Microlite

Microlite is a combined oral contraceptive pill used by women to prevent pregnancy. Microlite contains two different hormones, levonorgestrel and ethinylestradiol, which are synthetic versions of the natural hormones produced by your body, oestrogen and progesterone.

Microlite is a low-dose contraceptive pill containing less amounts of oestrogen and progesterone compared to other combined contraceptive pills, making it suitable for women who experience hormone related side effects.

When taken correctly, Microlite is up to 99% effective in preventing pregnancy.

Microlite is taken at the same time every day for 21 consecutive days, with a 7-day pill-free 'break' period, during which you will experience a 'withdrawal' bleed, like a monthly period. You can safely use Microlite pills to delay your monthly bleeding by skipping this 7-day 'break' period, although you may experience some spotting or breakthrough bleeding.

Microlite can be taken by sexually active women as a form of contraception to prevent pregnancy.

You should not take Microlite if you:

• are or may be pregnant
• are allergic (hypersensitive) to any of the listed ingredients
• have had thrombosis (blood clot in your leg) or embolus (blood clot in the lung)
• have had a stroke or heart attack
• have damaged blood vessels due to diabetes
• have had migraines with focal neurological symptoms
• have had a liver tumour or any severe liver disease
• have kidney problems
• have genital or breast cancer
• have unexplained vaginal bleeding
• have not started to have your monthly period (i.e. children and adolescents) or no longer have monthly periods following the menopause

Microlite should be swallowed whole, with or without food or water.

Always follow the directions for dosage given to you by your prescribing nurse, pharmacist or doctor.

Each packet of Microlite contains a strip of 21 tablets marked with a day of the week. You should take one tablet per day for 21 days in a row. If you start your packet on a Monday, press the first tablet through the blister foil section marked 'MON' and take one tablet per day around the same time every day (e.g. just before you go to bed) in the order shown by the arrows.

After 21 days of taking the pill, you will have a 7-day 'break' period, without taking any pills. You will have a 'withdrawal' bleed during the pill free 7 days which acts like a usual monthly period.

Start your next 21-day packet of Microlite on the 8th day after the 7-day break, even if you are still having your withdrawal bleed.

If you have not taken hormonal contraceptives in the last month, start taking Microlite on the first day of your cycle and you will be immediately protected against pregnancy. If you take it 2-5 days after your cycle starts, you will need to use extra preventative measures (e.g. condoms) for the first 7 days of using Microlite.

If you are changing hormonal contraceptives to Microlite, start on the day of your last active tablet of your previous pill (if you are changing from another combined contraceptive), or on any day (if you are changing from a progestogen-only method) but use extra preventative methods (e.g. condoms) for the first 7 days.

If you are less than 12 hours late from the usual time you take your Microlite tablet, take the tablet as soon as you remember and continue to take it at your usual time every day.

If you are more than 12 hours late, follow these instructions:

During days 1-7: take the tablet as soon as you remember, even if this means doubling up on your usual dose the next day. If you have had unprotected sex in the week previous, see your doctor as you may be at risk of pregnancy. Use another protective method (e.g. condoms) for the next 7 days and finish your current Microlite strip as usual.

During days 8-14: take the tablet as soon as you remember, even if this means doubling your usual dose on the following day. Use another protective method (e.g. condoms) for the next 7 days and finish your current Microlite strip as usual.

During days 15-21: if you used the pill correctly in the 7 days before missing this pill, and follow these instructions, you won't need to use extra contraceptives as well. EITHER: take the tablet as soon as you remember and continue with the rest of the packet as usual but, instead of taking your 7-day break, start the next packet of 21 tablets as soon as you finish the previous packet. OR: stop taking the tablets from your current pack and take your 7-day break immediately, starting a new 21-day packet on the 8th day, as usual.

If you miss several tablets or take your Microlite pill irregularly, you may be at risk of pregnancy and should speak to your nurse or doctor.

The active ingredients in Microlite tablets are 20mg ethinylestradiol and 100mg levonorgestrel.

The other ingredients in Microlite are maize starch, lactose monohydrate, pregelatinised starch, magnesium stearate (E470b), povidone, sucrose, macrogols, talc (E553b), calcium carbonate, glycerol 85%, yellow ferric oxide (E172), titanium dioxide (E171), montan glycol wax, and red ferric oxide (E171).

• Spotting or bleeding between periods, which will usually settle after the first three months of taking Microlite – speak to your doctor if this is prolonged, or begins after months of using the pill
• Mood imbalance, anxiety, depression
• Nausea
• Headaches or pain in the abdomen
• Tender or sore breasts
• Weight gain

As with all medications, you may experience some side effects when taking Microlite. You should speak to your doctor to weigh up the risks and benefits of taking this combined contraceptive pill.

• Loss of libido (less interest in sex)
• Migraine
• Rash, itching or bumps on the skin
• Swollen breasts and fluid retention
• Vomiting or diarrhoea

• Allergic reaction
• Intolerance to contact lenses
• Increased libido
• Vaginal or breast discharge
• Red or blotchy skin, or nodules/ lesions on the skin

• Signs of an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing or swallowing, fever, swelling of the lips, tongue or face)
• Possible symptoms of a blood clot (venous thrombosis, arterial thrombosis, or a blood clot in another part of the body) e.g. severe pain/ swelling in one of your legs, sudden severe pain in the chest, breathlessness or fainting, seizure or unconsciousness

You should always discuss your medical history and any medicines you are currently taking before taking Microlite. Certain medicines, if taken alongside, can make Microlite less effective and cause irregular bleeding. These include:

• Medicines for epilepsy (e.g. lamotrigine, carbamazepine, primidone, barbiturates, phenytoin, topiramate, oxcarbazepine, felbamate)
• Medicines for TB (e.g. rifampicin)
• Medicines for HIV infection (e.g. ritonavir or nevirapine)
• Antibiotics such as griseofulvin, tetracycline, or penicillin
• Herbal remedy St. John's Wort
• Medicines including the ingredient cyclosporine

Tell your doctor if you are taking any of these medications before taking Microlite.

Do not take Microlite if you are pregnant or suspect you may be pregnant. Microlite should not be used when breastfeeding and you should discuss this with a doctor.

Like other forms of the contraceptive pill, Microlite will not protect you against sexually transmitted diseases. You should use a barrier form of contraception (such as condoms) in order to properly protect yourself against STIs.

Taking Microlite can increase the risk of developing venous thrombosis (a blood clot in a vein) or arterial thrombosis (a blood clot in an artery).

In long-term users of Microlite, cervical cancer, breast cancer and liver tumours have been reported, but this is incredibly rare, and it is currently not known whether this is caused by the pill itself.

If you need your medication urgently, choose ZAVA's Pharmacy Collect service. This service is available between 9am and 4pm Monday - Friday. Orders placed outside of these hours will be processed the next working day. First, our doctors will review your treatment and approve if appropriate. We will then send an advanced notification of your prescription to a pharmacy of your choice. We aim to do this within an hour.

If your chosen pharmacy is unable to fulfil your prescription, we will get in touch with you to arrange alternative collection arrangements.

You can choose for your paper prescription to be delivered to your address. This takes 3-5 working days.

If you have a question about this service, please email info@zavamed.com with the question, and one of our doctors will get back to you within 24 hours.