Loestrin 24 Fe (norethindrone/ethinyl estradiol) is a birth control pill to be taken daily over a 28-day period. A pack of Loestrin 24 Fe contains 24 active (containing hormones) and 4 inactive (iron tablets, not containing hormones) pills. Care should be taken that a dose is neither missed nor is there overdose.
Dosage
The following points should be kept in mind while taking a dose of Loestrin:
• One pill needs to be taken orally on a regular basis everyday, or as prescribed by the doctor.
• The time of the day when the bill is taken should be maintained during the duration of the course. The time-gap between each dose should be kept.
• The pill should be taken in the order in the pack.
• The pill can be taken with or without food. If one gets stomach upset or nausea with this pill, it is advisable to take with food during dinner.
• Once a pack is finished, you should immediately begin on the next pack. The four inactive pills in the pack give the break from hormones and allow a menstruation cycle to happen.
Missing a Dose
Missing a dose increases the possibility of pregnancy, but you can rectify the matter in the following way:
• If you forget a pill in the first three weeks of the pack, immediately take the missed pill and continue with the next as per schedule. This may mean taking two pills together.
• If you forget to take two pills in a row during the first 2 weeks of the pack, immediately take two pills and follow up with taking two pills the following day as per schedule.
• If you forget to take two pills in a row during the last 2 weeks of the pack or forget more than three pills in a row during any week, then the remedy depends on the following:
o If you began your dosage on the first day of your periods, you get rid of the existing pack and immediately start on a new pack.
o If you began your dosage on the first Sunday of your period, take one pill till Sunday, get rid of the existing pack and then start on a new pack.
These steps should be taken only in consultation with your doctor.
Back-up non-hormone contraception is advised when a pill is missed to reduce the risk of pregnancy. Missing an iron pill does not have any adverse effect as long as you keep to the schedule on a new pack
Overdose
Overdose of the pills should never be taken unless medically prescribed. An overdose can have adverse reactions to the body causing, headaches, nausea, severe vomiting, and unexpected vaginal bleeding.
Conclusion
Loestrin Fe is a hormone-based medical pill. All human bodies don’t react in the same way to the same hormone and sensible usage of this pill will result in maximum benefit to the user.