Dretine Tablets

Buy Dretine Tablets 

Dretine Tablets are a combined contraceptive pill that are designed to prevent pregnancy.

How Dretine Tablets work

Dretine contains a small amount of two different female hormones; drospirenone and ethinylestradiol. It works by stopping the ovaries from releasing an egg each month. It also thickens the mucus in the womb, making it harder for sperm to reach an egg. 

Directions

Always take Dretine exactly as described in the patient information leaflet or as your doctor / Chemist4U pharmacist has told you. 

Take 1 tablet every day at the same time. 

The strip contains 21 tablets. After you have completed the strip you should take a break for 7 days. You should experience ‘breakthrough bleeding’ during your 7-day break.

When you can first start taking Dretine

No hormonal contraception has been taken in the previous cycle

You can start taking Dretine on the first day of your cycle. Starting on the first day of your period will immediately protect you from pregnancy. You can also start taking the tablets on days 2-5, however, you should use extra contraception.

Changing from combined oral contraceptive, combined vaginal ring or patch

You can start taking the tablet on the day after taking your last active tablet but no later than a day following your tablet-free days of the previous pill. If you are switching from the combined vaginal ring or patch you should follow advice given to you from your GP or pharmacist.

Changing from a progestogen-only pill or the injection, implant or progestogen-releasing IUS  

You can switch to Dretine at any point but you must use additional contraception for the next 7 days.

After miscarriage or abortion

You should follow the advice given to you by your GP or a pharmacist. 

After childbirth

You can start taking Dretine 21 to 28 days after childbirth. If you start taking the pill after 28 days, additional contraception is required.

If you have had unprotected sex since giving birth, you must ensure that you are not pregnant before starting Dretine.

Side effects

Dretine may cause side effects in some people, but these won’t affect everybody. Common side effects include: 

• Bleeding between periods 
• Breast pain and tenderness
• Migraines 
• Nausea 
• Thick, white vaginal discharge 

If you experience any side effects, including any not included in the patient information leaflet, you can report them using the MHRA Yellow Card Scheme.

Serious side effects

Seek emergency medical attention if you notice any signs of a severe allergic reaction, symptoms of which include swelling of the face and throat, skin rash, breathing difficulties and/or loss of consciousness. 

The risk of developing a blood clot is higher in your first year of taking the contraceptive pill, however, this is a rare side effect. After the first year, the risk gets smaller but is always higher than if you weren't using a combined oral contraceptive pill. 

If you notice any signs or symptoms of a blood clot you must seek emergency medical attention. 

The risk of breast cancer is slightly higher in women taking any contraceptive pill. A woman’s risk is higher the older she is rather than how long she has been on the pill for. When a woman stops taking the pill, the risk of breast cancer gradually reduces.  

Warnings

Dretine Tablets may be unsuitable for certain people. Do not take these tablets if you are allergic to any of the ingredients or if:

• You have ever had a blood clot in your legs (DVT) or a blood clot in your lungs (pulmonary embolism)
• You have a disorder that affects your blood clotting e.g. protein C deficiency or antiphospholipid antibodies
• You need an operation and you will be off your feet for a long time
• You have ever had a heart attack or stroke 
• You have or have ever had angina pectoris 
• You have ever had a transient ischaemic attack (TIA)
• You have severe diabetes with blood vessel damage 
• You have very high blood pressure
• You have a very high level of fat in the blood 
• You have hyperhomocysteinemia 
• You have or have ever had a migraine with aura 
• You have or have ever had liver disease and your liver function is not back to normal 
• Your kidneys are not working well 
• You have or have ever had a tumour in the liver
• If you have or have ever had, or you are suspected of having breast cancer or cancer of the genital organs 
• You have any unexplained bleeding from the vagina

Talk to your doctor or Chemist4U pharmacist before taking this product if: 

• A close relative has ever had breast cancer 
• You have disease of the liver or the gallbladder
• You have diabetes 
• You have depression 
• You have Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis 
• You have systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
• You have haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS) 
• You have sickle cell anaemia 
• You have elevated levels of fat in the blood  
• You need an operation and will be off your feet for a long time 
• You have just given birth
• You have varicose veins 
• You have epilepsy 
• You have a disease that first appeared during pregnancy or earlier use of sex hormones
• You have ever had chloasma 
• You have hereditary angioedema  

Using/taking other medicines

If you are taking or have recently taken any medication, including medications obtained without a prescription, speak to your GP or pharmacist before taking Dretine tablets.

Some medications can make Dretine less effective or can cause unexpected bleeding, including medicines for the treatment of:

• Epilepsy (e.g. primidone, phenytoin, barbiturates, carbamazepine)
• Tuberculosis (e.g. rifampicin)
• HIV and hepatitis C virus infections (e.g. ritonavir, nevirapine, efavirenz)
• Fungal infections (e.g. griseofulvin, ketoconazole)
• Arthritis (e.g. etoricoxib) 
• High blood pressure in the blood vessels of the lungs (e.g. bosentan)
• The herbal remedy St. John’s wort

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

This product is not suitable for use during pregnancy. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, you must ask your doctor or Chemist4U pharmacist for advice before taking any new product. 

Storage information

Store in a cool, dry place out of sight and reach of children. Do not use after the expiry date, referring to the last day of the month stated on the packaging. 

Important information

Make sure to speak to your doctor or Chemist4U pharmacist before taking this product if you have an underlying medical problem or are taking any other medicine or complementary therapy. If your symptoms get worse or continue after taking this product, contact us or your doctor. For medical services in your area, please refer to https://www.nhs.uk

If you are pregnant, trying to become pregnant, or breastfeeding, speak to your doctor or Chemist4U pharmacist before taking this product. If you suffer from any allergies, ask your doctor or Chemist4U pharmacist if this product is right for you.

Store out of sight and reach of children.

Please read the included leaflet carefully before using this product.

Please contact your GP if appropriate regarding this product.