question for pharmacists or doctors / conservation of a rx

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Question for pharmacists or doctors:

Are there any health risks associated with reducing the number of "Levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol" (aka levora or levlin) from 21 in 21 days to 14 spread out over 21 days? And if so, what might they be?

While the main use of this med is for birth control, I am not on it for that (and I realize that if I were taking it for b.c. that reducing the # of pills would put one at risk of pregnancy). Instead I am on it for period regulation and to help reduce cramps.

This particular b.c. pill contains the same level of hormones in each pill for all 21 days.

I found that by taking the first three every other day, then skip one day and take one each the next two days, and then skip a day and take one each the next three days (skipping one day after three days on until reaching the 21st day) seems to work adequately regarding the regulation and cramping issues.

I didn't think too much about this as being a potential problem (in fact, I kind of thought the fewer I could get by on, the better it was for me healthwise) until my dotor asked during my annual if I ever forgot to take them. I was under the impression that the only problem with forgetting to take them was pregnancy, and the doc knew I wasn't taking them for that reason. So it made me start to question whether there was some other potential problem in skipping days. (Yes, I was going to ask my doctor about it because she said she'd be back in with the rx, but it turns out she didn't come back in. Yes, I could try to call, but no one ever gets to talk to any doctors over the phone at that clinic.)

So, with all that background, my main question again is, "Are there any health risks associated with reducing the number of "Levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol" (aka levora or levlin) from 21 in 21 days to 14 spread out over 21 days?" And my follow-up question, again is, "if so, what might they be?"

Thanks much in advance.

-- murphy (it's.the.l@w.com), December 10, 1999

Answers

Hey Murph-- The easy answer is that since you are not using for contraception, no worries about dangers. Of course, the hormonal benefits you get from the pills will decrease with the more pills you skip. I would expect that you will have breakthru bleeding and recurrence of your cramping as you skip more pills per cycle. If you have not yet tried naproxen sodium (OTC is Aleve) 2 pills of OTC strength twice daily at the first sign of menses and/or cramping, try it--it has helped many women with cramping and even heavy bleeding problems. Usual disclaimer applies to this and all other medical advise...

-- Cath (fin@llyGI.now), December 14, 1999.

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