Indications
Gestodene is a synthetic progestogen (a man-made form of the hormone progesterone). It is used together with an oestrogen, usually Ethinylestradiol, in combined oral contraceptive pills to prevent pregnancy. Some packs contain 21 active tablets and 7 inactive or iron tablets (28 tablets in total).
How It Works
Combined with an oestrogen, Gestodene works in three ways: it stops the ovaries from releasing an egg each month, thickens the mucus at the neck of the womb so sperm find it harder to get through, and changes the lining of the womb so a fertilised egg is less likely to settle there.
Dosage and Administration
Use as prescribed or as directed on the pack. Usually one tablet is taken by mouth at the same time every day, in the order shown on the strip, starting on the first day of the period. With a 28-tablet pack, start the next strip the day after finishing the last tablet, with no break. If a tablet is missed, follow the missed pill instructions in the leaflet and use condoms as extra protection if advised. Vomiting within 3 to 4 hours of a tablet or severe diarrhoea can reduce protection.
Interactions
Some medicines can make the pill less effective, including Rifampicin, Rifabutin, Carbamazepine, Phenytoin, Phenobarbital, Topiramate, some HIV and hepatitis C medicines, Griseofulvin and St John’s wort. The pill can also change levels of Lamotrigine and Cyclosporine. Always tell your doctor or pharmacist that you take the pill.
Contraindications
Do not use if you have or have had a blood clot in the legs or lungs, stroke or heart attack, migraine with aura, certain clotting disorders, uncontrolled high blood pressure, diabetes with blood vessel damage, severe liver disease or liver tumours, breast cancer or other hormone-dependent cancers, unexplained vaginal bleeding, pregnancy, or if you smoke and are over 35 years of age.
Side Effects
Common side effects include nausea, headache, breast tenderness, spotting or bleeding between periods (especially in the first few months), mood changes, bloating and changes in weight. Pills with Gestodene carry a somewhat higher risk of blood clots than some other progestogens; the overall risk is still low.
Get urgent medical help for pain or swelling in one leg, sudden chest pain or breathlessness, coughing blood, sudden severe headache, weakness or numbness on one side of the body, trouble speaking or seeing, severe stomach pain or yellowing of the skin or eyes.
Pregnancy and Lactation
Do not take during pregnancy; stop if you become pregnant. Combined pills are not usually advised while breastfeeding, especially in the first 6 weeks, as they can reduce milk supply. Ask your doctor about a progestogen-only method.
Precautions and Warnings
Blood pressure should be checked before starting and regularly after. Tell your doctor if you smoke, are overweight, have a family history of blood clots, or will have surgery or long immobilisation, as the pill may need to be stopped. The pill does not protect against sexually transmitted infections.
Overdose
Taking several tablets at once is not usually dangerous but may cause nausea, vomiting or vaginal bleeding. Seek medical advice, especially if a child has swallowed tablets.
Therapeutic Class
Progestogen; hormonal contraceptive (used in combined oral contraceptives).
Storage
Store below 30°C in a dry place, away from light, in the original strip. Keep out of the reach of children.
Prepared by the Oshud Alo team from standard drug references. For information only; always follow your doctor's advice.