Kariva: Uses, Side Effects and Dosage

INSTRUCTIONS TO PATIENTS

HOW TO TAKE THE PILL

IMPORTANT POINTS TO REMEMBER

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 doctor or healthcare provider.

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, for any reason, or IF YOU TAKE SOME MEDICINES, including some antibiotics, your pills may not work as well.

   Use a back-up method (such as condoms, foam, or sponge) until you check with your doctor or healthcare provider.

6. 6. IF YOU HAVE TROUBLE REMEMBERING TO TAKE THE PILL, talk to your doctor or healthcare provider 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 doctor or healthcare provider.

BEFORE YOU START TAKING YOUR PILLS

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: IT WILL HAVE 28 PILLS:

   This 28-pill pack has 26 “active” [white and light-blue] pills (with hormones) and 2 “inactive” [light-green] pills (without hormones).

3. 3.

   ALSO FIND:

   1. 1) where on the pack to start taking the pills,
   2. 2) in what order to take the pills (follow the arrows) and
   3. 3) the week numbers as shown in the picture below.

   

4. 4.

   BE SURE YOU HAVE READY AT ALL TIMES:

   ANOTHER KIND OF BIRTH CONTROL (such as condoms, foam, or sponge) to use as a back-up in case you miss pills.

   AN EXTRA, FULL PILL PACK.

WHEN TO START THE FIRST PACK OF PILLS

You have a choice of which day to start taking your first pack of pills. Decide with your doctor or healthcare provider which is the best day for you. Pick a time of day which will be easy to remember.

DAY 1 START

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 in the cycle tablet dispenser over the area that has the days of the week (starting with Sunday) imprinted on the blister card.

   

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

3. 3. Take the first “active” [white] pill of the first pack during the first 24 hours of your period.
4. 4. 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.

SUNDAY START

1. 1. Take the first “active” [white] 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 that same day.
2. 2. Use another method of birth control as a back-up method if you have sex anytime from the Sunday you start your first pack until the next Sunday (7 days). Condoms, foam, or the sponge are good back-up methods of birth control.

WHAT TO DO DURING THE MONTH

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:

   21 pills: Wait 7 days to start the next pack. You will probably have your period during that week. Be sure that no more than 7 days pass between 21-day packs.

   28 pills: Start the next pack on the day after your last pill. Do not wait any days between packs.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU MISS PILLS

If you MISS 1 "active" [white] pill:

1. 1. Take it as soon as you remember. Take the next pill at your regular time. This means you 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 "active" [white] 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 MAY BECOME PREGNANT if you have sex in the 7 days after you miss pills.

   You MUST use another birth control method (such as condoms, foam, or sponge) as a back-up method for those 7 days.

If you MISS 2 "active" [white] pills in a row in WEEK 3:

1. 1.

   If you are a Day 1 Starter:

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

   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.

2. 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 doctor or healthcare provider because you might be pregnant.
3. 3. You MAY BECOME PREGNANT if you have sex in the 7 days after you miss pills. You MUST use another birth control method (such as condoms, foam, or sponge) as a back-up method for those 7 days.

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

1. 1.

   If you are a Day 1 Starter:

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

   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.

2. 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 doctor or healthcare provider because you might be pregnant.
3. 3. You MAY BECOME PREGNANT if you have sex in the 7 days after you miss pills. You MUST use another birth control method (such as condoms, foam, or sponge) as a back-up method for those 7 days.

A REMINDER FOR THOSE ON 28-DAY PACKS

If you forget any of the 2 [light-green] or 5 [light-blue] pills in Week 4:

THROW AWAY the pills you missed.

Keep taking 1 pill each day until the pack is empty.

You do not need a back-up method.

FINALLY, IF YOU ARE STILL NOT SURE WHAT TO DO ABOUT THE PILLS YOU HAVE MISSED

Use a BACK-UP METHOD anytime you have sex.

KEEP TAKING ONE "ACTIVE" [WHITE] PILL EACH DAY until you can reach your doctor or healthcare provider.