Cerazette

Uses
Cerazette (Desogestrel) is a contraceptive. It is taken by women to prevent pregnancy. When taken correctly, it significantly reduces the chances of becoming pregnant. Because Cerazette contains only progestagen, it can be used by women who are unable to take oestrogens and by women who are breast-feeding.

Dosage and Administration
Cerazette is a tablet that is taken daily. Each pack contains 28 tablets and will be clearly labelled with arrows and days of the week to make scheduling your tablets easier. Each tablet should be swallowed whole with a glass of water. Cerazette can be taken for as long as you require. You may stop it at any time if you do wish to become pregnant. As soon as you stop taking Cerazette, you are no longer protected from pregnancy.

Side effects
Taking Cerazette can result in some unwanted side effects. Some are mild and no cause for concern, while others can be more serious and require urgent medical attention.

Tell your doctor immediately if you notice any of the following:

• signs of thrombosis (sever pain and/or swelling of the legs, unexplained chest pain, breathlessness, coughing up blood)
• sudden and sever stomach pains or abdominal pains
• jaundice
• lumps in your breast
• unusual vaginal bleeding
• signs you may be pregnant

Other possible side effects you may notice while taking Cerazette can include:

• altered mood
• decreased libido
• headaches
• nausea
• acne
• breast pain
• menstrual changes
• increases in body weight
• vaginal infection
• vomiting
• hair loss
• painful menstruation
• tiredness
• skin conditions

Precautions
Cerazette is a contraceptive - it will not prevent against Human Immunodeficiency Virus infection and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome HIV (AIDS) or any other sexually transmitted diseases.

Cerazette is contraindicated in the following situations:

• thrombosis (including deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism)
• jaundice (yellowing of the skin)
• liver disease
• certain types of cancer
• unexplained vaginal bleeding
• confirmed or suspected pregnancy
• allergy to any of the ingredients in Cerazette (desogestrel; silica; colloidal anhydrous; allrac-a-tocopherol; lactose monohydrate; maize starch; povidone; stearic acid; hypromellose; macrogol 400; talc and titanium dioxide

If you suffer from any of the following or have in the past, you may be able to take Cerazette, but should do so under medical observation:

• breast cancer
• liver cancer
• thrombosis
• epilepsy
• tuberculosis
• hypertension (high blood pressure)