Lizinna

When do I start taking Lizinna?

You can take your first Lizinna pill from day 1 to 5 of your next period. This is also the start of your menstrual cycle. You will not need any extra contraception if you take Lizinna this way.

If you start taking Lizinna on day 6 of your period or later, you’ll need to use extra contraception, such as condoms, for the next 7 days.

Take 1 Lizinna pill at the same time each day for 21 days and follow the arrows on the blister strip.

After you finish a blister strip, you’ll have 7 pill free days. You’ll experience withdrawal bleeding during this time. You do not need to use additional contraception.

You must start the next blister strip straight after the 7 day break. This is to make sure you have contraceptive protection on your pill free days.

If you vomit within 2 hours of taking a Lizinna pill, your body will not have absorbed the active ingredients. You should take a pill from a spare blister strip or speak to your doctor for advice.

What do I do if I forget to take Lizinna?

If you forget to take Lizinna, it may make your pill less effective. A pill is considered as being missed if it is taken 24 or more hours after the usual time.

• If you have only missed one pill, take it as soon as you remember, even if you have to take 2 pills at once. Continue to take the rest of your pack as usual. You’ll still be protected against pregnancy.
• If you have missed 2 to 7 pills, take the most recently missed pill as soon as you remember and leave any previous pills in the strip. This may mean taking 2 pills at once. Continue to take the rest of your pack as usual. But if you have fewer than 7 pills left in the pack, start a new pack without taking a pill free break. You will need to use extra contraception such as condoms for seven days as you may be at risk of pregnancy.
• If you miss 2 or more pills in the first week of your packet, or if you miss 8 or more pills you may need emergency contraception from a healthcare professional.

Speak to your doctor or pharmacist for advice if you are unsure about what to do after missing a Lizinna pill.

What do I do if I take Lizinna twice?

If you take Lizinna twice, you might feel sick, vomit, or bleed from your vagina.

Speak to your doctor or pharmacist if you take too many Lizinna pills.

Can pregnant or breastfeeding women take Lizinna?

You should not take Lizinna if you’re pregnant. If you think you might be pregnant, stop taking Lizinna. You should use another method of contraception until you speak to your doctor.

If you’re breastfeeding, you might be able to take Lizinna, but this will depend on when you gave birth. Your doctor might recommend you take a progesterone-only pill as alternative contraception.

What should I watch out for if I want to stop taking Lizinna?

When you stop taking Lizinna, you may have some withdrawal bleeding. If you don’t want to get pregnant, you need to use another method of contraception, such as condoms. Speak to a healthcare professional for advice on alternative contraceptive methods.

You might find Lizinna causes side effects, but they normally go away after a few months.

Common side effects of Lizinna include:

• bleeding or spotting between your periods
• headache
• nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea

Less common side effects of Lizinna include:

• sore breasts or breast tenderness
• migraines
• mood swings or mood changes
• insomnia
• acne or skin rashes
• urinary tract infections
• vaginal infections like thrush
• constipation
• having no periods
• weight gain or weight loss
• fluid retention
• changes in sex drive
• muscle spasms

Rare side effects of Lizinna include:

• pancreatitis (severe pain in the abdomen)
• breast changes such as feeling lumps
• palpitations or an irregular heartbeat

If you think you’re experiencing any of these side effects when taking Lizinna, speak to your doctor.

You can report any side effects using the MHRA Yellow Card Scheme in the Google Play or Apple App Store.

Does the risk of thrombosis increase?

You’re slightly more likely to have a blood clot when taking Lizinna.

Blood clots can occur in your:

• legs (deep vein thrombosis)
• lungs (pulmonary embolism)
• heart (heart attack)
• brain (stroke)

You must see a doctor immediately if you get any of the following after taking Lizinna:

• any pain or swelling in your legs
• chest pain or tightness
• shortness of breath
• migraine or severe headache for the first time or that’s worse than normal
• sudden loss of vision or blurred vision
• sudden weakness on one side of your body
• if you collapse or faint

If you notice any signs of blood clots, stop taking Lizinna and call 999 immediately.

You might take other medicines that interact with Lizinna and they can affect how it works.

Before you take Lizinna, speak to your doctor or pharmacist if you take:

• epilepsy medication such as carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, lamotrigine, topiramate or primidone
• any products containing St. John’s wort, a herbal remedy for low mood
• treatment for HIV or hepatitis C, including ritonavir, boceprevir, telaprevir
• antibiotics such as rifampicin or rifabutin
• antifungal medication such as griseofulvin
• treatment for sleep such as modafinil or phenobarbital
• treatment for high blood pressure such as bosentan
• corticosteroid medication such as prednisolone
• theophylline
• etoricoxib
• charcoal
• colesevelam

To find out more, you can read the patient information leaflet inside your pack of Lizinna pills.

The active ingredients in Lizinna pills are ethinylestradiol (35 micrograms) and norgestimate (250 micrograms).

The other ingredients in Lizinna are lactose anhydrous, lactose monohydrate, povidone K-25, dl-a-tocopherol, microcrystalline cellulose, croscarmellose sodium, pregelatinised starch (starch 1500), magnesium stearate, indigo carmine aluminium lake (E132).

If you’re allergic to lactose or any other ingredients listed, please speak to your doctor for advice before taking Lizinna.

How should Lizinna be stored?

You should store Lizinna in its original packaging, below 30°C and away from sunlight and moisture. Keep Lizinna out of the sight and reach of children and animals.

How must Lizinna be disposed of?

If you want to dispose of your Lizinna pills, take them to your local pharmacy. Do not throw away your Lizinna pills in the bin or down the drain at home.

What does Lizinna look like?

Lizinna pills are small, blue, and round, with ‘146’ marked on one side.

In which pack sizes is Lizinna available?

Lizinna is available in pack sizes of 21, 63 or 126 pills.

Information on the manufacturer

The company that holds the marketing authorisation of Lizinna is Morningside Healthcare Limited, Unit C, Harcourt Way, Leicester, LE19 1WP, UK.

Lizinna is manufactured by Morningside Pharmaceuticals Ltd, 4 Pavilion Way, Castle Business Park, Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE11 5GW, UK.