Alesse Side Effects
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Clinical Studies and Side Effects
In the United States, medications must undergo clinical studies before they are approved for use. In clinical studies for most medications, one group of people is given the actual medication, while another group is given a placebo (a "sugar pill" with no active ingredients), and the people are not told if they were given the real medication or the placebo. The side effects in both groups are carefully documented and compared. This way, it is possible to see what side effects occur, how often they appear, and whether they are actual side effects of the medication. However, it is not possible to use a placebo in clinical trials for contraceptives, as this would lead to many unintentional pregnancies.
Common Alesse Side Effects
Since it is difficult to obtain much information about side effects from studies that do not use a placebo, because there is no way of knowing if any particular problem is actually a side effect of the medication, only vague information is available about Alesse side effects. In fact, the side effects listed in the prescribing information for Alesse are actually side effects of all birth control pills in general. Some of the common bothersome (but not usually dangerous) side effects of birth control pills include but are not limited to:
* Breast tenderness and swelling
* Headaches (although birth control pills can improve headaches in some women)
* Acne (although birth control pills can also improve acne)
* Breakthrough bleeding and spotting between periods (especially for the first few cycles)
* Nausea and vomiting
* Changes in your eyes that make it more difficult to wear contact lenses
* Bloating
* Changes in sex drive (typically a decrease in sex drive).
Women are often concerned about weight gain due to birth control pills, but recent research suggests that birth control pills probably do not cause weight gain for most women (see Alesse and Weight Gain).
Alesse Side Effects to Report
Some side effects with Alesse, while occurring infrequently, are potentially serious and should be reported immediately to your healthcare provider. These include but are not limited to:
* Signs of a stroke, such as:
o Vision or speech changes
o Weakness or numbness in an arm or leg
o Severe headache
* Signs of liver damage, such as:
o Yellow eyes or skin (jaundice)
o Dark urine
o Upper-right abdominal pain
* Heavy vaginal bleeding between periods (light bleeding or spotting is normal)
* High blood pressure (hypertension)
* High cholesterol
* Depression or other emotional changes
* Migraines (or changes in your migraines, if you have had them before)
* Breast lumps
* Signs of a blood clot in the leg, such as:
o Pain in the calf
o Leg cramps
o Leg or foot swelling
* Signs of a blood clot in the lung, such as:
o Shortness of breath
o Sharp chest pain
o Coughing up blood
* Chest pain or heaviness, which may be signs of a heart attack
* Sudden loss of vision or vision changes, which can be a sign of a blood clot in the eye
* Signs of an allergic reaction, such as:
o Unexplained rash
o Hives
o Itching
o Unexplained swelling
o Wheezing
o Difficulty breathing or swallowing.
Final Thoughts on Alesse Side Effects
You may experience some or none of the Alesse side effects listed in this article. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to tell whether any particular side effect (such as nausea) is caused by Alesse or other factors. Therefore, make sure to let your healthcare provider know if you develop any side effects while taking the drug or if something "just does not seem right." While it may not be a side effect of Alesse, your healthcare provider will be able to diagnose and treat the problem.
About the Author
Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;
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