Loette

Generic Name: Levonorgestrel and ethinyloestradiol
Product Name: Loette

Indication: What Loette is used for

Loette is an oral contraceptive, used to prevent an unintended pregnancy. Your doctor may also give you Loette for another reason; it can help clear up moderate acne and help with periods which are very heavy, painful or irregular.

If you have any questions as to why you were prescribed Loette, please consult your doctor.

Action:  How Loette works

Loette works by:

• Stopping eggs being released from the ovaries
• Thickening mucous secreted from the cervix, thus helping to stop sperm penetrating into the uterus and moving towards any released eggs
• Changing the lining of the uterus

All of these actions work together to prevent unintentional pregnancy.

Oral contraceptives like Loette do not offer any protection against sexually transmitted diseases or infections.

Dose advice: How to use Loette

One tablet, at the same time every day for 28 days.

If you have been given a 21-tablet pack, take one tablet at the same time every day until finished, then leave one week tablet-free before starting a new pack.

Starting Loette

Loette should be started on the first day of your period with an active tablet (pink) from the green area. Take the tablet which matches the day of the week your period has started on. (eg. on Monday take the pink tablet MON), then follow the arrows marked on the packet.

If this is done, then immediate protection is achieved and no other forms of contraception are required.

It is also alright to start LOETTE on the 2nd to 5th day of your period. However, an additional form of contraception (eg. condom, diaphragm) is recommended until seven active tablets (pink) have been taken in a row.

Please ask your doctor if you have any questions on how to use Loette correctly.

Missed tablets

If the tablet missed is one of the inactive tablets (white), no action needs to be taken and there is no change in the protection against pregnancy.

If you are taking the 21-tablet Loette and have left a gap of more than seven days between finishing the old pack and starting the new one, additional contraception is required until the active tablets (pink) have been taken for seven consecutive days.

If you have missed more than one tablet please ask your doctor for advice.

If you forget to take your tablet but remember within 12 hours, there is no effect on contraceptive protection if you take the missed tablet immediately and keep taking the tablets as usual.

If you remember more than 12 hours after the time you usually take Loette, then what to do differs depending on which week you are in. The most important rule is that seven days of active tablets are needed to protect against pregnancy. Take the missed tablet as soon as you remember, even if this means that you take two tablets at once. Then if you are in:

• Week One (week directly after your white tablets or week free):
  • Continue taking the tablets as normal. For the next seven days use an additional form of contraception. If you had sexual intercourse in the seven days before the tablet you missed, there is a chance you may become pregnant. Please see your doctor immediately.

• Any other week of active tablets:
  • Continue taking the tablets as per normal until you finish all the active tablets, then:
    • If you are taking the 28-tablet pack, discard all white tablets and start immediately on the pink tablets of your new pack.
    • If you have the 21-day pack, do not leave a tablet-free week in between packs. Start your new packet immediately.
  • This means you will miss your period for the month. No other form of contraception is required if you have been taking your tablets correctly for the seven days prior to the missed tablet.

Vomiting or diarrhoea

If you experience vomiting or diarrhoea within 3-4 hours after taking an active tablet,  you may not receive the correct dose. The advice then is as if you missed a tablet (discussed above).

Periods

Bleeding in row four may not occur in all women. Continue taking Loette as normal. However, if you do not get your period twice in a row, pregnancy should be ruled out before you continue with treatment. Please tell your doctor immediately.

Schedule of Loette

Schedule 4

Side effects of Loette

Common side effects

All medicines have side effects. Most commonly the side effects are minor, however, some can be more serious. Benefits of taking Loette will often outweigh the side effects. Speak to your doctor if you experience or are concerned about any of these side effects. Common side effects are those which occur in more than 1% of patients given Loette. These include:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Diarrhoea
• Headache
• Breast enlargement
• Breast pain
• Changes in libido
• Increased blood pressure
• Acne
• Chloasma
• Fluid retention
• Mood changes
• Dizziness
• Gastroenteritis
• Pharyngitis
• Cystitis
• Sinusitis
• Vaginal candidiasis
• Intermenstrual bleeding

Within three months, tolerance may develop to some of these effects.

Uncommon side effects

Side effects which occur in less than 1% of patients given Loette are considered uncommon. Patients do not necessarily experience any of these side effects, so do not become alarmed by this list:

• Missed periods
• Rashes
• Alopecia
• Allergy
• Abdominal pain
• Blood clotting

If you experience any of the listed side effects or any other symptoms which appear abnormal or unusual, please tell your doctor.

References

1. Australian Medicines Handbook. Bonefos. [Monograph Online] AMH Pty Ltd 2007. [cited December 20, 2007] Available from: [URL Link]
2. Loette. MIMS Online [online]. 2003 [cited 2007 December 20]. Available from: [URL Link]
3. Lazo J, Gilman A, Brunton L, Parker K. Goodman & Gilman’s; The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics. 11th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill; 2005

For further information talk to your doctor.