Alyacen: Uses, Side Effects and Dosage

HOW TO TAKE THE PILL

BEFORE YOU START TAKING YOUR PILLS:

1. 1.

   BE SURE TO READ THESE DIRECTIONS:

   Before you start taking your pills.

   Anytime you are not sure what to do.

2. 2.

   THE RIGHT WAY TO TAKE THE PILL 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.

3. 3. MANY WOMEN HAVE SPOTTING OR LIGHT BLEEDING, OR MAY FEEL SICK TO THEIR STOMACH DURING THE FIRST 1 TO 3 PACKS OF 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.
4. 4.

   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.

5. 5. IF YOU HAVE VOMITING OR DIARRHEA, or IF YOU TAKE SOME MEDICINES, your pills may not work as well. Use a back-up method (such as a condom or spermicide) until you check with your healthcare professional.
6. 6. IF YOU HAVE TROUBLE REMEMBERING TO TAKE THE PILL, talk to your healthcare professional about how to make pill taking easier or about using another method of birth control.
7. 7. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR ARE UNSURE ABOUT THE INFORMATION IN THIS LEAFLET, call your healthcare professional.

1. 1.

   DECIDE WHAT TIME OF DAY YOU WANT TO TAKE YOUR PILL.

   It is important to take it at about the same time every day.

2. 2.

   LOOK AT YOUR PILL PACK.

   The pill pack has 21 "active" pills (with hormones) to take for 3 weeks. This is followed by 1 week of light green "reminder" pills (without hormones).

ALYACEN 7/7/7: There are 7 white to off-white “active” pills, 7 light peach “active” pills, 7 peach “active” pills and 7 light green “reminder” pills.

ALYACEN 1/35: There are 21 peach "active" pills and 7 light green "reminder" pills.

1. 1.

   ALSO FIND:

   1. 1. where on the pack to start taking pills,
   2. 2. in what order to take the pills.
   3. 3. see pill package diagram above.
2. 2.

   BE SURE YOU HAVE READY AT ALL TIMES:

   ANOTHER KIND OF BIRTH CONTROL (such as a condom or spermicide) to use as a back-up method in case you miss pills.

   AN EXTRA, FULL PILL PACK.

You have a choice of which day to start taking your first pack of pills. ALYACEN 7/7/7 and ALYACEN 1/35 tablets are available in a blister pack which is preset for a Sunday Start. Day 1 Start is also available. Decide with your healthcare professional which is the best day for you. Pick a time of day that will be easy to remember.

SUNDAY START:

ALYACEN 7/7/7: Take the first white to off-white "active" pill of the first pack on the Sunday after your period starts, even if you are still bleeding. If your period begins on Sunday, start the pack the same day.

ALYACEN 1/35: Take the first "active" peach pill of the first pack on the Sunday after your period starts, even if you are still bleeding. If your period begins on Sunday, start the pack the same day.

Use another method of birth control such as a condom or spermicide as a back-up method if you have sex anytime from the Sunday you start your first pack until the next Sunday (7 days).

DAY 1 START:

ALYACEN 7/7/7: Take the first white to off-white "active" pill of the first pack during the first 24 hours of your period.

1. 1. Pick the day label strip that starts with the first day of your period (this is the day you start bleeding or spotting, even if it is almost midnight when the bleeding begins).
2. 2. Place this day label strip on the tablet blister card over the area that has the days of the week (starting with Sunday) imprinted in the plastic.

Note: If the first day of your period is a Sunday, you can skip steps #1 and #2.

ALYACEN 1/35: Take the first "active" peach pill of the first pack during the first 24 hours of your period.

1. 1. Pick the day label strip that starts with the first day of your period (this is the day you start bleeding or spotting, even if it is almost midnight when the bleeding begins).
2. 2. Place this day label strip on the tablet blister card over the area that has the days of the week (starting with Sunday) imprinted in the plastic.

Note: If the first day of your period is a Sunday, you can skip steps #1 and #2.

You will not need to use a back-up method of birth control, since you are starting the pill at the beginning of your period.

1. 1.

   TAKE ONE PILL AT THE SAME TIME EVERY DAY UNTIL THE PACK IS EMPTY.

   Do not skip pills even if you are spotting or bleeding between monthly periods or feel sick to your stomach (nausea). Do not skip pills even if you do not have sex very often.

2. 2.

   WHEN YOU FINISH A PACK OR SWITCH YOUR BRAND OF PILLS:

   Start the next pack on the day after your last light green "reminder" pill. Do not wait any days between packs.

ALYACEN 7/7/7:

If you MISS 1 white to off-white, light peach, or peach "active" pill:

1. 1. Take it as soon as you remember. Take the next pill at your regular time. This means you may take 2 pills in 1 day.
2. 2. You do not need to use a back-up birth control method if you have sex.

If you MISS 2 white to off-white or light peach "active" pills in a row in WEEK 1 OR WEEK 2 of your pack:

1. 1. Take 2 pills on the day you remember and 2 pills the next day.
2. 2. Then take 1 pill a day until you finish the pack.
3. 3. You COULD BECOME PREGNANT if you have sex in the 7 days after you miss pills. You MUST use another birth control method (such as a condom or spermicide) as a back-up method for those 7 days.

If you MISS 2 peach "active" pills in a row in THE 3RD WEEK:

1a. If you are a Sunday Starter:

Keep taking 1 pill every day until Sunday. On Sunday, THROW OUT the rest of the pack and start a new pack of pills that same day.

1b. If you are a Day 1 Starter:

THROW OUT the rest of the pill pack and start a new pack that same day.

• 1. 2. You may not have your period this month but this is expected. However, if you miss your period 2 months in a row, call your healthcare professional because you might be pregnant.
• 1. 3. You COULD BECOME PREGNANT if you have sex in the 7 days after you miss pills. You MUST use another birth control method (such as a condom or spermicide) as a back-up method for those 7 days.

If you MISS 3 OR MORE white to off-white, light peach, or peach "active" pills in a row (during the first 3 weeks):

1a. If you are a Sunday Starter:

Keep taking 1 pill every day until Sunday. On Sunday, THROW OUT the rest of the pack and start a new pack of pills that same day.

1b. If you are a Day 1 Starter:

THROW OUT the rest of the pill pack and start a new pack that same day.

• 1. 2. You may not have your period this month but this is expected. However, if you miss your period 2 months in a row, call your healthcare professional because you might be pregnant.
• 1. 3. You COULD BECOME PREGNANT if you have sex in the 7 days after you miss pills. You MUST use another birth control method (such as a condom or spermicide) as a back-up method for those 7 days.

ALYACEN 1/35:

If you MISS 1 peach "active" pill:

1. 1. Take it as soon as you remember. Take the next pill at your regular time. This means you may take 2 pills in 1 day.
2. 2. You do not need to use a back-up birth control method if you have sex.

If you MISS 2 peach "active" pills in a row in WEEK 1 OR WEEK 2 of your pack:

1. 1. Take 2 pills on the day you remember and 2 pills the next day.
2. 2. Then take 1 pill a day until you finish the pack.
3. 3. You COULD BECOME PREGNANT if you have sex in the 7 days after you miss pills. You MUST use another birth control method (such as a condom or spermicide) as a back-up method for those 7 days.

If you MISS 2 peach "active" pills in a row in THE 3RD WEEK:

1a. If you are a Sunday Starter:

Keep taking 1 pill every day until Sunday. On Sunday, THROW OUT the rest of the pack and start a new pack of pills that same day.

1b. If you are a Day 1 Starter:

THROW OUT the rest of the pill pack and start a new pack that same day.

• 1. 2. You may not have your period this month but this is expected. However, if you miss your period 2 months in a row, call your healthcare professional because you might be pregnant.
• 1. 3. You COULD BECOME PREGNANT if you have sex in the 7 days after you miss pills. You MUST use another birth control method (such as a condom or spermicide) as a back-up method for those 7 days.

If you MISS 3 OR MORE peach "active" pills in a row (during the first 3 weeks):

1a. If you are a Sunday Starter:

Keep taking 1 pill every day until Sunday. On Sunday, THROW OUT the rest of the pack and start a new pack of pills that same day.

1b. If you are a Day 1 Starter:

THROW OUT the rest of the pill pack and start a new pack that same day.

• 1. 2. You may not have your period this month but this is expected. However, if you miss your period 2 months in a row, call your healthcare professional because you might be pregnant.
• 1. 3. You COULD BECOME PREGNANT if you have sex in the 7 days after you miss pills. You MUST use another birth control method (such as a condom or spermicide) as a back-up method for those 7 days.