How to Take Your Pills
Before You Start Taking Your Pills BE SURE TO READ THESE DIRECTIONS:
1. Before you start taking your pills and anytime you are not sure what to do, read the directions carefully.
2. The right way to take the pill is to take one pill every day at approximately the same time every day. If you miss pills you could get pregnant. This includes starting the pack late. The more pills you miss, the more likely you are to get pregnant.
3. Many women have spotting or light bleeding, or may feel nausea the first 1-3 packs of pills. If you do have spotting or light bleeding or feel sick to your stomach, do not stop taking the pill. The problem will usually go away. If it does not go away, check with your doctor or clinic.
4. Missing pills can also cause spotting or light bleeding, even when you make up these missed pills. On the days you take two pills, to make up for missed pills, you could also feel a little sick to your stomach.
5. If you have diarrhea or vomiting, for any reason, or if you take some medication, including some antibiotics and some herbal products such as St. John’s Wort, your pills may not work as well. Use a back-up method (such as condoms or foam spermicides) until you check with your doctor or clinic.
6. If you have trouble remembering to take the pill, talk to your doctor or clinic about how to make pill-taking easier or about using another method of birth control.
7. If you have any questions or are unsure about the information provided call your doctor or pharmacist.
Before You Start Taking Your Pills:
Decide what time of day you want to take your pill. It is important to take the pill approximately the same time every day.
Look at your pill pack- may sure there are 21 “active” dark yellow tablets that you take for three weeks, followed by 7 white “reminder” pills you take for one week.
Also Find:
1. Where on the pack to start taking pills
2. In what order to take the pills (follow the arrows)
3. The week numbers as shown in the diagram
Be sure you have an extra pill packet ready at all times and a back-up form of birth control (condoms and/or spermicide) to use in case you miss any pills.
DAY 1 START (first day of your period):
1. Take the first dark yellow “active” pill of the first pack during the first 24 hours of your period.
2. You will not need to use a back-up method of birth control, since you are starting the pill at the beginning of your period.
Sunday Start:
1. Take the first dark yellow “active” pill of the first pack on the Sunday after your period starts, even if you are still bleeding. If your period begins on Sunday, start the pack that same day.
2. Use another method of birth control such as condoms or spermicides as a back-up method if you have sex anytime from the Sunday you start your first pack until the next Sunday (7 days).
What to do during the month:
1. Take one pill at the same time every day until the pack is empty. Do not skip pills even if you are spotting or bleeding between monthly periods or feel sick to your stomach (nausea). Do not skip pills even if you do not have sex very often.
2. When you finish a pack or switch to a different brand of pills: Start the next pack on the day after your last peach “reminder” pill. Do not wait any days between packs.
What to do if you miss a pill:
If you miss 1 dark yellow “active” pill:
1. Take it as soon as you remember. Take the next pill at your regular time. This means you may take 2 pills in 1 day.
2. You do not need to use a back-up birth control method if you have sex.
If you miss 2 dark yellow “active” pills in a row in WEEK 1 or WEEK 2 of your dispenser:
1. Take 2 pills on the day you remember and 2 pills the next day.
2. Then take 1 pill a day until you finish the dispenser.
3. You MAY BECOME PREGNANT if you have sex in the 7 days after you miss pills. You MUST use another birth control method (such as condoms, foam, or sponge) as a back-up for those 7 days.
If you miss 2 dark yellow “active” pills in a row in THE 3RD WEEK:
If you are a Sunday Starter:
Keep taking 1 pill every day until Sunday. On Sunday, THROW OUT the rest of the dispenser and start a new dispenser of pills that same day.
If you are a Day 1 Starter:
THROW OUT the rest of the pill dispenser and start a new dispenser of pills that same day.
You may not have your period this month but this is expected. However, if you miss your period 2 months in a row, call your doctor or clinic because you might be pregnant.
You MAY BECOME PREGNANT if you have sex in the 7 days after you miss pills. You MUST use another birth control method (such as condoms, foam, or sponge) as a back-up for those 7 days.
If you MISS 3 OR MORE dark yellow “active” pills in a row (during the first 3 weeks):
If you are a Sunday Starter:
Keep taking 1 pill every day until Sunday. On Sunday, THROW OUT the rest of the dispenser and start a new dispenser of pills that same day.
If you are a Day 1 Starter:
THROW OUT the rest of the pill dispenser and start a new dispenser of pills that same day.
You may not have your period this month but this is expected. However, if you miss your period 2 months in a row, call your doctor or clinic because you might be pregnant.
You MAY BECOME PREGNANT if you have sex in the 7 days after you miss pills. You MUST use another birth control method (such as condoms, foam, or sponge) as a back-up for those 7 days.
Reminder Tablets:
If you forget any of the white 7 “reminder” pills in Week 4 throw away the pills you missed and keep taking 1 pill each day until the dispenser is empty. You will not need to use a back-up form of contraception.
If you are still unsure regarding what pills and the number of pills you have missed continue taking one “active” dark yellow tablet until you contact your healthcare providers for further instructions.
Even if spotting or light bleeding should occur, continue taking the pill according to the schedule. Should spotting or light bleeging persist, you should notify your doctro or clinic.
When you finish a pack or switch to a different brand of pills:
Start the next pack on the day oafter your last peach “reminder” pill. Do not wait any days between packs.
WARNING
Do not smoke while taking birth control pills. Cigarette smoking raises the chance of very bad heart and blood-related side effects. This chance is higher with age (older than 35 years of age) and with heavy smoking (15 or more cigarettes per day). Birth control pills do not stop the spread of diseases caused by having sex.
Sometimes drugs are not safe when you take them with certain other drugs. Taking them together can cause serious side effects. This is one of those drugs. Inform your doctor and pharmacist of of all drugs (over-the-counter, homeopathic, supplements and any prescription) you take.