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Package leaflet: Information for the patient

Acondro 3 mg/0.03 mg Film-coated Tablets

(drospirenone/ethinylestradiol)

Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine because it contains important information for you.

•    Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.

•    If you have any further questions, ask your doctor, pharmacist or nurse.

•    This medicine has been prescribed for you only. Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them even if their signs of illness are the same as yours.

•    If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. See section 4.

Important things to know about combined hormonal contraceptives (CHCs):

•    They are one of the most reliable reversible methods of contraception if used correctly;

•    They slightly increase the risk of having a blood clot in the veins and arteries, especially in the first year or when restarting a combined hormonal contraceptive following a break of 4 or more weeks;

•    Please be alert and see your doctor if you think you may have symptoms of a blood clot (see section 2 "Blood clots”).

What is in this leaflet:

1.    What Acondro is and what it is used for

2.    What you need to know before you take Acondro

•    Do not take Acondro

•    Warnings and precautions

•    Acondro and venous and arterial blood clots

•    Acondro and cancer

•    Bleeding between periods

•    What to do if no bleeding occurs during the gap week

•    Other medicines and Acondro

•    Laboratory tests

•    Pregnancy and breast-feeding

•    Driving and using machines

•    Acondro contains lactose

3.    How to take Acondro

•    When can you start with the first strip

•    If you take more Acondro than you should

•    If you forget to take Acondro

•    What to do in the case of vomiting or severe diarrhoea

•    Delaying your period: what you need to know

•    Changing the first day of your period: what you need to know

•    If you want to stop taking Acondro

4.    Possible side effects

5.    How to store Acondro

6.    Contents of the pack and other information

1.    What Acondro is and what it is used for

Acondro is a contraceptive pill and is used to prevent pregnancy.

Each tablet contains a small amount of two different female hormones, namely drospirenone and ethinylestradiol.

Contraceptive pills that contain two hormones are called "combination” pills.

2.    What you need to know before you take Acondro

General notes

Before you start using Acondro you should read the information on blood clots in section 2. It is particularly important to read the symptoms of a blood clot - see Section 2 "Blood clots”

Before you can begin taking Acondro, your doctor will ask you some questions about your personal health history and that of your close relatives. The doctor will also measure your blood pressure, and depending upon your personal situation, may also carry out some other tests.

In this leaflet, several situations are described where you should stop using Acondro, or where the reliability of Acondro may be decreased.

In such situations you should either not have sex or you should take extra non-hormonal contraceptive precautions, e.g., use a condom or another barrier method.

Do not use rhythm or temperature methods. These methods can be unreliable because Acondro alters the monthly changes of body temperature and of the cervical mucus.

Acondro, like other hormonal contraceptives, does not protect against HIV infection (AIDS) or any other sexually transmitted disease.

Do not take Acondro

You should not use Acondro if you have any of the conditions listed below. If you do have any of the conditions listed below, you must tell your doctor. Your doctor will discuss with you what other form of birth control would be more appropriate.

•    if you have (or have ever had) a blood clot in a blood vessel of your legs (deep vein thrombosis, DVT), your lungs (pulmonary embolus, PE) or other organs;

•    if you know you have a disorder affecting your blood clotting - for instance, protein C deficiency, protein S deficiency, antithrombin-III deficiency, Factor V Leiden or antiphospholipid antibodies;

•    if you need an operation or if you are off your feet for a long time (see section 2 'Blood clots');

•    if you have ever had a heart attack or stroke;

•    if you have (or have ever had) angina pectoris (a condition that causes severe chest pain and may be a first sign of a heart attack) or transient ischaemic attack (TIA - temporary stroke symptoms);

•    if you have any of the following diseases that may increase your risk of a clot in the arteries:

*    severe diabetes with blood vessel damage

*    very high blood pressure

*    a very high level of fat in the blood (cholesterol or triglycerides)

*    a condition known as hyperhomocysteinaemia

•    if you have (or have ever had) a type of migraine called 'migraine with aura';

•    if you have (or have ever had) a liver disease and your liver function is still not normal;

•    if your kidneys are not working well (renal failure);

•    if you have (or have ever had) a tumour in the liver;

•    if you have (or have ever had) or if you are suspected of having breast cancer or cancer of the genital organs;

•    if you have any unexplained bleeding from the vagina;

•    if you are allergic to ethinylestradiol or drospirenone, or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6). This may cause itching, rash or swelling.

Warnings and precautions

When should you contact your doctor?

Seek urgent medical attention

• if you notice possible signs of a blood clot that may mean you are suffering from a blood clot in the leg (i.e. deep vein thrombosis), a blood clot in the lung (i.e. pulmonary embolism), a heart attack or a stroke (see 'Blood clots' section below).

For a description of the symptoms of these serious side effects, please go to "How to recognise a blood clot”

Tell your doctor if any of the following conditions apply to you.

If the condition develops or gets worse while you are using Acondro, you should also tell your doctor. In some situations you need to take special care while using Acondro or any other combination pill, and your doctor may need to examine you regularly.

Talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse before taking Acondro.

•    if you have Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis (chronic inflammatory bowel disease);

•    if you have systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE - a disease affecting your natural defence system);

•    if you have haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS - a disorder of blood clotting causing failure of the kidneys);

•    if you have sickle cell anaemia (an inherited disease of the red blood cells);

•    if you have elevated levels of fat in the blood (hypertriglyceridaemia) or a positive family history for this condition. Hypertriglyceridaemia has been associated with an increased risk of developing pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas);

•    if you need an operation or you are off your feet for a long time (see in section 2 'Blood clots');

•    if you have just given birth you are at an increased risk of blood clots.

You should ask your doctor how soon after delivery you can start taking Acondro;

•    If you have an inflammation in the veins under the skin (superficial thrombophlebitis);

•    If you have varicose veins;

•    if a close family member has or has ever had breast cancer;

•    if you have cancer;

•    if you have a disease of the liver or gallbladder;

•    if you have other kidney problems and are taking medicines which increase potassium levels in the blood;

•    if you have diabetes;

•    if you have depression;

•    if you have epilepsy (see "Other medicines and Acondro");

•    if you have a disease that first appeared during pregnancy or earlier use of sex hormones [for example, hearing loss, a blood disease called porphyria, skin rash with blisters during pregnancy (gestational herpes), a disease of the nerves in which sudden movements of the body occur (Sydenham's chorea)];

•    if you have high blood pressure during therapy which is not controlled by treatment with medicine;

•    if you have or have ever had chloasma (a discoulouration of the skin especially of the face or neck known as "pregnancy patches”). If so, avoid direct sunlight or ultraviolet light while taking this medicine;

•    if you have hereditary angioedema, products containing estrogens may cause or worsen the symptoms. You should see your doctor immediately if you experience symptoms of angioedema such as swollen face, tongue and/or throat and/or difficulty swallowing or hives together with difficulty breathing.

BLOOD CLOTS

Using a combined hormonal contraceptive such as Acondro increases your risk of developing a blood clot compared with not using one. In rare cases a blood clot can block blood vessels and cause serious problems.

Blood clots can develop:

•    in veins (referred to as a 'venous thrombosis', 'venous thromboembolism' or VTE);

•    in the arteries (referred to as an 'arterial thrombosis', 'arterial thromboembolism' or ATE).

Recovery from blood clots is not always complete. Rarely, there may be serious lasting effects or very rarely, they may be fatal.

It is important to remember that the overall risk of a harmful blood clot due to Acondro is small.

HOW TO RECOGNISE A BLOOD CLOT

Seek urgent medical attention if you notice any of the following signs or symptoms.

BLOOD CLOTS IN A VEIN

What can happen if a blood clot forms in a vein?

•    The use of combined hormonal contraceptives has been connected with an increase in the risk of blood clots in the vein (venous thrombosis). However, these side effects are rare. Most frequently, they occur in the first year of use of a combined hormonal contraceptive;

•    If a blood clot forms in a vein in the leg or foot it can cause a deep vein thrombosis (DVT);

•    If a blood clot travels from the leg and lodges in the lung it can cause a pulmonary embolism;

•    Very rarely a clot may form in a vein in another organ such as the eye (retinal vein thrombosis).

When is the risk of developing a blood clot in a vein highest?

The risk of developing a blood clot in a vein is highest during the first year of taking a combined hormonal contraceptive for the first time. The risk may also be higher if you restart taking a combined hormonal contraceptive (the same product or a different product) after a break of 4 weeks or more.

After the first year, the risk gets smaller but is always slightly higher than if you were not using a combined hormonal contraceptive.

When you stop Acondro your risk of a blood clot returns to normal within a few weeks.

What is the risk of developing a blood clot?

The risk depends on your natural risk of VTE and the type of combined hormonal contraceptive you are taking.

The overall risk of a blood clot in the leg or lung (DVT or PE) with Acondro is small.

Your chances of having a blood clot are increased by taking the Pill.

•    Out of 10,000 women who are not using any combined hormonal contraceptive and are not pregnant, about 2 will develop a blood clot in a year.

•    Out of 10,000 women who are using a combined hormonal contraceptive that contains levonorgestrel, norethisterone or norgestimate, about 5-7 will develop a blood clot in a year.

•    Out of 10,000 women who are using a combined hormonal contraceptive that contains drospirenone such as Acondro, between about 9 and

12 women will develop a blood clot in a year.

•    The risk of having a blood clot will vary according to your personal medical history (see "Factors that increase your risk of a blood clot” below).

	Risk of developing a blood clot in a year
Women who are not using a combined hormonal pill/patch/ring and are not pregnant	About 2 out of 10,000 women
Women using a combined hormonal contraceptive pill containing levonorgestrel, norethisterone or norgestimate	About 5-7 out of 10,000 women
Women using Acondro	About 9-12 out of 10,000 women

Factors that increase your risk of a blood clot in a vein

The risk of a blood clot with Acondro is small but some conditions will increase the risk. Your risk is higher:

•    if you are very overweight (body mass index or BMI over 30kg/m²);

•    if one of your immediate family has had a blood clot in the leg, lung or other organ at a young age (e.g. below the age of about 50). In this case you could have a hereditary blood clotting disorder;

•    if you need to have an operation or if you are off your feet for a long time because of an injury or illness, or you have your leg in a cast. The use of Acondro may need to be stopped several weeks before surgery or while you are less mobile. If you need to stop Acondro ask your doctor when you can start using it again;

•    as you get older (particularly above about 35 years);

•    if you gave birth less than a few weeks ago.

The risk of developing a blood clot increases the more conditions you have.

Air travel (>4 hours) may temporarily increase your risk of a blood clot, particularly if you have some of the other factors listed.

It is important to tell your doctor if any of these conditions apply to you, even if you are unsure. Your doctor may decide that Acondro needs to be stopped.

If any of the above conditions change while you are using Acondro, for example a close family member experiences a thrombosis for no known reason or you gain a lot of weight, tell your doctor.

BLOOD CLOTS IN AN ARTERY

What can happen if a blood clot forms in an artery?

Like a blood clot in a vein, a clot in an artery can cause serious problems. For example, it can cause a heart attack or a stroke.

Factors that increase your risk of a blood clot in an artery

It is important to note that the risk of a heart attack or stroke from using Acondro is very small but can increase:

•    with increasing age (beyond about 35 years);

•    if you smoke. When using a combined hormonal contraceptive like Acondro you are advised to stop smoking. If you are unable to stop smoking and are older than 35, your doctor may advise you to use a different type of contraceptive;

•    if you are overweight;

•    if you have high blood pressure;

•    if a member of your immediate family has had a heart attack or stroke at a young age (less then about 50). In this case you could also have a higher risk of having a heart attack or stroke;

•    if you or someone in your immediate family have a high level of fat in the blood (cholesterol or triglycerides);

•    if you get migraines, especially migraines with aura;

•    if you have a problem with your heart (valve disorder, disturbance of the rhythm called atrial fibrillation);

•    if you have diabetes.

If you have more than one of these conditions or if any of them are particularly severe, the risk of developing a blood clot may be increased even more.

If any of the above conditions change while you are using Acondro, for example you start smoking, a close family member experiences a thrombosis for no known reason or you gain a lot of weight, tell your doctor.

Acondro and cancer

Breast cancer has been observed slightly more often in women using combination pills but it is not known whether this is caused by the treatment. For example, it may be that more tumours are detected in women on combination pills because they are examined by their doctor more often. The occurrence of breast tumours becomes gradually less after stopping the combination hormonal contraceptives. It is important to regularly check your breasts and you should contact your doctor if you feel any lump.

In rare cases, benign liver tumours and in even fewer cases malignant liver tumours have been reported in pill users. Contact your doctor if you have unusually severe abdominal pain or abdominal swelling (which may be due to enlargement of liver).

Bleeding between periods

During the first few months that you are taking Acondro, you may have unexpected bleeding (bleeding outside the gap week). If this bleeding occurs for more than a few months or if it begins after some months, your doctor must find out what is wrong.

What to do if no bleeding occurs during the gap week

If you have taken all the tablets correctly, have not had vomiting or severe diarrhoea and you have not taken any other medicines, it is highly unlikely that you are pregnant.

If the expected bleeding does not happen twice in succession, you may be pregnant. Contact your doctor immediately. Do not start the next strip until you are sure that you are not pregnant.

Other medicines and Acondro

Tell your doctor which medicines or herbal products you are taking, have recently taken or might take. Also tell any other doctor or dentist who prescribes another medicine (or the pharmacist) that you use Acondro.

They can tell you if you need to take additional contraceptive precautions (for example condoms) and if so, for how long or whether the use of another medicine you need must be changed.

Some medicines can have an influence on the blood levels of Acondro and can make it less effective in preventing pregnancy, or can cause unexpected bleeding. These include:

•    medicines used for the treatment of

*    epilepsy (e.g. primidone, phenytoin, barbiturates, carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, felbamate, topiramate);

*    tuberculosis (e.g. rifampicin);

*    HIV and Hepatitis C infections (so called protease inhibitors and non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors such as ritonavir, nevirapine, efavirenz)

*    fungal infections (e.g. griseofulvin or ketoconazole);

*    arthritis, arthrosis (etoricoxib);

*    high blood pressure in the blood vessels in the lungs (bosentan).

•    the herbal remedy St. John's wort

If you are taking any of the above mentioned medicines along with Acondro you should take additional contraceptive precautions (for example condoms) during and for 28 days after the therapy.

Acondro may influence the effect of other medicines, e.g.

•    medicines containing ciclosporin;

•    the anti-epileptic lamotrigine (this could lead to an increased frequency of seizures);

•    theophylline (used to treat breathing problems);

•    tizanidine (used to treat muscle pain and/or muscle cramps).

Your doctor may monitor your blood potassium levels if you are taking certain medicines to treat heart problems (such as water tablets).

Laboratory tests

If you need a blood test, tell your doctor or the laboratory staff that you are taking the pill because hormone contraceptives can affect the results of some tests.

Pregnancy and breast-feeding

Pregnancy

If you are pregnant, do not take Acondro. If you become pregnant while taking Acondro, stop immediately and contact your doctor. If you want to become pregnant, you can stop taking Acondro at any time (see also "If you want to stop taking Acondro”).

Breast-feeding

Use of Acondro is generally not advisable when a woman is breast-feeding.

If you want to take the pill while you are breast-feeding you should contact your doctor.

If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine.

Driving and using machines

There is no information suggesting that use of Acondro affects driving or use of machines.

Acondro contains lactose

If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking this medicine.

3. How to take Acondro

Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.

Take one tablet of Acondro every day, if necessary with a small amount of water. You may take the tablets with or without food but you should take the tablets every day around the same time.

The strip contains 21 tablets. Next to each tablet is printed the day of the week that it should be taken. If, for example, you start on a Wednesday, take a tablet with "WED" next to it. Follow the direction of the arrow on the strip until all 21 tablets have been taken.

Then take no tablets for 7 days. In the course of these 7 tablet-free days (otherwise called a stop or gap week), bleeding should begin. This so-called "withdrawal bleeding” usually starts on the 2nd or 3rd day of the gap week.

On the 8th day after the last Acondro tablet (that is, after the 7-day gap week), you should start with the following strip, whether your bleeding has stopped or not. This means that you should start every strip on the same day of the week and that the withdrawal bleed should occur on the same days each month.

If you use Acondro in this manner, you are also protected against pregnancy during the 7 days when you are not taking a tablet.

When can you start with the first strip?

•    If you have not used a contraceptive with hormones in the previous month

Begin with Acondro on the first day of the cycle (that is, the first day of your period). If you start Acondro on the first day of your period you are immediately protected against pregnancy. You may also begin on day 2-5 of the cycle but then you must use extra protective measures (for example, a condom) for the first 7 days.

•    Changing from a combination hormonal contraceptive, or combination contraceptive vaginal ring or patch

You should start taking Acondro preferably on the day after the last active tablet (the last tablet containing the active substances) of your previous pill, but at the latest on the day after the tablet-free days of your previous pill (or after the last inactive tablet of your previous pill). When changing from a combination contraceptive vaginal ring or patch, follow the advice of your doctor.

•    Changing from a progestogen-only-method (progestogen-only pill, injection, implant or progestogen-releasing IUD)

You may switch any day from the progestogen-only pill (from an implant or an IUD on the day of its removal, from an injectable when the next injection would be due) but in all of these cases use extra protective measures (for example, a condom) for the first 7 days of tablet-taking.

•    After a miscarriage or termination of your pregnancy Follow the advice of your doctor.

•    After having a baby

You can start Acondro between 21 and 28 days after having a baby. If you start later than day 28, use a so-called barrier method of contraception (for example, a condom) during the first seven days of Acondro use.

If, after having a baby, you have had sex before starting Acondro, be sure that you are not pregnant or wait until your next period.

•    If you are breastfeeding and want to start Acondro (again) after having a baby.

Read the section "Breast-feeding".

Ask your doctor what to do if you are not sure when to start.

If you take more Acondro than you should

There are no reports of serious harmful results of taking too many Acondro tablets.

If you take several tablets at once then you may have symptoms of nausea or vomiting. Young girls may have bleeding from the vagina.

If you have taken too many Acondro tablets or you discover that a child has taken some, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice.

If you forget to take Acondro

•    If you are less than 12 hours late taking a tablet, the protection against pregnancy is not reduced. Take the tablet as soon as you remember and then take the following tablets again at the usual time.

•    If you are more than 12 hours late taking a tablet, the protection against pregnancy may be reduced. The greater the number of tablets that you have forgotten, the greater is the risk of becoming pregnant.

The risk of incomplete protection against pregnancy is greatest if you forget a tablet at the beginning or at the end of the strip. Therefore, you should keep to the following rules (see the diagram below):

•    More than one tablet forgotten in this strip Contact your doctor.

•    One tablet forgotten in week 1

Take the forgotten tablet as soon as you remember, even if that means that you have to take two tablets at the same time. Continue taking the tablets at the usual time and use extra precautions for the next 7 days, for example, a condom. If you have had sex in the week before forgetting the tablet you must realise that there is a risk of pregnancy. In that case, contact your doctor.

•    One tablet forgotten in week 2

Take the forgotten tablet as soon as you remember, even if that means that you have to take two tablets at the same time. Continue taking the tablets at the usual time. The protection against pregnancy is not reduced and you do not need to take extra precautions.

•    One tablet forgotten in week 3

You can choose between two possibilities:

1.    Take the forgotten tablet as soon as you remember, even if that means that you have to take two tablets at the same time. Continue taking the tablets at the usual time. Instead of taking the tablet-free period, start the next strip.

Most likely, you will have a period at the end of the second strip or you may also have light or menstruation-like bleeding during the second strip.

2.    You can also stop the strip and go directly to the tablet-free period of

7 days (including the days you missed tablets, record the day on which you forgot your tablet). If you want to start a new strip on the day you always start, make the tablet-free period less than 7 days.

If you follow one of these two recommendations, you will remain protected against pregnancy.

•    If you have forgotten any of the tablets in a strip and you do not have a bleeding during the first tablet-free period, you may be pregnant. Contact your doctor before you start the next strip.

The following diagram describes how to proceed if you forget to take your tablet(s):

What to do in the case of vomiting or severe diarrhoea

If you vomit within 3-4 hours after taking a tablet or you have severe diarrhoea, there is a risk that the active substances in the pill will not be fully taken up by your body in which case you may need to use extra protection (such as a condom) to avoid pregnancy. The situation is almost the same as forgetting a tablet. After vomiting or diarrhoea, take another tablet from a reserve strip as soon as possible. If possible, take it within 12 hours of when you normally take your pill. If that is not possible or 12 hours have passed, you should follow the advice given under "If you forget to take Acondro".

Delaying your period: what you need to know

Even though it is not recommended, you can delay your period by going straight to a new strip of Acondro instead of the tablet-free period and finishing it. You may experience light or menstruation-like bleeding while using this second strip. After the second strip is finished, take the usual tablet-free period of 7 days and start the next strip.

You should ask your doctor for advice before deciding to delay your menstrual period.

Changing the first day of your period: what you need to know

If you take the tablets according to the instructions, then your period will begin during the tablet-free week. If you have to change this day, reduce the number of tablet-free days (but never increase them - 7 is the maximum!). For example, if your tablet-free days normally begin on a Friday and you want to change this to a Tuesday (3 days earlier), start a new strip 3 days earlier than usual. If you make the tablet-free interval very short (for example, 3 days or less) you may not have any bleeding during these days. You may then experience light or menstruation-like bleeding.

If you are not sure what to do, consult your doctor.

If you stop taking Acondro

You can stop taking Acondro whenever you want. If you do not want to become pregnant, ask your doctor for advice about other reliable methods of birth control.

If you want to become pregnant, stop taking Acondro and wait for a period before trying to become pregnant. You will be able to calculate the expected delivery date more easily.

If you have any further questions on the use of this product, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

4. Possible side effects

Like all medicines, Acondro can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.

If you get any side effects, particularly if severe and persistent or you have any change to your health that you think may be due to Acondro, please talk to your doctor.

An increased risk of blood clots in your veins (venous thromboembolism (VTE)) or blood clots in your arteries (arterial thromboembolism (ATE)) is present for all women taking combined hormonal contraceptives. For more detailed information on the different risks from taking combined hormonal contraceptives please see section 2 "What you need to know before you take Acondro”

If any of the following side effects happen, you may need urgent medical attention. Stop taking Acondro and contact a doctor or go to the nearest hospital immediately.

Rare (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people):

•    hypersensitivity (with signs such as swollen face, tongue and/or throat and/ or difficulty in swallowing, or hives together with difficulty in breathing);

•    harmful blood clots in a vein or artery for example:

*    in a leg or foot (i.e. deep vein thrombosis (DVT))

*    in a lung (i.e. pulmonary embolism (PE))

*    heart attack

*    stroke

*    mini-stroke or temporary stroke-like symptoms, known as a transient ischaemic attack (TIA)

*    blood clots in the liver, stomach/intestine, kidneys or eye.

The chance of having a blood clot may be higher if you have any other conditions that increase this risk (See section 2 for more information on the conditions that increase risk for blood clots and the symptoms of a blood clot).

Conditions that may occur or worsen during pregnancy or previous use of the pill include:

•    systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE, a disease affecting the immune system);

•    inflammation of the colon or other parts of the intestine with signs such as bloody diarrhoea, pain when passing stools, pain in the abdomen (Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis);

•    epilepsy;

•    uterine myoma (non-cancerous tumour that grows within the muscle tissue of the uterus);

•    a blood pigment disorder (porphyria);

•    blister-like rash (herpes gestationis) whilst pregnant;

•    Sydenham's chorea (a disease of the nerves in which sudden movements of the body occur);

•    a certain blood disorder that causes kidney damage (haemolytic uraemic syndrome, with signals such as decreased urine output, blood in the urine, low red blood cells, nausea, vomiting, confusion and diarrhoea);

•    yellowing of the skin or white of the eyes due to obstruction in the bile duct (chloestatic jaundice).

Also, breast cancer (see section 2 'Acondro and cancer') and non-cancerous (benign) and cancerous (malignant) liver tumours (with signs such as swollen abdomen, weight loss, abnormal liver function which may be seen in blood tests) and chloasma (yellow brown patches on the skin and particularly the face, so called "pregnancy patches”), which may be permanent, especially in women who have previously had chloasma during pregnancy have been observed.

Other possible side effects

Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people):

•    menstrual disorders, bleeding between periods, breast pain, breast tenderness;

•    headache;

•    depressive mood;

•    migraine;

•    nausea;

•    thick, whitish vaginal discharge and vaginal yeast infection.

Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people):

•    breast enlargement;

•    increased or decreased interest in sex;

•    high blood pressure, low blood pressure;

•    being sick (vomiting), diarrhoea;

•    acne, skin rash, severe itching, hair loss (alopecia);

•    infection of the vagina;

•    fluid retention and increase or decrease in body weight.

Rare (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people):

•    asthma;

•    breast secretion;

•    hearing impairment;

•    the skin conditions erythema nodosum (characterised by painful reddish skin nodules) or erythema multiforme (characterised by rash with targetshaped reddening or sores).

Reporting of side effects

If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/ yellowcard. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

5.    How to store Acondro

Keep Acondro out of the sight and reach of children.

Store below 30°C.

Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the blister/ carton after "Do not use after:" or "EXP:" The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.

Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.

6.    Contents of the pack and other information

What Acondro contains

•    The active substances are drospirenone and ethinylestradiol.

•    Each tablet contains 3 milligram drospirenone and 0.03 milligram ethinylestradiol.

•    Other ingredients are lactose monohydrate, maize starch, pregelatinised starch (maize), crospovidone type B, povidone (E1201), polysorbate

80 (E433), magnesium stearate (E470b), polyvinyl alcohol partial hydrolysed, titanium dioxide (E171), macrogol, talc (E553b), yellow iron oxide (E172).

What Acondro looks like and contents of the pack

•    Tablets are yellow, round, film-coated tablets.

•    Acondro is available in boxes of 1, 2, 3, 6 and 13 blisters, each with 21 tablets.

Not all packages sizes may be marketed.

Marketing Authorisation Holder

Mylan,

Potters Bar,

Hertfordshire,

EN6 1TL,

United Kingdom.

Manufacturers

Laboratorios Leon Farma, S.A.,

C/ La Vallina s/n,

Pol. Ind. Navatejera.,

24008 - Navatejera,

Leon,

Spain.

Gerard Laboratories,

35-36 Baldoyle Industrial Estate,

Grange Road,

Dubin 13,

Ireland.

Mylan Hungary Kft,

2900 Komarom,

Mylan utca 1,

Hungary.

This leaflet was last revised in 03/2016.

814100

Description	Drospirenone Ethinylestradiol 3 mg / 0.03 mg 3x21			Date: 31 MAR 2016		Time: G	18:56
Component Type	Leaflet	Pharma Code	TBC	No. of colours	1	| Page Count
Affiliate Item Code	814100	SAP No.	N/A	Colours	Black
Superceded Affiliate Item Code	652208		273309
TrackWise PR No.	814100	Trackwise Proof No.	3	Non-Print Colours
MA No.	04569/1355	Glams Proof No.	N/A	Equate CMYK
Packing Site/Printer	N/A	Client Market	United Kingdom	with
Supplier Code	N/A	Keyline/DrawingNoj	N/A	Main Font	Myriad Pro		Body Text Size	9 pt
		Barcode Info	N/A	Dimensions	222 x 680 mm		Min Text Size used	9 pt
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v1/May 2015