OVRAL L TABLET 21'S

How OVRAL L TABLET 21'S Works

• Ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel together suppress the hormonal signal from the brain that normally triggers the ovary to release an egg each month, so ovulation does not occur.
• The combination also thickens the mucus at the cervix, making it harder for sperm to pass through, and thins the lining of the uterus, making it less suitable for a fertilised egg to implant. Consistent daily use is needed for all three effects to work together reliably.

Nausea, headache, bloating, breast tenderness, weight change and changes in the pattern of monthly bleeding are commonly reported, particularly in the first few months of use. Mood changes, reduced sex drive and vaginal discharge have also been reported. A blood clot is a serious but less common risk, and pain or swelling in one leg, sudden chest pain or breathlessness, or a sudden severe headache with weakness or vision or speech changes needs emergency medical attention. Severe abdominal pain, yellowing of the skin or eyes, or a marked change in vision should also be reported to a doctor promptly.

• Nausea
• Headache
• Bloating
• Breast tenderness
• Weight change
• Changes in menstrual bleeding pattern
• Mood changes
• Reduced sex drive

• If you miss one pill, take it as soon as you remember, and then take your next pill at your regular time. This might mean taking two pills in one day.
• If you miss two pills in a row in the first or second week, take two pills the day you remember and two pills the next day. Then continue taking one pill a day until you finish the pack. Use back-up contraception (like condoms) for the next 7 days.
• If you miss two pills in a row in the third week, or if you miss three or more pills in a row at any time, start a new pack of pills immediately. Use back-up contraception (like condoms) for the next 7 days if you have sex.
• If you have trouble remembering to take the pill, ask your doctor or pharmacist about ways to help you remember.

• Store the tablets in their original pack, out of the reach of children and pets. Keep them at the temperature stated on the current Pfizer pack. Do not use the tablets after the expiry date printed on the pack.

• Take the tablet at a similar time each day
• Start each new pack on schedule, even if withdrawal bleeding has not finished
• Use backup contraception after a missed tablet, or after vomiting or severe diarrhoea, as advised in the product leaflet
• Avoid smoking while taking this medicine, particularly for women over 35
• Tell the prescriber about any history of blood clots, migraine with aura, or liver disease before starting
• Seek urgent medical help for leg swelling, chest pain, breathlessness, sudden severe headache, or vision or speech changes
• Remember that this medicine does not protect against sexually transmitted infections

• Ovral L can be taken with or without food.
• Grapefruit juice can raise oestrogen levels from this combination and is best avoided or limited while taking it. Alcohol does not directly reduce contraceptive effectiveness, but heavy drinking can make a missed dose or vomiting more likely.