Junel Fe Tablet: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Precautions and Alternates

Quick overview

Junel Fe Tablet contains norethindrone acetate, ethinyl estradiol, and ferrous fumarate, and belongs to the contraceptives drug class. It is a combination birth control pill that also includes non-hormonal iron tablets to help maintain a daily pill-taking habit. It is used to prevent pregnancy in women who choose oral contraceptives. It works mainly by stopping ovulation, thickening cervical mucus, and altering the uterine lining.

What is Junel Fe Tablet

Junel Fe 24 is a combination birth control pill for women. It contains two hormones, norethindrone acetate (a progestin) and ethinyl estradiol (an estrogen), plus four non-hormonal iron pills that don't do anything medically but help you stay in the habit of taking a pill every day.

Junel Fe Tablet uses

• Prevent pregnancy in women who choose to use oral contraceptives

Benefits of Junel Fe Tablet

• More regular menstrual cycles
• Lighter blood flow and less iron-deficiency anemia during periods
• Fewer painful periods
• Fewer ectopic (tubal) pregnancies
• Fewer noncancerous breast lumps or cysts
• Fewer cases of acute pelvic inflammatory disease
• Lower chance of ovarian and endometrial (uterine lining) cancer

How Junel Fe Tablet works

This medicine prevents pregnancy mainly by stopping the ovaries from releasing an egg. It also thickens cervical mucus to block sperm and changes the uterine lining so it's harder for a fertilized egg to implant.

Junel Fe Tablet dosage

Take one tablet by mouth at the same time every day for 28 days, in the order shown on the blister pack. It can be taken without regard to meals. Swallow the tablet whole with water; do not crush, break, or chew it. Take the pills in the exact order printed on the pack, starting with the light yellow (active) tablets and finishing with the brown (iron) tablets.

You may start on the first day of your period (Day 1 Start) or on the first Sunday after your period begins (Sunday Start); if you use a Sunday Start, use an additional non-hormonal method of birth control for the first 7 days.

If you switch from another birth control pill, start your new pack on the day you would have started the next pack of your old pill. If you switch from a patch or vaginal ring, start on the day you would have applied the next patch or inserted the next ring. If you switch from an injection or implant, start on the day of removal or on the day your next injection would have been due. If you switch from an IUD, start on the day of removal; use back-up birth control for 7 days if the IUD is not removed on the first day of your period.

Do not start until at least 4 weeks after childbirth if you are not breastfeeding. If you vomit or have diarrhea within 3 to 4 hours of taking an active tablet, treat it like a missed pill and consider back-up contraception. Stop taking this medicine at least 4 weeks before major surgery and do not restart until at least 2 weeks after, unless your doctor says otherwise.

Available forms and strengths

• Tablet (blister pack)

Side effects of Junel Fe Tablet

Common

• Headache
• Vaginal yeast infection (candidiasis)
• Nausea
• Menstrual cramps
• Breast tenderness
• Mood changes, including mood swings and depression
• Bacterial vaginitis
• Acne
• Weight gain

Serious

• Blood clots in the legs, lungs, eyes, or brain (stroke)
• Heart attack
• Liver problems, including rare liver tumors and jaundice
• High blood pressure
• Gallbladder disease
• Changes in blood sugar and cholesterol/triglyceride levels
• New or worsening headaches, including migraines
• Depression
• Possible increased risk of breast and cervical cancer
• Swelling of the face, lips, mouth, tongue, or throat (angioedema)
• Dark patches of skin (chloasma)
• Vision changes, blurred vision, or sudden loss of vision

Warnings and precautions

• Do not use this medicine if you are pregnant or think you might be pregnant. Stop taking it right away if you become pregnant while using it.
• This medicine can reduce your milk supply, especially before breastfeeding is well established. Talk to your doctor about the best birth control method for you while breastfeeding.
• This medicine has not been specifically studied in women with kidney problems.
• Do not use this medicine if you have liver disease or liver tumors. Hormones may not be broken down normally if your liver isn't working well, and your doctor may need to stop this medicine if liver problems develop.
• Smoking while taking this medicine, especially if you are over 35, greatly increases your risk of serious heart and blood vessel problems, including heart attack, blood clots, and stroke, which can be fatal.
• This medicine increases your risk of blood clots, which can lead to stroke, heart attack, or clots in the legs, lungs, or eyes.
• Do not take this medicine with certain hepatitis C combination drugs, as this can raise liver enzyme levels to dangerous levels.
• This medicine does not protect against HIV or other sexually transmitted infections.
• Stop this medicine and use non-hormonal birth control if you develop any condition such as blood clots, uncontrolled high blood pressure, certain migraines, liver problems, or unexplained vaginal bleeding.
• Tell your doctor if you have a history of depression, since this medicine can make depression worse.
• This medicine may cause dark patches of skin on the face, especially with sun exposure.

Storage

• Store at room temperature between 68°F and 77°F (20°C to 25°C)
• Protect from light
• Keep this and all medications out of the reach of children

When to see a doctor

• Get emergency help right away for leg pain that won't go away, sudden severe headache, sudden shortness of breath, weakness or numbness in an arm or leg, sudden vision changes or blindness, trouble speaking, or chest pain — these can be signs of a serious blood clot, stroke, or heart attack.
• Call your doctor if you notice yellowing of your skin or eyes, which can be a sign of a liver problem.
• Call your doctor right away if your face, lips, mouth, tongue, or throat swell, since this could make it hard to breathe or swallow.
• Contact your doctor if you miss two periods in a row, since this could mean you are pregnant.
• Call your doctor if breakthrough bleeding or spotting continues for more than a week or continues after you've taken the pill on schedule for more than three months.

Alternatives

• Lo Loestrin Fe
• Microgestin Fe
• Natazia