Package Leaflet: Information for the User
aidra 3 mg/0.03 mg film-coated tablets EFG
drospirenone/ethinylestradiol
Read the entire package leaflet carefully before starting to take this medication, as it contains important information for you.
Important things you should know about combined hormonal contraceptives (CHCs):
Package Leaflet Contents
aidra is a contraceptive and is used to prevent pregnancy.
Each of the 21 tablets contains a small amount of two different female hormones, called drospirenone and ethinylestradiol.
Contraceptives that contain two hormones are called combined contraceptives.
General considerations
Before starting to use aidra, you should read the information about blood clots in section 2. It is particularly important that you read the symptoms of a blood clot (see section 2 "Blood clots").
Before starting to take aidra, your doctor will ask you some questions about your personal and family medical history. The doctor will also measure your blood pressure and, depending on your personal situation, may perform some other tests.
This package leaflet describes several situations in which you should stop using aidra or in which the effect of aidra may decrease. In such situations, you should not have sexual intercourse or should take additional non-hormonal contraceptive precautions, for example, use a condom or another barrier method. Do not use the rhythm or temperature method. These methods may not be reliable since aidra alters the monthly changes in body temperature and cervical mucus.
aidra, like other hormonal contraceptives, does not protect against HIV (AIDS) or any other sexually transmitted disease.
When not to use aidra
Do not use aidra if you have any of the conditions listed below. Inform your doctor if you have any of the conditions listed below. Your doctor will discuss with you what other form of contraception would be more suitable.
Do not take aidra
Additional information on special populations
Use in children
aidra is not indicated for use in women who have not yet had their first menstrual period.
Warnings and precautions
When should you consult your doctor? Seek urgent medical attention:
To get a description of the symptoms of these serious side effects, see "How to recognize a blood clot". |
Tell your doctor if you suffer from any of the following conditions.
In some situations, you should be extra careful while using aidra or any other combined contraceptive, and it may be necessary for your doctor to examine you periodically. If the condition develops or worsens while you are using aidra, you should also inform your doctor:
Psychiatric disorders:
Some women who use hormonal contraceptives like aidra have reported depression or a depressed mood. Depression can be severe and sometimes can induce suicidal thoughts. If you experience mood changes and depressive symptoms, contact your doctor for additional medical advice as soon as possible.
BLOOD CLOTS
The use of a combined hormonal contraceptive like aidra increases your risk of suffering a blood clotcompared to not using it. In rare cases, a blood clot can block blood vessels and cause serious problems.
Blood clots can form:
Recovery from blood clots is not always complete. In rare cases, there can be serious lasting effects or, very rarely, they can be fatal.
It is essential to remember that the overall risk of a harmful blood clot due to aidra is small.
HOW TO RECOGNIZE A BLOOD CLOT
Seek urgent medical attention if you notice any of the following signs or symptoms.
Are you experiencing any of these signs? | What might you be suffering from? |
| Deep vein thrombosis |
If you are unsure, consult a doctor, as some of these symptoms, such as coughing or shortness of breath, can be confused with a milder condition like a respiratory infection (e.g., a "common cold"). | Pulmonary embolism |
Symptoms that occur more frequently in one eye:
| Retinal vein thrombosis (blood clot in the eye). |
| Heart attack. |
Sometimes the symptoms of a stroke can be brief, with almost immediate and complete recovery, but you should still seek urgent medical attention as you may be at risk of having another stroke. | Stroke |
| Blood clots that block other blood vessels. |
BLOOD CLOTS IN A VEIN
What can happen if a blood clot forms in a vein?
When is the risk of a blood clot in a vein higher?
The risk of a blood clot in a vein is higher during the first year in which you take a combined hormonal contraceptive for the first time. The risk may also be higher if you start taking a combined hormonal contraceptive again (the same medication or a different one) after an interruption of 4 weeks or more.
After the first year, the risk decreases, but it is always slightly higher than if you were not taking a combined hormonal contraceptive.
When you stop taking aidra, your risk of a blood clot returns to normal within a few weeks.
What is the risk of a blood clot?
The risk depends on your natural risk of VTE and the type of combined hormonal contraceptive you are taking.
The overall risk of a blood clot in the leg or lung (DVT or PE) with aidra is small.
Risk of a blood clot in a year | |
Women who do not usea combined hormonal contraceptive and are not pregnant | About 2 out of 10,000 women |
Women who use a combined hormonal contraceptive that contains levonorgestrel, norethisterone, or norgestimate | About 5-7 out of 10,000 women |
Women who use aidra | About 9-12 out of 10,000 women |
Factors that increase your risk of a blood clot in a vein
The risk of a blood clot with aidra is small, but some conditions increase the risk. Your risk is higher:
The risk of a blood clot increases with the number of conditions you have.
Long-distance flights (more than 4 hours) may temporarily increase the risk of a blood clot, especially if you have any of the other risk factors listed.
It is essential to inform your doctor if you suffer from any of the above conditions, even if you are not sure. Your doctor may decide that you should stop using aidra.
If any of the above conditions change while you are using aidra, for example, a close relative experiences a thrombosis without a known cause, or you gain a lot of weight, inform your doctor.
BLOOD CLOTS IN AN ARTERY
What can happen if a blood clot forms in an artery?
Like a blood clot in a vein, a clot in an artery can cause serious problems. For example, it can cause a heart attack or a stroke.
Factors that increase your risk of a blood clot in an artery
It is essential to note that the risk of a heart attack or stroke due to aidra is very small, but it can increase:
If you have more than one of these conditions or if any of them are particularly severe, the risk of a blood clot may be increased further.
If any of the above conditions change while you are using aidra, for example, you start smoking, a close relative experiences a thrombosis without a known cause, or you gain a lot of weight, inform your doctor.
aidraand cancer
Breast cancer has been observed slightly more often in women who use combined contraceptives, but it is not known if this is due to the treatment. For example, it may be that more tumors are detected in women who take combined contraceptives because they are examined by a doctor more frequently. The incidence of breast tumors decreases gradually after stopping combined hormonal contraceptives. It is essential to have your breasts examined regularly, and you should see your doctor if you notice any lump.
Rarely, benign liver tumors, and even more rarely, malignant liver tumors, have been reported in users of hormonal contraceptives. See your doctor if you experience severe unusual abdominal pain.
Irregular bleeding
During the first few months that you are taking aidra, you may have unexpected bleeding (bleeding outside of the withdrawal week). If this bleeding persists for more than a few months or starts after a few months, your doctor will investigate what is wrong.
What to do if you do not have your period during the withdrawal week
If you have taken all the tablets correctly, have not had vomiting or severe diarrhea, and have not taken any other medications, it is very unlikely that you are pregnant.
If your expected period does not arrive in two consecutive instances, you may be pregnant. See your doctor immediately. Do not start the next blister pack until you are sure you are not pregnant.
Takingaidrawith other medicines
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are using or have recently used other medicines, including those bought without a prescription or herbal preparations that you are taking. Also, inform any other doctor or dentist who prescribes you another medicine (or your pharmacist) that you are taking aidra. They may tell you if you need to take additional contraceptive precautions (e.g., condoms) and, if so, for how long, or if you should modify the use of another medicine that you need.
Some medicines
This can occur with:
aidra may affect the effectof other medicines, for example:
Do not takeaidraif you have hepatitis C and are taking medicines that contain ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir and dasabuvir,glecaprevir/pibrentasvir, or sofosbuvir/velpatasvir/voxilaprevir, as these medicines may cause increases in liver test results (increase in liver enzyme ALT). Your doctor will prescribe a different type of contraceptive before starting treatment with these medicines.aidra can be used again approximately 2 weeks after the end of this treatment. See the section "Do not take aidra").
Consult your doctor or pharmacist before taking any medicine.
Takingaidrawith food and drinks
aidra can be taken with or without food, and with some water if necessary.
Lab tests
If you need a blood test, tell your doctor or the laboratory staff that you are taking a contraceptive, as hormonal contraceptives can affect the results of some tests.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Pregnancy
If you are pregnant, you should not take aidra. If you become pregnant during treatment with aidra, you should stop treatment immediately and contact your doctor. If you wish to become pregnant, you can stop taking aidra at any time (see "If you stop treatment with aidra").
Consult your doctor or pharmacist before taking any medicine.
Breastfeeding
Generally, it is not recommended to take aidra during the breastfeeding period (when you are giving your baby breast milk). If you want to take the contraceptive while breastfeeding, you should consult your doctor.
Consult your doctor or pharmacist before taking any medicine.
Driving and using machines
There is no information to suggest that the use of aidra has any effect on the ability to drive or use machinery.
aidracontains lactose
If your doctor has told you that you have an intolerance to certain sugars, consult them before taking this medicine.
aidracontains sodium
Take one aidra tablet every day, with some water if necessary. You can take the tablets with or without food, but every day at approximately the same time.
The blister pack contains 21 tablets. Next to each tablet is printed the day of the week on which it should be taken. If, for example, you start on a Wednesday, take a tablet marked with the letters "WED". Follow the direction of the arrow on the blister pack until you have taken all 21 tablets.
After that, you should not take any tablets for 7 days. During these 7 days when you do not take tablets (a period called the withdrawal week), menstruation should occur. Menstruation, which can also be called withdrawal bleeding, usually starts on the 2nd or 3rd day of the withdrawal week.
On the 8th day after taking the last aidra tablet (i.e., after the 7-day withdrawal period), you should start with the next blister pack, even if you have not yet finished bleeding. This means that you should start each blister pack on the same day of the week and that menstruation should occur during the same days each month.
If you use aidra in this way, you are also protected against pregnancy during the 7 days when you do not take any tablets.
When can you start with the first blister pack
Start taking aidra on the first day of your cycle (i.e., the first day of your period). If you start aidra on the first day of your period, you will be protected immediately against pregnancy. You can also start on days 2-5 of your cycle, but you must use additional contraceptive methods (e.g., a condom) during the first 7 days.
You can start taking aidra preferably the day after taking the last active tablet (the last tablet that contains active ingredients) of your previous contraceptive, but no later than the day after the withdrawal week of your previous contraceptive (or after taking the last inactive tablet of your previous contraceptive). When switching from a combined vaginal ring or patch, follow your doctor's recommendations.
You can switch from the progestin-only pill at any time (if it's an implant or intrauterine system, on the same day it is removed; if it's an injectable, when the next injection is due), but in all cases, use additional contraceptive measures (e.g., a condom) during the first 7 days of tablet-taking.
Follow your doctor's recommendations.
You can start taking aidra between 21 and 28 days after having a child. If you start later, use a barrier method (e.g., a condom) during the first 7 days of aidra use.
If, after having a child, you have had sexual intercourse before starting aidra again, you should be sure you are not pregnant or wait for your next menstrual period.
Read the section "Breastfeeding".
Ask your doctor if you are not sure when to start.
If you take moreaidrathan you should
No cases have been reported in which an overdose of aidra has caused serious harm.
The symptoms that may appear if you take many tablets at once may include feeling unwell or vomiting or vaginal bleeding. This bleeding can occur even in girls who have not yet had their first menstrual period, if they have accidentally taken this medication.
If you have taken too many aidra tablets, or discover that a child has taken them, consult your doctor or pharmacist.
In case of overdose or accidental ingestion, consult your doctor or pharmacist immediately or call the Toxicology Information Service, phone 91 562 04 20, indicating the medication and the amount ingested.
If you forget to take aidra
The risk of incomplete protection against pregnancy is greatest if you forget to take a tablet at the beginning or end of the blister pack. Therefore, you should follow the following recommendations (see the diagram below):
Consult your doctor.
Take the forgotten tablet as soon as you remember, even if it means taking two tablets at the same time. Continue taking the tablets at the usual time and use additional precautions, such as a condom, during the next 7 days. If you have had sexual intercourse in the week before forgetting the tablet, you may be pregnant. In that case, consult your doctor.
Take the forgotten tablet as soon as you remember, even if it means taking two tablets at the same time. Continue taking the tablets at the usual time. Protection against pregnancy will not decrease, and you do not need to take additional precautions.
You can choose between two options:
You will likely have your period at the end of the second blister pack, although you may also experience light bleeding or spotting during the second blister pack.
If you follow one of these two recommendations, you will remain protected against pregnancy.
What to do in case of vomiting or severe diarrhea
If you vomit within 3-4 hours after taking a tablet or have severe diarrhea, there is a risk that the active ingredients of the contraceptive will not be fully absorbed by the body. The situation is almost equivalent to forgetting a tablet. After vomiting or diarrhea, take a tablet from a reserve blister pack as soon as possible. If possible, take it within 12 hoursafter the usual time you take your contraceptive. If this is not possible or more than 12 hours have passed, follow the advice in the section "If you forget to take aidra".
Delay of your period: what you should know
Although it is not recommended, you can delay your period if you start taking a new aidra blister pack instead of continuing with the withdrawal week and finish it. You may experience light bleeding or spotting during the second blister pack. After the usual 7-day withdrawal week, startthe next blister pack.
You should ask your doctor for advice before deciding to delay your menstrual period.
Change of the first day of your period: what you should know
If you take the tablets according to the instructions, your period will start during the withdrawal week. If you need to change that day, reduce the number of withdrawal days (but never increase them - 7 at most!). For example, if your withdrawal days usually start on Fridays and you want to change to Tuesdays (3 days earlier), start a new blister pack 3 days earlier than usual. If you make the withdrawal week very short (e.g., 3 days or less), you may not have bleeding during these days. Then you may experience light bleeding or spotting.
If you are not sure how to proceed, consult your doctor.
If you interrupt treatment withaidra
You can stop taking aidra whenever you want. If you do not want to become pregnant, consult your doctor about other effective birth control methods. If you want to become pregnant, stop taking aidra and wait until your period before trying to become pregnant. This way, you can more easily calculate the estimated date of delivery.
If you have any other questions about the use of this medication, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Like all medications, this medication can cause side effects, although not everyone will experience them. If you experience any side effect, especially if it is severe and persistent, or have any change in health that you think may be due to aidra, consult your doctor.
Severe side effects
Contact a 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 with possible difficulty breathing (see also section "Warnings and precautions").
All women who take combined hormonal contraceptives are at a higher risk of developing blood clots in the veins (venous thromboembolism (VTE)) or blood clots in the arteries (arterial thromboembolism (ATE)). For more detailed information on the different risks of taking combined hormonal contraceptives, see section 2 "What you need to know before taking aidra".
The following list of side effects has been associated with the use of aidra:
Common side effects(may affect up to 1 in 10 people):
Uncommon side effects(may affect up to 1 in 100 people):
Rare side effects(may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people):
The risk of having a blood clot may be higher if you have any other condition that increases this risk (see section 2 for more information on conditions that increase the risk of blood clots and symptoms of a blood clot).
Reporting side effects:
If you experience any side effect, consult your doctor or pharmacist, even if it is a possible side effect that does not appear in this leaflet. You can also report them directly through the Spanish Pharmacovigilance System for Human Use Medicines: https://www.notificaram.es. By reporting side effects, you can contribute to providing more information on the safety of this medication.
Keep this medication out of the sight and reach of children.
This medication does not require special storage conditions.
Do not use this medication after the expiration date that appears on the packaging after "EXP:". The expiration date is the last day of the month indicated.
Medications should not be disposed of in wastewater or household waste. Deposit the packaging and medications you no longer need in the SIGRE collection point at the pharmacy. If in doubt, ask your pharmacist how to dispose of the packaging and medications you no longer need. This way, you will help protect the environment.
Composition of aidra
Each film-coated tablet contains 3 milligrams of drospirenone and 0.03 milligrams of ethinylestradiol.
Tablet core: lactose monohydrate, hydroxypropylcellulose, potassium polacrylate, sodium lauryl sulfate, and magnesium stearate.
Tablet coating: macrogol 3350, titanium dioxide (E171), poly(vinyl alcohol), talc, and yellow iron oxide (E172)
Appearance of the product and package contents
Not all pack sizes may be marketed.
Marketing authorization holder and manufacturer
Marketing authorization holder
Laboratorios Cinfa, S.A.
Carretera Olaz-Chipi 10, Polígono Industrial Areta
31620 Huarte (Navarra)
Spain
Manufacturer
Cyndea Pharma, S.L.
Polígono Industrial Emiliano Revilla
Av. De Ágreda 31
42110 Ólvega (Soria)
Or
Laboratorios Cinfa, S.A.
Carretera Olaz-Chipi 10, Polígono Industrial Areta
31620 Huarte (Navarra)
Spain
Date of the last revision of this leaflet:April 2024
Detailed information about this medication is available on the website of the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products (AEMPS) http://www.aemps.gob.es/.
You can access detailed and updated information about this medication by scanning the QR code included in the leaflet and packaging with your mobile phone (smartphone). You can also access this information at the following internet address: https://cima.aemps.es/cima/dochtml/p/83762/P_83762.html
QR code to: https://cima.aemps.es/cima/dochtml/p/83762/P_83762.html