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

Quick overview

Loestrin Fe Tablet contains norethindrone acetate and ethinyl estradiol along with ferrous fumarate, and belongs to the combination oral contraceptive class. It is a prescription birth control pill taken daily to help prevent pregnancy. The pill combines hormones that stop ovulation, thicken cervical mucus, and thin the uterine lining, while the included iron tablets have no contraceptive effect.

What is Loestrin Fe Tablet

Lo Loestrin Fe is a prescription birth control pill that contains two hormones, an estrogen called ethinyl estradiol and a progestin called norethindrone acetate, plus iron tablets that have no contraceptive effect. It is taken daily to help prevent pregnancy.

Loestrin Fe Tablet uses

• Preventing pregnancy in women who can become pregnant

Benefits of Loestrin Fe Tablet

• Pregnancy Prevention: Prevents pregnancy when taken correctly.
• Cycle Regulation: Can help regulate menstrual cycles.
• Period Symptom Support: May reduce menstrual-related symptoms in some users.
• Ovulation Suppression: Prevents ovulation as part of its contraceptive action.

How Loestrin Fe Tablet works

The hormones in this pill stop the ovaries from releasing an egg each month, thicken mucus around the cervix to block sperm, and thin the uterine lining so a fertilized egg is less likely to implant.

Loestrin Fe Tablet dosage

Take one tablet by mouth at the same time every day. Take the tablets in the order shown on the blister pack; do not skip tablets. May be taken with or without food. Swallow tablets whole; do not chew, crush, or split them.

Usually start on the first day of your period; if you start on a different day, use a back-up method like condoms for the first week. If switching from another hormonal birth control method, follow your provider's instructions on when to start. If you vomit or have diarrhea within a few hours of taking a blue or white pill, follow the missed-pill instructions. Keep a back-up birth control method and an extra pack on hand in case of missed pills.

Available forms and strengths

• Oral tablet in a blister pack of 28 tablets (24 active blue tablets, 2 active white tablets, 2 non-hormonal brown iron tablets)

Side effects of Loestrin Fe Tablet

Common

• Nausea or vomiting
• Headache
• Irregular vaginal bleeding or spotting between periods
• Menstrual cramps or pelvic pain
• Weight changes
• Breast tenderness
• Acne
• Abdominal pain or bloating
• Anxiety or mood changes including depression
• Decreased sex drive
• Blotchy darkening of the skin, especially on the face
• Discomfort wearing contact lenses due to dry eyes

Serious

• Blood clots in the legs, lungs, eyes, heart, or brain (can cause stroke or heart attack)
• High blood pressure
• Gallbladder problems such as gallstones or inflammation
• Increased blood sugar or blood fat (cholesterol/triglyceride) levels
• Liver problems, including rare liver tumors
• Severe allergic reaction with swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat and trouble breathing
• Serious cardiovascular problems in women over 35 who smoke

Warnings and precautions

• Women over 35 who smoke cigarettes should not take this medicine because smoking greatly increases the risk of serious heart and blood vessel problems, including fatal heart attacks, blood clots, and strokes.
• Stop this medicine right away if you develop a blood clot, and stop taking it at least four weeks before major surgery, restarting only two weeks afterward, because of a higher risk of blood clots.
• This medicine does not protect against HIV or other sexually transmitted infections.
• Certain medical conditions make this medicine unsafe to use, including a history of blood clots, stroke, heart attack, certain heart valve or rhythm problems, uncontrolled high blood pressure, certain migraines, diabetes with blood vessel damage, current or past breast cancer, and liver disease.
• Taking certain Hepatitis C drug combinations with this medicine can raise liver enzyme levels, so it should not be combined with them.
• Certain medicines and herbal supplements, like St. John's wort and some seizure drugs and antibiotics, can make this birth control less effective, so a back-up method may be needed.
• This medicine is not meant to be used during pregnancy. If you become pregnant while taking it, stop the medicine and tell your doctor, though taking it accidentally during early pregnancy has not been shown to cause birth defects.
• Doctors usually do not recommend this medicine while breastfeeding because it can reduce the amount of breast milk produced. This effect is less likely once breastfeeding is well established.
• This medicine has not been studied in people with kidney problems, so its effects in this group are not known.
• People with liver disease, including liver tumors, should not use this medicine. Stop taking it if yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice) occurs, since the liver may not break down the hormones properly.
• Alcohol is not known to interact with this medicine, so it is likely safe to drink alcohol while taking it, but check with your doctor if you have concerns.

Storage

• Store at 25ºC (77ºF); brief exposure to 15-30ºC (59-86ºF) is allowed
• Keep this drug and all drugs out of the reach of children

When to see a doctor

• Call your healthcare provider right away if you have persistent leg pain, sudden shortness of breath, sudden partial or complete blindness, severe chest pain or pressure, a sudden severe headache unlike your usual headaches, weakness or numbness in an arm or leg, trouble speaking, or yellowing of the skin or eyes.
• Call your healthcare provider immediately if you have any thoughts of harming yourself, especially if you have a history of depression.
• Contact your healthcare provider if you think you might be pregnant, miss one period after not taking pills correctly, or miss two periods in a row.
• Seek emergency medical help right away for a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat, or trouble breathing.

Alternatives

• Yaz
• Lo Loestrin Fe
• Levonorgestrel + Ethinyl Estradiol