Desogen (ethinyl estradiol and desogestrel) contains a combination of female hormones that prevent ovulation (the release of an egg from an ovary). This medicine also causes changes in your cervical mucus and uterine lining, making it harder for sperm to reach the uterus and harder for a fertilized egg to attach to the uterus.
Desogen is a birth control pill used for contraception to prevent pregnancy.
You will take your first pill on the first day of your period or on the first Sunday after your period begins. You may need to use back-up birth control, such as condoms or a spermicide, when you first start using Desogen. Follow your doctors instructions.
Take one pill every day, no more than 24 hours apart. When the pills run out, start a new pack the following day. You may get pregnant if you do not take one pill daily. Get your prescription refilled before you run out of pills completely.
Desogen packs contain seven "reminder" pills to keep you on your regular cycle. Your period will usually begin while you are using these reminder pills.
You may have breakthrough bleeding, especially during the first 3 months. Tell your doctor if this bleeding continues or is very heavy.
Use a back-up birth control if you are sick with severe vomiting or diarrhea.
If you need major surgery or will be on long-term bed rest, you may need to stop using this medicine for a short time. Any doctor or surgeon who treats you should know that you are using Desogen.
While taking Desogen, you will need to visit your doctor regularly.
The following serious adverse reactions with the use of COCs are discussed elsewhere in the labeling:
Serious cardiovascular events and stroke (see BOXED WARNING and WARNINGS)
Vascular events (see WARNINGS)
Liver disease (see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS)
Possibly related adverse events that have been reported in clinical trials or observational studies with Desogen or CHC users in general are as follows:
Common events:
Depressed mood, mood altered
Headache
Nausea, abdominal pain
Breast tenderness, breast pain
Weight increased
Uncommon events
Fluid retention
Libido decreased
Migraine
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Rash, urticaria
Breast enlargement
Rare events:
Hypersensitivity
Libido increased
Contact Lens intolerance
Erythema nodosum, erythema multiforme
Vaginal discharge
Breast discharge
Weight decreased
Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
Some products that may interact with this drug include: aromatase inhibitors (such as anastrozole, exemestane), ospemifene, tamoxifen, tizanidine, tranexamic acid, certain combination products used to treat chronic hepatitis C (ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir with or without dasabuvir).
Some drugs may cause hormonal birth control to work less well by decreasing the amount of birth control hormones in your body. This effect can result in pregnancy. Examples include griseofulvin, modafinil, rifamycins (such as rifampin, rifabutin), St. Johns wort, drugs used to treat seizures (such as barbiturates, carbamazepine, felbamate, phenytoin, primidone, topiramate), HIV drugs (such as nelfinavir, nevirapine, ritonavir), among others.
Tell your doctor when you start any new drug, and discuss if you should use additional reliable birth control. Also tell your doctor if you have any new spotting or breakthrough bleeding, because these may be signs that your birth control is not working well.
This medication may interfere with certain laboratory tests (such as blood clotting factors, thyroid), possibly causing false test results. Make sure laboratory personnel and all your doctors know you use this medication.
Serious ill effects have not been reported following acute ingestion of large doses of oral contraceptives by young children. Overdosage may cause nausea, and withdrawal bleeding may occur in females.