Gestodene + Ethinylestradiol
Vines and Varianta are different trade names for the same drug.
Vines is a combined oral contraceptive, commonly known as a "pill".
The combined oral contraceptive protects against pregnancy in three ways. The hormones contained in the drug:
Before starting to use Vines, it is necessary to read the information about blood clots (thrombosis) in section 2. It is especially important to read about the symptoms of blood clots (see section 2 "Blood clots").
Before Vines can be started, the doctor will ask the patient a few questions about her health and the health of her close relatives. The doctor will also measure blood pressure and, depending on the individual case, may perform some other tests.
This leaflet describes several situations in which Vines should be stopped or in which the effectiveness of Vines may be reduced. In such situations, either no sexual intercourse should be maintained or additional non-hormonal contraceptive methods should be used, e.g. condoms or other mechanical methods.
The observational method or temperature measurement method should not be used. These methods may be unreliable because Vines modifies the monthly changes in cervical mucus.
Vines, like other hormonal contraceptives, does not protect against HIV infection (AIDS) or other sexually transmitted diseases.
Vines should not be used if the patient has any of the following conditions. If the patient has any of the following conditions, she should inform her doctor. The doctor will discuss with the patient which other contraceptive method will be more suitable.
Vines should not be used in patients with hepatitis C and taking medicinal products containing ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir, dasabuvir, glecaprevir/pibrentasvir, or sofosbuvir/velpatasvir/voxilaprevir (see also "Vines and other drugs").
Before starting to use Vines, it is necessary to discuss it with a doctor or pharmacist.
When to contact a doctor?
A doctor should be contacted immediately:
In certain situations, it is necessary to exercise particular caution when using Vines or any other combined hormonal contraceptive. Regular medical check-ups may also be necessary. If the patient has any of the following conditions, she should inform her doctor before starting to use Vines.
If these symptoms occur or worsen during the use of Vines, the doctor should also be informed.
The use of combined hormonal contraceptives, such as Vines, is associated with an increased risk of blood clots compared to not using them. In rare cases, a blood clot can block a blood vessel and cause serious complications.
Blood clots can occur:
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:
Pulmonary embolism
If the patient is unsure, she should contact a doctor, as some of these symptoms, such as coughing or shortness of breath, may be mistaken for milder conditions, such as a respiratory infection (e.g. a cold). Symptoms usually occur in one eye:
Retinal vein thrombosis (blood clot in the eye)
Myocardial infarction (heart attack)
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| Blood clots blocking other blood vessels |
The risk of forming a blood clot in a vein is highest during the first year of using combined hormonal contraceptives for the first time. The risk may also be higher when resuming the use of combined hormonal contraceptives (the same or a different drug) after a break of 4 weeks or more.
After the first year, the risk decreases, but it is always higher compared to not using combined hormonal contraceptives.
If the patient stops using Vines, the risk of blood clots returns to normal within a few weeks.
The risk of blood clots due to Vines is small, but some factors can increase this risk. The risk is higher:
Air travel (over 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 factors apply to the patient, even if the patient is unsure. The doctor may decide to stop Vines.
If any of the above conditions change during the use of Vines, e.g. someone in the patient's close family is diagnosed with a blood clot without a known cause or the patient gains significant weight, the doctor should be informed.
Like 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 Vines 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 blood clots may be even higher.
The doctor should be informed if any of the above conditions change during the use of Vines, e.g. the patient starts smoking, someone in the patient's close family is diagnosed with a blood clot without a known cause, or the patient gains significant weight.
In women using combined oral contraceptives, breast cancer is slightly more common, but it is not known if this is caused by their use. For example, more tumors may be detected in women using combined oral contraceptives because they are examined by doctors more often. The frequency of breast tumors decreases gradually after stopping the use of combined hormonal contraceptives. It is essential to examine the breasts regularly and contact a doctor if any lump is felt.
In rare cases, benign liver tumors have been reported in women using oral contraceptives, and in even rarer cases, malignant liver tumors. If the patient feels unusual, severe abdominal pain, she should contact a doctor.
Some women using hormonal contraceptives, including Vines, 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.
During the first few months of using Vines, unexpected bleeding (bleeding outside the period of taking placebo tablets) may occur. If such bleeding persists for more than a few months or starts after a few months, a doctor should be consulted.
If all the tablets were taken correctly, there was no vomiting or severe diarrhea, and no other drugs were taken, it is very unlikely that the woman is pregnant.
If withdrawal bleeding does not occur twice in a row, it may indicate pregnancy. A doctor should be contacted immediately. The next pack of Vines should not be started until it is certain that the patient is not pregnant.
There are limited data on the use of Vines in adolescents under 18 years old.
The patient should tell her doctor or pharmacist about all the drugs she is currently taking or has recently taken, as well as any drugs she plans to take.
The patient should also inform other doctors or dentists who prescribe other drugs (or pharmacists) about the use of Vines. The doctor will inform the patient whether there is a need to use additional contraception (e.g. a condom) and if so, for how long.
Vines should not be used in patients with hepatitis C and taking medicinal products containing ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir, dasabuvir, glecaprevir/pibrentasvir, or sofosbuvir/velpatasvir/voxilaprevir, as these products may cause abnormal liver function test results (increased liver enzyme activity).
Before starting to take these drugs, the doctor will prescribe a different contraceptive method.
Vines can be started again about 2 weeks after the end of the above-mentioned treatment. See "When not to use Vines".
Some drugs may affect the blood levels of Vines and reduce its effectiveness in preventing pregnancy or may cause unexpected bleeding. These include drugs used to treat:
Vines may affect the effectiveness of other drugs, such as:
If a blood test is necessary, the doctor or laboratory staff should be informed that Vines is being taken, as oral contraceptives may affect the results of some tests.
If the patient is pregnant or breastfeeding, thinks she may be pregnant, or plans to have a child, she should consult her doctor or pharmacist before using this drug.
Pregnant women should not take Vines. If the patient becomes pregnant or thinks she may be pregnant, she should stop taking Vines immediately and contact her doctor.
Vines should not be used during breastfeeding. If the patient wants to take Vines during breastfeeding, she should discuss it with her doctor.
Vines can be used while driving and operating machinery.
Vines contains lactose and lactose monohydrate. If the patient has been diagnosed with intolerance to some sugars, she should contact her doctor before taking Vines.
The inactive green tablets contain orange yellow S (E 110), which may cause allergic reactions.
This drug should always be used as directed by the doctor. In case of doubts, the doctor or pharmacist should be consulted.
Each blister pack contains 24 yellow film-coated tablets and 4 green film-coated placebo tablets.
The tablets are arranged in the correct order and are marked with two different colors.
The blister pack contains 28 tablets.
One Vines tablet should be taken every day, if necessary, with a small amount of water. The tablets can be taken with or without food, but it is recommended to take them at the same time every day.
It is essential to take the tablets in the correct order, following the direction of the arrows on the blister pack. After taking the last green placebo tablet, a new blister pack should be started immediately. There should be no gap between the packs.
Vines used in this way also protects against pregnancy during the 4 days when the placebo tablets are taken.
If hormonal contraceptives were not used in the previous month
Vines should be started on the first day of the menstrual cycle (i.e. on the first day of menstrual bleeding). If Vines is started on the first day of menstrual bleeding, it provides immediate protection against pregnancy.
Switching from another combined hormonal contraceptive or vaginal ring or transdermal patch to Vines
Vines should be started on the day after taking the last active tablet of the previous combined oral contraceptive or on the day after the usual break, during which no tablets are taken, or during which placebo tablets are taken from the previous contraceptive. In this case, the patient is protected against pregnancy.
Switching from a progestogen-only method (progestogen-only pill, injection, implant, or intrauterine system releasing progestogen) to Vines
Vines can be started on any day (in the case of an implant or intrauterine system, on the day of its removal, and in the case of an injection, on the day the next injection is due). In all these cases, an additional contraceptive method (e.g. a condom) should be used for the first 7 days of taking the tablets.
The last 4 tablets in the fourth row of the blister pack are placebo tablets. If one of these tablets is missed, it will not affect the effectiveness of Vines.
The missed placebo tablet should be discarded.
If the patient forgets to take a yellow tablet containing the active substances (tablets 1-24 on the blister pack), she should follow these instructions:
More than one tablet has been missed from the pack
A doctor should be contacted.
A tablet has been missed on days 1-7 (first row)
The missed tablet should be taken as soon as possible, even if it means taking two tablets at the same time. The next tablets should be taken at the usual time, and an additional contraceptive method (e.g. a condom) should be used for the next 7 days. If sexual intercourse took place in the week before the tablet was missed, pregnancy should be considered. In this case, a doctor should be contacted.
A tablet has been missed on days 8-14 (second row)
The missed tablet should be taken as soon as possible, even if it means taking two tablets at the same time. The next tablets should be taken at the usual time. Contraceptive protection is not reduced, so there is no need to use an additional contraceptive method.
A tablet has been missed on days 15-24 (third or fourth row)
There are two options:
If vomiting occurs within 3-4 hours of taking a yellow tablet containing the active substances, or if severe diarrhea occurs, there is a risk that the active substances in the tablet may not be fully absorbed into the body.
The situation is almost identical to missing a tablet. If vomiting or diarrhea occurs, the patient should take another yellow tablet from a spare pack as soon as possible.
If possible, it should be taken within 12 hours of the usual time of taking the tablets.
If this is not possible and more than 12 hours have passed, the patient should follow the instructions in the "Missed tablet" section.
The patient can delay withdrawal bleeding by skipping the green placebo tablets from the fourth row and starting a new pack of Vines immediately. During the tablets from the second pack, there may be some bleeding or spotting. The tablets from the second pack should be taken until the end, including the 4 green placebo tablets from the fourth row. Then, a new pack should be started.
Before deciding to delay withdrawal bleeding, the patient can consult her doctor.
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 health that the patient considers related to the use of Vines, consult a doctor. You should immediately contact a doctor if the patient experiences any of the following symptoms of angioedema: swelling of the face, tongue and/or throat and/or difficulty swallowing or hives potentially with difficulty breathing (see also "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 detailed information on the various risk factors associated with the use of combined hormonal contraceptives, refer to section 2 "Important information before using Vines". Frequentside effects (may occur in up to 1 in 10 people):
Infrequentside effects (may occur in up to 1 in 100 people):
Very rareside effects (may occur in up to 1 in 10,000 people):
If any side effects occur, including any side effects not listed in the leaflet, tell your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse. Side effects can be reported directly to the Department of Monitoring of Adverse Reactions to Medicinal Products of the 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 this medicine.
The medicine should be stored out of sight and reach of children. Do not store above 30°C. Store in the original packaging to protect from light and moisture. Do not use this medicine after the expiry date stated on the carton and blister. The expiry date refers to the last day of the specified month. 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 of Vines are gestodene (60 micrograms) and ethinylestradiol (15 micrograms) in each yellow tablet.
Yellow, active film-coated tablets: lactose monohydrate, microcrystalline cellulose, polyacrylate potassium, magnesium stearate. Coating:lactose monohydrate, hypromellose, titanium dioxide (E 171), triacetin, quinoline yellow (E 104).
Green, inactive film-coated tablets (placebo): microcrystalline cellulose, lactose, corn starch, magnesium stearate, colloidal silica anhydrous. Coating: polyvinyl alcohol, titanium dioxide (E 171), macrogol 3350, talc, indigo carmine (E 132), quinoline yellow (E 104), iron oxide black (E 172), orange yellow S (E 110).
The active tablet is yellow, film-coated, round, biconvex, approximately 5.5 mm in diameter. On one side, it has the embossed "G43", the other side is smooth. The placebo tablet is green, round, biconvex, film-coated, approximately 6 mm in diameter, without markings. The film-coated tablets are packaged in PVC/Aluminum blisters. Each blister is packaged in a laminated aluminum sachet. The blisters in sachets are packaged in a cardboard box containing a patient leaflet, a cardboard sachet for storing blisters, and stickers in the form of strips marked with days of the week. Pack sizes: 1×(24+4) film-coated tablets, 3×(24+4) film-coated tablets, 6×(24+4) film-coated tablets. For more detailed information, contact the marketing authorization holder or parallel importer.
Gedeon Richter Plc., Gyömrői út 19-21., 1103 Budapest, Hungary
Gedeon Richter Plc., Gyömrői út 19-21., 1103 Budapest, Hungary
Delfarma Sp. z o.o., ul. Św. Teresy od Dzieciątka Jezus 111, 91-222 Łódź
Delfarma Sp. z o.o., ul. Św. Teresy od Dzieciątka Jezus 111, 91-222 Łódź
Austrian export license number: 1-30481
[Information about the trademark]
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