Patient information: uses, side effects, how to take - Camila

RISKS OF TAKING POPS

WARNING: If you have sudden or severe pain in your lower abdomen or stomach area, you may have an ectopic pregnancy or an ovarian cyst. If this happens, you should contact your doctor or clinic immediately.

1. Ectopic Pregnancy

An ectopic pregnancy is a pregnancy outside the womb. Because POPs protect against pregnancy, the chance of having pregnancy outside the womb is very low. If you do get pregnant while taking POPs, you have a slightly higher chance that the pregnancy will be ectopic than do users of some other birth control methods.

2. Ovarian Cysts

These cysts are small sacs of fluid in the ovary. They are more common among POP users than among users of most other birth control methods. They usually disappear without treatment and rarely cause problems.

3. Cancer of the Reproductive Organs and Breasts

Some studies in women who use combined oral contraceptives that contain both estrogen and a progestin have reported an increase in the risk of developing breast cancer, particularly at a younger age and apparently related to duration of use. There is insufficient data to determine whether the use of POPs similarly increases this risk.

Some studies have found an increase in the incidence of cancer of the cervix in women who use oral contraceptives. However, this finding may be related to factors other than the use of oral contraceptives and there is insufficient data to determine whether the use of POPs increases the risk of developing cancer of the cervix.

4. Liver Tumors

In rare cases, combined oral contraceptives can cause benign but dangerous liver tumors. These benign liver tumors can rupture and cause fatal internal bleeding. In addition, a possible but not definite association has been found with combined oral contraceptives and liver cancers in studies in which a few women who developed these very rare cancers were found to have used combined oral contraceptives for long periods of time. There is insufficient data to determine whether POPs increase the risk of liver tumors.

SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES (STDS)

WARNING: POPs do not protect against getting or giving someone HIV (AIDS) or any other STD, such as Chlamydia, gonorrhea, genital warts or herpes.

SIDE EFFECTS

1. Irregular Bleeding

The most common side effect of POPs is a change in menstrual bleeding. Your periods may be either early or late, and you may have some spotting between periods. Taking pills late or missing pills can also result in some spotting or bleeding.

2. Other Side Effects

Less common side effects include headaches, tender breasts, nausea and dizziness. Weight gain, acne and extra hair on your face and body have been reported, but are rare.

If you are concerned about any of these side effects, check with your doctor or clinic.

USING POPS WITH OTHER MEDICINES

Before taking a POP, inform your health care provider of any other medication, including over-the-counter medicine, that you may be taking.

If you are taking medicines for seizures (epilepsy) or tuberculosis (TB), tell your doctor or clinic. These medicines can make POPs less effective:

Medicines for seizures:

Phenytoin (Dilantin)
Carbamazepine (Tegretol)
Phenobarbital

Medicine for TB:

Rifampin (Rifampicin)

Before you begin taking any new medicines be sure your doctor or clinic knows you are taking birth control pills that contain a progestin.

HOW TO TAKE POPS

IMPORTANT POINTS TO REMEMBER

POPs must be taken at the same time every day, so choose a time and then take the pill at the same time every day. Every time you take a pill late, and especially if you miss a pill, you are more likely to get pregnant.
Start the next pack the day after the last pack is finished. There is no break between packs. Always have your next pack of pills ready.
You may have some menstrual spotting between periods. Do not stop taking your pills if this happens.
If you vomit soon after taking a pill, use a backup method (such as condom and/or spermicide) for 48 hours.
If you want to stop taking POPs, you can do so at any time, but, if you remain sexually active and don't wish to become pregnant, be certain to use another birth control method.
If you are not sure about how to take POPs, ask your doctor or clinic.

STARTING POPS

It's best to take your first POP on the first day of your menstrual period.
If you decide to take your first POP on another day, use a backup method (such as condom and/or spermicide) every time you have sex during the next 48 hours.
If you have had a miscarriage or an abortion, you can start POPs the next day.

IF YOU ARE LATE OR MISS TAKING YOUR POPS

If you are more than 3 hours late or you miss one or more POPs:

1. TAKE a missed pill as soon as you remember that you missed it,
2. THEN go back to taking POPs at your regular time,
3. BUT be sure to use a backup method (such as condom and/or spermicide) every time you have sex for the next 48 hours.

If you are not sure what to do about the pills you have missed, keep taking POPs and use a backup method until you can talk to your doctor or clinic.

IF YOU ARE BREASTFEEDING

If you are fully breastfeeding (not giving your baby any food or formula), you may start your pills 6 weeks after delivery.
If you are partially breastfeeding (giving your baby some food or formula), you should start taking pills by 3 weeks after delivery.

IF YOU ARE SWITCHING PILLS

If you are switching from the combined pills to POPs, take the first POP the day after you finish the last active combined pill. Do not take any of the 7 inactive pills from the combined pill pack. You should know that many women have irregular periods after switching to POPs, but this is normal and to be expected.
If you are switching from POPs to the combined pills, take the first active combined pill on the first day of your period, even if your POPs pack is not finished.
If you switch to another brand of POPs, start the new brand anytime.
If you are breastfeeding, you can switch to another method of birth control at any time, except do not switch to the combined pills until you stop breastfeeding or at least until 6 months after delivery.

PREGNANCY WHILE ON THE PILL

If you become pregnant, or think you might be, stop taking POPs and contact your physician. Even though research has shown that POPs do not cause harm to the unborn baby, it is always best not to take any drugs or medicines that you don't need when you are pregnant.

You should get a pregnancy test:

If your period is late and you took one or more pills late or missed taking them and had sex without a backup method.
Anytime you miss 2 periods in a row.

WILL POPS AFFECT YOUR ABILITY TO GET PREGNANT LATER?

If you want to become pregnant, simply stop taking POPs. POPs will not delay your ability to get pregnant.

BREASTFEEDING

If you are breastfeeding, POPs will not affect the quality or amount of your breast milk or the health of your nursing baby. However, isolated cases of decreased milk production have been reported. If you suspect that you are not producing enough milk for your baby, contact your doctor or clinic.

OVERDOSE

No serious problems have been reported when many pills were taken by accident, even by a small child, so there is usually no reason to treat an overdose.

HOW TO STORE YOUR POPS

Store your POPs at room temperature 20 to 25°C (68 to 77°F).

INSTRUCTIONS TO PATIENTS

How to Use the Camila Tablets Blister Card

1. The first time you use these pills, take your first pill on the first day of your menstrual period. Pick the Days of the Week Sticker that starts the first day of your period. When you have picked the right sticker, throw away the others and place the sticker on the blister card over the pre-printed days of the week and make sure it lines up with the pills.
2. Your blister package consists of three parts, the foil pouch, wallet, and a blister card containing 28 individually sealed pills. Note that the pills are arranged in four numbered rows of 7 pills, with the preprinted days of the week printed above them. All 28 pills are "active" birth control pills. Refer to the sample of the blister card below:

3. To remove a pill, push down on the pill with your thumb and forefinger so that the pill releases through the back of the blister card. Each day, take one pill. Always go from left to right along the row. Each new row will begin on the same day of the week.
4. Take one pill every day for 28 days, whether bleeding or not, until you have taken all the pills. It is important that you take your pill at the same time every day.
5. After you have taken all 28 pills, begin taking your pills again the next day. Be sure that the calendar day on your new package corresponds with the actual day.

All brand names listed are the registered trademarks of their respective owners and are not trademarks of Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories Inc.

Distributed by:

Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories Inc.

Princeton, NJ 08540

Manufactured by:

Piramal Healthcare UK Limited

Whalton Road

Morpeth, NE61 3 YA

Rev. 11/2023

20769462

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