Drospirenone (Slinda)

Drug Class:	Commonly Known As:	Category:
Contraceptive	Slinda

Drospirenone (Slinda) - Dosage and How to Use

How should Drospirenone (Slinda) be used?

Do not stop taking your medication without checking with your healthcare professional.
This medication should be taken after food.
Each pack contains 24 white (active) tablets and 4 green (inactive) tablets = 28 tablets.
You should take one tablet daily for 28 days in a row, preferably at the same time every day. You must take the tablets in the correct sequence i.e. start each pack with the white (active) tablets, followed by the green (inactive) tablets.
The next pack is started after the last tablet of the previous pack. Withdrawal bleeding usually starts on day 2-3 after starting the green (inactive) tablets and may not have finished before the next pack is started.
A reliable supplementary non-hormonal contraceptive method such as condoms, are usually recommended for the first seven days of taking Slinda®, for e.g. if you start on Days 2 – 5 of your period, you should use a reliable supplementary non-hormonal contraceptive method for the first 7 days of tablet-taking. However, no additional contraceptive precautions are necessary if Slinda® is taken for the following scenarios below:

Day 1 of menstrual cycle (pregnancy should be ruled out before starting the medication).
Immediately after miscarriage or abortion
Day 21 – 28 after childbirth whether you are breastfeeding or not
When switching immediately from another progestogen-only pill (no break between switch in pills), implant, injection or intrauterine device
When switching from a combined pill (COC), vaginal ring or transdermal patch without any tablet-, ring- or patch-free break.

What should I do if I miss a dose?

There is no action needed if you have missed the green (inactive) tablets; however, you must follow the steps below if you miss any of your 24 white (active) tablets to ensure that contraception effect is not reduced.

Within 24 hours:

Take the missed tablet as soon as remembered, then continue taking the next one at your usual time.

More than 24 hours:

If the missed tablet is during

Days 1 – 7 of the pack:

Take the missed tablet as soon as you remember, even if it means taking 2 tablets at the same time.
Continue to take your tablets at your usual time.
Use a barrier method such as a condom for the next 7 days.

Days 8 – 17 of the pack:

Take the missed tablet as soon as you remember, even if it means taking 2 tablets at the same time.
Continue to take your tablets at your usual time.
If you have taken your tablets correctly in the 7 days before the first missed tablet, there is no need to use extra contraceptive precautions. However, if this is not the case, or you have missed more than 1 tablet, use a barrier method such as a condom for the next 7 days.

Days 18 - 24 of the pack: Depending on whether you have taken your tablets correctly in the 7 days before the first missed tablet, you would have to follow the following options:

No missed tablets in the last 7 days

Take the missed tablet as soon as you remember, even if it means taking 2 tablets at the same time.

Continue to take your tablets at your usual time until the white (active) tablets are finished. Throw away the 4 green (inactive) tablets and start the next pack right away. Your menses may not come until you finish taking all the white (active) tablets of the next pack, but there is no need to worry. However, if your menses does not occur after the next pack is finished, you should take a pregnancy test to rule out pregnancy.

No additional barrier method such as a condom is necessary.

Stop the current pack and have a tablet-free period of up to 4 days (including the day you missed the tablet) - during which time a withdrawal bleed (menses) usually occurs and then continue with the next pack.

No additional barrier method such as a condom is necessary.

Missed tablets in the last 7 days

Take the missed tablet as soon as you remember, even if it means taking 2 tablets at the same time.

AND

Use a barrier method such as a condom for the next 7 days

**If you miss your period (especially with missed tablets), check with your doctor to find out if you are pregnant before continuing to take the next cycle of contraceptives.

If you vomit or suffer from diarrhea within 3 to 4 hours of taking this medication, the tablet may not be absorbed. This is considered a missed dose. You should then follow the instructions above.