Artilla(Artizia)
Gestodene + Ethinylestradiol
Artilla and Artizia are different trade names for the same medicine.
Artilla is a combined oral contraceptive. Each effervescent tablet contains a small amount of two different female sex hormones. These are gestodene (progestogen) and ethinylestradiol.
Since all the effervescent tablets in the pack contain the same dose of the mentioned hormones, this tablet is referred to as a monophasic combined contraceptive.
Due to the low hormone content, it is considered a low-dose oral contraceptive.
Artilla is used to prevent pregnancy. When used as directed, becoming pregnant is very unlikely.
Before starting to take Artilla, you should read the information about blood clots (thrombosis) in point 2. It is especially important to read about the symptoms of blood clots (see point 2. "Blood clots").
This leaflet provides information on situations where the contraceptive should be stopped or where its reliability may be reduced.
In these cases, sexual intercourse should be avoided or a non-hormonal method of contraception, such as a condom or another mechanical method of contraception, should be used. The calendar method or temperature method should not be used. They can be unreliable because the contraceptive affects temperature changes and cervical mucus changes that normally occur during the menstrual cycle.
Artilla should not be taken if the patient has any of the conditions listed below. If the patient has any of the conditions listed below, they should inform their doctor. The doctor will discuss with the patient which other contraceptive method will be more suitable.
If any of the conditions or symptoms listed above occur for the first time while taking Artilla, the medicine should be stopped immediately and a doctor should be consulted. In the meantime, non-hormonal methods of contraception should be used.
When should a doctor be contacted?
A doctor should be contacted immediately
If these symptoms occur or worsen while taking Artilla, the doctor should also be told if:
Taking combined hormonal contraceptives, such as Artilla, is associated with an increased risk of blood clots, compared to not taking them. In rare cases, a blood clot can block a blood vessel and cause serious complications.
A doctor should be contacted immediately if any of the following symptoms are noticed.
Is the patient experiencing any of these symptoms? | Why is the patient likely to be suffering from |
| Deep vein thrombosis |
| Pulmonary embolism |
| Retinal vein thrombosis (blood clot in the eye) |
| Heart attack |
| Stroke |
| |
| Blood clots blocking other blood vessels |
The risk of forming a blood clot in a vein is highest during the first year of taking combined hormonal contraceptives for the first time. The risk may also be higher when resuming combined hormonal contraceptives (the same or a different medicine) after a break of 4 weeks or more.
After the first year, the risk decreases, but it is always higher than when not taking combined hormonal contraceptives.
If the patient stops taking Artilla, the risk of blood clots returns to normal within a few weeks.
The risk depends on the natural risk of venous thromboembolism and the type of combined hormonal contraceptive used.
The overall risk of blood clots in the legs or lungs due to Artilla is small.
Risk of blood clots in a year | |
Women who do not take combined hormonal pills/patches/systems and are not pregnant | About 2 out of 10,000 women |
Women taking combined hormonal contraceptive pills containing levonorgestrel, norethisterone, or norgestimate | About 5-7 out of 10,000 women |
Women taking Artilla | About 9-12 out of 10,000 women |
The risk of blood clots due to Artilla is small, but some factors can increase this risk. The risk is higher:
The risk of blood clots increases with the number of risk factors present in the patient.
Air travel (>4 hours) may temporarily increase the risk of blood clots, especially if the patient has another risk factor.
It is essential to tell the doctor if any of these risk factors are present, even if the patient is unsure. The doctor may decide to stop Artilla.
The doctor should be informed if any of the above conditions change while taking Artilla, e.g., if someone in the patient's immediate family is found to have a blood clot without a known cause or if the patient gains weight significantly.
Similarly to blood clots in veins, blood clots in arteries can cause serious consequences, such as a heart attack or stroke.
It is essential to note that the risk of a heart attack or stroke due to Artilla is very small, but it may increase:
If the patient has more than one of the above conditions or if any of them are severe, the risk of a blood clot may be even higher.
The doctor should be informed if any of the above conditions change while taking Artilla, e.g., if the patient starts smoking, someone in their immediate family is found to have a blood clot without a known cause, or if the patient gains weight significantly.
Women taking contraceptives have been found to have a slightly higher incidence of breast cancer than women of the same age who do not take oral contraceptives. The small increase in the number of breast cancer cases diagnosed is likely to be due to the fact that women taking contraceptives are more likely to have regular check-ups, resulting in earlier detection of breast cancer.
In individual cases, benign (non-cancerous) and, much more rarely, malignant liver tumors have been observed in women taking contraceptives. These tumors can cause internal bleeding.
If severe stomach pain occurs, a doctor should be consulted.
The most important risk factor for cervical cancer is long-term infection with human papillomavirus. In some epidemiological studies, it has been reported that long-term use of combined contraceptives may further increase this risk. It is not clear whether the increased risk is due to the contraceptive or other factors (e.g., regular cervical screening or sexual behavior associated with the use of mechanical contraceptive methods).
Some women taking hormonal contraceptives, including Artilla, have reported depression or low mood. Depression can be severe and sometimes lead to suicidal thoughts. If mood changes and symptoms of depression occur, a doctor should be contacted as soon as possible for further medical advice.
A doctor should always be informed about any medicines or herbal products currently being taken. The doctor should also be told if the patient is taking any other medicine (or the pharmacist), as they may inform whether additional contraceptive measures should be taken (e.g., condoms) and for how long, or whether the use of other medicines the patient needs should be changed.
Some medicines may affect the level of Artilla in the blood and reduce its contraceptive effectiveness or cause unexpected bleeding. This applies to medicines:
The contraceptive may also affect the action of other medicines, e.g.,:
Artilla should not be taken if the patient has hepatitis C and is taking medicines containing ombitasvir with paritaprevir and ritonavir, dasabuvir, glecaprevir with pibrentasvir, or sofosbuvir with velpatasvir and voxilaprevir, as they may lead to increased liver enzyme levels in the blood (increased alanine aminotransferase level). The doctor will recommend a different type of contraception before starting treatment with these medicines. About 2 weeks after finishing such treatment, Artilla can be taken again.
See point 2. "When not to take Artilla".
A doctor or pharmacist should be consulted before taking any medicine.
Tablets should be swallowed whole, with a small amount of water if necessary.
A doctor or pharmacist should be consulted before taking any medicine.
Artilla should not be taken during pregnancy or if pregnancy is suspected. If pregnancy is suspected while taking Artilla, a doctor should be consulted immediately.
Taking Artilla during breastfeeding is not recommended. If a contraceptive is planned during breastfeeding, a doctor should be consulted.
No effect on the ability to drive and use machines has been observed.
If the patient has been diagnosed with intolerance to some sugars, they should contact their doctor before taking the medicine.
The medicine contains less than 1 mmol (23 mg) of sodium per dose, which means the medicine is "sodium-free".
This medicine should always be taken as directed by a doctor or pharmacist. In case of doubt, a doctor or pharmacist should be consulted.
When taken correctly, combined oral contraceptives have a failure rate of about 1% per year. If a tablet is missed or not taken correctly, the failure rate may be higher.
One pack of Artilla contains 21 effervescent tablets. Each effervescent tablet is marked with the day of the week it should be taken. The tablets should be taken every day at the same time, e.g., after breakfast. The 21 effervescent tablets should be taken for 21 days (one effervescent tablet per day), and then the use of Artilla should be stopped for 7 days. During these 7 days, withdrawal bleeding should occur. It usually starts 2-3 days after the last tablet of Artilla. The next pack should be started on the 8th day, regardless of whether bleeding has stopped. This means starting the next pack on the same day of the week every time and having withdrawal bleeding on the same days every month.
If no hormonal contraception was used in the previous month
Artilla should be started on the first day of the menstrual cycle, i.e., the first day of menstrual bleeding. The tablet marked with the correct day of the week should be taken. For example, if the menstrual period starts on a Wednesday, the tablet marked with "Wednesday" should be taken (see "Translation of day-of-the-week symbols on the packaging" at the end of the leaflet and on the packaging). After taking the first tablet, the next tablets should be taken according to the direction of the arrows on the packaging until all 21 tablets have been taken. This method ensures immediate effectiveness of Artilla and eliminates the need for additional contraceptive methods.
Artilla can also be started between days 2 and 5 of the menstrual cycle, but in this case, additional mechanical methods of contraception should be used during the first 7 days of the first cycle.
Changing from another combined contraceptive or transdermal systems
Artilla can be started immediately after taking the last tablet from the previous pack (this means no break in tablet-taking). If the previous pack also contains tablets without active substances, Artilla can be started the day after taking the last tablet containing active substances(if in doubt, which tablets contain active substances, a doctor or pharmacist should be consulted). The tablets can also be started later, but no later than the day after the break in the previous contraceptive (or after taking the last tablet of the previous contraceptive that does not contain active substances).
In the case of previous use of transdermal systems, Artilla should be started preferably on the day the transdermal system is removed and no later than the day the next transdermal system would be applied.
Provided the above rules are followed, there is no need to use any additional contraceptive methods.
Changing from a progestogen-only medicine (minipill)
The minipill can be stopped at any time, and the first tablet of Artilla should be taken the next day at the same time. During the first 7 days, additional mechanical methods of contraception should be used during sexual intercourse.
Changing from injections, implants, or an intrauterine device releasing progestogen (IUD)
Artilla should be started when the next injection would be due or on the day the implant or IUD is removed. During the first 7 days, additional mechanical methods of contraception should be used during sexual intercourse.
Use after childbirth
After childbirth, it is recommended to delay the use of Artilla until the first normal menstrual period has occurred. Sometimes it may be possible to start earlier. A doctor should be consulted. During breastfeeding, the possibility of using Artilla should also be discussed with a doctor.
Use after spontaneous or induced abortion
A doctor should be consulted.
There are no reports of serious disorders due to taking more than one tablet of Artilla at a time. If more than one tablet of Artilla is taken at a time, nausea, vomiting, or bleeding from the genitals may occur. If a child takes Artilla, a doctor should be consulted.
A doctor should be consulted.
Missing 1 tablet in the first week
The tablet should be taken as soon as possible (even if it means taking two tablets at the same time), and the next tablet should be taken at the usual time. During the next 7 days, additional mechanical methods of contraception should be used.
If sexual intercourse occurred during the week when the tablet was missed, there is a risk of pregnancy. A doctor should be consulted immediately.
Missing 1 tablet in the second week
The tablet should be taken as soon as possible (even if it means taking two tablets at the same time), and the next tablet should be taken at the usual time.
The effectiveness of Artilla remains unchanged, and there is no need to use additional contraceptive methods.
Missing 1 tablet in the third week
One of the following options can be chosen, without the need for additional contraceptive methods.
or
If a tablet is missed and withdrawal bleeding does not occur, there is a risk of pregnancy. Before starting the next pack, a doctor should be consulted.
Missing more than 1 tablet during the cycle |
Yes
No
Artilla can be stopped at any time. If the reason for stopping is to become pregnant, it is recommended to wait until the first normal menstrual period has occurred. This will make it easier to determine the due date.
If the reason for stopping is not to become pregnant, a doctor should be consulted to choose another contraceptive method.
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
If side effects occur, especially severe and persistent ones or changes in your health status that you consider to be related to the use of Artilla, you should consult your doctor.
You should contact your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following symptoms of angioedema: swelling of the face, tongue and/or throat and/or difficulty swallowing or urticaria potentially with difficulty breathing (see also section 2. "Warnings and precautions").
In all women using combined hormonal contraceptives, there is an increased risk of blood clots in the veins (venous thromboembolism) or blood clots in the arteries (arterial thromboembolism). For more information on the various risk factors associated with the use of combined hormonal contraceptives, you should refer to section 2 "Important information before using Artilla".
During the use of the gestodene and ethinylestradiol combination, the following side effects have been observed, although this combination may not have been the cause of their occurrence. These side effects occur mainly during the first few months of use and usually decrease during use.
Side effects are grouped by frequency of occurrence:
Common(may occur in 1 to 10 out of 100 people):
Uncommon(may occur in 1 to 10 out of 1000 people):
Rare(may occur in 1 to 10 out of 10,000 people):
Very rare(may occur in less than 1 out of 10,000 people):
If you experience any side effects, including any not listed in the leaflet, you should tell your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse. Side effects can be reported directly to the Department of Monitoring of Adverse Reactions to Medicinal Products, Office for Registration of Medicinal Products, Medical Devices and Biocidal Products, Al. Jerozolimskie 181C, 02-222 Warsaw, Tel.: 22 49-21-301, Fax: 22 49-21-309
Website: https://smz.ezdrowie.gov.pl
By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of the drug.
The medicine should be stored out of sight and reach of children.
Do not use this medicine after the expiry date stated on the packaging.
The expiry date refers to the last day of the month stated.
Do not store above 30°C. Store in the original packaging to protect from light.
Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. You should ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines that are no longer needed. This will help protect the environment.
Lu
The active substances of Artilla are 0.075 mg gestodene and 0.020 mg ethinylestradiol.
The other ingredients are: calcium sodium edetate, lactose monohydrate, corn starch, povidone 25, magnesium stearate; coating:sucrose, povidone 90 F, macrogol 6000, calcium carbonate, talc, montan glycol wax.
White, biconvex, round, glossy dragee tablets with a diameter of approximately 5.5 - 5.7 mm.
Package size: 21 dragee tablets.
A cardboard sachet is attached to the packaging, in which the blister should be placed.
For more detailed information, you should contact the marketing authorization holder or the parallel importer.
Zentiva k.s.
U Kabelovny 130, Dolní Měcholupy
102 37 Prague 10
Czech Republic
Haupt Pharma Münster GmbH
Schleebrüggenkamp 15
48159 Münster
Germany
Zentiva k.s.
U Kabelovny 130, Dolní Měcholupy
102 37 Prague 10
Czech Republic
Medezin Sp. z o.o.
Zbąszyńska 3 Street
91-342 Łódź
Medezin Sp. z o.o.
Zbąszyńska 3 Street
91-342 Łódź
Marketing authorization number in Romania, the country of export: 7462/2015/01
7462/2015/02
Parallel import authorization number: 1/20
[Information about the trademark]
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