MICROGYNON ® is a drug based on ethinyl estradiol + levonorgestrel
THERAPEUTIC GROUP: Systemic hormonal contraceptives - Progestin and estrogens, fixed combination
IndicationsAction mechanismStudies and clinical effectiveness Usage and dosage instructionsWarnings Pregnancy and lactationInteractionsContraindicationsUndesirable effects
Indications MICROGYNON ® - Contraceptive Pill
MICROGYNON ® is used as an oral contraceptive.
Mechanism of action MICROGYNON ® - Contraceptive Pill
MICROGYNON ® is a second generation oral contraceptive due to the presence of levonorgestrel as a progestin.
Taken orally, it quickly reaches the intestinal environment, allowing both levonorgestrel and ethinylestradiol contained in it to be absorbed in a few hours and persist in the circulatory stream for about a day.
Linked to serum albumin and specific transport proteins such as SHBG (sex hormone binding protein) they reach various target organs where they carry out their biological activity, to be subsequently metabolized to the liver level and eliminated with urine and faeces.
The contraceptive action, which is maximal only after about a month of treatment, is supported by the central and peripheral action of these two hormones, useful respectively for:
- Inhibit the secretion of gonadotropins, blocking both the follicular maturation process and the subsequent ovulation;
- Altering the chemical-physical and structural properties of the cervical mucus and of the uterine mucosa, making the ascent of the spermatozoa in the female genital tract and the possible nesting of the embryo more complex.
Although second-generation oral contraceptives have already proved capable of reducing some typical side effects of hormonal contraception, the introduction of new progestins has allowed the elimination of skin disorders and water balance which unfortunately are still associated with use of progestogens such as levonorgestrel.
Studies carried out and clinical efficacy
1. NEW POSOLOGICAL SCHEMES
Continuous intake of low-dose contraceptives is in some cases used to completely stop menstrual bleeding, often associated with tenderness. In the above cases, however, the presence of metrorrhagia is an inevitable condition.
2. WITHOUT RECIPE
Very interesting study that tested the effects of the sale of oral contraceptives without prescription. The data show that in these 4 years of experimentation there has been an increase in sales of oral contraceptives, combined with a reduction in pregnancies. Unfortunately, despite the good success achieved in commercial terms, the presence of even serious side effects makes medical supervision necessary.
3. ORAL CONTRACEPTIVES AND DISMENORREAS
Dysmenorrhea is a very frequent condition in the younger female population, characterized by intense pain contextual to the menstrual cycle. The use of oral contraceptives has proved useful in significantly reducing this condition, thus associating the curative effect with the preventive effect.
Method of use and dosage
MICROGYNON ® 0.05 mg coated tablets of ethinyl estradiol and 0.125 mg of levonorgestrel:
the dosing schedule for oral contraceptives such as this involves the continuous intake of one pill a day for 21 days at the same time, given the half-life of the two active ingredients and the relative contraceptive coverage that tends to decrease after about 36 hours of suspension, interspersed from a 7-day free period in which suspension bleeding should be performed, similar to menstruation, and due to changes induced on the endometrium.
Generally, in the cases in which a hormonal contraception system is used for the first time, the beginning of the therapy should take place on the first day of menstruation, considering that during the first intake cycle the maximum contraceptive coverage is not reached.
Changes in the timing of intake may be necessary in women who come from previous hormonal contraceptive systems, in women with histories of repeated abortions, recently pregnant and if the normal timing of employment had been missed.
In any case it is useful to remember that the administration of this drug must be carried out by a specialist doctor after a careful gynecological examination.
Warnings MICROGYNON ® - Contraceptive Pill
The administration of MICROGYNON ® must be carried out by a specialist doctor after a careful gynecological examination in order to evaluate the prescriptive appropriateness and the possible presence of conditions such as to increase the risk of incidence of side effects.
In the latter case, doctor and patient should evaluate together the cost / benefit ratio and undertake the possible recruitment only after having understood the potential side effects related to the administration and outlined the warning signs of the associated morbid states, so as to allow the patient to quickly contact your doctor and promptly make useful remedies.
More precisely women with vascular problems, cardiac problems, risk factors for cardiovascular diseases such as smoking and obesity, changes in liver and kidney function, neurological and psychiatric disorders and metabolic pathologies such as diabetes, should undergo periodic checks once contraception has been undertaken.
MICROGYNON ® contains lactose so that its intake in patients with lactase enzyme deficiency, glucose / galactose malabsorption or lactose intolerance, could be associated with severe gastrointestinal disorders.
PREGNANCY AND BREASTFEEDING
The failure to characterize the safety profile of combined oral contraceptives, when used during pregnancy, combined with the absence of therapeutic indications related to the same period, contraindicate the use of MICROGYNON ® during the entire gestation period.
This contraindication also extends to the subsequent breastfeeding period, given the ability of the two active ingredients contained in it to permeate the mammary filter and concentrate in breast milk.
Interactions
The presence of ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel, both active ingredients metabolized by liver enzymes belonging to the cytochrome family, exposes MICROGYNON ® to possible drug interactions capable of reducing contraceptive coverage.
More precisely, the concomitant intake of enzymatic modulators such as rifampicin, phenytoin, barbiturates, antiretrovirals, antibiotics, herbal remedies such as St. John's wort, could cause significant variations from a pharmacokinetic point of view such as to reduce the contraceptive efficacy of the drug.
Consequently the contextual taking of other drugs must necessarily be preceded by a medical consultation and possibly combined with other methods of contraception coverage.
Contraindications MICROGYNON ® - Contraceptive Pill
MICROGYNON ® is contraindicated in case of current or previous venous thrombosis, stroke, hypertension, metabolic pathologies such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension and dyslipidemia, liver and kidney function changes, malignant pathologies, neuro-psychiatric disorders, motor disorders, undiagnosed gynecological disorders and in case of hypersensitivity to the active ingredient or to one of its excipients.
Undesirable effects - Side effects
The use of oral contraceptives is often associated with the onset of side effects from the different clinical course, some particularly serious but fortunately rare such as thromboembolism, hypertension and coronary artery disease and others more frequent but less dangerous such as nausea, headache, weight gain, increased tension mammary with associated pain, spotting of intermenstrual bleeding, libido changes, mood changes and skin disorders of various nature.
In these last cases the suspension of the therapy favors the regression of the symptomatology in a short time.
Note
MICROGYNON ® is salable only under medical prescription.
