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Ocella
As with any medicine, side effects are possible with Ocella. However, not everyone who uses the contraceptive will experience side effects. In fact, most women tolerate it quite well. If side effects do occur, in most cases, they are minor and either require no treatment or can easily be treated by you or your healthcare provider. Serious side effects are less common.
Common side effects of Ocella include, but are not limited to:
- Headaches
- Menstrual problems or changes
- Breast pain
- Abdominal pain (stomach pain)
- Nausea.
(Click Ocella Side Effects to learn more, including potentially serious side effects you should report immediately to your healthcare provider.)
What Should I Tell My Healthcare Provider Before Taking Ocella?
You should talk with your healthcare provider prior to using this medication if you have:
Also, let your healthcare provider know if you:
Make sure to tell your healthcare provider about all other medicines you are taking, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
Ocella is a combined oral contraceptive -- a birth control pill that contains an estrogen and a progestin. It prevents pregnancy primarily by stopping ovulation (the maturation and release of eggs from the ovaries). However, it also prevents pregnancy in two other minor ways. Ocella alters the cervical mucus (the fluid of the cervix, which is the lower, narrow part of the uterus that is connected to the vagina), making it more difficult for sperm to enter the uterus. Lastly, this contraceptive alters the lining of the uterus (the endometrium), making it less receptive to an embryo.
Ocella is different from traditional birth control pills in an important way. The progesterone that it uses (drospirenone) is closely related to spironolactone, a medication used as a diuretic ("water pill"). Drospirenone has anti-androgenic activity, which means that it works against testosterone and other "male" hormones. All women have a small amount of these "male" hormones that can cause acne and other problems. Also, drospirenone may increase the level of potassium in your blood, which can be a problem for some women.
Ocella was shown to be an effective birth control method in a large clinical trial. In this study, for every 100 women who used the drug for a year, fewer than one became pregnant. This is highly effective, compared to many other methods of contraception. For instance, as many as 14 percent of women using condoms for a year will become pregnant.
When and How to Use Ocella
General considerations for those using Ocella include the following:
- Ocella comes in tablet form. It is taken by mouth once a day.
- You can take this medication with food or on an empty stomach. If Ocella bothers your stomach, try taking it with food.
- Each pack contains 28 pills. Be sure to take them in order. Once you finish a pack, start a new pack right away. You will probably get your period during the last few days of the pack or, sometimes, during the first few days of the new pack.
- It is very important that you take Ocella every day and at the same time each day. Try to pick a time that will be easy to remember, such as at bedtime. If you have trouble remembering, please talk with your healthcare provider, as missing pills increases your risk of pregnancy.
- Make sure you know exactly what to do if you miss any pills. In some circumstances, you may need to use a backup method of contraception, such as condoms, for seven days.
- For Ocella to work properly, it must be taken as prescribed.
There is only one standard dose for Ocella, regardless of your age, weight, or medical conditions. As always, do not adjust your dose unless your healthcare provider specifically instructs you to do so.
What If I Take an Overdose of Ocella?
Women who take too much Ocella may experience the following symptoms:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Vaginal bleeding
- Other menstrual irregularities
- High blood potassium (hyperkalemia).
How Should Ocella Be Stored?
Keep the Ocella tablets in their original package. The packaging is designed to help you remember to take the tablets each day. Keep the package at room temperature, away from moisture or heat. Keep this and all other medications out of the reach of children.
Missing doses of birth control pills increases the risk of pregnancy. What you should do depends on how many tablets you have missed and where exactly you are in your cycle. Refer to the patient information that comes with each pack of Ocella, or consult your healthcare provider if you are not sure what to do (see Ocella Dosage for more information).
Ocella is made by Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals (who also makes Yasmin), but is marketed and distributed by Barr Laboratories, Inc.
Ocella comes in one strength, containing 3 mg of drospirenone and 0.03 mg of ethinyl estradiol per active tablet (the 21 yellow tablets). The seven inactive (white) tablets do not contain any active ingredients.
Is Generic Ocella Available?
Ocella is actually a generic product, even though its name does not seem like a "generic" name. It is a generic version of Yasmin (see Generic Yasmin).
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;
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