiol) and progestin (drospirenone) that work to prevent pregnancy. Ocella works mainly by preventing the release of an egg during the menstrual cycle. It also changes the lining of the uterus to prevent a fertilized egg from attaching and thickens vaginal fluid to help prevent sperm from reaching an egg.
If the fertilized egg does not attach to the uterus, it will leave the body, in addition to the contraceptive effect, the birth control pill can make your period more regular and decrease. Lots of blood loss and pain during your period, and a reduced risk of ovarian cysts. Using Ocella does not protect you or your partner against sexually transmitted diseases (such as HIV, gonorrhea, chlamydia).

2. How to use Ocella

Ocella is to be taken by mouth as directed by your doctor with or without food, usually once daily. Choose a time of day that is easy to remember and take your medicine at the same time each day, 24 hours apart. Taking Ocella after the evening meal or at bedtime can help relieve stomach upset and nausea.
Contraceptive pill packs contain 21 active pills (with hormones) and may also contain 7 reminder pills (without hormones) at the end of the pack. For 21 consecutive days take an active (hormonal) tablet once daily. If you are using a 28-pill product, take the hormone-free pill once daily for 7 consecutive days after you took your last pill unless otherwise directed by your doctor. If you are taking a 21-pill medicinal product, do not take any hormone-free tablets for 7 days unless otherwise directed by your doctor. Within 3 days of taking the last pill of your cycle you should get your period again. After you take the last non-hormone pill in the pack or it's been 7 days without your active pill, start a new pack the next day whether you have your period or not, if you don't have your period. , consult your doctor.
If this is the first time you are using Ocella pills and are not switching from a hormonal form of birth control, take the first pill in the pack on the first Sunday after the start of your period or on the first day the beginning of the menstrual period. If your period starts on a Sunday, start taking Ocella on that day. Use the pill only during the first cycle, use an extra form of non-hormonal birth control for the first 7 days to prevent pregnancy until the pill has had enough time to work (such as condoms, spermicide). coincide). If you start taking the pill on the first day of your period, you don't need to use backup birth control for the first week.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist for information on how to switch from other forms of hormonal contraception (eg patch, other birth control pills) to the Ocella medicinal product.
Use Ocella medicine regularly to get the most benefit from it. Never increase the dose or abuse the drug for longer than prescribed. This not only makes the condition improve faster, but also increases the risk of unwanted effects.

3. Undesirable effects when using the drug Ocella

Some unwanted effects that may occur when using Ocella birth control pills include:
Nausea, vomiting Headache Abdominal fullness Stomach fullness Chest tightness Ankle swelling Weight change Increased blood pressure Abnormal vaginal bleeding Usually, menstrual irregularities especially during the first few months of using the drug. If you miss 2 periods in a row (or 1 period when you haven't taken the pill correctly), contact your doctor for a pregnancy test. Serious side effects: Vaginal bleeding, unusual changes (such as continuous bleeding, sudden heavy bleeding, missed periods), symptoms of high blood potassium levels such as muscle weakness, slow heart rate irregularities, breast lumps, abdominal pain/heaviness, dark urine, yellowing eyes/skin, mental/mood changes (e.g. new/worsening depression, suicidal ideation). Ocella can rarely cause serious (sometimes fatal) problems with blood clots (such as deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, stroke, heart attack). Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of the Ocella birth control pill. Get medical help right away if you experience: sudden difficulty breathing, chest/jaw/left arm pain, unusual sweating, confusion, coughing up blood, dizziness/sudden fainting, pain /swelling/heating in the groin/calf, tingling/weakness/numbness of the arms/legs, unusual headache (including headache with vision changes/lack of coordination, worsening migraine, sudden headache /very severe), difficulty speaking, weakness on one side of the body, sudden vision changes (such as partial/complete blindness). Before prescribing, doctors always weigh the benefits of Ocella medicine more than the risk of side effects. However, some cases when using Ocella can still occur unwanted effects. Therefore, when you see unusual signs, especially when an allergic reaction occurs with accompanying symptoms such as rash, itching or swelling of the face, tongue, throat, difficulty breathing, severe dizziness, etc. .. In this case, the patient should immediately notify the medical staff for immediate intervention.

4. Some notes when using Ocella

Some notes when using Ocella medicine include:
Report a history of allergy to Ocella or any other allergies. Medicinal products may contain inactive ingredients and may cause allergic reactions or other serious problems. Report medical history especially adrenal problems, stroke, blood clots, high blood pressure, breast abnormalities, cancer (especially endometrial or breast cancer), disorders blood clotting (such as protein C and protein S deficiency), diabetes complications, family or personal history of a certain swelling disorder syndrome (angioedema), heart problems (such as valve disease) heart disease, irregular heartbeat, previous heart attack), kidney problems, liver problems, history of yellow eyes, jaundice during pregnancy, unexplained vaginal bleeding, high cholesterol levels, depression, swelling , gallbladder problems, obesity. If you have diabetes, you need to check your blood sugar regularly during treatment. If you've just had major surgery or are immobile for a long time, this can increase your risk of blood clots, especially if you're taking hormonal birth control. You can take Ocella for a while or take other special precautions. Before surgery, tell your doctor or dentist about all medicinal products you are using such as over-the-counter medicines, prescription drugs and herbal products. Ocella can increase potassium levels, so before using potassium supplements or salt substitutes that contain potassium consult your doctor. Ocella may cause melasma and may be aggravated by sun exposure. So, avoid bleaching products and use regular sunscreen and protective suits when outdoors. If you are nearsighted or wear contact lenses, you may have vision problems or have trouble wearing contact lenses. Contact your ophthalmologist if these problems occur. Ocella should not be used during pregnancy. So if you are pregnant or think you might be pregnant tell your doctor right away. In case you just had a baby or had a miscarriage or an abortion after the first 3 months, talk to your doctor about reliable forms of birth control and find out when it is safe to start using it. Birth control that contains a form of estrogen. Get regular physical exams including blood potassium tests, blood pressure, breast exam, pelvic exam, cervical smear, etc. to monitor progress and check for side effects. side use. You can do a daily breast self-exam as directed by your doctor. If you forget to take a dose of Ocella, take it as soon as possible. However, if the time you remember to take your missed dose is close to the time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the same time as originally scheduled. At the same time, use preventive contraceptive methods such as condoms, spermicides, etc. Absolutely do not use double the dose than the treatment regimen. Ocella overdose can cause serious symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, abnormal vaginal bleeding,...

5. Drug interactions

Drug interactions may decrease the effectiveness of Ocella, or increase the effect of unwanted effects. Tell your doctor about all other medicinal products you are using, including prescription, over-the-counter and herbal products. Do not start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine without your doctor's consent.
Some products that may interact with Ocella include:
Aromatase inhibitors such as: Anastrozole, exemestane Atazanavir, cobicistat Fosamprenavir Ospemifene Tamoxifen TIZANIDINE tranexamic acid Certain combination products used to treat chronic hepatitis C properties: ombitasvir, paritaprevir, ritonavir with or without dasabuvir. Drospirenone can increase blood potassium levels, so tell your doctor if you regularly use other medicines or products that can also increase blood potassium levels (including aliskiren, ACE inhibitors. such as enalapril/lisinopril, heparin, NSAIDs such as ibuprofen/naproxen, live potassium, angiotensin receptor blockers such as losartan/valsartan, diuretics such as eplerenone/spironolactone/triamterene).
Some medications can make hormonal birth control less effective by reducing the amount of birth control hormones in your body. This effect can lead to an unwanted pregnancy. Examples of these drugs include griseofulvin, modafinil, rifamycins (such as rifampin), drugs used in the treatment of seizures (such as barbiturates, carbamazepine, felbamate, phenytoin, primidone, topiramate), HIV drugs (such as eg nelfinavir, nevirapine, ritonavir).
Tell your doctor when you are starting any new medicine and discuss whether you should use additional birth control methods. Also, let your doctor know if you have any new or sudden bleeding, as these could be signs that your birth control isn't working as well.
Ocella may affect the results of many laboratory tests. Make sure the laboratory technician and all your doctors know you are using Ocella.

6. How to store Ocella

Store Ocella at room temperature, away from moisture and light. Do not store Ocella in a humid place or in the freezer. Each medicine will have different storage methods, so read the Ocella storage instructions carefully on the package, or ask your pharmacist. Keep Ocella medicine out of the reach of children and family pets. When medicine is past its expiry date or cannot be used anymore, dispose of it properly. Do not arbitrarily dispose of Ocella into an environment such as a water pipe or toilet unless requested to do so. Ask your waste disposal company or pharmacist for advice on how to safely dispose of Ocella to help protect the environment.
In short, Ocella is a combination of two hormones estrogen and progestin, which helps prevent pregnancy. Ocella works mainly by preventing the release of an egg during the menstrual cycle, changing the lining of the uterus to prevent a fertilized egg from attaching, and making vaginal fluid thicker to help prevent sperm from reaching the uterus. egg. However, Ocella can cause some unwanted effects and drug interactions, so tell your doctor what medicinal products you are taking to reduce the risk of side effects and increase the effectiveness of your treatment. treatment course.

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Reference source: webmd.com