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I am 5 days late on starting my birth control because I had to get a new prescription. Should I wait to start a new pack?

By Anonymous July 9, 2009 - 12:00pm
 
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I was using Yaz, but my prescription ran out and I couldn't get an appointment with the doctor for a new prescription (Yasmin) until today (Thursday). I should have started my new pack on Sunday. My question is, should i take the five pills and then finish taking the pack normally? Or should I wait until Sunday (a week late) to start the pack normally? Or should I wait until next month to start? I am getting married in 2 weeks, so I want to be on birth control, but I'm worried about how missing the pills/taking them at the wrong time will affect my hormones. When I started on Yaz my face broke out, so I definitely don't want that on my wedding. I've also heard of people experiencing similar things when they come off birth control. Do you have any advice for how/when I should start my new pack?

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Hi,
I think this is a question best asked to your doctor. I read over the Yaz Patient Information Leaflet (PIL) that comes with every prescription, and the options provided for missed pills is not directly related to your question.

If I understand you correctly, you have missed 4 pills (5 if you do not take one this evening) in the first row (days 1-7) of your new pill pack. The instructions say to "contact your doctor" if you miss more than one tablet in this strip (row). The nurse at your doctor's office can quickly advise you on when/how to take your pills.

Your choices may be:
1. Double-up on your pills, while using back-up protection (condom). Doubling-up would include taking 2 pills each day, until you are caught up. SOME birth control pills are OK to do this with, others cause side effects. Yaz may not be a BCP that you can double-up on, so make a quick call and ask your doctor's nurse. If they give you the OK to double-up, it would essentially be like this:
Today (Thursday) take Thursday's pill & Sunday's pill that you missed
Tomorrow (Friday) take Friday's pill & Monday's pill that you missed
Saturday: Take Saturday pill & Tuesday pill that you missed
Sunday: Take Sunday pill & Wednesday pill that you missed
Monday: Take Monday pill as normal; you are all caught up with missed pills

Other choices may be:
2. waiting to start the new pack until your next period, or,
3. waiting until another specified day (typically a Sunday).

Let us know what your doctor's nurse says.
Oh, and in case you already threw away the PIL, here is a link to one online (PLEASE be sure this PIL coincides with your specific dose, is the most current version, etc. This is only a guide, and you need to keep one copy of your PIL): Yaz PIL example

Congrats on your wedding!

July 9, 2009 - 12:40pm
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