Logynon works as an effective pregnancy-inhibitor when used as directed.

• One Logynon tablet should be taken daily for 21 days, with each pill being taken at the same time each day.

• Each pack of Logynon contains 21 tablets, 5 of which are white, 6 are light brown and 10 are ochre-coloured, with each pill having a number corresponding to it. It is imperative that you begin the course by taking the pill numbered “1”, and proceeding in the direction of arrows on the packet.

• On the pill strip, mark the day of the week under the heading  “I took my first pill on”, by piercing the small unnumbered foil disc. This reminds you of which day you started taking the course of pills.

• The pills must not be chewed and should be taken whole, with water.

• Once the 21 pill days have finished, you have a 7 day period during which no tablets should be taken.

• If the last pill of the pack is taken on a Wednesday, your first pill on the next cycle is due to be taken on the following Thursday.

Within a couple of days of finishing the course of pills, you should have a withdrawal bleed similar to a period. This bleed may not have finished when it is time to start your next strip of pills though you must begin the next course regardless. Consult the Patient Information Leaflet for more details about how Logynon should be taken.

Each box of Logynon contains three strips of 21 tablets containing the progestogen, levonorgestrel and ethinylestradiol, an oestrogen hormone. Each strip of Logynon contains:

• 6 light brown tablets (50mcg levonorgestrel and 30mcg ethinylestradiol)

• 5 white tablets (75mcg levonorgestrel and 40mcg ethinylestradiol)

• 10 ochre tablets (125mcg levonorgestrel and 30mcg ethinylestradiol)

All tablets are sugar coated, so it is advisable to consult your doctor on the appropriateness of the medication in the case of a lactose or sucrose allergy. For your consideration, Logynon tablets also contain:

• Maize starch

• Lactose

• Sucrose

• Calcium carbonate

• Polyethylene glycol 6000

• Ferric oxide pigment (red and yellow) (E172)

• Glycerin (E422)

• Titanium dioxide (E171)

• Montan glycol wax

• Talc

• Sucrose

• Povidone

The Logynon contraceptive pill has the potential to worsen blood clots, making it vital to read and understand the symptoms of blood clots in the Patient Information Leaflet. Another consideration that we suggest is evaluating various pros and cons of taking Logynon which case can also be found in the enclosed leaflet. This is due to Logynon being unsuitable for a small minority of women, though is perfectly safe for the majority of healthy women.

Logynon must not be taken if:

• you have ever experienced blood clots, for example in:

  • your legs (deep vein thrombosis)

  • your lungs (pulmonary embolus)

• you have any conditions which affect your blood clotting mechanisms, for example, protein S or C deficiency, Factor V Leiden, antiphospolipid antibodies or an antithrombin-III deficiency;

• if your lifestyle is relatively sedentary (long periods sat down) or you are in need of an operation at present;

• if you have ever had a heart attack or stroke;

• if you currently or have ever suffered from angina pectoris (condition causing significant chest pains and can be indicative of a heart attack occurring) or transient ischaemic attack (temporary stroke symptoms);

• you have a disease which makes you more susceptible to arterial clotting, such as:

  • Serious diabetes which has led to blood vessel damage;

  • high blood pressure;

  • high levels of cholesterol or triglycerides in the blood; symptoms of a condition called hyperhomocysteinaemia.

• you have ever been affected by migraines, especially a less common form called ‘migraine with aura’;

• you have ever had any form of breast cancer;

• you have recently had liver function tests though your doctor has not yet informed you that your test results have fallen back to within normal levels;

• you have ever suffered from liver tumours;

• you have a sensitivity or experience allergic reactions after contact with any of the ingredients present in Logynon tablets;

• you have ulcerative colitis, a chronic inflammatory disease affecting the bowel;

• you have Crohn’s disease or SLE (systematic lupus erythematosus), more commonly known as Lupus and weakens your natural defence system;

• if you have haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS – a disorder of blood clotting causing failure of the kidneys);

• you have certain hereditary diseases such as sickle cell anaemia, a serious blood disorder which causes altered red blood cell structures;

• if you have acute or chronic pancreatitis, a condition causing the pancreas to become inflamed;

• you have a heightened susceptibility to blood clots due to recently giving birth;

• you have inflammation, in particular, superficial veins under the skin (superficial thrombophlebitis) or have instances of varicose veins;

• if you are a diabetic;

• if there has been any history of cardiovascular issues (e.g. heart problems, circulation problems, blood clotting) for yourself or in your immediate family;

• if you are afflicted with the hereditary disease porphyria;

• if any illnesses or complications you have had have been worsened during a pregnancy or previous administration of the Pill;

• If you are currently overweight or obese.

If you ever need to take additional medicines synchronously with Logynon tablets, ensure that you tell your doctor, dentist or pharmacist, due to certain medicines’ potential to interfere with Logynon’s expected function. These include:

• A variety of epilepsy medicines;

• Anti-fungal medicines such as griseofulvin;

• Protease inhibitors and non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors used to treat certain viral infections such as HIV and Hepatitis C;

• St. John’s Wort (hypericum perforatum), an herbal remedy used to treat depression;

• Certain sedatives in the barbiturate family;

• Some antibiotics.

If you have an intolerance to sugar, consult your doctor before you begin to take Logynon, as the tablets contain lactose and sucrose. Logynon is unsuitable for pregnant women, and you should seek the advice of your doctor or family planning nurse on the appropriateness of Logynon tablets during breastfeeding.