Tablet, levonorgestrel (D-Norgestrel)+Ethinylestradiol and Iron tablets* (0.15mg + 0.03mg; 0.25mg + 0.05mg; 0.5mg + 0.005mg; 0.3mg + 0.003mg)

Tablet, Norethindrone (Norethisterone) + Ethinylestradiol* (0.5mg + 0.03mg)

Tablet, Norethindrone (Norethisterone) + Mestranol and iron tablets* (1mg + 0.05mg)

* Each iron Tablet contains: Ferrous fumarate 75 mg

Indications: - contraception, menstrual symptoms, endometriosis.

Cautions: - risk factor for venous thromboembolism and arterial disease (see notes above); migraine; hyperprolactinaemia (seek specialist advice); some types of hyperlipidaemia; gallbladder disease; depression; long-term immobilization, sickle-cell disease; inflammatory bowel disease including crohn disease; see also interactions

Drug interactions: see notes above

Side effects: -nausea, vomiting, headache, breast tenderness, increase in body weight, thrombosis, changes in libido, depression, chorea, skin reaction, chloasma, hypertension, impairment of liver function, 'spotting' in early cycles, absence of withdrawal bleeding, irritation of contact lenses; rarely, photosensitivity and hepatic tumours; breast cancer (small increase in risk of breast cancer during use which reduces during the 10 years after stopping; risk factor seems related to age at which contraceptive is stopped rather than total duration of use; small increase in risk of breast cancer should be weighed against the protective effect of the ovary and endometrium)

Contraindications: - pregnancy; twenty-one days post partum; breastfeeding until weaning or for first 6 months post partum; personal history of venous or arterial thrombosis, heart disease associated with pulmonary hypertension or risk of embolism; migraine; history of sub-acute bacterial endocarditis; ischaemic cerebrovascular disease; liver disease, including disorders of hepatic secretion such as Dubin - Johnson or Rotor syndromes, infections hepatitis (until liver function normal); porphyria; systemic lupus erythematosus; liver adenoma; history of cholestasis; gall stones: estrogen - dependent neoplasms; neoplasms of breast or genital tract; undiagnosed vaginal bleeding; history during pregnancy of pruritus, chorea, herpes, deteriorating otosclerosis; cholestatic jaundice; pemphigoid gestationis; diabetes mellitus (if either retinopathy, neuropathy or if more than 20 years duration); after evacuation of hydatidiform mole (until return to normal of urine and plasma gonadotrophin values)

Dose and Administrations

Contraception (21 - day combined (monophasic) preparations), by mouth, Adult (female), 1 tablet ('pill') daily for 21 days; subsequent courses repeated after 7 - day pill - free interval (during which withdrawal bleeding occurs)

Administration each tablet (pill') should be taken at approximately the same time each day; if delayed by longer than 24 hours contraceptive protection may be lost. It is important to bear in mind that the critical time for loss of protection is when a pill is omitted at the beginning or end of a cycle (which lengthens the pill - free interval).

The following advice is recommended:

If you forget a pill, take it as soon as you remember, and the next one at the normal time. If you are 12 or more hours late, the pill may not work; as soon as you remember, continue normal pill - taking, but for 7 days an additional method of contraception such as the sheath will be required. If the 7 days run beyond the end of your packet, start the next packet when you have finished the present one - do not have a gap between packets.

Storage: - at room temperature, in a well - closed container.