Label: Information for the User
Drospirenone/Ethinyl Estradiol Daily Exeltis 3 mg/0.02 mg Film-Coated Tablets
Read this label carefully before starting to take this medicine, as it contains important information for you.
Important things you should know about combined hormonal contraceptives (CHCs):
6. Contents of the package and additional information
Drospirenona/Ethinylestradiol is a contraceptive and is used to prevent pregnancy.
Each film-coated tablet contains a small amount of two different female hormones, known as ethinylestradiol and drospirenona.
Contraceptives that contain two hormones are known as combined contraceptives.
Before starting to take drospirenone/etinilestradiol, 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 drospirenone/etinilestradiol, 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 health status, perform other tests.
This leaflet describes several situations in which you should interrupt the use of drospirenone/etinilestradiol, or in which the effect of drospirenone/etinilestradiol may be reduced.
In these situations, you should not have sexual intercourse or 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 because drospirenone/etinilestradiol alters the monthly changes in body temperature and cervical mucus.
Drospirenone/etinilestradiol, like other hormonal contraceptives, does not protect against HIV (AIDS) or any other sexually transmitted disease.
Do not take Drospirenone/Etinilestradiol Diario Exeltis
You should not take drospirenone/etinilestradiol 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 other forms of contraception that would be more suitable.
Additional Information on Special Populations
Children and Adolescents
Drospirenone/Etinilestradiol is not indicated for use in women who have not yet had their first menstrual period.
Women of Advanced Age
Drospirenone/Etinilestradiol is not indicated for use after menopause.
Women with Liver Insufficiency
Do not take Drospirenone/Etinilestradiol if you suffer from liver disease. See sections “Do not take Drospirenone/Etinilestradiol Diario Exeltis” and “Warnings and Precautions”.
Women with Renal Insufficiency
Do not take Drospirenone/Etinilestradiol if you are suffering from kidney dysfunction or acute renal insufficiency. See sections “Do not take Drospirenone/Etinilestradiol Diario Exeltis” and “Warnings and Precautions”.
Warnings and Precautions
Consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting to take Drospirenone/Etinilestradiol.
When should you consult your doctor? Seek immediate medical attention - If you notice possible signs of a blood clot that may mean you are suffering from a blood clot in the leg (deep vein thrombosis), a blood clot in the lung (pulmonary embolism), a heart attack or a stroke (see section “Blood Clots” below). For a description of the symptoms of these serious adverse effects, see “How to Recognize a Blood Clot”. |
Inform your doctor if you suffer from any of the following conditions.
In some situations, you should take special care while taking drospirenone/etinilestradiol or any other combined hormonal contraceptive, and you may need to have regular check-ups. If the condition develops or worsens while you are taking drospirenone/etinilestradiol, you should also inform your doctor.
BLOOD CLOTS
The use of a combined hormonal contraceptive like drospirenone/etinilestradiol increases your risk of developing a blood clot compared to not using it. In rare cases, a blood clot can block blood vessels and cause serious problems.
Blood clots can form:
The recovery of blood clots is not always complete. In rare cases, there may be long-lasting or, very rarely, fatal effects.
It is essential to remember that the overall risk of a harmful blood clot due to drospirenone/etinilestradiol is small.
HOW TO RECOGNIZE A BLOOD CLOT
Seek immediate medical attentionif you notice any of the following signs or symptoms.
Do you experience any of these symptoms? | What could 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 mistaken for a milder condition like 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 may be brief, with almost immediate and complete recovery, but you should still seek immediate medical attention as you may be at risk of 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 developing a blood clot in a vein higher?
The risk of developing a blood clot in a vein is higher during the first year in which you start taking a combined hormonal contraceptive for the first time. The risk may be higher if you restart taking a combined hormonal contraceptive (the same medication or a different medication) after a break 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 drospirenone/etinilestradiol, your risk of developing a blood clot returns to normal in a few weeks.
What is the risk of developing 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 developing a blood clot in the leg or lung (DVT or PE) with drospirenone/etinilestradiol is small.
Risk of developing a blood clot in a year | |
Women whodo not usea combined hormonal contraceptive and who are not pregnant | About 2 out of every 10,000 women |
Women who use a combined hormonal contraceptive that containslevonorgestrel, noretisterone, or norgestimato | About 5-7 out of every 10,000 women |
Women who use drospirenone/etinilestradiol | About 9-12 out of every 10,000 women |
Factors that increase your risk of a blood clot in a vein
The risk of developing a blood clot is higher:
The risk of developing a blood clot increases the more conditions you have.
Long flights (more than 4 hours) may temporarily increase your 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 have any of the conditions listed above, even if you are unsure. Your doctor may decide that you should stop taking drospirenone/etinilestradiol.
If any of the conditions listed above change while you are using drospirenone/etinilestradiol, for example, a close relative experiences a blood clot without a known cause or gains 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 blood 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 drospirenone/etinilestradiol is very small, but it may increase:
If you have more than one of these conditions or if any of them are particularly severe, your risk of developing a blood clot may be increased even further.
If any of the conditions listed above change while you are using drospirenone/etinilestradiol, for example, you start smoking, a close relative experiences a blood clot without a known cause, or you gain a lot of weight, inform your doctor.
Drospirenone/Etinilestradiol Diario Exeltis and Cancer
Cancer of the breast has been observed slightly more frequently in women using combined hormonal contraceptives, but it is not known whether this is due to the treatment. For example, it may be that more tumors are detected in women taking combined hormonal contraceptives because they are examined by their doctor more frequently. The incidence of breast tumors decreases gradually after stopping combined hormonal contraceptives.
It is essential to have regular breast examinations and to consult your doctor if you notice any lump.
In rare cases, benign tumors in the liver and, even more rarely, malignant tumors in users of contraceptives have been reported. Consult your doctor if you have severe abdominal pain.
Some women who use hormonal contraceptives like drospirenone/etinilestradiol have reported depression or a depressive mood. Depression can be severe and sometimes may induce suicidal thoughts. If you experience mood changes and depressive symptoms, contact your doctor for additional medical advice as soon as possible.
Spotting
During the first few months of taking drospirenone/etinilestradiol, you may experience unexpected bleeding (bleeding outside of the pill-free week). If these bleeding persists beyond a few months or starts after a few months, your doctor should investigate the cause.
What to do if you do not have your period during the pill-free week
If you have taken all the pills correctly, have not had severe vomiting or diarrhea, and have not taken other medications, it is highly unlikely that you are pregnant.
If your expected period does not arrive in two consecutive occasions, you may be pregnant. Consult your doctor immediately. Do not start the next pack until you are sure you are not pregnant.
Other Medications and Drospirenone/Etinilestradiol Diario Exeltis
Inform your doctor or pharmacist if you are using, have used recently, or may need to use any other medication or herbal preparation. Also, inform any other doctor or dentist who prescribes another medication (or your pharmacist) that you are taking drospirenone/etinilestradiol. They may advise you to take additional contraceptive precautions and, if so, for how long, or to modify the use of another medication that you need.
Some medications
This may occur with:
Drospirenone/etinilestradiolmay affect the effectof other medications, for example:
Do not take drospirenone/etinilestradiol if you have hepatitis C and are taking medications that contain ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir and dasabuvir, glecaprevir/pibrentasvir, or sofosbuvir/velpatasvir/voxilaprevir, as these medications may cause increases in liver function test results (elevated ALT levels).
Your doctor will prescribe another type of contraceptive before starting treatment with these medications.
Drospirenone/etinilestradiol can be restarted approximately 2 weeks after the completion of this treatment. See section “Do not take Drospirenone/Etinilestradiol Diario Exeltis”.
Consult your doctor or pharmacist before taking any medication.
Taking Drospirenone/Etinilestradiol Diario Exeltis with Food and Drinks
Drospirenone/Etinilestradiol can be taken with or without food, and with a little water if necessary.
Laboratory Tests
If you need a blood test, inform your doctor or the laboratory staff that you are taking a contraceptive, as hormonal contraceptives may affect the results of some tests.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Pregnancy
If you are pregnant, you should not take drospirenone/etinilestradiol. If you become pregnant while taking drospirenone/etinilestradiol, stop taking it immediately and consult your doctor.If you wantto become pregnant,you can stop takingdrospirenone/etinilestradiolat any time (see “If you interrupt treatment with Drospirenone/EthinylestradiolDiarioExeltis”).
Consult your doctor or pharmacist before taking any medication.
In general, it is not recommended to take drospirenone/etinilestradiol during breastfeeding. If you want to take the contraceptive while breastfeeding, you should consult your doctor.
Consult your doctor or pharmacist before taking any medication.
Driving and Operating Machinery
There is no information to suggest that the use of drospirenone/etinilestradiol has any effect on your ability to drive or operate machinery.
Drospirenone/Etinilestradiol Diario Exeltis contains lactose
If your doctor has told you that you have a lactose intolerance, consult them before taking this medication.
Drospirenone/Etinilestradiol Diario Exeltis containssodium
This medication contains less than 1 mmol of sodium (23 mg) per tablet, which is essentially “sodium-free”.
Each blister contains 21 active pink tablets and 7 white tablets containing placebo.
The two different types of colored tablets of drospirenone/etinilestradiol are placed in order. A pack contains 28 tablets.
Follow exactly the administration instructions of this medication indicated by your doctor or pharmacist. If in doubt, consult your doctor or pharmacist again.
Take one tablet of drospirenone/etinilestradiol every day, with some water if necessary. You can take the tablets with or without food, but every day approximately at the same time.
Do not confuse the tablets:take a pink tablet for the first 21 days, and then a white tablet for the last 7 days. Then, you must start taking a new blister (21 pink tablets and 7 white tablets). Therefore, there is no break without tablets between blisters.
Due to the different composition of the tablets, you must start with the first tablet located in the top left corner and then take one tablet every day. To maintain the order, follow the direction of the arrows on the blister.
Preparation of the blister
To control the daily intake of the contraceptive, each blister of drospirenone/etinilestradiol includes seven adhesive strips that have the days of the week printed on them. You must know the day of the week on which you will take the first tablet.
According to the day of the week on which you will start taking the tablets, you should choose the corresponding adhesive strip, for example, if you start on Wednesday, stick the one that indicates "WED" as the initial tablet. Then, you must stick the corresponding strip on the top left of the blister, in the "Start" position. In this way, there is a day of the week indicated above each tablet and you can check visually if you have taken a specific tablet. The arrows show the order in which the tablets should be taken.
During the 7 days in which you take placebo tablets (placebo week), menstruation (also called withdrawal bleeding) usually begins. Normally, menstruation begins the second or third day after taking the last active tablet, which is pink, of drospirenone/etinilestradiol. Once you have taken the last white tablet, you must start a new blister, even if you have not finished bleeding. This means that you should start the new blister on the same day of the week as the previous one, and menstruation should occur during the same daysevery month.
If you take drospirenone/etinilestradiol as indicated, you will also be protected against pregnancy during the 7 days in which you are taking placebo tablets.
When can you start with the first blister?
Start taking drospirenone/etinilestradiol on the first day of the cycle (i.e., the first day of your menstruation). If you start drospirenone/etinilestradiol on the first day of your menstruation, you will be protected immediately against pregnancy. You can also start on days 2-5 of the cycle, but you must use additional contraceptive methods (e.g., a condom) during the first 7 days.
You can start taking drospirenone/etinilestradiol preferably the day after taking the last active tablet of your previous contraceptive, but no later than the day after the break of your previous contraceptive (or after taking the last inactive tablet of your previous contraceptive). When changing from a vaginal combined contraceptive ring or patch, follow your doctor's recommendations.
You can change from the progestin-only pill on any day (if it is an implant or an IUD, on the same day of its extraction; if it is an injectable, on the next scheduled injection), but in all cases, it is recommended that you use additional contraceptive methods (e.g., a condom) during the first 7 days of taking tablets.
Follow your doctor's recommendations.
You can start taking drospirenone/etinilestradiol between 21 and 28 days after having a child. If you start later than day 28, you must use one of the barrier methods (e.g., a condom) during the first 7 days of taking drospirenone/etinilestradiol.
If, after having a child, you have already had sex before starting to take drospirenone/etinilestradiol (again), you must 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 more Drospirenone/Etinilestradiol Diario Exeltis than you should
No serious cases of overdose of drospirenone/etinilestradiol have been reported.
The symptoms that may appear if you take many tablets at once may be feeling unwell, vomiting, or vaginal bleeding. This bleeding can occur even in girls who have not yet had their first menstrual period, if they accidentally take this medication
If you have taken too many tablets of drospirenone/etinilestradiol, or if you discover that a child has taken them, consult your doctor or pharmacist immediately or call the Toxicology Information Service 91 562 04 20 indicating the medication and the amount used.
If you forgot to take Drospirenone/Etinilestradiol Diario Exeltis
The tablets in the fourth row of the blister are placebo tablets. If you forget to take one of these tablets, the effect of drospirenone/etinilestradiol will not be affected. You should discard the forgotten placebo tablet to avoid prolonging the placebo week, which could have a negative effect on the effectiveness of the drospirenone/etinilestradiol tablets.
If you forget to take a tablet from the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd row:
The risk of incomplete protection against pregnancy is maximum if you forget to take the tablet at the beginning of the blister (1st row) or at the end of week 3 (3rd row of the blister). Therefore, you should take the following measures (see also the diagram below):
Consult your doctor.
Take the forgotten tablet as soon as you remember, even if this means taking two tablets at once. Continue taking the subsequent tablets at the usual time and useadditional precautions, such as a condom, during the next 7 days. If you have had sex 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 this means taking two tablets at once. Continue taking the subsequent tablets at the usual time. The protection against pregnancy is not reduced and you do not need to take additional precautions.
You can choose between two options:
Probably, you will have menstruation (withdrawal bleeding) at the end of the second blister, although you may experience light bleeding or similar to menstrual cramps during the use of the second blister.
If you follow one of these two recommendations, you will remain protected against pregnancy.
What should you do in case of vomiting or intense diarrhea?
If you have vomiting in the 3-4 hours following the intake of an active pink tablet or have intense diarrhea, there is a risk that the active principles of the contraceptive will not be fully absorbed by the body. This is similar to what happens when you forget a tablet. After vomiting or diarrhea, you should take a tablet from a reserve blister as soon as possible. If possible,within 12 hoursafter the usual time when you take your contraceptive. If this is not possible or more than 12 hours have passed, follow the instructions in the section "If you forgot to take Drospirenone/Etinilestradiol Diario Exeltis".
Delay of menstrual period: what should you know?
Although it is not recommended, you can delay your menstrual period (withdrawal bleeding) if you start taking a new blister of drospirenone/etinilestradiol instead of continuing with the break and finish it. You may experience light bleeding or similar to menstrual cramps during the use of the second blister.
You should ask your doctor for advice before deciding to delay your menstrual period.
Change of the first day of your menstrual period: what should you know?
If you take the tablets as instructed, your menstrual period will begin during the placebo week. If you need to change the day, you can do so by shortening(but never extending! – 7 is the maximum) the placebo week. For example, if your placebo week begins on Friday and you want to change to Tuesday (3 days earlier), you should start a new blister 3 days earlier than usual. If you make the placebo week too short (e.g., 3 days or less), you may not experience bleeding during these days. Then, you may experience light bleeding or similar to menstrual cramps.
If you are not sure how to proceed, consult your doctor.
If you interrupt the treatment with Drospirenone/Etinilestradiol Diario Exeltis
You can stop taking drospirenone/etinilestradiol when 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 takingdrospirenone/etinilestradioland waituntil your menstrual periodbefore trying to become pregnant.This way, you can calculate your estimated due datemore easily.
If you have any other questions about the use of this medication, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Like all medicines, this medicine may cause side effects, although not everyone will experience them.
If you experience any side effect, especially if it is severe and persistent, or if you have any health change that you think may be due to drospirenona/etinilestradiol, consult your doctor.
All women taking 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 starting to take Drospirenona/Etinilestradiol Diario Exeltis”.
Severe side effects
Contact a doctor immediately if you experience any of the following angioedema symptoms: swelling of the face, tongue, and/or throat, and/or difficulty swallowing or urticaria with possible difficulty breathing (also see section “Warnings and precautions”).
The following list ofside effects has been associatedwith the useof drospirenona/etinilestradiol.
Frequent side effects(may affect up to 1 in 10 patients):
Uncommon side effects(may affect up to 1 in 100 patients):
Rare side effects(may affect up to 1 in 1,000 patients):
The chances 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 type of 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 System for the Pharmacovigilance of Medicines for Human Use:https://www.notificaram.es. By reporting side effects, you can contribute to providing more information on the safety of this medicine.
Keep this medication out of the sight and reach of children.
This medication does not require special conditions for conservation.
Do not take this medication after the expiration date that appears on the packaging after CAD or EXP. The date is the last day of the month indicated.
Medications should not be disposed of through drains or in the trash. Dispose of the packaging and medications you no longer need at 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. By doing so, you will help protect the environment.
Composition of Drospirenona/Ethinylestradiol Daily Exeltis
A blister pack contains21active pink tablets in rows1,2, and3of the blister pack and7white placebo tablets in row4.
Active tablets:
The active principles are 0.02 mg of ethinylestradiol and 3 mg of drospirenona.
The other components are:
Tablet core: lactose monohydrate, pregelatinized cornstarch, povidone, croscarmellose sodium, polisorbate 80, magnesium stearate.
Coating: partially hydrolyzed polyvinyl alcohol, titanium dioxide (E-171), macrogol 3350, talc, yellow iron oxide (E-172), red iron oxide (E-172), black iron oxide (E-172).
Placebo tablets:
Tablet core: anhydrous lactose, povidone, magnesium stearate.
Coating: partially hydrolyzed polyvinyl alcohol, titanium dioxide (E-171), macrogol 3350, talc.
Appearance of Drospirenona/Ethinylestradiol Daily Exeltis and contents of the packaging
The active tablets are film-coated, round, pink tablets.
The placebo tablets are film-coated, round, white tablets.
Only some package sizes may be marketed.
Marketing authorization holder and responsible manufacturer
Marketing authorization holder
Exeltis Healthcare, S.L.
Pol. Ind.Miralcampo, Avda. de Miralcampo 7, 19200
Azuqueca de Henares,
Guadalajara, Spain
Responsible manufacturer
Laboratorios León Farma, S.A.
Pol. Ind. Navatejera, C/ La Vallina s/n
24193 - Villaquilambre, León
Spain
Last review date of this leaflet:November 2023
Detailed and updated information on this medicine is available on the website of the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Medical Devices (AEMPS) https://www.aemps.gob.es./
Have questions about this medication or your symptoms? Connect with a licensed doctor for guidance and personalized care.