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Microgestin: Uses, Side Effects and Dosage

Updated:
Facts
Status:
Prescription (Rx)
Strength:
1 mg, 0.02 mg, 75 mg, 1.0 mg, 0.02 mg
Other brand names:
Drug class:
Active ingredients:
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Source: FDA drug labeling via NLM DailyMed · About this document

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

INSTRUCTIONS TO PATIENT

Tablet Dispenser

The Microgestin tablet dispenser has been designed to make oral contraceptive dosing as easy and as convenient as possible. The tablets are arranged in three or four rows of seven tablets each, with the days of the week appearing on the tablet dispenser above the first row of tablets.

If your tablet dispenser contains 21 white tablets, you are taking MICROGESTIN 1/20. If your tablet dispenser contains 21 white tablets and 7 brown tablets, you are taking MICROGESTIN Fe 1/20.

Each white tablet contains 1 mg norethindrone acetate and 20 mcg ethinyl estradiol.

Each brown tablet contains 75 mg ferrous fumarate, and is intended to help you remember to take the tablets correctly. These brown tablets are not intended to have any health benefit.

If your tablet dispenser contains 21 green tablets, you are taking MICROGESTIN 1.5/30. If your tablet dispenser contains 21 green tablets and 7 brown tablets, you are taking MICROGESTIN Fe 1.5/30.

Each green tablet contains 1.5 mg norethindrone acetate and 30 mcg ethinyl estradiol.

Each brown tablet contains 75 mg ferrous fumarate, and is intended to help you remember to take the tablets correctly. These brown tablets are not intended to have any health benefit.

Directions

To remove a tablet, press down on it with your thumb or finger. The tablet will drop through the back of the tablet dispenser. Do not press with your thumbnail, fingernail, or any other sharp object.

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 1-3 PACKS OF PILLS. If you do have spotting or light bleeding or 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 clinic.
  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 birth control pills may not work as well. Use a back-up birth control method (such as condoms or foam) until you check with your doctor or clinic.
  6. 6. IF YOU HAVE TROUBLE REMEMBERING TO TAKE THE PILL, talk to your doctor or clinic 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 clinic.
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 TO SEE IF IT HAS 21 OR 28 PILLS:

    The 21-pill pack has 21 “active” white or green pills (with hormones) to take for 3 weeks, followed by 1 week without pills.

    The 28-pill pack has 21 “active” white or green pills (with hormones) to take for 3 weeks, followed by 1 week of reminder brown pills (without hormones).

  3. 3. ALSO FIND:
  1. 1) where on the pack to start taking pills,
  2. 2) in what order to take the pills (follow the arrows), and
  3. 3) the week numbers as shown in the following pictures:

MICROGESTIN 1/20 will contain: ALL WHITE PILLS.

MICROGESTIN 1.5/30 will contain: ALL GREEN PILLS.

MICROGESTIN Fe 1/20 will contain: 21 WHITE PILLS for

WEEKS 1, 2, and 3.

WEEK 4 will contain BROWN PILLS ONLY.

MICROGESTIN Fe 1.5/30 will contain: 21 GREEN PILLS for

WEEKS 1, 2, and 3.

WEEK 4 will contain BROWN PILLS ONLY.

* For use of day labels, see WHEN TO START THE FIRST PACK OF PILLS below.

  1. 4. BE SURE YOU HAVE READY AT ALL TIMES: ANOTHER KIND OF BIRTH CONTROL (such as condoms or foam) to use as a back-up in case you miss pills.

An EXTRA, FULL PILL PACK.

About this document

Source: FDA drug labeling via NLM DailyMed · Application number: ANDA 075647 · View the label on DailyMed

Revision date stated in the text: October 2007

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The information on this site does not replace the advice of a doctor or pharmacist.

Drug information for Microgestin

Rx or OTC
Prescription (Rx)?
  • This drug is available only with a prescription from a licensed healthcare provider.
  • Rx
Drug class Estrogen, Progestin
Active ingredients Norethindrone acetate, Ethinyl estradiol 0.02 mg, Ferrous fumarate 75 mg
Dosage form Kit, Tablet
Marketing status not in the current FDA NDC Directory
Company (applicant) DR REDDYS LABS SA
FDA approval ANDA 075647Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) – generic drug Approved February 5, 2001
Packages (NDC)
Package
1 mg, 0.02 mg, 75 mg – 1 in 1 blister pack / 1 in 1 carton NDC 54868-4744-0
1.0 mg, 0.02 mg – 21 in 1 blister pack / 1 in 1 carton NDC 54868-6213-0

Source: FDA drug labeling via NLM DailyMed, data as of October 31, 2026. FDA data (DailyMed, Orange Book, Drug Shortages, enforcement reports). Not a substitute for the advice of a doctor or pharmacist.