Valette

Generic Name: Dienogest; Ethinyloestradiol
Product Name: Valette

Indication

Valette is an oral contraceptive which is prescribed to help prevent pregnancies. It is also more commonly known as “The pill” or “Birth control pill”. However, your doctor may have prescribed Valette to you for another reason such as for acne.

Action

Valette is a combined oral contraceptive pill (more commonly known as “The pill”) which helps to prevent pregnancy through various ways. It prevents maturation of the eggs and hence its release and it also changes the consistency of the cervical mucus, making it hard for the sperm to get to the egg.

Valette also has additional properties like reducing acne lesions as well as reducing the amount of oil produced by your skin and hair.

Dose advice

Take one tablet daily at the same time each day, following the arrows on the pack until all tablets have been takenIf you are starting your very first pack, take the first pill from the green region marked with the corresponding day. Continue taking the pills in the direction of the arrows until all tablets have been finished. Once the first pack has been completed, continue immediately to the next pack.You may expect your period to commence 2-3 days after your last active pill.If no hormonal contraceptives have been taken in the past monthStart tablets on the first day of your menstrual bleeding so as to ensure that you will be protected from pregnancy immediately. I.e. there is no need to use an extra barrier contraceptive. Your doctor may instruct you to take Valette differently to what is mentioned here. It is important to adhere strongly to your doctor’s advice in order to ensure maximal protection from pregnancy.

Contraindications:

Any disorders affecting your blood circulation especially those related to deep venous thrombosis (thrombosis is blood clot formation). These clots may take place in blood vessels of the legs (deep vein thrombosis), the heart (myocardial infarction) or in the brain (stroke)

Diabetes Mellitus with damage to blood vessels
Severe liver diseases
Benign or malignant liver tumours
Unexplained vaginal bleeds
Pregnancies or if you think you might be pregnant
History or current pancreatitis (when your pancreas is inflamed) with associated high triglyceride levels
Allergies to any components contained in Valette

Precautions:Before you are commenced on Valette, your doctor should have conducted various medical examinations (including a breast examination). If you have any of the following risk factors, or if they occur for the first time, please inform your doctor before initiating Valette.

Smoking
Diabetes
Overweight
High blood pressure
Heart valve or heart rhythm disorder
Inflammation of veins
Varicose veins
Migraines
Close family history of thrombosis, heart attacks and/or strokes
Presence of breast cancer in your immediate family
Liver or gallbladder disease
Crohn’s disease
Ulcerative colitis

Valette should not be taken during pregnancy and in the event of pregnancy; the medication should be discontinued at once. Pregnancy should be excluded before starting treatment. There is some concern that breastfed infants may be affected due to Valette being excreted in breast milk. Valette may also reduce the quantity and change the composition of breast milk. Hence, use of Valette while breastfeeding is not recommended. Please seek your doctor’s advice if you are breastfeeding, pregnant or intend to become pregnant.

Schedule

Schedule 4

Common side effects

All medications carry some risk of side effects occurring. More often than not, these side effects are minor and short lived, however others can be more serious and will require urgent medical attention. Your doctor would have weighed the benefits and potential risks when starting you on this medication. If you have any concerns, please consult your doctor.

Side effects which occur in more than 1% of users are categorized as common and these include: