Femilon
Desogestrel · Ethinylestradiol
Femilon is a combined oral contraceptive tablet with desogestrel 0.15mg and ethinyl estradiol 0.02mg, taken daily to prevent pregnancy, available in several pack sizes.
All strengths and pack prices
| Strength | Pack | Price | Per tablet |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.15/0.02mg | 21 tablets | $38.22 | $1.82 |
| 0.15/0.02mg | 42 tablets | $64.68 | $1.54 |
| 0.15/0.02mg | 63 tablets | $85.68 | $1.36 |
| 0.15/0.02mg | 105 tablets | $133.35 | $1.27 |
| 0.15/0.02mg | 168 tablets | $203.28 | $1.21 |
- Category
- Women's Health
- Active ingredient
- Desogestrel · Ethinylestradiol
- Route
- Oral
- Form
- Tablet
- Strengths
- 0.15/0.02mg
Shipped in a discreet, unmarked envelope.
Details
- Conditions
- Oral contraception
- Therapeutic Class
- Contraceptive
- Pharmacological Class
- Hormone combination
- Minor Side Effects
- Nausea, Breast tenderness
- Moderate Side Effects
- Spotting, Mood changes
- Dosage Forms
- Tablet
- Administration Route
- Oral
- Manufacturer
- Organon
- Onset Time
- 1–2 hours
- Duration
- 24 hours
- Storage Instructions
- Store at room temperature.
- Drug Interactions
- St. John's wort, Rifampicin
FAQ
What pack sizes does Femilon come in?
Femilon tablets come in one strength, 0.15/0.02mg, in packs of 21, 42, 63, 105 or 168 tablets. The price per tablet in Hong Kong dollars is shown on the page.
What happens if my Femilon parcel goes missing?
Femilon orders ship in plain, unbranded packaging, with nothing on the outside about the contents. If a parcel goes missing within the delivery window, or arrives damaged, it is sent again free; if that is not possible, the order is refunded.
What other names is desogestrel and ethinylestradiol sold under?
Femilon is a branded generic of desogestrel and ethinylestradiol, the ingredients in Desogen and Mircette. The combination is also sold as Gedarel. Here, desogestrel and ethinylestradiol can be bought online as Femilon, and also as Novelon and desogestrel and ethinyl estradiol tablets. These are generics, not the original brand.
How long does Femilon take to work?
Femilon starts working straight away if you take the first tablet on the first day of your period. If you start at another point in your cycle, use condoms for the first 7 days. After that, it prevents pregnancy every day you take it as scheduled.
Can I drink alcohol with Femilon?
Alcohol does not make Femilon less effective. The main issue is vomiting: if you are sick within a few hours of taking a tablet, the dose may not have been absorbed. Take another tablet as soon as you can and carry on with the pack.
What is the difference between Femilon and Novelon?
Both contain desogestrel and ethinyl estradiol. Femilon has 0.15mg desogestrel with 0.02mg ethinyl estradiol. Novelon and the Desogestrel And Ethinyl Estradiol listing use 0.15mg with 0.03mg ethinyl estradiol, so they have a higher oestrogen strength.
Does Femilon stop your period?
Femilon is taken in 21-day cycles with a 7-day break, so you still have a bleed in the break week. That bleed is usually lighter and shorter than a natural period. Spotting between periods is common in the first few months.
Can I take antibiotics with Femilon?
Most antibiotics, including amoxicillin and doxycycline, do not reduce Femilon's contraceptive effect. The exceptions are rifampicin and rifabutin, which are used for TB and some other infections. If you take one of those, use condoms as well during treatment.
About Femilon
What Femilon is used for
Femilon is a combined oral contraceptive — a daily pill with two hormones. Each tablet contains desogestrel, a progestogen (a hormone that affects the womb), and ethinyl estradiol, an oestrogen (a hormone that helps regulate the menstrual cycle). It is taken to prevent pregnancy. The hormones work mainly by stopping the ovaries releasing an egg each month. They also thicken the mucus at the neck of the womb, which makes it harder for sperm to reach an egg, and change the womb lining so a fertilised egg is less likely to settle. Femilon comes as 0.15/0.02mg tablets. If you are comparing listings, Femilon is the 0.15/0.02mg version; Desogestrel And Ethinyl Estradiol and Novelon both use 0.15/0.03mg tablets.
How to take it
Take one tablet at about the same time each day. A 21-tablet pack is taken as one tablet daily for 21 days, then 7 days with no tablet before starting the next pack. If you choose a larger pack, follow the same daily rhythm and use the packs in order. Swallow the tablet with water. If you miss a tablet by less than 12 hours, take it as soon as you remember and carry on. If it is more than 12 hours late, take the most recent missed tablet, keep taking the rest at your usual time, and use condoms for the next 7 days. Vomiting within a few hours of a tablet can mean the dose was not absorbed; take another tablet.
Side effects
In the first few months, some people notice nausea, headaches, breast tenderness, mood changes, or bleeding between periods. These often settle as the body adjusts. More serious problems are rare but need urgent attention: a blood clot can cause sudden breathlessness, chest pain, a swollen painful leg, or a severe headache with vision changes. Yellowing of the skin or eyes also needs urgent assessment.
What can affect how well it works
Some medicines speed up the breakdown of the hormones in Femilon and can make it less effective. These include rifampicin and rifabutin (antibiotics used for TB and some other infections), the epilepsy medicines carbamazepine, phenytoin, topiramate and lamotrigine, and St John's wort. If you take one of these, use condoms as well while you take it. Most common antibiotics, such as amoxicillin, do not affect Femilon. Alcohol does not stop Femilon working.
Storage and pack sizes
Keep the blister out of direct sun, since heat and damp can damage the tablets. Femilon comes in packs sized for one or more cycles, all the same 0.15/0.02mg strength. Larger packs suit longer stretches between orders.