Description

Synphase is one of a group of medicines called combined oral contraceptives or “the Pill” for short.

Synphase contains two hormones, a progestogen hormone called norethisterone and an oestrogen hormone called ethinylestradiol. These two hormones act together to prevent a pregnancy from occurring

Uses / Instructions

Take ONE tablet daily for 21 days then have a 7 day break. Repeat this process.

Warnings

Talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse before taking Synphase if you have or have had any of the following conditions:
– Migraine
– Headaches
– Slow or sudden development of visual disturbances such as complete or partial loss of vision
– Asthma
– Epilepsy (a condition where you suffer from fits)
– Diseases of the heart and blood vessels (cardiovascular disease)
– High blood pressure (hypertension)
– Kidney disease
– Diabetes
– Multiple sclerosis (a problem of the nervous system)
– Tetany (muscle twitches)
– Breast problems of any sort
– Varicose veins (widened or twisted vein usually in the leg)
– Liver dysfunction
– Severe depression
– Fibroids in your uterus
– Irregular periods
– Sharp pain in your abdomen
– Gallstones
– Sickle-cell anaemia
– Otosclerosis (an inherited form of deafness)
– Porphyria (a metabolic disease)
– Chloasma (brown patches on your skin which can happen during pregnancy but may not fade completely)
– Any disease that is likely to get worse during pregnancy

See patient information leaflet for more details.

Side Effects

Possible side effects that you might have include:

• Feeling sick
• Stomach upsets
• Weight gain
• Changes in appetite
• Changes in the way your body breaks down sugars, fats or vitamins
• Headaches
• High blood pressure
• Depression
• Swollen or sore breasts
• Change in sex drive
• Worsening of womb disorders
• Irregular vaginal bleeding.

See patient information leaflet for more details.

Ingredients

The active substances are norethisterone and ethinylestradiol.

– The other ingredients in each tablet are maize starch, polyvidone, lactose, magnesium stearate and colouring E132 (in the blue pills only). Please also refer to section 2, ‘Synphase contains lactose’.