Before Using This medicine: Certain drugs may interact with birth control pills to make them less effective in preventing pregnancy or cause an increase in breakthrough bleeding. Such drugs include rifampin, drugs for epilepsy such as barbiturates (for example, phenobarbital), anticonvulsants such as carbamazepine (Tegretol® is one brand of this drug), phenytoin (Dilantin® is one brand of this drug), phenylbutazone, and possibly certain antibiotics. You may need to use additional contraception when you take drugs, which can make oral contraceptives less effective. Before you have any medical or dental treatments, emergency care, or surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are using this medicine. If you wear contact lenses and you develop problems with them, contact your doctor. Before you begin taking any new medicine, either prescription or over-the-counter, check with your doctor or pharmacist. This medicine may cause dark skin patches on your face. Exposure to the sun may make these patches darker. If patches develop, use a sunscreen or protective clothing when exposed to the sun, sunlamps, or tanning booths.

Proper Use of This Medicine: Take one tablet daily.

Precautions While Using This Medicine: The "Pill" as it is often called is one of the safest birth control methods available. However, it's not for everyone. If you smoke cigarettes while using this medicine it can increase your risk of stroke, heart attack, blood clots, high blood pressure, or other diseases of the heart and blood vessels. If you have vomiting or diarrhea for any reason, your medicine may not work as well. In such a case it is recommended that you use an additional form of birth control until your next period to avoid pregnancy. Do not use this medicine if you are pregnant. If you suspect that you could be pregnant, contact your doctor immediately. This medicine is excreted in breast milk. If you are or will be breast-feeding while you are using this medicine, check with your doctor or pharmacist to discuss the risks to your baby.

Side Effects of This Medicine: The most common reported symptoms include nausea, vomiting, bleeding between menstrual periods, breast tenderness, or weight change. These symptoms do not always occur or last. If they continue or are annoying or troubling to you, check with your doctor. Check with your doctor as soon as you can if you experience continual or recurring unusual vaginal bleeding, a missed menstrual period, dizziness or fainting, swelling of fingers or ankles, headache, or difficulty wearing contact lenses. Contact your doctor immediately if you experience sharp or crushing chest pain, sudden shortness of breath, sudden severe headache or leg pain, yellow skin or eyes, changes in vision, numbness of an arm or leg, or severe stomach pain. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor, or pharmacist.