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Information on Birth Control Pills »
Birth control pills are also known as oral contraceptives (OCs) or, simply, “the pill.” They offer protection against pregnancy by blocking the union of sperm and egg, thereby preventing conception.
Oral contraceptives or birth control pills contain synthetic female hormones. They work largely by preventing the release of an egg from an ovary, or ovulation. If no egg is released, there can be no pregnancy.
Stopping ovulation is not the only way birth control pills can work. The progestin or synthetic progesterone in birth control pills also changes the physical and chemical environment of the female reproductive tract, making it hostile for sperm.
The active ingredients in birth control pills are synthetic versions of the female hormones estrogen and progesterone. Combination oral contraceptives are birth control...
PATIENTS SHOULD BE COUNSELED THAT THIS PRODUCT DOES NOT PROTECT AGAINST HIV INFECTION (AIDS) AND OTHER SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES.
Apri (desogestrel and ethinyl estradiol tablets) 28 Day Regimen blister cards for desogestrel and ethinyl estradiol tablets provide an oral contraceptive regimen of 21 round rose-colored tablets. Each rose-colored "active" desogestrel and ethinyl estradiol tablet for oral administration contains 0.15 mg desogestrel (13-ethyl-11- methylene-18,19-dinor-17 alpha-pregn-4-en- 20-yn-17-ol) and 0.03 mg ethinyl estradiol (19-nor-17 alpha-pregna-1,3,5 (10)-trien-20-yne-3,17-diol). Inactive ingredients include colloidal silicon dioxide, FD&C Blue No. 2 Aluminum Lake, FD&C Red No. 40 Aluminum Lake, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, lactose monohydrate, polyethylene glycol, polysorbate 80, povidone, pregelatinized starch, stearic acid, titanium dioxide, and vitamin E.
Apri (desogestrel and ethinyl estradiol tablets) 28 Day Regimen blister cards also contain 7 white "inactive" tablets for oral administration, containing the following inactive ingredients: lactose anhydrous, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose and pregelatinized starch.
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DESOGESTREL C22H30O M.W.: 310.48
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ETHINYL ESTRADIOL C20H24O2 M.W.: 296.41
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Stop using this medication and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:
Read All Potential Side Effects and See Pictures of Apri »
See also Warning section.
Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to ethinyl estradiol or desogestrel; or to any other estrogen or progestin; or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details.
This medication should not be used if you have certain medical conditions. Before using this product, consult your doctor or pharmacist if you have: history of stroke or other blood clots (e.g., in the legs, eyes, lungs), severe high blood pressure, abnormal breast exam, cancer (especially endometrial or breast cancer), diabetes that has caused kidney/eye/nerve/blood vessel disease, severe headaches, history of heart...
Last reviewed on RxList: 3/19/2008
This monograph has been modified to include the generic and brand name in many instances.
Report Problems to the Food and Drug Administration
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit the FDA MedWatch website or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
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