Recently, birth control has been in the national news, first as a political issue and secondly as product recalls. This month, we have seen Pfizer and Glenmark Generics recall their oral contraceptives due to packaging issues.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), ʺalmost half of all pregnancies are unintended in the U.S. In the United States, most women of reproductive age use birth control. Between the years 2006 through 2008, 99 percent of women who had ever had sexual intercourse used at least one method of birth control. ʺ
The CDC website revealed ʺthe most popular method of birth control was the oral contraceptive pill, used by 10.7 million women in the United States.ʺ
One oral contraceptive on the market is called Junel. This is the generic form of Loestrin. Loestrin is made by Teve Pharmaceuticals and Junel is produced by Barr Pharmaceuticals. Depending on where you live, Junel costs approximately $30 dollars per month.
Junel is a combined type of birth control pill which contains estrogen as well as progesterone. This type of pill is known as monophasic because it has a constant dose of both progesterone and estrogen over 21 days.
Junel is the type of oral contraceptive which prevents the egg from being released from the ovary.
Junel comes in four package types:
• Junel ®Fe 1.5/30 (28 Tablets)
• Junel ® 1.5/30 (21 Tablets)
• Junel ® Fe 1/20 (28 Tablets)
• Junel ® 1/20 (21 Tablets)
The Junel Fe packaging includes 7 iron tablets.
The Drugs.com website stated, ʺOral contraceptives should not be used in women who currently have the following conditions:ʺ
• Known or suspected pregnancy
• Hepatic adenomas or carcinomas
• Thrombophlebitis or thromboembolic disorders
• A past history of deep vein thrombophlebitis or thromboembolic disorders
• Cholestatic jaundice of pregnancy or jaundice with prior pill use
• Cerebral vascular or coronary artery disease
• Undiagnosed abnormal genital bleeding
• Known or suspected carcinoma of the breast
• Carcinoma of the endometrium or other known or suspected estrogen-dependent neoplasia
According to MSN Health, below is a partial list of medications, over-the-counter drugs and supplements, which may be less effective is you are taking Junel.
• An antibiotic
• Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
• Seizure medication
• Ascorbic acid (vitamin C)
• Phenobarbital (Solfoton) and other barbiturates
• Bosentan (Tracleer)
• HIV or AIDS medications
• Prednisolone (Orapred)
• Theophylline (Elixophyllin, Theo-24, Uniphyl)
• St. John's wort
It is crucial that you inform your doctor or health care provider about any medications, supplements or OTC drugs you are currently taking.
References:
Birth Control Pill Recall. ABC News. Retrieved February 28, 2012, from http://www.abcnews.go.com/blogs/health/2012/02/27/second-birth-control-pill-recall-in-month
Contraception: Unintended and Teen Pregnancy | CDC Reproductive Health. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved February 28, 2012, from http://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/unintendedpregnancy/contraception.htm
Ethinyl Estradiol and Norethindrone . KidsHealth - the Web's most visited site about children's health. Retrieved February 28, 2012, from http://kidshealth.org/parent/medications/ethinyl_estradiol_and_norethindrone.html
Information On Junel Fe Birth Control Pills | LIVESTRONG.COM. LIVESTRONG.COM - Lose Weight & Get Fit with Diet, Nutrition & Fitness Tools | LIVESTRONG.COM. Retrieved February 28, 2012, from http://www.livestrong.com/article/36100-information-junel-fe-birth-control
Junel - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Retrieved February 28, 2012, from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Junel
Junel Fe 1/20 medical facts from Drugs.com. Drugs.com | Prescription Drug Information, Interactions & Side Effects. Retrieved February 28, 2012, from http://www.drugs.com/mtm/junel-fe-1-20.html
Junel Official FDA information, side effects and uses. Drugs.com | Prescription Drug Information, Interactions & Side Effects. Retrieved February 28, 2012, from http://www.drugs.com/pro/junel.html
ethinyl estradiol and norethindrone - MSN Health - Medications. MSN Health: Health Articles & News Fitness Tips & Guide. Retrieved February 28, 2012, from http://health.msn.com/medications/ethinyl-estradiol-and-norethindrone
Reviewed February 29, 2012
by Michele Blacksberg RN
Edited by Jody Smith