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Archive for the ‘birth control pill’ Category
Generic birth control prescriptions can save you money. And, in some cases, they’re all that insurance will cover. But, is generic birth control as good as the brand-name version? What types of birth control come in generics? How can you get a generic prescription? Patents and ExclusivityWhen drug companies develop new medicines, they patent them so that no other company can claim to have invented the drug. They also apply for what’s called “exclusivity,” which means that no other company can sell the drug for a certain number of years. Companies can charge high prices for these medicines because no one else is allowed to make them. The companies say that the prices must be high to cover the research that went into making the drugs, although the cost of advertising is also a factor. Patents last for 20 years. Exclusivity depends on the type of drug, but in most cases it’s a shorter period of time than the patent. Generics vs. Brand-Name DrugsFDA regulations state that generics must contain the same medicines as the brand-name versions. The medicine must be absorbed by the body at the same rate and in the same amount. Basically, generic drugs must work just like the brand-name ones. It’s just that the pills and packages look different. Sometimes, you’ll need a bit of technical knowledge to see that the medicines really are the same: the brand name one might list ingredients in micrograms, while the generic uses milligrams. In spite of the FDA regulations, patients and doctors occasionally report different results from generic vs. brand name pills. This may have to do with the “vehicle” the medicine is delivered in; although the drug is the same, the other ingredients in the pill might be different. Most of the time, though, you won’t notice any difference. One particular concern about generic birth control prescriptions is that the actual amount of medication in each pill might vary more than in brand name medicines. Actually, this hasn’t been well studied. The FDA says that the medication should be equivalent to the brand-name version. If it’s true that there is a bigger difference from pill to pill, however, it could cause side effects in women who are sensitive to hormone variations.
GENERIC NAME: Oral Contraceptives or OCs (also known as Birth Control Pills or BCPs)DRUG CLASS AND MECHANISM: Oral contraceptives (OCs) are medications that prevent pregnancy. They are one type of birth control. OCs may contain combinations of estrogen and progestin or progestin alone. Combinations of estrogen and progestin prevent pregnancy by inhibiting the release of the hormones LH and FSH from the pituitary gland in the brain. LH and FSH play key roles in the development of the egg and preparation of the lining of the uterus for implantation of the embryo. Progestin also makes the uterine mucus that surrounds the egg more difficult for sperm to penetrate and, therefore, for fertilization to take place. In some women, progestin inhibits ovulation (release of the egg). The combination OCs are called “monophasic,” “biphasic,” or “triphasic.” Monophasic OCs deliver the same amount of estrogen and progestin every day. Biphasic OCs deliver the same amount of estrogen every day for the first 21 days of the cycle. During the first half of the cycle, the progestin/estrogen ratio is lower to allow the endometrium to thicken as it normally does. During the second half of the cycle, the progestin/estrogen ratio is higher to allow normal shedding of the lining of the uterus to occur. The triphasic OCs have constant or changing estrogen concentrations and varying progestin concentrations throughout the cycle. There is no evidence that bi- or tri-phasic OCs are superior to monophasic OCs, or vice-versa. PRESCRIBED FOR: OCs are prescribed for the prevention of pregnancy. When taken as directed, OCs fail in less than 1 in every 200 users over the first year of use. OCs also are prescribed to treat mid-cycle pain which some women experience with ovulation. OCs, while regulating the menstrual cycle, reduce menstural cramps and heavy bleeding, and, because of the reduced bleeding, they may prevent the anemia that can develop in some women. Doctors sometimes prescribe higher doses of OCs for use as “morning after” pills to be taken up to 72 hours after unprotected intercourse to prevent fertilization and pregnancy. DOSING: Many of the OCs come in easy to use dispensers in which the day of the week or a consecutive number (1, 2, 3, etc.) is written on the dispenser with a corresponding tablet for each day or number. For example, some Ortho-Novum dispensers are labeled “Sunday” next to the first tablet. Thus, the first tablet is to be taken on the first Sunday after menstruation begins (the first Sunday following the first day of a woman’s period). If her period begins on Sunday, the first tablet should be taken on that day. For OCs that use consecutive numbers, the first tablet (#1) is taken on the first day of the menstrual period (the first day of bleeding). Tablet #2 is taken on the second day, and so on. Still other packages instruct women to begin on day 5 of the cycle. For such products, women count from day 1 of their menstrual cycle (day 1 is the first day of bleeding). On the fifth day, the first tablet is taken. Tablets then are taken daily. DRUG INTERACTIONS: Estrogens can inhibit the metabolism (elimination) of cyclosporine, resulting in increased cyclosporine blood levels. Such increased blood levels can result in kidney and/or liver damage. If this combination cannot be avoided, cyclosporine concentrations can be monitored, and the dose of cyclosporine can be adjusted to assure that its blood levels do not become elevated. Estrogens appear to increase the risk of liver disease in patients receiving dantrolene through an unknown mechanism. Women over 35 years of age and those with a history of liver disease are especially at risk. Estrogens increase the liver’s ability to manufacture clotting factors. Because of this, patients receiving warfarin (Coumadin) need to be monitored for loss of anticoagulant (blood thinning) effect if an estrogen is begun.
Birth Control and Acne: How Does It Work?The link between birth control and acne is surprisingly simple. Birth Control Pills prevent pregnancy by changing the level of certain hormones in your body. One of these hormones is androgen, which stimulates oil production and increases acne. If you’re taking birth control pills that lower your androgen levels, you should see a reduction in the number of breakouts you experience. Generally, it takes between six and eight weeks to see results when using birth control to treat your acne. While most topical medications work to treat existing inflammation, the pill will prevent new outbreaks from happening. According to researchers who have studied the link between birth control and acne, using birth control pills to treat your blemishes should produce results similar to that of treatment with benzyl peroxide and topical or systemic antibiotics. What Prescription Do I Need?Unfortunately, not every type of birth control pill will help you control your acne. While all birth control pills will work to prevent pregnancy, each pill has slightly different hormone levels. The FDA has approved Ortho Tri-Cyclen and generic norgestimate/ethinyl estradiol for acne treatment. The FDA believes these low-dosage birth control pills are an effective treatment for mild to moderate acne. In clinical studies, nearly 90 percent of women taking Ortho Tri-Cyclen noticed an improvement in their skin. Other birth control pills that are thought to improve acne in most women include Desogen, Demulen, Brevicon, Nelova 1/35, Ovcon 35, and Ortho Novum 7/7/7. However, there is some evidence to suggest these pills are more effective in younger women who have fluctuating hormone levels that are the primary cause of their acne. Older brands of birth control pills that contain estrogen and progestin hormones with higher androgen levels may in fact make your acne worse. This includes birth control pills such as Loestrin1.5/30, Loestrin1/20 Fe, Estrostep Fe, Levlen, Alesse, Ovral, and Norlestrin1/50. ide Effects of Birth Control PillsYou must be aware of any potential side effects when you considering using birth control pills to treat your acne. For example:
Currently, there is only one available birth control or contraceptive patch and this is the Ortho Evra birth control patch. The way that these contraceptive patches work is that they are applied to the surface of the skin, then the pregnancy is prevented through the release of estrogen and progestin hormones. The woman generally applies the patch to the upper outside arm, abdomen, thigh, or buttocks. This application should take place on the first day of her menstrual cycle. It is from that day forward that she is to acknowledge this as her “patch change day”. This means that after one week, she will need to remove the patch and reapply a new one. She will need to repeat this again one week later, then on the final week, she does not wear a patch at all. We can take a more in depth look at how the mechanism behind the birth control patch works. During ovulation, the female releases an oocyte (egg) that plays the crucial role in pregnancy. The birth control patch prevents a woman from ovulating, so without the release of the oocyte, the pregnancy is averted. There is also another mechanism that takes place as a result of the birth control patch that deals with the sperm. Through changes in cervical mucus caused by the contraceptive patch, the sperm inhibited in its penetration. When placed upon the skin, the Ortho Evra birth control patch releases a type of estrogen known as ethinyl estradiol and a type of progestin known as norelgestromin into the systemic circulation. This release is a gradual daily release.
The Birth Control or Contraceptive Patch has been subject to several lawsuits due to their negative side effects. The most common of these lawsuits have been due to associated strokes and thromboembolic risks that result from the hormone absorption. Not only the birth control patch, but all of the hormonal type birth control products have the risk of causing a fatal or serious thromboembolic event. Recent studies have shown that women who were using the contraceptive patch had a doubled risk of having thromboembolic events as opposed to those women who took the contraceptive pill. Although, other studies have shown that there is no increase in risk for either the patch or the pill. These studies showed that they had similar risks of thromboembolic events. Studies have shown that women who smoke and are over the age of 35 have a significant increased risk of having thromboembolism or cardiovascular disease. This is why there are warning labels that advise strongly that women who are using the contraceptive patch do not smoke. The manufacturer of the contraceptive patch has stated that the patches can contribute up to 60% increase in estrogen levels in the bloodstream of the woman wearing the patch as compared to those women who are taking oral contraceptives (birth control pills). A revised label was placed on the packaging for the birth control patch that stated that due to the high exposure to estrogen that the women using the patch receive, that there may be an increased risk of blood clotting. As men and women continue to marry and have children later in life because of social and financial reasons, they may pay the price by being unable to conceive and have children. As there is a decrease in fertility with advancing age, women over 35 are at a higher risk for miscarriage and other gynecological problems. A woman’s fertility declines gradually over her life span. Although there are occasional occurrences of pregnancies in women in their late 40s and older, most women lose all fertility by age 45. There is a noticeable difference in the fertility of a woman at age 20 compared to a woman at 30, and an even noticeable decline in fertility in women between ages 35 and 40. This occurs because a woman’s eggs age as she ages. Most women start with 300,000 eggs at puberty, but by the age of menopause (50-55 years) only a few thousand eggs remain. These eggs are older, thus making fertilization and implantation less possible. In addition, the older the woman, the greater the risk for miscarriage, chromsomally abnormal children, and other medical problems associated with pregnancies and deliveries. However, with modern technology older women have more options and success at conceiving. Although they usually do not respond as well as younger women to in vitro treatment (IVF), clinics are continually improving the success rate of IVF treatment in older women. Some clinics recommend assisted hatching, blastocyst embryo transfer, and preimplantation diagnosis. Other fertility treatments include egg donation.embryo donation, and surrogacy. Egg donation allows implanting a younger woman’s egg in your uterus. This is particularly popular for older women and has a higher success rate than fertility drugs and other implantation methods. Embryo donation is used if the male partner also has a fertility problem associated with his sperm. If pregnancy is not possible, a surrogate may agree to become pregnant and carry your baby using your partner’s implanted sperm. Whatever the fertility problem, technology has found a way to treat it. Older women now have many options available to them to fulfill their dream of having children.
In recent years, more and more women look for a natural way to deal with menopause. For some, it’s about learning more about natural medication for menopause, including menopause herb formulas, while others search for menopause the “best stuff” for hot flashes. That said, let’s begin with natural medication for menopause. Later in our article, we will discuss menopause the “best stuff” for hot flashes and menopause herb formulas. Get acquainted with Black cohosh. Black cohosh is heralded as an herbal remedy for combating menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes and night sweats. In fact, as far as a natural way to deal with menopause, black cohosh has even been recommended as an alternative to standard hormone replacement therapy (HRT), which has proven dangers as well as it can produce unwanted side effects in many women. Indeed, this herb is considered a natural medication for menopause, meaning herbal remedy. Meet Dong Quai. Donq Quai is a member of the celery family and one of its best-known uses is that of regulator of the female reproductive system. It’s most widespread use is to deal with women’s ailments such as premenstrual syndrome, menstrual cramps, irregularity, and the symptoms of menopause, including alleviating hot flashes and vaginal dryness, amongst others. Chase away menopausal symptoms with Chasteberry. Chasteberry has quite the reputation has being a helpful herb for combating many menopausal symptoms, including hot flashes. As such, it too is considered a natural medication for menopause as well as a natural way to deal with menopause. Chasteberry works to stabilize hormones involved in the menstrual cycle and can be beneficial in controlling symptoms of menopause. In addition, chasteberry is used to help relieve premenstrual syndrome symptoms, amongst others. Try your luck with red clover. Red clover is rich in phytoestrogens — naturally occurring plant compounds. Studies suggest that herbs rich in these plant-based compounds may relieve the symptoms of menopause such as hot flashes. More specifically, red clover is rich in isoflavones, an important class of phytoestrogens. It may even play a role in osteoporosis prevention. Check out soy products. Soybeans harbor isoflavones (class of phytoestrogens). Research suggest that high intake of soy reduces menopausal symptoms, including hot flashes. Like red clover, soy may possibly reduce the risk of developing osteoporosis. Become familiar with other natural medication for menopause, meaning natural alternatives that may help. Some other natural herbs and substances that may help in your quest for a natural way to deal with menopause include: * Vitamin E may reduce the intensity of hot flashes.
Want to ditch those “Mommy jeans?” You can! Having a baby may change your body, but it doesn’t have to make it bigger! After two pregnancies of my own that resulted in a 40 and a 60 pound weight gain, I’ve learned some simple tricks to losing that baby fat. Now, I’m going to share them with you: Get Rid of All the Junk Food Sad, but true, the simple fact is, it’s impossible to lose weight (and keep it off) if you’re allowing yourself to gorge on cookies, bagels and soda pop all day. Stick to low-calorie snack alternatives like fresh fruit, chopped veggies and light dips, a baked potato - it’s more filling and nutritious, not to mention less fattening than chips, rice cakes, popcorn, low-salt pretzels, or low-fat or sugar free puddings and ice cream bars. Substitute flavored waters, teas, vegetable or low-sugar fruit juices for high calorie drinks. Watch The Time of Day That You Eat We all know that we shouldn’t eat after 7 pm, but have you tried eating your largest meal during the day when your body is burning calories more efficiently? Try eating a big breakfast, mid-day snack and an early dinner, followed by a light nutritious snack in the early evening. Indulge After Exercising After my daughter was born I decided to take an exercise class in the evenings twice a week to help shed my extra weight. It was there that I learned an important lesson: your body burns calories much faster for an hour or so after strenuous exercise than at any other time of the day. So, if you just have to have that brownie, or dip of ice cream, do it right after exercising, when your metabolism is in high gear. Walk Every Day Walking at a brisk pace for just a half an hour every day can be a big boost to your metabolism, your energy levels and your weight loss. Babies love being in the fresh air, and many will fall right to sleep from the soothing jostling of the stroller. So put on your walking shoes, bundle up baby and hit the streets every day. Eat A Well-Balanced Diet While it’s true that getting rid of all the junk food in your house is a great start to losing weight, eating a well-balanced diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables, lean meats and low-fat snacks can all help you burn calories more efficiently. Have Your Babies Before You Turn 26 Ok, so you may not have much control over this one, but remember, the average woman’s metabolism decreases by one-half percent every year after the age of 26, making it more and more difficult to lose unwanted weight every year! So, while having babies later in life may seem like a good idea for your career and lifestyle, it may not be so great for your waistline. Breastfeed as Long as You Can While you do need to consume more calories when you breastfeed, most nursing moms agree that if they eat a well-balanced and nutritious diet, breastfeeding helps them lose more weight at a faster rate then their bottle feeding friends. Why? The simple fact is, it takes a lot of energy to make enough milk for a baby to eat in a day. Breastfeeding helps increase your metabolism and use more calories. Plus, many breastfeeding moms report that they pay more attention to the types of foods they are eating since it directly affects the quality of their milk.
Yasmin is a birth control pill which contains a different type of Progestin. Yasmin has been prescribed to over three million women world-wide. Yasmin is more than 99% effective in preventing pregnancy, PLUS Yasmin can help give you shorter, lighter periods, regulate your cycle, and even reduce cramps. Birth Control Warning: How should Yasmin be used? When first starting on Yasmin Birth Control Pills, use an additional method of birth control until you have correctly taken 7 days’ worth of medicine. If you have a 21-tablet Yasmin packet, take one tablet daily for 21 days and then none for seven days. Then start a new packet. If you have a 28-tablet Yasmin packet, take one tablet daily for 28 days. The last seven tablets are a different color. These tablets are not birth-control pills; they contain iron (ferrous fumarate) or an inactive ingredient. You should take one tablet daily continuously for 28 days in the order specified in your packet, starting a new packet the day after taking your 28th tablet. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully concerning when to take your first tablet (on the first or fifth day of your menstrual period or on the first Sunday after or on which bleeding begins). Take the oral contraceptive exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor. Do not stop taking this medicine without talking to your doctor. Other uses for Yasmin birth control pills
Before taking oral contraceptives: Tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to estrogen, progestin, or any other medications. Tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, and nutritional supplements you are taking. Be sure to mention any of the following: acetaminophen (APAP, Tylenol); antibiotics; anticoagulants (’blood thinners’) such as warfarin (Coumadin); atorvastatin (Lipitor); clofibrate (Atromid-S); cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune); griseofulvin (Fulvicin, Grifulvin, Grisactin); HIV protease inhibitors such as indinavir (Crixivan) and ritonavir (Norvir); medications for seizures such as carbamazepine (Tegretol), phenobarbital (Luminal, Solfoton), phenytoin (Dilantin), and topiramate (Topamax); morphine (Kadian, MS Contin, MSIR, others); oral steroids such as dexamethasone (Decadron, Dexone), methylprednisolone (Medrol), prednisone (Deltasone), and prednisolone (Prelone); phenylbutazone; rifabutin (Mycobutin); rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane); temazepam (Restoril); theophylline (Theobid, Theo-Dur); and thyroid medication such as levothyroxine (Levothroid, Levoxyl, Synthroid). Before taking Yasmin, tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are taking angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors such as benazepril (Lotensin), enalapril (Vasotec), and lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril); angiotensin II antagonists such as irbesartan (Avapro), losartan (Cozaar), and valsartan (Diovan); aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDS) such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn); diuretics (’water pills’) such as amiloride (Midamor), spironolactone (Aldactone), and triamterene (Dyrenium); or heparin. Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects. Tell your doctor what herbal products you are taking, especially St. John’s wort. Tell your doctor if you have or have ever had breast lumps or cancer; endometrial cancer; high blood pressure; high blood cholesterol and fats; diabetes (high blood sugar); asthma; stroke; blood clots; toxemia (high blood pressure during pregnancy); heart attack; epilepsy (seizures); migraine headaches; depression; liver, heart, gallbladder, or kidney disease; adrenal insufficiency (for Yasmin); jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); vaginal bleeding between menstrual periods; and excessive weight gain and fluid retention (bloating) during the menstrual cycle. Do not take oral contraceptives if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking oral contraceptives, call your doctor immediately. If you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking oral contraceptives. Tell your doctor and pharmacist if you wear contact lenses. If you notice changes in vision or ability to wear your lenses while taking hormone replacement therapy, see an eye doctor. |