Cyproterone acetate + Ethinylestradiol
Cyprodiol is used to treat skin conditions such as acne, very oily skin, and excessive hair growth in women of childbearing age. Due to its contraceptive properties, this medicine should only be prescribed to a patient if the doctor considers that treatment with hormonal contraceptives is appropriate.
The patient should use Cyprodiol to treat acne only if there has been no improvement in the skin condition after using other anti-acne therapies, including local treatments and antibiotics.
You should inform your doctor if any of the following conditions are present before starting Cyprodiol. The doctor may then recommend an alternative treatment:
Cyprodiol should not be used in men.
If any of the above conditions occur during treatment with Cyprodiol, you should stop taking the medicine immediately and consult a doctor. In the meantime, you should use a non-hormonal method of contraception.
General notes
This leaflet indicates various situations in which you should stop using Cyprodiol or in which the contraceptive effect may be reduced. In such situations, you should either abstain from sex or use another non-hormonal method of contraception, such as condoms or other barrier methods. However, you should not use the rhythm or temperature method.
There have been reports of an increased risk of developing a benign brain tumour (meningioma) in association with the use of high doses (25 mg and above) of cyproterone acetate. If a meningioma is diagnosed, the doctor will stop treatment with products containing cyproterone, including Cyprodiol, as a precautionary measure (see "When not to use Cyprodiol").
Consultations and/or medical examinations
Before starting treatment with hormonal medicines like Cyprodiol, you should have a thorough medical examination (including measurement of weight, blood pressure, heart, lower limbs, and skin examination, urine glucose test, and, if appropriate, liver function tests) and a gynaecological examination (including breast examination and cervical smear) and a detailed medical history. Before starting Cyprodiol, you should exclude pregnancy. If relatives have had blood clots at a young age, you should exclude coagulation disorders. During treatment with Cyprodiol, it is recommended to have check-ups on average every 6 months.
Compared to non-users, the use of contraceptive pills or Cyprodiol is associated with an increased risk of blood clots in the veins (venous thromboembolism), which can sometimes break loose and reach organs such as the lungs (pulmonary embolism).
The additional risk of venous thromboembolism is highest during the first year of use of contraceptive pills for the first time. However, the risk of vascular disease is still lower than the risk during pregnancy (estimated at 60 cases per 100,000 pregnant women).
Cyprodiol also acts as an oral contraceptive. The patient and doctor should consider all the usual rules for safe use of oral hormonal contraception.
Blood clots (thrombosis)
The use of Cyprodiol may slightly increase the risk of blood clots in the patient (so-called thrombosis). The likelihood of blood clots in patients using Cyprodiol is only slightly increased compared to women who do not use Cyprodiol or any oral contraceptive. Not all patients recover fully, 1-2% of cases can be fatal.
Blood clots in veins
A blood clot in a vein (known as deep vein thrombosis) can block a vein. This can happen in the veins of the legs, lungs (pulmonary embolism), or any other organ.
The use of combined oral contraceptives increases the risk of such blood clots in women compared to women who do not take any combined oral contraceptives. The risk of venous thromboembolism is increased by:
If any of these conditions apply to you, it is important to inform your doctor about the use of Cyprodiol, as treatment may need to be discontinued. Your doctor may advise you to stop taking Cyprodiol for a few weeks before surgery or when your mobility is limited. Your doctor will also inform you when you can start taking Cyprodiol again after you have regained mobility.
Blood clots in arteries
Blood clots in arteries can cause serious damage. For example, a blood clot in the coronary artery can cause a heart attack, or in the brain, it can cause a stroke.
The use of combined oral contraceptives is associated with an increased risk of blood clots in arteries. This risk is increased by:
Symptoms caused by a blood clot
Not all patients recover fully after a blood clot. Occasionally, thrombosis can cause permanent disability or death.
After childbirth, women are at increased risk of blood clots (see also "Pregnancy and breastfeeding").
Epidemiological studies have shown that thrombosis occurs more frequently during the use of Cyprodiol than in patients using low-dose estrogen combined oral contraceptives (less than 50 micrograms of ethinylestradiol).
Very rarely, blood clots can occur in the blood vessels of the liver, abdominal cavity, kidneys, or eyes.
In women using Cyprodiol for the treatment of severe acne or mild hirsutism (excessive hair growth on the face and body), there is an increased risk of cardiovascular disorders, such as the development of ovarian cysts (polycystic ovary syndrome).
Some women using hormonal contraceptives, including Cyprodiol, have reported depression or low mood. Depression can be severe and sometimes lead to suicidal thoughts. If mood changes and symptoms of depression occur, you should consult a doctor as soon as possible for further medical advice.
If the symptoms of hirsutism (excessive hair growth on the body) in women using Cyprodiol worsen significantly, you should discuss the cause with a doctor.
After childbirth, women are at increased risk of thromboembolic events (see also "Pregnancy and breastfeeding").
The occurrence of cervical cancer has been reported slightly more frequently in women using contraceptive pills for a longer time. It is not yet clear what role the patient's sexual behaviour (e.g., frequent changes of partners) or other factors play compared to the use of contraceptive pills themselves.
Breast cancer is diagnosed slightly more frequently in women taking contraceptive pills than in women of the same age who do not take them. After stopping the use of contraceptive pills, the difference in the number of breast cancers in women who have used contraceptive pills compared to other women gradually decreases and is no longer noticeable after 10 years.
Since breast cancer is rare in women under 40, the number of additional breast cancer cases diagnosed in patients currently or recently using contraceptive pills is small compared to the overall risk of breast cancer. These studies do not provide evidence of a causal relationship. The observed increased risk of breast cancer may be related to its earlier detection in women using contraceptive pills, the biological effect of these medicines, or both factors combined. In women who have always used contraceptive pills, the detected breast cancer is less advanced clinically than in women who have never used contraceptive pills.
In rare cases, women using contraceptive pills have developed benign and (even more rarely) malignant liver tumours. In very rare cases, these have led to life-threatening bleeding in the abdominal cavity. If sudden severe abdominal pain occurs, you should contact a doctor immediately.
Malignant tumours can be life-threatening or fatal.
Reduced efficacyThe efficacy of Cyprodiol may be reduced in the following situations:
For more information, see also section 3.
You should tell your doctor or pharmacist about all medicines you are currently taking or have recently taken, as well as any medicines you plan to take.
Interactions between hormonal medicines like Cyprodiol and other medicines may lead to breakthrough bleeding and/or reduced contraceptive efficacy.
The following medicines may interfere with the action of Cyprodiol:
Cyprodiol may also affect the metabolism of other medicines. For example, Cyprodiol may interfere with the efficacy or tolerance of cyclosporin (used to suppress the immune system), lamotrigine (used to treat epilepsy), theophylline (used to treat respiratory disorders), or tizanidine [used to treat muscle pain and/or muscle spasms].
Women treated with the above groups of substances should use additional barrier methods of contraception during treatment and for 28 days after stopping treatment.
If a barrier method is used after stopping the blister pack, you should start taking tablets from the next blister pack without a 7-day break.
It may be necessary to adjust the dose of antidiabetic medicines.
This information may also apply to medicines taken recently.
Cyprodiol should not be used at the same time as other hormonal contraceptives; if applicable, you should stop using such medicines before starting treatment with Cyprodiol (for more information, see also "How to use Cyprodiol").
Cyprodiol should not be used if you have hepatitis C and are taking antiviral medicines containing ombitasvir, paritaprevir, and ritonavir, dasabuvir, glecaprevir with pibrentasvir, or sofosbuvir with velpatasvir and voxilaprevir, as these medicines may cause elevated liver enzyme test results (increased ALT activity).
Your doctor will recommend an alternative method of contraception before starting these medicines.
You can start taking Cyprodiol again about 2 weeks after stopping treatment. See section "When not to use Cyprodiol".
Laboratory test results
If a blood test is necessary, you should inform your doctor or laboratory staff that you are taking contraceptive pills, as the hormones in the pills may affect the results of some laboratory tests.
Before taking any medicine, you should consult a doctor or pharmacist.
Cyprodiol should not be used during pregnancy or if pregnancy is suspected. If you become pregnant while taking Cyprodiol, you should stop taking the medicine immediately. However, previous use of Cyprodiol is not a reason to terminate the pregnancy.
Cyprodiol should not be used during breastfeeding, as the medicine may reduce the amount of milk produced and small amounts of active substances may pass into breast milk.
No special precautions are required.
If you have been diagnosed with an intolerance to some sugars, you should contact your doctor before taking the medicine.
The medicine contains less than 1 mmol (23 mg) of sodium per tablet, which means the medicine is essentially "sodium-free".
Cyprodiol inhibits ovulation and thus has a contraceptive effect. Patients using Cyprodiol should not use an additional hormonal contraceptive, as this would lead to an overdose of hormones and is not necessary for effective contraception. For the same reason, women planning a pregnancy should not use Cyprodiol.
The following information applies unless your doctor has advised you to take Cyprodiol in a different way. You should follow the instructions, as otherwise, Cyprodiol may not work properly.
You should start taking Cyprodiol on the first day of your menstrual period. Only women who do not menstruate should start treatment as prescribed by a doctor. In this case, the first day of tablet intake is considered the first day of the cycle, and the further schedule is determined based on this.
You should press out the tablet marked on the packaging with the symbol of the day of the week when you start taking the medicine (e.g., "Mon" if you start on a Monday). Swallow the tablet whole (do not chew), if necessary, with a liquid.
If you start taking Cyprodiol soon after childbirth or miscarriage, you should ask your doctor if additional contraception is necessary during the first cycle to effectively prevent pregnancy.
Then, take one tablet daily in the order indicated by the arrows on the packaging until the blister pack is finished. You should maintain a consistent time for taking the tablets.
Then, take a 7-day break from taking the tablets, during which withdrawal bleeding will start 2-4 days after taking the last tablet.
After the 7-day break, continue taking the tablets from the next blister pack, regardless of whether the withdrawal bleeding has stopped or not.
Contraceptive protection begins on the first day of tablet intake and is maintained during the 7-day break. For this reason, you should not use another hormonal contraceptive at the same time.
The time needed to alleviate symptoms is at least 3 months.
Your doctor will inform you how long you should take Cyprodiol.
Possible symptoms of overdose include nausea and vomiting (usually within 12-24 hours, in some cases lasting for several days) and slight vaginal bleeding.
If you have taken more than the prescribed dose, you should consult a doctor, who will recommend the necessary actions.
You should consult a doctor.
You should take the missed pill as soon as possible, even if it means taking two pills at the same time. The next pills should be taken at the usual time. Additionally, you should use an extra barrier method of contraception (e.g., condoms) for the next 7 days.
If you have had sexual intercourse during the week before missing the pill, there is a risk of pregnancy. In this case, you should consult a doctor immediately.
You should take the missed pill as soon as possible, even if it means taking two pills at the same time.
Provided that the pills have been taken correctly for the 7 days preceding the missed pill, the contraceptive protection is maintained, and there is no need to use additional methods of contraception.
You can choose one of the following options:
or
If you miss several pills and after finishing the blister pack, withdrawal bleeding does not occur during the usual break, there is a possibility of pregnancy. In this case, you should consult a doctor before starting the next blister pack.
In case of acute gastrointestinal disorders, the active substances may not be fully absorbed, so you should use additional methods of contraception.
If vomiting occurs within 3-4 hours after taking a pill, you should follow the instructions for missing a pill. You should take a replacement pill from the next blister pack, which will maintain the schedule of tablet intake.
Unexpected bleeding (spotting or breakthrough bleeding) may occur, especially during the first few months. However, you should continue taking the pills as usual.
Such irregular bleeding usually stops after about three cycles (three blister packs), once the body has adapted to Cyprodiol. However, you should consult a doctor if the bleeding persists, worsens, or recurs.
If you have taken all the pills correctly, have not vomited, or had severe diarrhoea, and have not taken any other medicines, pregnancy is very unlikely. Nevertheless, you should consult a doctor and stop taking the pills until the doctor has ruled out pregnancy.
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. In all women using Cyprodiol, the risk of venous and arterial thromboembolic disease (e.g., venous thromboembolic disease, pulmonary embolism, stroke, myocardial infarction) increases. For further information, see also "Warnings and precautions". This risk may be further increased by additional factors (smoking, high blood pressure, blood clotting or lipid metabolism disorders, significant obesity, varicose veins, past history of phlebitis or thrombosis); see "Important information before taking Cyprodiol". Other severe side effects, such as liver tumors, breast cancer, or cervical cancer, are described in the "Warnings and precautions" section. The following list contains side effects associated with the use of Cyprodiol. Frequentside effects (may occur in up to 1 in 10 patients):
Less frequentside effects (may occur in up to 1 in 100 patients):
Rareside effects (may occur in up to 1 in 1,000 patients):
Side effectswith an unknown frequency (frequency cannot be determined based on available data):
Additionally, the following side effects have been reported in women taking oral contraceptives:
The frequency of breast cancer diagnosis is slightly increased in women taking oral contraceptives. Since breast cancer rarely occurs in women under 40 years of age, the increased risk is small compared to the overall risk of breast cancer. It is not known whether the development of cancer is related to the use of oral contraceptives. More information can be found in the "Oral contraceptives and tumors" section. Information on the incidence of breast cancer in women taking oral contraceptives compared to women not taking oral contraceptives can be found in section 2 "Warnings and precautions". In patients with increased body hair (hirsutism) whose symptoms have recently worsened, the causes (androgen-producing tumor, adrenal enzyme defect) must be explained by the doctor. Due to its composition, Cyprodiol has a contraceptive effect if taken regularly. Irregular intake of Cyprodiol may lead to menstrual cycle disorders and loss of contraceptive effectiveness.
If you experience any side effects, including any side effects not listed in the leaflet, you should tell your doctor or pharmacist. Side effects can be reported directly to the address below. By reporting side effects, more information can be gathered on the safety of the medicine. Department of Adverse Reaction Monitoring of Medicinal Products, Medical Devices, and Biocidal Products Registration Office Al. Jerozolimskie 181C 02-222 Warsaw Tel.: +48 22 49 21 301 Fax: +48 22 49 21 309 Website: https://smz.ezdrowie.gov.pl Side effects can also be reported to the marketing authorization holder. By reporting side effects, more information can be gathered on the safety of the medicine.
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 given month. The batch number is stated on the packaging after the abbreviation "Lot". Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines no longer required. This will help protect the environment.
The active substances are: cyproterone acetate and ethinylestradiol. One coated tablet contains 2 mg of cyproterone acetate and 0.035 mg of ethinylestradiol. The other ingredients are: Tablet core: lactose monohydrate, cornstarch, maltodextrin, and magnesium stearate. Tablet coating: hypromellose, macrogol 4000, macrogol 400, titanium dioxide (E 171), lactose monohydrate, sodium citrate, yellow iron oxide (E 172), red iron oxide (E 172), black iron oxide (E 172), and quinoline yellow lake (E 104).
Cyprodiol is available in the form of round, yellowish coated tablets in PVC/PE/PVDC/Aluminum blisters, each containing 21 coated tablets. Pack sizes: 21 coated tablets, 2 x 21 coated tablets, 3 x 21 coated tablets, 6 x 21 coated tablets. Not all pack sizes may be marketed.
SUN-FARM Sp. z o.o. ul. Dolna 21 05-092 Łomianki
mibe GmbH Arzneimittel Münchener Straße 15 06796 Brehna Germany Date of last update of the leaflet:12.2022
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