Rigevidon

Rigevidon is a birth control pill that contains levonorgestrel and ethinylestradiol. These are similar to the female sex hormones you produce naturally. Rigevidon works to prevent pregnancy by helping to:

• stop ovulation, which is the release of an egg from your ovaries once a month
• thicken the fluid in your cervix, making it harder for sperm to get through and reach the egg
• thin the lining of your womb, making it harder for a fertilised egg to grow there

When taken perfectly, Rigevidon can be 99% effective at preventing pregnancy. Rigevidon does not protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs), such as HIV. You’ll need to use condoms to avoid getting STIs. You can see your doctor or visit a sexual health clinic to check if you have an STI.

Rigevidon comes as blister strips of 21 pills each. Days of the week and arrows are printed on the blister strips.

To take Rigevidon you should:

• Swallow 1 pill whole with water at the same time each day.
• After 21 days, take a 7 day break where you do not take any pills.
• During this 7 day break, you will have a withdrawal bleed, similar to a period.
• After the 7 day break, start a new blister strip of Rigevidon.
• Start your new strip even if your withdrawal bleed has not finished.

You can also take Rigevidon in other ways. For more information please speak to your doctor.

Your Rigevidon pill might not protect you from pregnancy if you vomit or have severe diarrhoea. If this happens, speak to a doctor or pharmacist for advice.

When do I start taking Rigevidon?

You can start taking Rigevidon at any point during your menstrual cycle. When you take Rigevidon on the first day of your period, you’ll be protected from pregnancy straight away.

If you start Rigevidon after day 5 of your cycle, use condoms for 7 days. This gives your body 7 days to build up your hormone levels to prevent pregnancy.

What do I do if I forget to take Rigevidon?

If you forget to take Rigevidon, here is what you need to do:

• If you have only missed 1 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 7 days as you may be at risk of pregnancy.
• If you have missed more than 2 pills in the first week of your packet, or if you miss 8 or more pills you may need emergency contraception. Speak to a doctor or pharmacist for advice on what to do next or if you have had unprotected sex and are unsure what to do after missing a Rigevidon pill.

What do I do if I take Rigevidon twice?

If you take 2 Rigevidon pills because you missed one, you should be fine. Otherwise, you might start to feel sick, vomit or bleed from your vagina. Speak to your doctor or pharmacist as soon as you can.

Can pregnant or breastfeeding women take Rigevidon?

If you are pregnant, you should not take Rigevidon. Stop taking Rigevidon immediately if you find out you are pregnant and talk to your doctor.

You should not take Rigevidon in the first 6 weeks after giving birth if you are breastfeeding. Speak to your doctor for advice if you are still unsure or you require contraception in the first 6 weeks. A progesterone only contraceptive pill can be used instead.

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

If you decide to stop taking Rigevidon, you will no longer be protected from getting pregnant. You will need to use a different type of contraception, like condoms. You may also experience vaginal bleeding for a few days after your last Rigevidon pill. Your doctor can recommend a pill without oestrogen like the mini pill also known as the progesterone only pill (POP).

You can get side effects when you take Rigevidon. They should clear up within the first few months.

Some common side effects of Rigevidon include:

• vaginal thrush
• mood swings
• vomiting
• acne
• breast pain
• irregular bleeding
• fluid retention (bloating)

Uncommon side effects of Rigevidon:

• increased blood pressure
• abdominal pains
• changes in body hair

Rare side effects of Rigevidon:

• allergic reaction
• skin rash
• liver problems (jaundice)
• difficulty wearing contact lenses

Very rare

• liver tumours
• cervical cancer or breast cancer
• blood clots

Speak to your doctor if you feel you have any side effects. You can switch to an oestrogen free pill, intrauterine device (IUD) or implant. For a full list of side effects, read the patient information leaflet in your pack of Rigevidon.

You might have breakthrough bleeding or spotting within the first few months of taking Rigevidon. If it doesn’t stop after 3 months, please get in touch with your doctor.

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

You can take Rigevidon if you:

• have a healthy weight or body mass index (BMI) below 25
• have never had a blood clot or a blood clotting disorder
• have never had a heart attack or stroke
• do not have angina
• do not have diabetes
• do not have high cholesterol
• have never had migraines with auras
• have not got high blood pressure
• have never had breast cancer
• have never had liver disease or liver tumours
• are not allergic to any of the ingredients
• do not have unexplained vaginal bleeding
• do not have Crohn’s disease
• do not have systemic lupus erythematosus

Speak to your doctor for advice if you are unsure about whether you can take Rigevidon. Always read the patient information leaflet in your pack of Rigevidon pills.

Some medicines, foods or supplements may interact with Rigevidon. You should speak to your doctor or pharmacist for advice if you take any of the following:

• epilepsy medicines such as primidone, carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, phenytoin, lamotrigine or topiramate
• tuberculosis medicines such as rifampicin
• HIV medicines or other antivirals such as ritonavir
• antifungal medicine such as griseofulvin
• antibiotics such as ampicillin or tetracycline
• Ciclosporin after transplant surgery
• herbal medicines, vitamins or supplements that contain St John’s wort

If you take Rigevidon, your risk of thrombosis (blood clotting) will increase slightly. You can get a blood clot in places like your:

• leg (deep vein thrombosis or DVT)
• lungs (pulmonary embolism)
• eye (retinal vein thrombosis)
• heart (heart attack)
• brain (stroke)

You can get an oestrogen free contraceptive pill from your doctor which has a lower risk of thrombosis compared to Rigevidon.

The active ingredients of Rigevidon are 150mcg of levonorgestrel (a progestogen) and 30mcg of ethinylestradiol (an oestrogen).

The other ingredients in Rigevidon are colloidal anhydrous silica, magnesium stearate, talc, maize starch, lactose monohydrate (33mg), sucrose, calcium carbonate, titanium dioxide (E171), copovidone, macrogol 6000, and povidone carmellose sodium.

If you are allergic to lactose or any of the ingredients in Rigevidon, please speak to your doctor before you take it.

Rigevidon contains the same active ingredients as Microgynon 30. Both pills contain 30mcg of ethinylestradiol and 150mcg of levonorgestrel. You also use them the same way. This means you take 1 pill each day for 21 days and then take a 7 day break.

Different manufacturers make Rigevidon and Microgynon 30, so they contain different inactive ingredients. Always check the patient information leaflet for details on each medication.

How should Rigevidon be stored?

Store Rigevidon pills in their original box, below 25°C and in a safe place away from children. Do not pop the pills out of their blister pack until you need to take one. Make sure your Rigevidon pills are within their expiry date on the carton.

How must Rigevidon be disposed of?

Take any expired or unused Rigevidon pills to your local pharmacy to be disposed of. Do not put any Rigevidon pills in your bin or down the drain at home.

What does Rigevidon look like?

Rigevidon pills are white, round, biconvex, and coated.

In which pack sizes is Rigevidon available?

Rigevidon is available in packs of 1, 3, 6 or 13 blister strips. Each blister pack contains 21 coated pills.

Information on the manufacturer

The marketing authorisation holder and manufacturer of Rigevidon is Gedeon Richter Plc., Gyömrői út 19-21, 1103 Budapest, Hungary.

Rigevidon is distributed by Consilient Health (UK) Ltd., No.1 Church Road, Richmond Upon Thames, Surrey, TW9 2QE.