Gedarel 20

Gedarel is a combined oral contraceptive pill used to prevent pregnancy. Each Gedarel pill contains two types of female sex hormones namely, ethinylestradiol, an oestrogen and the progesterone, desogestrel. 

A combined contraceptive pill such as Gedarel protects you against pregnancy in three ways.

The hormones contained in each pill will:

1. stop the ovary from releasing an egg each month preventing ovulation
2. thickens the fluid in your cervix (at the neck of the womb) preventing the sperm from reaching the egg.
3. alter the lining of the womb or uterus to make it less conducive to accept a fertilised egg.

The contraceptive pill Gedarel is an effective and reversible form of contraception if taken correctly. But sometimes there are cases wherein the pill’s effectiveness may be reduced, or you may have to stop taking it.

In these circumstances, either you abstain from having sex or use other methods of contraception such as condoms.

Take note, combined oral contraceptive pills like Gedarel are not protection against sexually transmitted diseases (such as AIDS). Only condoms can help prevent this.

Always follow the instructions given to you by your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist. The daily dose is one tablet per day.

• It is recommended to take your pill at about the same time each day to remind you not to forget your dose. You may prefer to take it either last thing at night or first thing in the morning.
• Swallow each pill whole, with water or any liquid if necessary.

Each pack of Gedarel has 1 calendar strip of 21 coated pills. The calendar strip will remind you to take your daily dose. The strip is marked with the days of the week and you should follow the direction of the arrow for 21 days or until the strip is empty. After finishing 21 days, you will stop taking the tablets for 7 days. During this time, you will experience a withdrawal symptom of bleeding or monthly period, usually on the second or third day. Start a new Gedarel pack immediately after the 7th day of your break. You have to start on this 8th day even if you still have your bleeding or period. 

Practice taking the pill at the same time every day.

If you need more details about taking your pill, please see the Patient Information Leaflet included in the packet. Keep it handy as it contains lots of useful, detailed information all about taking your pill.

Some medicines may lower the effectiveness of your pill and may mean that you need to take extra contraceptive methods. 

These  medications include:

•  antibiotics 
• St John’s Worts 
• Epilepsy medicines
• tuberculosis medications (rifabutin, rifampicin)
• HIV infection medicines 
• treatment for hepatitis C virus infections (telaprevir, boceprevir)
• fungal infection treatments (griseofulvin) 
• Increase in the blood pressure medicines (bosentan)

Your pill may also interact and stop other medicines from working properly such as ciclosporin (an immunosuppressant) and lamotrigine (to treat epilepsy).

Seek advice from your doctor, nurse or pharmacist if you are unsure about taking other medicines in combination with your pill.

If you have pre-existing medical conditions, you need to consult your doctor before starting Gedarel pills. It is crucial to do a check-up especially if your condition is included in the list below:

• Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis
• Systemic Lupus erythematosus
• Haemolytic Uraemic syndrome or blood clotting disorder
• Sickle cell anaemia
• Elevated levels of fat in the blood
• Recently had childbirth
• Inflammation in the veins under the skin
• Varicose veins
• Family history of breast cancer
• Liver or gallbladder diseases
• Diabetes
• Mood changes or depression

If you want to know the opinions of other women who have tried this pill, you may read Gedarel reviews online. This will give you personalized insights into their individual experiences. 

You will be protected from pregnancy instantly if you take Gedarel within the first 5 days of your cycle.

If you start taking Gedarel later, you’ll need to use another method of contraception, such as a condom, to avoid becoming pregnant. This is only necessary for the first seven days and the first pack.

Gedarel Effectivity
Gedarel is more than 99 percent effective in preventing pregnancy when taken correctly. However, being sick, having diarrhea, taking certain drugs, or missing doses can all reduce the pill’s effectiveness. Gedarel is roughly 91 percent successful in practice as a result of these features.

When Should You Start Taking Gedarel?
You can begin taking Gederal at any time throughout your menstrual cycle, but the timing of your first dose will determine whether or not you are entirely protected against pregnancy.

If you take Gedarel within the first five days of your period, you will be protected from pregnancy right away and will not need to use other forms of contraception, such as condoms. You will need to use additional protection for the next seven days if you start taking Gedarel at any other period during your menstrual cycle.

Missing a Gedarel Pill
Your protection against pregnancy will not be compromised if you skip one pill and are less than 12 hours late. Even if it means taking two tablets in one day, you should take the missed tablet as soon as you remember. Take the following pills at the same time every day.

Your protection against pregnancy may be diminished if you miss your pill by more than 12 hours. Continue to take your pill as usual, but refrain from unprotected intercourse for the next seven days. You’ll need to take emergency contraception if you’ve previously had unprotected sex (due to a missed pill).

If you miss a tablet and your strip expires within the next six days, skip your customary seven-day interval and start on the next strip of pills.

How Safe Is Gedarel?
Gedarel is safe to consume if you have been prescribed it by a doctor or certified medical practitioner.

Most women can safely use Gedarel, and it is a regularly prescribed type of contraception in the United Kingdom. Gedarel is as safe as other combination contraceptive pills, according to the research.

Gedarel Side Effects
The majority of women who use Gedarel have no negative effects, however, some do. These are the following Gedarel side effects that you should be aware of:

Common side effects:

– irregular bleeding
– mood swings
– depression
– nervousness
– headaches
– dizziness
– nausea
– pain in the abdomen
– acne
– tenderness or pain in the breast
– painful periods
– missing periods

Weight gain
– usual side effects

Unusual side effects:

– retention of fluid
– reduced desire for sex
– hearing impairment
– migraine
– Diarrhea
– vomiting
– blood pressure that is too high
– urticaria
– enlargement of the breasts

Gedarel vs Marvelon
Gedarel and Marvelon aren’t identical, although they are pretty similar. Both Gedarel and Marvelon are combination contraceptive pills with the same active components, however, Marvelon does not come in a low-dose form.

Although Gedarel 20/150 has less ethinylestradiol than Marvelon, Gedarel 30/150 and Marvelon are identical medications; the only difference between the two is the brand name and manufacturer. If you had success with Marvelon, it’s very likely that you’ll have the same success with Gedarel 30/150. You should also be aware of Gedarel vs Rigevidon so you would know more about the right pill you should drink.

If you want to change your contraceptive pill, contact us through your patient record or make an appointment with your doctor to talk about it. If you are switching to a new pill, it is recommended that you do not take a break between packs, and you may need to use additional contraceptive methods throughout the transition.