Interactions

In general, interactions can occur when using several drugs. Desogestrel is also known to interact with other drugs. For this reason, a doctor or pharmacist should be consulted before taking any other medicine.

Interactions are known to occur, for example, with antiepileptic drugs, barbiturates and St. John’s wort. They can accelerate the breakdown of desogestrel and reduce the contraceptive effect. Corresponding interactions are also known to occur with antibiotics, some antiviral agents or fungicides. Desogestrel may also affect the effectiveness of insulin and oral antidiabetics.

When should Desogestrel not be taken?

Desogestrel should not be taken if an intolerance to the active substance is known. Switching from another estrogen-free preparation may, but does not have to eliminate its side effects. Also, Desogestrel should not be taken if there is a thrombosis.

Desogestrel preparations are also contraindicated in liver diseases with altered liver function and icterus (jaundice). This also applies to certain types of breast cancer or other sex hormone-dependent cancer. Unclarified vaginal bleeding is also contraindicated for the use of desogestrel.

Dosage

The use of Desogestrel should be discussed with a doctor or pharmacist. In general, one tablet is taken every day. Do not stop taking Desogestrel even if bleeding occurs. It is important to take the product at the same time every day. Mini pills containing desogestrel allow a certain tolerance of a maximum of 12 hours compared to levonorgestrel, but their safety is highest if there are 24 hours between the intake of two pills.

Price

The price of preparations with Desogestrel varies between the various suppliers. Depending on the size of the pack, the price per pill varies from €0.30 to over €1.50, and a pack for 3 months (containing three times 28 pills) costs around €20.

Alcohol and desogestrel – is that compatible?

In principle, the contraceptive effect of the pill is not affected by the intake of alcohol. It becomes problematic when symptoms of mild alcohol poisoning occur due to the toxic effect of alcohol. These include, for example, vomiting or diarrhoea.

Under certain circumstances this can lead to the hormones being removed from contraceptives before they have been metabolized by the body. The contraceptive effect of desogestrel and other contraceptives may therefore be reduced. The use of a condom offers additional safety in this case.

Alternatives to desogestrel

In addition to combined pills containing progestins and estrogens, there is a wide range of progestin-only pills. The conventional minipill contains the active ingredient levonorgestrel, but there is no time limit on taking it. Safety may be reduced if you take it the wrong way.

Alternative contraceptive methods to pills include hormone patches, the vaginal ring, hormone injections or hormone implants. Hormone coils, which last three or five years depending on the model, are also considered an alternative to conventional birth control pills. The appropriate contraceptive method should be selected in a detailed consultation with your gynaecologist, as each method has advantages and disadvantages.