Prospect: information for the user
Dretinelle 0.02 mg/3 mg film-coated tablets EFG
Ethinylestradiol/drospirenone
Read this prospect carefully before starting to take the medicine, as it contains important information for you.
?Keep this prospect, as you may need to read it again.
?If you have any doubts, consult your doctor or pharmacist.
?This medicine has been prescribed only for you and should not be given to others, even if they have the same symptoms as you, as it may harm them.
?If you experience any adverse effects, consult your doctor or pharmacist, even if they are not listed in this prospect. See section 4.
Important things you should know about combined hormonal contraceptives (CHCs):
Contents of the package and additional information
Dretinelle is a contraceptive pill and is used to prevent pregnancy.
Each tablet contains a small amount of two different female hormones, known as drospirenona and ethinylestradiol.
Contraceptive pills that contain two hormones are known as "combined" pills
General Considerations Before starting to use Dretinelle, 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 can start taking Dretinelle, 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 personal situation, may perform other tests. In this prospectus, several situations are described in which you should interrupt the use of Dretinelle, or in which the reliability of Dretinelle may decrease. In these situations, you should not have sexual intercourse or should take additional non-hormonal contraceptive precautions, such as the use of a condom or other barrier method. Do not use the rhythm or basal body temperature methods. These methods may not be reliable because Dretinelle alters the monthly changes in body temperature and cervical mucus. Dretinelle, like other hormonal contraceptives, does not protect against HIV (AIDS) or any other sexually transmitted disease. |
When Not to Use Dretinelle
Do Not Take Dretinelle
You should not use Dretinelle 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.
Additional Information on Special Populations
Children and Adolescents
Dretinelle is not indicated in women whose periods have not yet started.
Patients of Advanced Age
Dretinelle is not indicated after menopause.
Patients with Liver Disorder
Do not take Dretinelle if you have a liver disease. See also the sections “Do Not Take Dretinelle” and “Warnings and Precautions”.
Patients with Renal Disorder
Do not take Dretinelle if you have a kidney disorder or acute renal insufficiency. See also the sections “Do Not Take Dretinelle” and “Warnings and Precautions”.
Warnings and Precautions
When to Have Special Care with Dretinelle
Consult your doctor or pharmacist before taking Dretinelle.
When to Consult Your Doctor? Seek Emergency Medical Assistance
For a description of the symptoms of these serious adverse effects, see “How to Recognize a Blood Clot” |
In some situations, you need to have special care while using Dretinelle or any other combined hormonal contraceptive, and you may need to be examined periodically by your doctor.
Inform Your Doctor If You Suffer from Any of the Following Conditions
If the condition develops or worsens while you are using Dretinelle, you should also inform your doctor.
BLOOD CLOTS
The use of a combined hormonal contraceptive like Dretinelle increases your risk of suffering 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 even fatal effects.
It is essential to remember that the overall risk of a harmful blood clot due to Dretinelle is small
HOW TO RECOGNIZE A BLOOD CLOT
Seek Emergency Medical Assistanceif you notice any of the following signs or symptoms.
Do you experience any of these signs? | 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 confused with 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 emergency medical assistance 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 a Blood Clot in a Vein Greater?
The risk of a blood clot in a vein is greater during the first year in which you take a combined hormonal contraceptive for the first time. The risk may be greater 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 Dretinelle, your risk of a blood clot returns to normal in 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 risk of a blood clot in the leg or lung (DVT or PE) with Dretinelle 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 in every 10,000 women |
Women who use a combined hormonal contraceptive containinglevonorgestrel, noretisterone, or norgestimato | About 5-7 in every 10,000 women |
Women who use Dretinelle | About 9-12 in every 10,000 women |
Factors That Increase Your Risk of a Blood Clot in a Vein
The risk of a blood clot with Dretinelle is small, but some conditions increase the risk. Your risk is greater:
The risk of a blood clot increases the more conditions you have.
Long flights (over 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 conditions above, even if you are unsure. Your doctor may decide that you should stop taking Dretinelle.
If any of the conditions above change while you are using Dretinelle, for example, a close relative experiences a blood clot 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 Dretinelle is very small, but it may increase:
If you have one or more of these conditions or if any of them are particularly severe, your risk of a blood clot may be increased even further.
If any of the conditions above change while you are using Dretinelle, 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.
Dretinelle 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 tumors are more often 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 undergo 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 have been reported in users of combined hormonal contraceptives. Consult your doctor if you experience severe abdominal pain.
Menstrual Bleeding
During the first few months of taking Dretinelle, you may experience unexpected bleeding (bleeding outside of the days of placebo pill use). If this 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 Placebo Days
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.
Mental Health Disorders
Some women who use hormonal contraceptives like Dretinelle have reported depression or a depressed mood. Depression can be severe and sometimes may induce suicidal thoughts. If you experience mood changes and depressive symptoms, consult your doctor for additional medical advice as soon as possible.
Taking Dretinelle with Other Medications
Always inform your doctor about any medications or herbal preparations you are taking. Also, inform any other doctor or dentist who prescribes another medication (or your pharmacist) that you are using Dretinelle. They may advise you to take additional contraceptive precautions (e.g., condoms) and, if so, for how long or if you should change the use of another medication that you need. |
Some medications may affect the levels of Dretinelle in the blood and may make it less effective in preventing pregnancy or may cause unexpected bleeding. This may occur with:
Do not use Dretinelle if you have hepatitis C and are taking medications that contain ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir, dasabuvir, glecaprevir/pibrentasvir, or sofosbuvir/velpatasvir/voxilaprevir, as these medications may cause increases in liver function parameters in the blood (elevated ALT enzyme levels).
Your doctor will prescribe another type of contraceptive before starting treatment with these medications.
Dretinelle can be restarted approximately 2 weeks after completing this treatment. See section “When Not to Use Dretinelle”.
Consult your doctor or pharmacist before using any medication.
Dretinelle with Food and Drink
Dretinelle 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 the pill, as hormonal contraceptives may affect the results of some tests.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Pregnancy
If you are pregnant, do not take Dretinelle. If you become pregnant during treatment with Dretinelle, stop treatment immediately and consult your doctor.If you want to become pregnant, you can stop taking Dretinelle at any time (see “If You Want to Stop Taking Dretinelle”)
Consult your doctor or pharmacist before taking any medication.
Breastfeeding
Generally, Dretinelle is not recommended during the breastfeeding period. If you want to take the contraceptive while breastfeeding, consult your doctor.
Driving and Operating Machinery
There is no information to suggest that the use of Dretinelle has any effect on your ability to drive or operate machinery.
Dretinelle Contains Lactose
If your doctor has told you that you have a lactose intolerance, consult with them before taking the medication.
Dretinelle Contains Sodium
This medication contains less than 1 mmol of sodium (23 mg) per tablet, i.e., it is essentially “sodium-free”.
Follow exactly the administration instructions of this medication indicated by your doctor or pharmacist. In case of doubt, consult your doctor or pharmacist again.
Take one Dretinelle tablet every day with a glass of water if necessary. You can take the tablets with or without food, but approximately at the same time every day.
The strip contains 21 tablets. The day of the week when you should take the tablet appears printed next to each tablet. For example, if you start on a Wednesday, you should take a tablet with "MIE" next to it. Follow the direction of the arrow on the packaging until you have taken all 21 tablets.
Do not take any tablets for 7 days after that. During those 7 days without tablets (also called the break or rest week), menstruation should take place. Usually, menstruation, also known as withdrawal bleeding, begins on the second or third day of the rest week.
On the 8th day after taking the last Dretinelle tablet (i.e., after the 7-day rest week), you should start with the next strip, even if menstruation has not finished. This means that you should start all strips on the same day of the week and that menstruation should take place on the same days every month.
If you use Dretinelle in this way, you will also be protected against pregnancy during the 7 days when you are not taking any tablets.
When can you start with the first strip
Start taking Dretinelle on the first day of your cycle (i.e., the first day of your period). If you start Dretinelle 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 then you should use additional contraceptive methods (e.g., a condom) for the first 7 days.
You can start taking Dretinelle preferably the day after the last active tablet (the last tablet containing the active ingredient) of the previous pill, but at the end of the next day after the usual interval without taking tablets of your previous pill (or after the last inactive tablet of your previous pill). When switching from a vaginal combined contraceptive ring or patch, follow your doctor's recommendations.
You can switch from the pill only with progestin on any day (if it is an implant or IUS, on the day of its removal; if it is an injectable, on the day of the next injection) but, in all cases, use additional contraceptive methods (e.g., a condom) for the first 7 days of taking tablets.
Follow your doctor's recommendations.
After giving birth, you can start taking Dretinelle between 21 and 28 days. If you start later than day 28, use one of the barrier methods (e.g., a condom) for the first 7 days of taking Dretinelle. If, after giving birth, you have already had sex before starting to take Dretinelle (again), you should first be sure you are not pregnant or wait until your next menstrual period.
Read the section "Breastfeeding".
Ask your doctor if you are unsure when to start.
If you take more Dretinelle than you should
No serious cases of overdose of ethinylestradiol/drospirenone have been reported.
If you take many tablets at once, you may feel sick or vomit or bleed from the vagina.
Even girls who have not yet started menstruating but have accidentally taken this medication may experience this type of bleeding.
If you have taken too many Dretinelle tablets or discover that a child has taken them, consult your doctor or pharmacist immediately or call the Toxicology Information Service at 91 562 04 20 indicating the medication and the amount taken. It is recommended to bring the packaging and the medication's leaflet to the healthcare professional.
If you forget to take Dretinelle
The risk of incomplete protection against pregnancy is maximum if you forget to take a tablet at the beginning or end of the strip. Therefore, you should take the following measures (see also the diagram below):
Consult your doctor.
Take the forgotten tablet as soon as you remember, although this may mean taking two tablets at once. Continue taking the next tablets at the usual time and useextra precautions, for the next 7 days, for example, a condom. If you have had sex in the week before forgetting the tablet, you should know that there is a risk of pregnancy. In that case, consult your doctor.
Take the forgotten tablet as soon as you remember, although this may mean taking two tablets at once. Continue taking the next tablets at the usual time. The protection against pregnancy does not decrease and you do not need to take extra precautions.
You can choose between two options:
You may experience small bleeding or bleeding similar to menstruation while using the next strip. After the usual 7-day break without tablets, continue with the next strip.
If you follow one of these two recommendations, you will remain protected against pregnancy.
What to do in case of vomiting or intense diarrhea
If you have vomiting in the 3-4 hours after taking a tablet or have intense diarrhea, there is a risk that the active ingredients of the pill will not be fully absorbed by your body. This is similar to what happens when you forget a tablet. After vomiting or diarrhea, take another tablet from a reserve strip as soon as possible. If possible, take itbefore 12 hourshave passed since your usual time for taking the contraceptive. If this is not possible or more than 12 hours have passed, you should follow the advice given in "If you forget to take Dretinelle".
Delayed menstrual period: what you should know
Although not recommended, it is possible to delay your menstrual period by going directly to a new strip of Dretinelle instead of starting the break without tablets and finishing it. You may experience small bleeding or bleeding similar to menstruation while using the next strip. After the usual 7-day break without tablets, continue with the next strip.
You should consult your doctor before deciding to delay your menstrual period.
Change in the first day of menstrual period: what you should know
If you take the tablets according to the instructions, your menstrual period will start during the break without tablets. If you need to change this day, reduce the number of days without tablets (but never increase it – 7 is the maximum!). For example, if your break without tablets starts on a Friday and you want to change it to a Tuesday (3 days earlier), start a new strip 3 days earlier than usual. If you make the break without tablets too short (e.g., 3 days or less), you may not have any bleeding during these days. Then you may experience weak bleeding or bleeding similar to menstruation.
If you are unsure what to do, consult your doctor.
If you want to stop taking Dretinelle
You can stop taking Dretinelle whenever you want. If you do not want to become pregnant, consult your doctor about other effective methods of birth control. If you want to become pregnant, it is recommended that you stop taking Dretinelle and wait until your menstrual period before trying to become pregnant. This way, you can calculate your estimated due date more easily.
If you have any other questions about the use of this medication, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Like all medicines, Dretinelle 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 changes that you think may be related to Dretinelle, 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 use Dretinelle”.
The following side effects have been associated with the use of Drospirenona/Ethinylestradiol
Frequent side effects (may affect up to 1 in 10 people):
Rare side effects (may affect up to 1 in 100 people):
Rare side effects (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people):
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 the 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 Vigilance of Medicinal Products for Human Use Website:www.notificaram.es
Keep this medication out of the sight and reach of children.
This medication does not require special storage conditions.
Do not take this medication after the expiration date that appears on the blister and packaging after the phrase “Do not use after:” or “CAD:”.
The expiration date refers to the last day of the month.
Medications should not be disposed of through drains or in the trash. Dispose of 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 unused packaging and medications. By doing so, you will help protect the environment.
Composition of Dretinelle
The active principles are etinilestradiol and drospirenona.
Each tablet contains 0.02 mg of etinilestradiol 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).
Appearance of Dretine and contents of the package
Film-coated, round, pink tablets.
Dretinelle is available in boxes of 1, 2, 3, 6, and 13 blisters, each containing 21 tablets
Only some package sizes may be marketed.
Marketing authorization holder and manufacturer
Marketing authorization holder
Theramex Ireland Limited
3rd Floor, Kilmore House,
Park Lane, Spencer Dock,
Dublin 1
D01 YE64
Ireland
Manufacturer
Laboratorios León Farma, S.A.
Pol. Ind. Navatejera;
La Vallina s/n;
24008-Villaquilambre, León
Spain
Or
Merckle GmbH
Ludwig-Merckle-Strasse, 3
Blaubeuren
Germany
Local Representative
Theramex Healthcare Spain, S.L.
Calle Martínez Villergas 52, Edificio C, planta 2ª izquierda.
28027 Madrid
Spain
This medicine is authorized in the member states of the European Economic Area with the following names:
Member State Name | Medicine Name |
Norway: | Dretinelle0.02 mg/3 mg tabletter, filmdrasjerte |
Austria: | Dretinelle 0.02 mg/3 mg 21 Filmtabletten |
Czech Republic: | Softinelle 0.03 mg/3 mg potahované tablety |
Spain: | Dretinelle 0.02 mg/3 mg comprimidos recubiertos con película |
Hungary: | Corenelle 0.02 mg/3 mgfilmtabletta |
Ireland: | Dretinelle 0.02 mg/3 mg Film-coated Tablets |
Poland: | Lesinelle |
Slovakia: | Softinelle 0.02mg/3mg filmom obalené tablety |
Last review date of this leaflet: October 2022
The detailed and updated information on this medicine is available on the website of the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Medical Devices (AEMPS)http://www.aemps.gob.es/
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