Camrese is an extended-cycle hormonal contraceptive containing a combination of 2 hormones: an estrogen (ethinyl estradiol) and a progestin (levonorgestrel), that are used to prevent pregnancy.
Contents:
Indications for use
- Oral contraception;
- Functional disorders of the menstrual period (dysmenorrhea without an organic cause, dysfunctional metrorrhagia, premenstrual syndrome).
Mechanism of action
Camrese is a low-dose, bi-phasic oral combined estrogen-progestational medication.
The contraceptive effect of the drug is achieved through three complementary mechanisms:
- suppression of ovulation at the level of hypothalamic-pituitary regulation;
- changes in the properties of the cervical secret, as a result of which it becomes impenetrable for spermatozoa;
- changes in the endometrium, which makes it impossible to implant a fertilized egg.
Women taking combined oral contraceptives have a regular menstrual period, less painful menstruation. The intensity of bleeding decreases, which reduces the risk of iron deficiency anemia.
Dosage and mode of application
Each Camrese pack contains 91 pills (3-months supply): 84 pills containing levonorgestrel 0.15 mg, ethinyl estradiol 30 mcg and 7 “reminder” pills containing ethinyl estradiol 10 mcg.
Take 1 pill daily for 91 days in the order specified on the blister. Start taking the pills on Sunday.
With Camrese birth control, you will not have a period every month. Instead, your menstruation should occur on the 12th week.
Begin a new pack of the contraceptive after you take the last pills from the previous pack. Interruption is not needed.
Side effects
In rare cases, Camrese tablets may cause the following side effects:
- nausea,
- vomiting,
- headache,
- breast engorgement,
- change in body weight and libido,
- mood changes,
- acyclic spotting;
- eyelid edema,
- conjunctivitis,
- visual impairment,
- discomfort when wearing contact lenses;
- chloasma,
- hearing loss,
- generalized pruritus,
- jaundice,
- calf muscle cramps,
- increased frequency of epileptic seizures
- hypertriglyceridemia,
- hyperglycemia,
- decreased glucose tolerance,
- increased blood pressure,
- thrombosis and venous thromboembolism,
- skin rashes,
- a change in the nature of vaginal secretion,
- candidiasis,
- fatigue,
- diarrhea.
These adverse reactions are temporary and do not require any therapy.
Contraindications
Do not use Camrese for birth control if you have any of the following contraindications for use (current or in an anamnesis):
- thrombosis (arterial or venous) and thromboembolism (including deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular disorders);
- conditions preceding thrombosis (transient ischemic attacks, angina pectoris);
- predisposition to venous or arterial thrombosis, including resistance to activated protein C, deficiency of antithrombin III, protein deficiency C, deficiency of protein S, hyperglycemia mocysteinemia and antiphospholipid antibodies (antibodies to cardiolipin, lupus anticoagulant);
- migraine with focal neurological symptoms;
- diabetes mellitus with vascular lesions;
- risk factors for venous or arterial thrombosis: hereditary predisposition to thrombosis, arterial hypertension, valvular heart disease atrial fibrillation, extensive surgical intervention, prolonged immobilization, extensive trauma, obesity, smoking in women older than 35 years;
- pancreatitis in combination with severe hypertriglyceridemia;
- severe liver disease;
- liver tumors (malignant or benign);
- established or suspected hormone-dependent malignant tumors;
- vaginal bleeding;
- breastfeeding period;
- hypersensitivity to ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel;
- age under 18 years.
With caution:
severe liver disease (before the normalization of the function);
- thrombophlebitis of superficial veins;
- dyslipoproteinemia;
- heart valve flaws;
- adequately controlled arterial hypertension;
- diabetes mellitus without vascular complications;
- acute or chronic liver dysfunction;
- jaundice and / or itching caused by cholestasis;
- cholelithiasis;
- porphyria;
- systemic lupus erythematosus;
- hemolytic-uremic syndrome;
- Sydenham’s chorea;
- Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis;
- sickle-cell anemia;
- chloasma.
In the case of worsening of the disease, worsening of the condition or the onset of any of the listed conditions, it is first necessary to consult a doctor to decide whether you should continue using Camrese tablets or not.
Interactions
The combined use of Camrese and antispasmodics, barbiturates, antibiotics (tetracycline, ampicillin, rifampicin), griseofulvin, laxatives, active complexes of some medicinal plants, including St. John’s wort can cause a change the character of the menstrual reaction or reduce the effectiveness of the contraceptive.
Camrese and pregnancy
This drug is intended to prevent pregnancy. If a woman wants to stop using the drug in order to become pregnant, it is recommended to wait for the recovery of the natural period to conceive. This will help correctly calculate the date of conception and delivery. Camrese is contraindicated during pregnancy. In the case of pregnancy, the tablets should be discontinued. Extensive studies have not revealed an increased risk of congenital malformations in children born to women who took ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel pills before pregnancy or early in pregnancy without knowing about it.
The use of Camrese during the period of breastfeeding is contraindicated. The composition of the drug can affect lactation, reduce the amount and change the composition of breast milk. Small amounts of contraceptive steroids and / or their metabolites can be excreted in breast milk, but evidence of their negative impact on children’s health is not revealed.
What if I miss a pill?
If you miss a dose of Camrese, the contraceptive effect may be reduced.
- If you miss an active pill, take it as soon as possible, even if it means taking 2 pills per day. Take the next pills at your usual time.
- If you miss two active pills in a row, take them on the day you remember about your mistake. Take two pills the next day. Then take one pill per day until. Use additional birth control methods for 7 days, beginning the day you missed the tablets.
- If you miss three or more active pills in a row, throw them away. Take the pill that coincides with the current day of the week. Continue to take one pill daily until the pack is empty. Use additional contraceptive methods for 7 days beginning the day you remember about missing the pills. If you do not have menstrual bleeding during the week of inert pills, visit a doctor to determine if you are pregnant.
- If you miss “reminders” (85-91 pills), throw them away and continue taking 1 pill daily until the pack is empty.
Precautions
Cigarette smoking increases the risk of cardiovascular complications.
The drug is contraindicated before the establishment of ovulatory periods and after the onset of menopause.
Before starting the use of birth control pills, you need to undergo a general medical and gynecological examination to exclude the presence of contraindications for Camrese and pregnancy.
Women who have had a family history of thromboembolic disease at a young age or bleeding disorders should not use this contraceptive.
Particular caution is required for benign uterine tumors, endometriosis, mastopathy, diabetes, heart disease of non-ischemic etiology, hypertension, renal dysfunction, varicose veins, phlebitis, otosclerosis, asthma, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, small chorea, intermittent porphyria, latent tetany.
As long as you take birth control pills, medical supervision is required at least every 6 months.
The use of oral contraception is allowed no earlier than 6 months after the transferred viral hepatitis, provided that the hepatic functions are normalized.
If you have no menstrual bleeding after withdrawal of the preparation, visit your doctor to exclude pregnancy.
In case of vomiting or diarrhea, continue taking the tablets but use an additional, barrier method of contraception.
Women taking oral contraceptives may increase the chance of developing thromboembolism of different locations. This risk increases with age, mainly among women who smoke. Therefore, women over 35 who take Camrese are advised not to smoke.
If you plan a pregnancy, it is recommended to stop taking the drug 3 months before the planned time of conception.
Discontinue taking the pills in the following cases:
- first-time / increased or intensified migraine-like headaches;
- acute worsening of visual acuity;
- suspicion of thrombosis or infarction;
- a sharp increase in blood pressure;
- the development of jaundice or hepatitis without jaundice;
- intense itching throughout the body;
- the occurrence of epileptic seizures;
- 6 weeks before the planned operation;
- prolonged immobilization (for example, after injuries);
- pregnancy.