What is Ocella used for?
Ocella is a birth
control pill used to prevent pregnancy. It does not protect against HIV
infection (AIDS) and other sexually transmitted diseases.
Who
should not take Ocella:
Cigarette smoking increases the risk of
serious adverse effects on the heart and blood vessels from the use of birth
control pills. This risk increases with age and with heavy smoking (15 or more
cigarettes per day) and is quite marked in women over 35 years of age. Women who
use birth control pills should not smoke.
Ocella differs from other
birth control pills because it contains a progestin hormone called drospirenone.
Drospirenone can increase potassium in your blood. Women should not use Ocella
if they have kidney, liver, or adrenal disease because it can cause serious
health problems. Also, Ocella should not be used by people who have:
A history of heart attack or
stroke
Blood clots in the legs, lungs
(pulmonary embolism), or eyes
A history of blood clots in the
deep veins of the legs
Chest pain
Known or suspected breast
cancer or cancer of the lining of the uterus, cervix or vagina
Unexplained vaginal bleeding
Yellowing of the whites of the
eyes or of the skin (jaundice) during pregnancy or during previous use of the
pill
Liver tumor (benign or
cancerous)
General
Precautions with Ocella:
For the majority of women, Ocella can
be taken safely. But some women are at high risk of developing certain serious
diseases that can be life threatening or may cause temporary or permanent
disability or death. The risks associated with taking Ocella increase
significantly if you:
Smoke
Have high blood pressure,
diabetes, or high cholesterol
Have or have had clotting
disorders, heart attack, stroke, chest pain (angina pectoris), and cancer of the
breast or reproductive organs, jaundice, or malignant or benign liver tumors.
What should I tell my
doctor or health care provider?
Review all medicines that you
are taking with your health care provider, including herbal supplements and
non-prescription medicines. Tell your health care provider if you are on
long-term treatment with any of the medicines below, because you may need a
blood test to find out if Ocella is right for you.
NSAIDs � ibuprofen (Motrin�,
Advil�), naproxen (Naprosyn�, Aleve�, and others) when taken long-term and daily
for treatment of arthritis or other diseases or conditions
Potassium-sparing diuretics
(spironolactone and others)
Potassium supplements
ACE inhibitors (Capoten�,
Vasotec�, Zestril�, and others)
Angiotensin-II receptor
antagonists (Cozaar�, Diovan�, Avapro�, and others)
Heparin
What are some possible side effects of Ocella?
(This is NOT a complete list of side effects reported with
Ocella. Your health care provider can discuss with you a more complete list of
side effects.) The most commons side effects are:
Headache
Menstrual changes
Breast tenderness
Abdominal cramps and bloating
Nausea
Vaginal discharge
For more detailed information about Ocella, ask your health care
provider.
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