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Femcon Fe
Information on Birth Control Pills »
What are birth control pills and how do they work?
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.
What are the different types of birth control pills?
The active ingredients in birth control pills are synthetic versions of the female hormones estrogen and progesterone. Combination oral contraceptives are birth control...
Femcon Fe
FEMCON® Fe
(norethindrone and ethinyl estradiol) Tablets, Chewable and Ferrous Fumarate Tablets 0.4mg/35mcg
Ferrous fumarate tablets are not USP for dissolution and assay.
Patients should be counseled that this product does not protect against HIV infection (AIDS) and other sexually transmitted diseases.
DRUG DESCRIPTION
FEMCON® Fe (norethindrone and ethinyl estradiol tablets) provides a regimen for oral contraception derived from 21 white tablets composed of norethindrone and ethinyl estradiol followed by 7 brown ferrous fumarate (placebo) tablets. The chemical name for norethindrone is 17-hydroxy-19-nor-17a-pregn-4-en-20-yn-3-one and for ethinyl estradiol the chemical name is 19-nor-17a-pregna-1,3,5(10)-trien-20-yne-3,17-diol. The structural formulas are:
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The active white FEMCON Fe (norethindrone and ethinyl estradiol tablets) tablets contain 0.4 mg norethindrone and 0.035 mg ethinyl estradiol, and the following inactive ingredients: dibasic calcium phosphate, lactose, magnesium stearate, maltodextrin, povidone, sodium starch glycolate, spearmint flavor and sucralose.
The brown tablets contain ferrous fumarate, microcrystalline cellulose, magnesium stereate, povidone, sodium starch glycolate, and compressible sugar. The ferrous fumarate tablets do not serve any therapeutic purpose.
What are the possible side effects of ethinyl estradiol and norethindrone?
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:
- sudden numbness or weakness, especially on one side of the body;
- sudden headache, confusion, pain behind the eyes, problems with vision, speech, or balance;
- chest pain or heavy feeling, pain spreading to the arm or shoulder,...
Read All Potential Side Effects and See Pictures of Femcon Fe »
What are the precautions when taking norethindrone and ethinyl estradiol tablets (Femcon Fe)?
See also Warning section.
Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to ethinyl estradiol, norethindrone acetate, or ferrous fumarate; or to other estrogens, progestins or iron products; 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...
Last reviewed on RxList: 1/29/2008
This monograph has been modified to include the generic and brand name in many instances.
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