C H A P T E R 4 0
Drugs affecting the female reproductive system
611
Oral contraceptives are available as monophasic, triphasic
and quadriphasic. Active tablets generally begin on the
fifth day of the cycle (day one of the cycle is the first day of
menstrual bleeding).
Missed doses.
If one tablet is missed, it should be taken
as soon as possible, or two tablets taken the next day.
Postcoital or emergency contraception (“morning
after”).
Tablet must be taken within 72 hours after
unprotected intercourse. This can be taken as 750 mcg
levonorgestrel followed by a second dose 12 hours
after the first, or as a 1.5 mg dose. Available emergency
contraception includes:
Levonelle-1
1.5 mg levonorgestrel
Levonelle-2
750 mcg levonorgestrel
NorLevo
750 mcg levonorgestrel
NorLevo-1
1.5 mg levonorgestrel
Postinor-1
1.5 mg levonorgestrel
Postinor-2
750 mcg levonorgestrel
Monophasic oral contraceptives
Brenda-35 ED
2 mg cyproterone acetate, 35 mcg
ethinyloestradiol
Brevinor
500 mcg norethisterone, 35 mcg
ethinyloestradiol
Brevinor-1
1 mg norethisterone, 35 mcg ethiny
loestradiol
Diane-35 ED
2 mg cyproterone acetate, 35 mcg
ethinyloestradiol
Estelle-35 ED
2 mg cyproterone acetate, 35 mcg
ethinyloestradiol
Improvil
500 mcg norethisterone, 35 mcg
ethinyloestradiol
Juliet-35 ED
2 mg cyproterone acetate, 35 mcg
ethinyloestradiol
Laila-35 ED
2 mg cyproterone acetate, 35 mcg
ethinyloestradiol
Levlen ED
150 mcg levonorgestrel, 30 mcg
ethinyloestradiol
Loette
100 mcg levonorgestrel, 20 mcg
ethinyloestradiol
Marvelon 28
150 mcg desogestrel, 30 mcg
ethinyloestradiol
Microgynon 20 ED
100 mcg levonorgestrel, 20 mcg
ethinyloestradiol
Microgynon 30 ED
150 mcg levonorgestrel, 30 mcg
ethinyloestradiol
Microgynon 50 ED
125 mcg levonorgestrel, 50 mcg
ethinyloestradiol
Microlevlen ED
100 mcg levonorgestrel, 20 mcg
ethinyloestradiol
Minulet
75 mcg gestodene, 30 mcg
ethinyloestradiol
Monofeme
30 mcg ethinyloestradiol, 150 mcg
levonorgestrel
Nordette
30 mcg ethinyloestradiol, 150 mcg
levonorgestrel
Norimin
500 mcg norethisterone, 35 mcg
ethinyloestradiol
Norimin-1
1 mg norethisterone, 35 mcg
ethinyloestradiol
Norinyl-1
1 mg norethisterone, 50 mcg
mestranol
Valette
30 mcg ethinyloestradiol, 2 mg
dienogest
Yasmin
30 mcg ethinyloestradiol, 3 mg
drospirenone
Yaz
20 mcg ethinyloestradiol, 3 mg
drospirenone
Zoely
2.5 mg nomegestrol, 1.5 mg oestadiol
Triphasic oral contraceptives
Logynon ED
Phase 1, 6 tablets: 50 mcg levonorgestrel,
30 mcg ethinyloestradiol; phase 2,
5 tablets: 75 mcg levonorgestrel, 40 mcg
ethinyloestradiol; phase 3, 10 tablets:
125 mcg levonorgestrel, 30 mcg
ethinyloestradiol
Synphasic 28
Phase 1, 7 tablets: 500 mcg norethisterone,
30 mcg ethinyloestradiol; phase 2,
9 tablets: 1 mg norethisterone, 35 mcg
ethinyloestradiol; phase 3, 5 tablets:
500 mcg norethisterone, 30 mcg
ethinyloestradiol
Trifeme
Phase 1, 6 tablets: 50 mcg levonorgestrel,
30 mcg ethinyloestradiol; phase 2,
5 tablets: 75 mcg levonorgestrel, 40 mcg
ethinyloestradiol; phase 3, 10 tablets:
125 mcg levonorgestrel, 30 mcg
ethinyloestradiol
Triphasil
Phase 1, 6 tablets: 50 mcg levonorgestrel,
30 mcg ethinyloestradiol; phase 2,
5 tablets: 75 mcg levonorgestrel, 40 mcg
ethinyloestradiol; phase 3, 10 tablets:
125 mcg levonorgestrel, 30 mcg
ethinyloestradiol
Triquilar ED
Phase 1, 6 tablets: 50 mcg levonorgestrel,
30 mcg ethinyloestradiol; phase 2,
5 tablets: 75 mcg levonorgestrel, 40 mcg
ethinyloestradiol; phase 3, 10 tablets:
125 mcg levonorgestrel, 30 mcg
ethinyloestradiol
Quadriphasic oral contraceptives
Qlaira
Phase 1, 2 tablets: 3 mg oestradiol valerate;
phase 2: 5 tablets: 2 mg oestradiol valerate,
2 mg dienogest; phase 3, 17 tablets: 2 mg
oestradiol valerate, 3 mg dienogest; phase
4, 2 tablets: 1 mg oestradiol valerate
Progestogen-only oral contraceptives
Locilan 28
350 mcg norethisterone
Microlut
30 mcg levonorgestrel
Micronor
350 mcg norethisterone
Noriday 28
350 mcg norethisterone
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BOX 40.3
Contraceptives: Forms and dosing
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