Seasonique

Seasonique is an extended-cycle birth control pill, which means that you will get your period once every three months. It comes in tablet form and is taken at the same time every day. There is only one standard dose of Seasonique, regardless of age, weight, or medical conditions. Although most women tolerate it well, side effects can occur, such as headaches, nausea, and vomiting.

 

What Is Seasonique?

Seasonique™ (levonorgestrel/ethinyl estradiol) is an oral contraceptive (birth control pill). It is an "extended-cycle" oral contraceptive, which means that it provides more time between menstrual periods. With Seasonique, you will get your period once every three months (four times a year).
 
(Click Seasonique Uses for more information, including possible off-label uses.)
 

Who Makes Seasonique?

It is made by Duramed Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
 

How Does It Work?

Seasonique is a combined oral contraceptive, a birth control pill that contains both an estrogen (ethinyl estradiol) and a progestin (levonorgestrel). It works to prevent pregnancy primarily by stopping ovulation (the maturation and release of eggs from the ovaries). However, it also prevents pregnancy in two other, minor ways. Seasonique 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. Also, Seasonique alters the lining of the uterus (called the endometrium), making it less receptive to an embryo.
 
There is no reason women need to have a monthly period while taking birth control pills. In fact, the "period" you experience while taking birth control pills isn't really a period at all. Because ovulation does not occur while taking a birth control pill, the body does not prepare for a possible pregnancy by building up the lining of the uterus. Therefore, there is no need to shed the lining (as with a regular period). Instead, the "period" that occurs due to birth control pills is actually caused by a withdrawal of the hormones in the pills, which causes bleeding.
 

Seasonique Versus Seasonale

Seasonale® was the first extended-cycle oral contraceptive. It is made by the same company as Seasonique. The difference between the two is that there are different ingredients in the last week of pills in the 91-day pack. The last seven tablets of Seasonale contain no active ingredients, while the last seven tablets of Seasonique contain a low dose of ethinyl estradiol, the same estrogen that is in the first 84 pills of the pack, but at a higher strength. It is thought that this low dose of ethinyl estradiol may reduce the chance of breakthrough bleeding (bleeding in between periods).
 

Effectiveness

Seasonique was shown to be an effective birth control method in a large clinical trial. In this study, 1 or 2 women out of every 100 who used Seasonique for a year became pregnant. This is very effective, compared to many other methods of contraception. For instance, up to 14 percent of women using condoms for a year will become pregnant.
 

When and How to Use Seasonique

General considerations for when and how to use Seasonique include the following:
 
  • The medication comes in tablet form. It is taken by mouth once a day.
     
  • You can take Seasonique with or without food. If it bothers your stomach, try taking it with food.
     
  • Each pack of Seasonique contains 91 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 seven days of the pack.
     
  • It is normal to experience breakthrough bleeding or spotting between periods while taking Seasonique. Keep taking the medication as normal.
     
  • It is very important that you take Seasonique every day and at the same time each day. Try to pick a time that will be easy to remember, such as at bedtime or breakfast. 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 the medication to work properly, it must be taken as prescribed. Seasonique will not work if you stop taking it.
     

Dosing Information

There is only one standard dose of Seasonique, regardless of age, weight, or medical conditions. As always, do not adjust your dose unless your healthcare provider specifically instructs you to do so.
 
(Click Seasonique Dosage for more information.)
 

Side Effects

As with any medicine, side effects are possible with Seasonique. 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 Seasonique include, but are not limited to:
 
  • Breakthrough bleeding or spotting between periods
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Breast tenderness
  • Headaches.
     
(Click Seasonique Side Effects to learn more, including potentially serious side effects that you should report immediately to your healthcare provider.)
 

Drug Interactions With Seasonique

Seasonique can interact with a number of other medications (see Seasonique Drug Interactions).
 

What Should I Tell My Healthcare Provider?

You should talk with your healthcare provider prior to using Seasonique if you have:
 
Also, let your healthcare provider know if you:
 
Make sure to tell your healthcare provider about any other medicines you are taking, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
 
(Click Seasonique Warnings and Precautions to learn more, including information on who should not take the drug.)
 

What If I Take an Overdose?

Women who take too much Seasonique may experience the following symptoms:
 
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Vaginal bleeding
  • Other menstrual irregularities.
     
(Click Seasonique Overdose for more information.)
 

How Should It Be Stored?

Keep Seasonique 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 and heat.
 
Keep Seasonique and all other medications out of the reach of children.
 

What If I Miss a Dose of Seasonique?

Missing doses of Seasonique 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 (see Seasonique Dosage). If you are not sure what to do, refer to the patient information that comes with each pack of Seasonique or consult your healthcare provider.
 

Strengths

Seasonique comes in one strength, containing 0.15 mg of levonorgestrel and 0.03 mg of ethinyl estradiol per active tablet (the 84 light blue-green tablets). The last seven (yellow) tablets contain 0.01 mg of ethinyl estradiol per tablet, but no levonorgestrel.
 

Is There a Generic Version of Seasonique?

Currently, there are no generic versions of Seasonique licensed for sale (see Generic Seasonique).
 
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;