


Package Leaflet: Information for the User
Ethinylestradiol/Drospirenone Stada 0.02 mg/3 mg film-coated tablets EFG
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):
Contents of the package leaflet
Do not take Ethinylestradiol/Drospirenone Stada
Warnings and precautions
Blood clots
Ethinylestradiol/Drospirenone Stada and cancer
Intermenstrual bleeding
What to do if you do not have your period during the withdrawal week
Taking Ethinylestradiol/Drospirenone Stada with other medications
Taking Ethinylestradiol/Drospirenone Stada with food and drinks
Laboratory tests
Pregnancy, breastfeeding, and fertility
Driving and using machines
Important information about some of the ingredients of Ethinylestradiol/Drospirenone Stada
When can you start with the first blister
If you take more Ethinylestradiol/Drospirenone Stada than you should
If you forget to take Ethinylestradiol/Drospirenone Stada
What to do in case of vomiting or severe diarrhea
Delayed menstrual period: what you should know
Change of your menstrual period's first day: what you should know
If you stop taking Ethinylestradiol/Drospirenone Stada
Ethinylestradiol/drospirenone is a contraceptive and is used to prevent pregnancy.
Each tablet contains a small amount of two different female hormones, called ethinylestradiol and drospirenone.
Contraceptives that contain two hormones are called “combined” contraceptives.
General considerations
Before you start using etinilestradiol/drospirenona, 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 you start taking etinilestradiol/drospirenona, your doctor will ask you some questions about your personal and family medical history. Your doctor will also measure your blood pressure and, depending on your state of health, may perform other tests.
This prospectus describes several situations in which you should interrupt the use of etinilestradiol/drospirenona, or in which the effect of etinilestradiol/drospirenona may decrease. In such situations, you should not have sexual intercourse or should take additional non-hormonal contraceptive precautions, such as using a condom or another barrier method.
Do not use the rhythm method or the temperature method. These methods may not be reliable since etinilestradiol/drospirenona alters the monthly changes in body temperature and cervical mucus.
Ethinylestradiol/drospirenona, like other hormonal contraceptives, does not protect against HIV infection (AIDS) or any other sexually transmitted disease.
DO NOT TAKE Etinilestradiol/Drospirenona Stada
You should not use etinilestradiol/drospirenona 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.
? If you have (or have ever had) a blood clot in a blood vessel of the legs (deep vein thrombosis, DVT), in the lungs (pulmonary embolism, PE) or in other organs.
? If you know you have a disorder that affects blood clotting: for example, protein C deficiency, protein S deficiency, antithrombin III deficiency, factor V Leiden or antiphospholipid antibodies.
? If you need an operation or if you spend a lot of time without getting up (see section "Blood clots").
? If you have ever had a heart attack or a stroke.
? If you have (or have ever had) angina pectoris (a condition that causes severe chest pain and may be the first sign of a heart attack) or a transient ischemic attack (TIA, temporary stroke symptoms).
? If you have any of the following diseases that may increase the risk of forming a blood clot in the arteries:
? severe diabetes with blood vessel damage
? very high blood pressure
? very high levels of fat in the blood (cholesterol or triglycerides)
? a condition called hyperhomocysteinemia
? If you have (or have ever had) a type of migraine called "migraine with aura".
? If you have (or have ever had) a liver disease and your liver function has not yet normalized.
? If your kidneys do not work well (renal failure).
? If you have (or have had) a tumor in the liver.
? If you have (or have had), or if you suspect you have breast cancer or cancer of the sex organs.
? If you have vaginal bleeding, whose cause is unknown.
? If you are allergic to ethinylestradiol or drospirenone, or to any of the other components of this medicine (listed in section 6). This may manifest with itching, rash, or inflammation.
Warnings and precautions
When should you consult your doctor? Seek urgent medical attention
To obtain a description of the symptoms of these serious side effects, see "How to recognize a blood clot". |
In some situations, you will need to be particularly careful while using etinilestradiol/drospirenona or any other combined hormonal contraceptive, and it may be necessary for your doctor to perform regular check-ups.
Tell your doctor if you suffer from any of the following conditions:
If the condition develops or worsens while you are using etinilestradiol/drospirenona, you should also inform your doctor.
BLOOD CLOTS
The use of a combined hormonal contraceptive like etinilestradiol/drospirenona increases your risk of having 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:
Recovery from blood clots is not always complete. In rare cases, there can be serious long-term effects or, very rarely, they can be fatal.
It is essential to remember that the overall risk of a harmful blood clot due to etinilestradiol/drospirenona 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 cough 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: ? Sudden loss of vision, or ? Blurred vision without pain, which can progress to loss of vision. | Retinal vein thrombosis (blood clot in the eye). |
? Pain, discomfort, pressure, heaviness in the chest. ? Feeling of tightness or fullness in the chest, arm, or under the breastbone. ? Feeling of fullness, indigestion, or choking. ? Discomfort in the upper body that radiates to the back, jaw, throat, arm, and stomach. ? Sweating, nausea, vomiting, or fainting. ? Extreme weakness, anxiety, or shortness of breath. ? Rapid or irregular heartbeat. | Heart attack. |
? Sudden weakness or numbness of the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body. ? Sudden confusion, difficulty speaking or understanding. ? Sudden difficulty seeing in one eye or both. ? Sudden difficulty walking, dizziness, loss of balance, or coordination. ? Sudden severe headache without a known cause. ? Loss of consciousness or fainting, with or without convulsions. 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 |
? Swelling and slight bluish discoloration of a limb. ? Severe stomach pain (acute abdomen). | 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 having a blood clot in a vein is higher during the first year you take a combined hormonal contraceptive for the first time. The risk may also be higher if you start taking a combined hormonal contraceptive (the same medicine 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 etinilestradiol/drospirenona, your risk of having 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 having a blood clot in the leg or lung (DVT or PE) with etinilestradiol/drospirenona is small.
Risk of having a blood clot in a year | |
Women who do not usea combined hormonal contraceptive pill/patch/ring and are not pregnant | About 2 out of 10,000 women |
Women who use a combined hormonal contraceptive pill that contains levonorgestrel, norethisterone, or norgestimate | About 5-7 out of 10,000 women |
Women who use etinilestradiol/drospirenona | About 9-12 out of 10,000 women |
Factors that increase your risk of a blood clot in a vein
The risk of having a blood clot with etinilestradiol/drospirenona is small, but some conditions increase the risk. Your risk is higher:
The risk of having a blood clot increases with the number of conditions you have.
Long-haul 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 etinilestradiol/drospirenona.
If any of the above conditions change while you are using etinilestradiol/drospirenona, 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 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 etinilestradiol/drospirenona is very small, but it can increase:
? With age (above about 35 years).
? If you smoke. When using a combined hormonal contraceptive like etinilestradiol/drospirenona, you are advised to stop smoking. If you are unable to stop smoking and are over 35 years old, your doctor may advise you to use a different type of contraceptive.
? If you are overweight.
? If you have high blood pressure.
? If any of your close relatives have had a heart attack or stroke at a young age (less than about 50 years). In this case, you may also be at higher risk of having a heart attack or stroke.
? If you or any of your close relatives have high levels of fat in the blood (cholesterol or triglycerides).
? If you have migraines, especially migraines with aura.
? If you have a heart problem (valve disorder, heart rhythm disorder called atrial fibrillation).
? If you have diabetes.
If you have one or more of these conditions or if any of them are particularly severe, the risk of having a blood clot may be increased further.
If any of the above conditions change while you are using etinilestradiol/drospirenona, 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.
Ethinylestradiol/drospirenona and cancer
Women who use combined contraceptives have a slightly higher incidence of breast cancer, 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 checked regularly, and you should see your doctor if you notice any lump.
In rare cases, 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.
Psychiatric disorders
Some women who use hormonal contraceptives like etinilestradiol/drospirenona 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 further medical advice as soon as possible.
Bleeding between menstrual periods
During the first few months of using etinilestradiol/drospirenona, you may experience unexpected bleeding (bleeding outside the withdrawal period). If you experience such bleeding during a period, you should consult your doctor.
Take one etinilestradiol/drospirenona pill every day, with some water if necessary. You can take the pills with or without food, but always at approximately the same time every day.
The blister pack contains 21 pills. Next to each pill is the day of the week printed on which it should be taken. If, for example, you start on a Wednesday, take a pill with "WED" next to it. Follow the direction of the arrow on the blister pack until you have taken all 21 pills.
After that, you should not take any pills for 7 days. During these 7 days when you do not take pills (called the break week), you should have your period. The period, also known as withdrawal bleeding, usually starts on the 2nd or 3rd day of the break week.
On the 8th day after taking the last etinilestradiol/drospirenona pill (i.e., after the 7-day break), you should start with the next blister pack, even if you have not yet finished bleeding. This means you should start each blister pack on the same day of the week, and your period should take place during the same days every month.
If you use etinilestradiol/drospirenona in this way, you are also protected against pregnancy during the 7 days when you do not take any pills.
When can you start with the first blister pack
Start taking etinilestradiol/drospirenona on the first day of your cycle (i.e., the first day of your period). If you start etinilestradiol/drospirenona on the first day of your period, you are immediately protected 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 etinilestradiol/drospirenona preferably the day after taking the last active pill (the last pill that contains active ingredients) of your previous contraceptive, but no later than the day after the break week of your previous contraceptive (or after taking the last inactive pill of your previous contraceptive). When switching from a vaginal ring or patch, follow your doctor's recommendations.
Switching from a progestin-only method (progestin-only pill, injection, implant, or intrauterine system)
You can switch from the progestin-only pill at any time (if it's an implant or intrauterine system, on the day of its removal; if it's an injection, when the next injection is due), but in all cases, use additional contraceptive measures (e.g., a condom) during the first 7 days of taking pills.
After an abortion
Follow your doctor's recommendations.
After having a child
You can start taking etinilestradiol/drospirenona 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 taking etinilestradiol/drospirenona.
If, after having a child, you have had sexual intercourse before starting to take etinilestradiol/drospirenona again, you must be sure you are not pregnant or wait for your next period.
If you are breastfeeding and want to start taking etinilestradiol/drospirenona again after having a child
Read the section "Breastfeeding".
Ask your doctor if you are unsure when to start.
If you take more Etinilestradiol/Drospirenona Stada than you should
No cases have been reported where an overdose of etinilestradiol/drospirenona has caused serious harm.
The symptoms that may appear if you take many pills at once may be nausea or vomiting or vaginal bleeding. This bleeding can occur even in girls who have not yet had their first period, if they accidentally take this medication.
If you have taken too many etinilestradiol/drospirenona pills, 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 915 620 420, indicating the medication and the amount taken.
If you forget to take Etinilestradiol/Drospirenona Stada
The risk of incomplete protection against pregnancy is highest if you forget to take a pill at the beginning or end of the blister pack. Therefore, you should follow these recommendations (see also the diagram below):
Consult your doctor.
Take the forgotten pill as soon as you remember, even if it means taking two pills at once. Continue taking the pills at the usual time and use additional precautions, for example, a condom, during the next 7 days. If you have had sexual intercourse in the week before forgetting the pill, you may be pregnant. In this case, consult your doctor.
Take the forgotten pill as soon as you remember, even if it means taking two pills at once. Continue taking the pills 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:
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 use of 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 pill 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 pill. After vomiting or diarrhea, take a pill 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 Etinilestradiol/Drospirenona Stada".
Delay of your menstrual period: what you should know
Although it is not recommended, you can delay your menstrual period if you start taking a new blister pack of etinilestradiol/drospirenona instead of continuing with the break week and finish it. You may experience light bleeding or spotting during the use of the second blister pack. After the usual 7-day break week, startthe next blister pack.
You should ask your doctor for advice before deciding to delay your menstrual period.
Changing the first day of your menstrual period: what you should know
If you take the pills according to the instructions, your period will start during the break week. If you need to change that day, reduce the number of break days (but never increase them - 7 at most!). For example, if your break 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 break 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 unsure how to proceed, consult your doctor.
If you stop treatment with Etinilestradiol/Drospirenona Stada
You can stop taking etinilestradiol/drospirenona 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 etinilestradiol/drospirenona 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 medicines, this medicine can cause adverse effects, although not all people suffer from them. If you suffer from any adverse effect, especially if it is severe and persistent, or have any health change that you think may be due to ethinylestradiol/drospirenone, consult your doctor.
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 Ethinylestradiol/Drospirenone Stada".
The following is a list of adverse effects related to the use of ethinylestradiol/drospirenone.
Frequent Adverse Effects(may affect up to 1 in 10 women):
Uncommon Adverse Effects(may affect up to 1 in 100 women):
Rare Adverse Effects(may affect between 1 and 10 in 1,000 women):
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).
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 potentially with difficulty breathing (see also the "Warnings and Precautions" section).
Reporting Adverse Effects
If you experience any type of adverse effect, consult your doctor or pharmacist, even if it is an adverse effect that is not listed in this prospectus. You can also report them directly through the Spanish Pharmacovigilance System for Human Use Medicines: https://www.notificaram.es. By reporting adverse effects, you can contribute to providing more information on the safety of this medicine.
Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
This medicine does not require special storage conditions.
Do not take this medicine after the expiration date that appears on the packaging after "EXP:". The expiration date is the last day of the month indicated.
Medicines should not be thrown away through wastewater or household waste. Deposit the packaging and medicines you no longer need at the SIGRE Point of the pharmacy. In case of doubt, ask your pharmacist how to dispose of the packaging and medicines you no longer need. This way, you will help protect the environment.
.
Composition of Ethinylestradiol/Drospirenone Stada
The active ingredients are 0.02 mg of ethinylestradiol and 3 mg of drospirenone.
The other components are:
Core of the tablet: lactose monohydrate, pregelatinized corn starch, povidone, sodium croscarmellose, polysorbate 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).
Appearance of the Product and Package Contents
The tablets are film-coated, round, and pink in color.
Ethinylestradiol/drospirenone is available in boxes of 1, 2, 3, 6, and 13 packages (blisters), each with 21 tablets.
Only some package sizes may be marketed.
Marketing Authorization Holder and Manufacturer
Marketing Authorization Holder
Laboratory STADA, S.L.
Frederic Mompou, 5
08960 Sant Just Desvern (Barcelona)
Spain
Manufacturer
Laboratorios León Farma, S.A.
Pol. Ind. Navatejera
La Vallina s/n
24193-Villaquilambre (León)
Spain
Date of the Last Revision of this Prospectus:September 2022
Detailed and updated information on this medicine is available on the website of the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products (AEMPS) http://www.aemps.gob.es/
The best alternatives with the same active ingredient and therapeutic effect.
Discuss dosage, side effects, interactions, contraindications, and prescription renewal for ETHINYLESTRADIOL/DROSPIRENONE STADA 0.02 mg/3 mg FILM-COATED TABLETS – subject to medical assessment and local rules.