Logynon

Logynon is a combined oral contraceptive pill which, when taken correctly, prevents you from getting pregnant. It contains two artificial versions of the female sex hormones oestrogen and progestogen (ethinylestradiol and levonorgestrel).

Logynon works by:

• preventing eggs from being released from your ovaries every month,
• making it difficult for sperm to get to the uterus (womb) by making your cervical mucus thicker, and
• stopping the lining of your uterus from getting thick enough to allow an egg to implant in it and grow.

Similar to other types of combined contraceptive pills, Logynon can help to make your periods lighter, less painful, and more regular. It could also help to relieve the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS).

Important to know: Contraceptive pills can’t protect you from getting sexually transmitted infections (STIs) so if you are having sex with a new partner and don’t know their sexual history, you should use Logynon together with condoms to prevent any risk of infection.

Logynon can cause blood clots which can be very dangerous if left untreated. Make sure you speak to your doctor about your medical history before you take Logynon.

You should not take Logynon if you:

• currently have or have history of deep vein thrombosis (a blood clot in the blood vessels of your legs) or pulmonary embolism (a blood clot in your lungs)
• have had major surgery or are about to and you won’t be mobile for some time
• have a disorder which affects how your blood clots, for example protein C deficiency, protein S deficiency, antithrombin-III deficiency, Factor V Leiden or antiphospholipid antibodies
• have had a stroke or a heart attack
• have a history of migraines with unusual sensations (migraine with aura)
• have or have had angina pectoris (a condition that causes severe chest pain and could indicate an imminent heart attack)
• have had a transient ischaemic attack (TIA, meaning temporary stroke symptoms)
• have type 2 diabetes with vascular symptoms
• have severe high blood pressure
• have high levels of cholesterol in the blood
• have or have had a history of liver diseases such as viral hepatitis or severe cirrhosis of the liver and have been told by your doctor that your liver function test results are not back to normal
• have liver tumours
• currently have or have a history of breast cancer
• have hypersensitivity to any of the active ingredients in Logynon

Taking certain medicines at the same time as taking Logynon can stop the pill from working properly. These include:

• some medicines used to treat epilepsy
• certain antibiotics
• some medicines used to treat HIV and Hepatitis C virus infections
• antifungal medicine (griseofulvin)
• some sedatives (barbiturates)
• St. John’s Wort (herbal remedy used to treat mild depression)

If you do need to take any of the above medicines while also taking Logynon, you may need to use additional contraception such as condoms for a while.

Always speak to your doctor about any other medicines you’re taking.

Each calendar pack of Logynon contains 6 light brown tablets, 5 white tablets, 10 ochre-coloured (yellowish) tablets and 7 inactive white tablets.

• Each light brown tablet (Phase I) contains the active ingredients levonorgestrel at a strength of 50 mcg and ethinylestradiol at a strength of 30 mcg as well as the inactive ingredients of lactose and sucrose.
• Each white tablet (Phase II) contains the active ingredients levonorgestrel at a strength of 75 mcg and ethinylestradiol at a strength of 40 mcg as well as the inactive ingredients of lactose and sucrose.
• Each ochre tablet (Phase III) contains the active ingredients levonorgestrel at a strength of 125 mcg and ethinylestradiol at a strength of 30 mcg and the inactive ingredients of lactose and sucrose.

The 7 inactive white tablets are taken for 7 days after the active tablets have been taken.

Logynon comes in packs of 28 tablets and you take 1 every day without a break. There are 21 ‘active pills’ and 7 ‘inactive pills’ in each pack. Logynon must be taken as directed by your doctor to ensure it works effectively in preventing pregnancy.

Each pack of Logynon is designed to help you to remember to take your pills regularly. Each pack of Logynon contains 3 foil strips with 3 sets of 7 self-adhesive strips with the days of the week printed on them. Each foil strip has 28 tablets, made up of 21 small active different coloured tablets in 3 rows and 7 larger inactive white tablets in the last row.

It is most effective to start taking your first Logynon pill on the first day of your next period. This gives you immediate contraceptive protection from your first pill. 1 Logynon pill must then be taken at the same time every day for 28 days to protect you against pregnancy. Each pill must be swallowed whole with water.

You will always start each new strip of pills on the same day of the week. Don’t take a break between packets.

Logynon must be taken exactly as instructed by your doctor to ensure that you are protected against pregnancy. It is 99 % effective against pregnancy when taken correctly.

As with all medicines, it can cause side effects to take a contraceptive pill such as Logynon. Not everybody gets them though. Speak to your doctor if you experience any of the following side effects.

Common Logynon side effects include:

• nausea (feeling sick)
• stomach ache
• headaches
• depressive mood
• mood swings
• weight gain
• pain in the breasts

Uncommon Logynon side effects include:

• vomiting
• stomach upsets
• migraine
• fluid retention
• loss of libido (sexual desire)
• enlargement of the breasts
• skin rash

Some women may also experience some bleeding between periods (spotting) in the first few months of taking Logynon. This normally stops on its own, but if the bleeding becomes heavier or starts again after a few months, speak to your doctor.

Logynon is a combined hormonal contraceptive (CHC) pill and these types of pills can increase your risk of developing a thrombosis (blood clot) compared with not taking a CHC. Rarely, blood clots can cause serious problems and even death.

Blood clots can develop:

• in veins (venous thrombosis or venous thromboembolism or VTE)
• in arteries (arterial thrombosis or arterial thromboembolism or ATE)

Signs of a blood clot include pain or swelling in your calf, shortness of breath, chest pain – if you experience any of these symptoms, seek immediate medical attention.

Do remember, however, that when taking Logynon, the overall risk of getting a blood clot that will cause serious complications is small. The risk of developing a blood clot while taking Logynon depends on other risk factors that increase your risk of VTE and ATE.

The risk of developing a blood clot in a vein is highest during the first year of taking a CHC such as Logynon, for the first time. After the first year, the risk reduces but is still a little higher than if you aren’t taking the pill. The risk of getting a blood clot returns to normal a few weeks after stopping Logynon.

Logynon is a low dose oral contraceptive pill and taking the pill can slightly increase the risk of cervical cancer although it is not known if the pill alone is to blame. If you have or have ever had breast cancer you should not take Logynon as it slightly increases the risk of developing breast cancer.