Seasonale 0.15mg/0.03mg
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91 tabs for $102.70 ($1.13 per tab)
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84 tabs for $63.05 ($0.75 per tab)
Portia 28 from online pharmacy: Canada
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The Drug Company sells Seasonale 0.15mg/0.03mg at a great price. Buy your prescriptions online and save money. Rest assured that the pharmacies in our network are fully licensed in the country from which they operate. Some pharmacies, such as our Canadian pharmacy, offer lower pricing compared to the amount you would pay locally for Seasonale 0.15mg/0.03mg. After consulting your doctor, create your order online and send us your prescription for quick home delivery of your medications. Seasonale 0.15mg/0.03mg has been used to treat birth control. Order meds online and effectively cut your monthly bills! Call us toll free at 1-888-254-3038 to learn more about our mail order prescription service.
About Seasonale
What Seasonale is used for
Seasonale is indicated for the prevention of pregnancy.
Seasonale is a birth control pill (oral contraceptive) that contains two female sex hormones (levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol). It has been shown to be highly effective in preventing pregnancy when taken as prescribed by your doctor. Pregnancy is always more risky than taking birth control pills, except in smokers older than age 35.
Birth control pills work in two ways:
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They inhibit the monthly release of an egg by the ovaries.
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They change the mucus produced by the cervix. This slows the movement of the sperm through the mucus and through the uterus (womb).
What You Should Know About Your Menstrual Cycle When Taking Seasonale
When you take Seasonale, which has a 91-day treatment cycle, you should expect to have 4 menstrual periods per year (bleeding when you are taking the 7 white pills). However, you should expect to have more bleeding or spotting between your menstrual periods than if you were taking an oral contraceptive with a 28-day treatment cycle. During the first Seasonale treatment cycle, about 1 in 3 women may have 20 or more days of unplanned bleeding or spotting (bleeding when you are taking pink pills). This bleeding or spotting tends to decrease during later cycles. Do not stop Seasonale because of the bleeding. If the spotting continues for more than 7 consecutive days or if the bleeding is heavy, call your healthcare professional.
Effectiveness of Birth Control Pills
Combination birth control pills are more than 99 percent effective in preventing pregnancy when:
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the pill is TAKEN AS DIRECTED, and
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the amount of estrogen is 20 micrograms or more.
A 99 percent effectiveness rate means that if 100 women used birth control pills for one year, one woman in the group would get pregnant.
The chance of becoming pregnant increases with incorrect use.
Other Ways to Prevent Pregnancy
Other methods of birth control are available to you. They are usually less effective than birth control pills. When used properly, however, other methods of birth control are effective enough for many women.
The following table gives reported pregnancy rates for various forms of birth control, including no birth control. The reported rates represent the number of women out of 100 who would become pregnant in one year.
| Reported Pregnancies per 100 Women per Year: | |
| Combination pill | less than 1 to 2 |
| Intrauterine device (IUD) | less than 1 to 6 |
| Condom with spermicidal foam or gel | 1 to 6 |
| Mini-pill | 3 to 6 |
| Condom | 2 to 12 |
| Diaphragm with spermicidal foam or gel | 3 to 18 |
| Spermicide | 3 to 21 |
| Sponge with spermicide | 3 to 28 |
| Cervical cap with spermicide | 5 to 18 |
| Periodic abstinence (rhythm), all types | 2 to 20 |
| No birth control | 60 to 85 |
Pregnancy rates vary widely because people differ in how carefully and regularly they use each method. (This does not apply to IUDs since they are implanted in the uterus). Regular users may achieve pregnancy rates in the lower ranges. Others may expect pregnancy rates more in the middle ranges.
The effective use of birth control methods other than birth control pills and IUDs requires more effort than taking a single pill every day. It is an effort that many couples undertake successfully.
When Seasonale should not be used
The birth control pill is not suitable for every woman. In a small number of women, serious side effects may occur. Your doctor can advise you if you have any conditions that would pose a risk to you. The use of the birth control pill should always be supervised by your doctor.
You should not use Seasonale if you have or have had any of the following conditions:
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blood clots in the legs, lungs, eyes, or elsewhere, or thrombophlebitis (inflammation of the veins)
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stroke, heart attack, or coronary artery disease (e.g. angina pectoris), or a condition that may be a first sign of a stroke (such as a transient ischemic attack or small reversible stroke)
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disease of the heart valves with complications
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severe high blood pressure
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diabetes with complications
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known abnormalities of the blood clotting system that increases your risk for developing blood clots
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very high blood cholesterol or triglyceride levels
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heavy smoking (>15 cigarettes per day) and over age 35
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migraine headache
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you are scheduled for major surgery
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prolonged bed rest
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jaundice (yellowing of the eyes or skin), liver disease or liver tumour
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known or suspected cancer of the breast or uterus (womb) or other estrogen-dependent cancer
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unusual vaginal bleeding without a known reason
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loss of vision due to blood vessel disease of the eye
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you are pregnant or suspect you may be pregnant
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pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) associated with high levels of fatty substances in your blood
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allergy (hypersensitivity) to ethinyl estradiol, levonorgestrel or to any of the other ingredients in Seasonale (see What the medicinal ingredient are: and What the important nonmedicinal ingredients are:)
What the medicinal ingredient are
Levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol.
What the important nonmedicinal ingredients for Seasonale are
Each active pink tablet contains the following non medicinal ingredients: anhydrous lactose, FD&C Blue No. 1, FD&C Red No. 40, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, polyethylene glycol, polysorbate 80 and titanium dioxide.
Each inert white tablet contains the following non medicinal ingredients: anhydrous lactose, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, magnesium stearate and microcrystalline cellulose.
What dosage forms Seasonale comes in
Tablets. Seasonale is used with a 91-day schedule (84 days of pink tablets followed by 7 days of white tablets).
Warnings and Precautions
Serious Warnings and Precautions
Cigarette smoking increases the risk of serious adverse effects on the heart and blood vessels. This risk increases with age and becomes significant in hormonal contraceptive users older than 35 years of age. Women should not smoke.
Birth control pills DO NOT PROTECT against sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), including HIV/AIDS.
For protection against STDs, it is advisable to use latex condoms IN COMBINATION WITH birth control pills.
Use of Seasonale provides women with more hormonal exposure on a yearly basis than conventional monthly oral contraceptives containing similar strength synthetic estrogens and progestins (9 additional weeks of hormonal exposure per year). While this added exposure may pose an additional risk of thrombotic and thromboembolic diseases, studies to date with Seasonale have not suggested, nor can exclude, this additional risk.
Seasonale Oral Contraceptive
Seasonale is a 91-day cyclic dosing regimen (84 days with active oral tablets of 0.15 mg levonorgestrel and 0.03 mg ethinyl estradiol, followed by 7 days with placebo tablets). Pregnancy should be ruled out in cases of unanticipated bleeding/spotting, missed withdrawal bleeding/amenorrhea or signs and symptoms of pregnancy.
Before you use Seasonale talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you
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smoke
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have a history of breast disease (e.g. breast lumps) or a family history of breast cancer
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have high blood pressure
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have high cholesterol
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have diabetes
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have heart or kidney disease
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have a history of seizures/epilepsy
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have a history of depression
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have a history of liver disease or jaundice
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wear contact lenses
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have uterine fibroids (benign tumours of the uterus)
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may be pregnant or are breast feeding
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have systemic lupus erythematosus
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have inflammatory bowel disease such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis
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have hemolytic uremic syndrome
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have sickle cell disease
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have any problems with the valves in your heart and/or have an irregular heart rhythm
You should also inform your doctor about a family history of blood clots, heart attacks, or strokes.
If you see a different doctor, inform him or her that you are using Seasonale.
Tell your doctor if you are scheduled for any laboratory tests since certain blood tests may be affected by hormonal contraceptives.
Also tell your doctor if you are scheduled for MAJOR surgery. You should consult your doctor about stopping the use of Seasonale four weeks before surgery and not using Seasonale for a time period after surgery or during bed.
Seasonale should be used only under the supervision of a doctor, with regular follow-up to identify side effects associated with its use. Your visits may include a blood pressure check, a breast exam, an abdominal exam and a pelvic exam, including a Pap smear. Visit your doctor three months or sooner after the initial examination. Afterward, visit your doctor at least once a year. Use Seasonale only on the advice of your doctor and carefully follow all directions given to you. You must use the birth control pill exactly as prescribed. Otherwise, you may become pregnant.
If you and your doctor decide that, for you, the benefits of Seasonale outweigh the risks, you should be aware of the following:
The Risks of Using Seasonale:
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Circulatory disorders (including blood clot in legs, lungs, heart, eyes or brain)
Blood clots are the most common serious side effects of birth control pills. The risk of developing blood clots is especially high during the first year a woman ever uses a hormonal contraceptive. Clots can occur in many parts of the body.
Be alert for the following symptoms and signs of serious adverse effects. Call your doctor immediately if they occur:
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sharp pain in the chest, coughing blood, or sudden shortness of breath. These symptoms could indicate a possible blood clot in the lung.
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pain and/or swelling in the calf. These symptoms could indicate a possible blood clot in the leg.
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crushing chest pain or heaviness. These symptoms could indicate a possible heart attack.
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sudden severe or worsening headache or vomiting, dizziness or fainting, disturbances of vision or speech, or weakness or numbness in an arm or leg. These symptoms could indicate a possible stroke.
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sudden partial or complete loss of vision. This symptom could indicate a blood clot in the eye.
Any of these conditions can cause death or disability. Clots also occur rarely in the blood vessels of the eye, resulting in blindness or impaired vision or in a blood vessel leading to an arm or leg, resulting in damage to or loss of a limb.
Women who use hormonal contraceptives have a higher incidence of blood clots. The risk of clotting seems to increase with higher estrogen doses. It is important, therefore, to use as low a dosage of estrogen as possible.
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Breast cancer
The most significant risk factors for breast cancer are increasing age and a strong history of breast cancer in the family (mother or sister). Other established risk factors include obesity, never having children, and having your first full-term pregnancy at a late age.
Some women who use hormonal contraceptives may be at increased risk of developing breast cancer before menopause, which occurs around age 50. These women may be long-term users of birth control pills (more than eight years) or women who start using birth control pills at an early age. In a few women, the use of birth control pills may accelerate the growth of an existing, but undiagnosed, breast cancer. Early diagnosis, however, can reduce the effect of breast cancer on a woman’s life expectancy. The potential risks related to birth control pills seem to be small, however. A yearly breast examination by a health care professional is recommended for all women.
ASK YOUR DOCTOR FOR ADVICE AND INSTRUCTIONS ON REGULAR SELF-EXAMINATION OF YOUR BREASTS.
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Cervical cancer
Some studies have found an increase of cancer of the cervix in women who use hormonal contraceptives, although this finding may be related to factors other than the use of oral contraceptives. However, there is insufficient evidence to rule out the possibility that oral contraceptives may cause such cancers.
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Liver tumours
The short and long-term use of birth control pills have also been linked with the growth of liver tumours. Such tumours are extremely rare.
Contact your doctor immediately if you experience severe pain or a lump in the abdomen.
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Gallbladder disease
Users of birth control pills have a greater risk of developing gallbladder disease requiring surgery within the first year of use. The risk may double after four or five years of use.
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Use in pregnancy
Birth control pills should not be taken by pregnant women. There is no evidence, however, that the birth control pill can damage a developing child. You should check with your doctor about risks to your unborn child from any medication taken during pregnancy.
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Use after pregnancy, miscarriage or an abortion
Your doctor will advise you of the appropriate time to start the use of Seasonale after childbirth, miscarriage, or therapeutic abortion.
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Pregnancy after stopping Seasonale
You will have a menstrual period when you stop using Seasonale.You should delay pregnancy until another menstrual period occurs within four to six weeks. In this way, the pregnancy can be more accurately dated. Contact your doctor for recommendations on alternate methods of contraception during this time.
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Use while breast feeding
If you are breast-feeding, consult your doctor before starting the birth control pill. The hormones in birth control pills are known to appear in breast milk. These hormones may decrease the flow of breast milk. Adverse effects on the child have been reported, including yellowing of the skin (jaundice) and breast enlargement. You should use another method of contraception and only consider starting the birth control pill once you have weaned your child completely.
Interactions with Seasonale
Certain drugs may interact with birth-control pills to make them less effective in preventing pregnancy or cause an increase in breakthrough bleeding. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken any other drugs or herbal products, even those without a prescription. Also tell any other doctor or dentist who prescribes another drug (or the dispensing pharmacist) that you use Seasonale. They can tell you if you need to use an additional method of contraception and if so, for how long.
Drugs that may interact with Seasonale include
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drugs used for the treatment of epilepsy (e.g. primidone, phenytoin, barbiturates, carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, topiramate, felbamate); tuberculosis (e.g. rifampin, rifabutin) and HIV infections (e.g. ritonavir)
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antibiotics (e.g. penicillins, tetracyclines) for infectious diseases; you may be at higher risk of a specific type of liver dysfunction if you take troleandomycin and oral contraceptives at the same time.
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cyclosporine
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antifungals (griseofulvin)
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the herbal remedy St. John’s Wort (primarily used for the treatment of depressive moods)
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cholesterol-lowering drugs (e.g. clofibrate)
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antihypertensive drugs (for high blood pressure)
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antidiabetic drugs and insulin (for diabetes)
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prednisone
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sedatives and hypnotics (e.g. benzodiazepines, barbiturates, chloral hydrate, glutethimide, meprobamate)
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pain medication (meperidine)
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antidepressants (e.g. clomipramine)
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some nutritional supplements (e.g. Vit. B12, folic acid)
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antacids (use 2 hours before of after taking Seasonale)
The pill may also interfere with the working of other drugs.
This is not a complete list of possible drug interactions with Seasonale. Talk to your doctor for more information about drug interactions.
Proper Use of Seasonale
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BE SURE TO READ THESE DIRECTIONS:
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Before you start taking your pills.
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Anytime you are not sure what to do.
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THE RIGHT WAY TO TAKE SEASONALE IS TO TAKE ONE PILL EVERY DAY AT THE SAME TIME.
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.
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MANY WOMEN MAY FEEL SICK TO THEIR STOMACH DURING THE FIRST FEW WEEKS OF TAKING PILLS.
If you feel sick to your stomach, do not stop taking the pill. The problem will usually go away. If it doesn't go away, check with your healthcare professional.
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MANY WOMEN HAVE SPOTTING OR LIGHT BLEEDING DURING THE FIRST FEW MONTHS OF TAKING SEASONALE. Do not stop taking your pills even if you are having irregular bleeding. If the bleeding lasts for more than a few days, talk to your healthcare professional.
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MISSING PILLS CAN ALSO CAUSE SPOTTING OR LIGHT BLEEDING, even when you make up these missed pills. On the days you take 2 pills to make up for missed pills, you could also feel a little sick to your stomach.
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IF YOU HAVE VOMITING OR DIARRHEA, or IF YOU TAKE SOME MEDICINES, including some antibiotics and the herbal supplement St. John’s Wort, Seasonale may not work as well. Use a back-up method (such as condoms or spermicides) until you check with your healthcare professional.
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IF YOU HAVE TROUBLE REMEMBERING TO TAKE SEASONALE, talk to your healthcare provider about how to make pill-taking easier or about using another method of birth control.
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IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR ARE UNSURE ABOUT THE INFORMATION IN THIS LEAFLET, call your healthcare professional.
Before you start taking Seasonale
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DECIDE WHAT TIME OF DAY YOU WANT TO TAKE YOUR PILL. It is important to take it at about the same time every day.
LOOK AT YOUR EXTENDED-CYCLE TABLET DISPENSER. Your Tablet Dispenser consists of 3 trays with cards that hold 91 individually sealed pills (a 13-week or 91-day cycle). The 91 pills consist of 84 pink pills (active pills with hormones) and 7 white pills (inactive pills without hormone). Trays 1 and 2 each contain 28 pink pills (4 rows of 7 pills). Tray 3 contains 35 pills consisting of 28 pink pills (4 rows of 7 pills) and 7 white pills (1 row of 7 pills).
ALSO FIND:
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Where on the first tray in the pack to start taking pills (upper left corner at the start arrow) and
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In what order to take the pills (follow the weeks and arrow).
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BE SURE YOU HAVE READY AT ALL TIMES ANOTHER KIND OF BIRTH CONTROL (such as condoms or spermicides), to use as a back-up in case you miss pills.
When to start Seasonale
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Take the first “active” pink pill on the Sunday after your period starts, even if you are still bleeding. If your period begins on Sunday, start the first pink pill that same day.
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Use another method of birth control (such as condom or spermicide) as a back-up method if you have sex anytime from the Sunday you start your first pink pill until the next Sunday (first 7 days).
How to take Seasonale
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Take one pill at the same time every day until you have taken the last pill in the tablet dispenser. Do not skip pills even if you are spotting or bleeding or feel sick to your stomach (nausea). Do not skip pills even if you do not have sex very often.
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WHEN YOU FINISH A TABLET DISPENSER.
After taking the last white pill, start taking the first pink pill from a new Extended-Cycle Tablet Dispenser the very next day regardless of when your period started. This should be on a Sunday.
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If you miss your period when you are taking the white pills, call your healthcare provider because you may be pregnant.