Slynd Contraceptive Pill

Buy Slynd 4mg tablets

How does Slynd work?

If you start at any other time, you’ll need to take Slynd for seven days in a row before you’re protected.  

Benefits of Slynd 

• It has a longer missed pill window: Slynd’s 24-hour ‘safe’ window means you’re protected for longer if you forget to take your daily tablet.
• It contains drospirenone: meaning you can receive some of the benefits of the combined pill while taking a mini pill. It may help reduce bloating, while easing symptoms of PMS, PMDD and PCOS.
• It’s oestrogen-free: like all mini pills, Slynd doesn’t contain oestrogen, meaning you can take it if you’re breastfeeding or have high blood pressure.

How to take Slynd

Each Slynd blister contains 24 white active tablets and four green placebo tablets. The tablets are arranged in order.  

3. 1. Take one tablet daily with water. Start by taking the first white tablet in the upper left corner, following the direction of the arrows and numbers on the blister. 

   2. The first tablet should be taken on the first day of your period. You should take the white active tablet for 24 days and then the green placebo tablet for four days. 

   3. You must then start a new pack straight away without a break. 

Always take Slynd exactly as described in the patient information leaflet or as your doctor or Chemist4U clinician has told you. 

If you miss a pill or experience severe diarrhoea or vomiting, please refer to the patient information leaflet for advice, as you may not be fully protected against pregnancy. 

Missed pill rules for Slynd 

The missed pill rules for Slynd depend on how many tablets you’ve missed: 

• If you’ve missed one active (white) pill, you should take the missed pill as soon as possible and then continue taking one tablet a day until you finish the pack.  
• If you’ve missed two or more active (white) pills, you should take the last missed pill as soon as possible. Continue taking your tablets until the pack is finished, leaving the remaining missed pills in the pack. You should use another form of non-hormonal contraception, like condoms, when having sex for seven days after missing your pills.  
• If you miss one or more placebo (green) pills, you should skip the missed pills and then continue taking one tablet a day until you finish the pack.  

When you can start taking Slynd

When you should start taking Slynd depends on whether you’ve previously been using a different form of contraception, or whether you’ve recently had a baby.  

If you have not used a hormonal contraceptive in the last month 

You can start taking Slynd on the first day of your period, and you'll be protected against pregnancy straight away.  

Changing from a combined pill, vaginal ring or transdermal patch 

You can start taking Slynd on the day after the last active tablet of your previous pill pack. You can also start taking Slynd on the day your vaginal ring or transdermal patch is removed.  

You may also start Slynd at the latest on the day following the usual tablet-, ring-, patch-free break or placebo interval of your previous contraception. However, you need to make sure you use another method of contraception, like condoms, for the first seven days you’re on Slynd.  

Changing from another progestogen-only pill (POP)

You can stop taking your current POP any day and start taking Slynd the following day. You will not need to use additional contraception. 

Changing from a progestogen-only injection or implant or a progestogen-releasing intrauterine system (IUS)

You should start Slynd the day when your next injection is due or on the day your implant or your IUS is removed. You will not need to use additional contraception.  

After having a baby

You can start taking Slynd between days 21-28 after giving birth. If you begin after day 28 but before your period has returned, you must make sure you are not pregnant before starting the tablets. You must also use a condom for the first seven days. 

After a miscarriage or abortion

You must follow the advice of your doctor.

Slynd side effects

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

• headaches
• nausea
• abdominal pain 
• changes in sex drive
• altered mood
• acne 
• weight gain 
• breast pain
• painful periods 
• bleeding 
• irregular periods 

For more information on potential side effects, refer to the patient information leaflet. 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.

When to avoid Slynd

We cannot prescribe Slynd if you are under 18 years old.  Do not take these tablets if you are allergic to any of the ingredients or if:

• you have a blood clot in a blood vessel e.g. legs or lungs
• you have or have ever had liver disease and your liver function is still not normal 
• you have renal failure 
• you are suspected to have a cancer that is sensitive to sex steroids e.g. breast cancer
• you have unexplained vaginal bleeding

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

• you have ever had thrombosis 
• you have liver cancer, jaundice or liver disease, and your liver doesn’t work properly
• you have ever had breast cancer
• you have or have had chloasma 
• you have diabetes 
• you have high blood pressure
• your kidneys are not functioning well

Slynd and other medication 

If you are taking or have recently taken any medication, including medication obtained without a prescription, talk to your GP or pharmacist before taking this product.

You must tell your healthcare provider if you are taking the following medication:

• epilepsy medication e.g. primidone, phenytoin, barbiturates, carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, felbamate, lamotrogine and topiramate
• tuberculosis medication e.g rifampicin 
• hepatitis C medication e.g. boceprevir and telaprevir
• medication for high blood pressure in the blood vessels in the lungs e.g. bosentan 
• St John’s wort
• medication for certain bacterial infections e.g. clarithromycin and erythromycin
• medication for fungal infections e.g. fluconazole, itraconazole, ketoconazole and voriconazole 
• medication for certain heart disorders e.g. diltiazem
• medication to treat HIV infections, e.g. ritonavir, nelfinavir 
• cyclosporine, which is used to prevent rejection of transplanted organs 
• certain diuretics 

Alternatives to Slynd 

If Slynd isn’t the right fit for you, there are a range of alternatives, including: 

• other mini pills, like desogestrel, Cerelle and Hana 
• combined pills, like Yasmin, Rigevidon and Microgynon 
• other types of hormonal contraception, like a vaginal ring, intrauterine system (IUS), implant, patch, pr injection 
• non-hormonal contraception, like condoms, a diaphragm, or intrauterine device (IUS) 

Frequently asked questions about Slynd 

Can I buy Slynd over the counter? 

No, Slynd is a prescription-only medication. However, it is available on the free NHS contraception service with Chemist4U.  

What are the disadvantages of Slynd? 

The disadvantages of Slynd include potential side effects like nausea, headaches, breast pain and irregular bleeding or spotting.