Special Warning : אזהרת שימוש

4.4 Special warnings and precautions for use

4.4.1    Warnings
If any of the conditions or risk factors mentioned below is present, the suitability of Mercilon should be discussed with the woman.
In the event of aggravation, or first appearance of any of these conditions or risk factors, the woman should be advised to contact her doctor to determine whether the use of Mercilon should be discontinued.
1.      Circulatory Disorders

Risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE)

•       The use of any combined hormonal contraceptive (CHC) increases the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) compared with no use. Products that contain levonorgestrel, norgestimate or norethisterone are associated with the lowest risk of VTE. Other products such as Mercilon may have up to twice this level of risk. The decision to use any product other than one with the lowest VTE risk should be taken only after a discussion with the woman to ensure she understands the risk of VTE with Mercilon, how her current risk factors influence this risk, and that her VTE risk is highest in the first ever year of use. There is also some evidence that the risk is increased when a CHC is re-started after a break in use of 4 weeks or more.
•       In women who do not use a CHC and are not pregnant about 2 out of 10,000 will develop a VTE over the period of one year. However, in any individual woman the risk may be far higher, depending on her underlying risk factors (see below).
It is estimated 1 that out of 10,000 women who use a CHC containing desogestrel between 9 and 12 women will develop a VTE in one year; this compares with about 6 2 in women who use a levonorgestrel-containing CHC.
In both cases, the number of VTEs per year is fewer than the number expected during pregnancy or in the postpartum period.

•       VTE may be fatal in 1-2% of cases.



1
These incidences were estimated from the totality of the epidemiological study data, using relative risks for the different products compared with levonorgestrel-containing CHCs.

2
Mid-point of range of 5-7 per 10,000 WY, based on a relative risk for CHCs containing levonorgestrel versus non- use of approximately 2.3 to 3.6

Number of VTE events per 10,000 women in one year

Number of
VTE
14 events


12


10


8


6


4


2


0
Non-CHC user (2 events)   Levonorgestrel-containing CHC (5-7   Desogestrel-containing CHC (9-12 events)                              events)



Extremely rarely, thrombosis has been reported to occur in CHC users in other blood vessels, e.g. hepatic, mesenteric, renal or retinal veins and arteries.


Risk factors for VTE
The risk for venous thromboembolic complications in CHC users may increase substantially in a woman with additional risk factors, particularly if there are multiple risk factors (see table).
Mercilon is contraindicated if a woman has multiple risk factors that put her at high risk of venous thrombosis (see section 4.3). If a woman has more than one risk factor, it is possible that the increase in risk is greater than the sum of the individual factors – in this case her total risk of VTE should be considered. If the balance of benefits and risks is considered to be negative a CHC should not be prescribed (see section 4.3).

Table: Risk factors for VTE
Risk factor                                              Comment

Obesity (body mass index over 30                         Risk increases substantially as BMI rises.
kg/m²)
Particularly important to consider if other risk factors also present.
Prolonged immobilisation, major             In these situations it is advisable to discontinue use of surgery, any surgery to the legs or         the patch/pill/ring (in the case of elective surgery at pelvis, neurosurgery, or major trauma       least four weeks in advance) and not resume until two weeks after complete remobilisation. Another method of contraception should be used to avoid unintentional pregnancy.

Antithrombotic treatment should be considered if
Mercilon has not been discontinued in advance.



Note: Temporary immobilisation including air travel >4 hours can also be a risk factor for VTE, particularly in women with other risk factors.
Positive family history (venous             If a hereditary predisposition is suspected, the woman thromboembolism ever in a sibling or        should be referred to a specialist for advice before parent especially at a relatively early     deciding about any CHC use.
age e.g. before 50).

Other medical conditions associated         Cancer, systemic lupus erythematosus, haemolytic with VTE                                    uraemic syndrome, chronic inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis) and sickle cell disease

Increasing age                              Particularly above 35 years 

There is no consensus about the possible role of varicose veins and superficial thrombophlebitis in the onset or progression of venous thrombosis.

The increased risk of thromboembolism in pregnancy, and particularly the 6-week period of the puerperium, must be considered (for information on “Pregnancy and lactation” see section 4.6).
Symptoms of VTE (deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism)
In the event of symptoms women should be advised to seek urgent medical attention and to inform the healthcare professional that she is taking a CHC.
Symptoms of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) can include:
– unilateral swelling of the leg and/or foot or along a vein in the leg; − pain or tenderness in the leg which may be felt only when standing or walking; − increased warmth in the affected leg; red or discoloured skin on the leg.
Symptoms of pulmonary embolism (PE) can include:
– sudden onset of unexplained shortness of breath or rapid breathing; – sudden coughing which may be associated with haemoptysis;
– sharp chest pain;
– severe light headedness or dizziness;

– rapid or irregular heartbeat.
Some of these symptoms (e.g. “shortness of breath”, “coughing”) are non-specific and might be misinterpreted as more common or less severe events (e.g. respiratory tract infections).
Other signs of vascular occlusion can include: sudden pain, swelling and slight blue discoloration of an extremity.
If the occlusion occurs in the eye symptoms can range from painless blurring of vision which can progress to loss of vision. Sometimes loss of vision can occur almost immediately.
Risk of arterial thromboembolism (ATE)
Epidemiological studies have associated the use of CHCs with an increased risk for arterial thromboembolism (myocardial infarction) or for cerebrovascular accident (e.g. transient ischaemic attack, stroke). Arterial thromboembolic events may be fatal.
Risk factors for ATE
The risk of arterial thromboembolic complications or of a cerebrovascular accident in CHC users increases in women with risk factors (see table). Mercilon is contraindicated if a woman has one serious or multiple risk factors for ATE that puts her at high risk of arterial thrombosis (see section 4.3). If a woman has more than one risk factor, it is possible that the increase in risk is greater than the sum of the individual factors - in this case her total risk should be considered. If the balance of benefits and risks is considered to be negative a CHC should not be prescribed (see section 4.3).


Table: Risk factors for ATE
Risk factor                              Comment
Increasing age                           Particularly above 35 years
Smoking                                  Women should be advised not to smoke if they wish to use a CHC. Women over 35 who continue to smoke should be strongly advised to use a different method of contraception.


Hypertension
Obesity (body mass index over 30         Risk increases substantially as BMI increases.
kg/m2)
Particularly important in women with additional risk factors.

Positive family history (arterial        If a hereditary predisposition is suspected, the woman thromboembolism ever in a sibling or     should be referred to a specialist for advice before parent especially at relatively early    deciding about any CHC use.
age e.g. below 50).
Migraine                                 An increase in frequency or severity of migraine during CHC use (which may be prodromal of a cerebrovascular event) may be a reason for immediate discontinuation.

Other medical conditions associated          Diabetes mellitus, hyperhomocysteinaemia, valvular with adverse vascular events                 heart disease and atrial fibrillation, dyslipoproteinaemia and systemic lupus erythematosus.



Symptoms of ATE
In the event of symptoms women should be advised to seek urgent medical attention and to inform the healthcare professional that she is taking a CHC.
Symptoms of a cerebrovascular accident can include:
- sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body; - sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination; - sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding;
- sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes;
- sudden, severe or prolonged headache with no known cause;
- loss of consciousness or fainting with or without seizure.
Temporary symptoms suggest the event is a transient ischaemic attack (TIA).


Symptoms of myocardial infarction (MI) can include:
- pain, discomfort, pressure, heaviness, sensation of squeezing or fullness in the chest, arm, or below the breastbone;
- discomfort radiating to the back, jaw, throat, arm, stomach;
- feeling of being full, having indigestion or choking;
- sweating, nausea, vomiting or dizziness;
- extreme weakness, anxiety, or shortness of breath;
- rapid or irregular heartbeats.


2.      Tumours
•       An increased risk of cervical cancer in long term users of combined oral contraceptives has been reported in some studies, but there continues to be controversy about the extent to which this is attributable to the confounding effects of sexual behaviour and other factors such as human papilloma virus (HPV).
•       A meta-analysis from 54 epidemiological studies reported that there is a slightly increased relative risk (RR = 1.24) of having breast cancer diagnosed in women who are currently using combined oral contraceptives (COCs). The observed pattern of increased risk may be due to an earlier diagnosis of breast cancer in COC users, the biological effects of COCs or a combination of both. The additional breast cancers diagnosed in current users of COCs or in women who have used COCs in the last ten years are more likely to be localised to the breast than those in women who never used COCs.
•       Breast cancer is rare among women under 40 years of age whether or not they take COCs. Whilst this background risk increases with age, the excess number of breast  cancer diagnoses in current and recent COC users is small in relation to the overall risk of breast cancer (see bar chart).

•    The most important risk factor for breast cancer in COC users is the age women discontinue the COC; the older the age at stopping, the more breast cancers are diagnosed. Duration of use is less important and the excess risk gradually disappears during the course of the 10 years after stopping COC use such that by 10 years there appears to be no excess.

•    The possible increase in risk of breast cancer should be discussed with the user and weighed against the benefits of COCs taking into account the evidence that they offer substantial protection against the risk of developing certain other cancers (e.g. ovarian and endometrial cancer).

Estimated cumulative numbers of breast cancers per 10,000 women diagnosed in 5 years of use and up to 10 years after stopping COCs, compared with numbers of breast cancers diagnosed in 10,000 women who had never used COCs
300

262
250                                                                        230 

200
181
Number of breast cancers                                                                        160 150
Never took COCs

Used COCs for 5 years                   111
100                                                100


50                                      44 48.7
16 17.5
4 4.5

0
Took the Pill at these ages:             Under 20    20-24     25-29      30-34      35-39    40-44 
Cancers found up to the age of:            30         35        40         45        50        55 


•          In rare cases, benign liver tumours, and even more rarely, malignant liver tumours have been reported in users of CHCs. In isolated cases, these tumours have led to life- threatening intra-abdominal haemorrhages. A hepatic tumour should be considered in the differential diagnosis when upper abdominal pain, enlarged liver or signs of intra- abdominal haemorrhage occur in women taking CHCs.


3. ALT elevations
During clinical trials with patients treated for hepatitis C virus infections (HCV) with medicinal products containing ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir and dasabuvir with or without ribavirin, transaminase (ALT) elevations higher than 5 times the upper limit of normal (ULN) occurred significantly more frequently in women using ethinylestradiol-containing medications such as combined hormonal contraceptives (CHCs). Additionally, also in patients treated with glecaprevir/pibrentasvir, ALT elevations were observed in women using ethinylestradiol-containing medications such as CHCs (see sections 4.3 and 4.5).


4. Other conditions

•          Women with hypertriglyceridemia, or a family history thereof, may be at an increased risk of pancreatitis when using CHCs.
•          Exogenous estrogens may induce or exacerbate symptoms of hereditary and acquired angioedema.
•          Although small increases in blood pressure have been reported in many women taking CHCs, clinically relevant increases are rare. A relationship between CHC use and clinical hypertension has not been established. However, if a sustained clinically significant hypertension develops during the use of a CHC then it is prudent for the physician to withdraw the CHC and treat the hypertension. Where considered appropriate, CHC use may be resumed if normotensive values can be achieved with antihypertensive therapy.


•          The following conditions have been reported to occur or deteriorate with both pregnancy and CHC use, but the evidence of an association with CHC use is inconclusive: jaundice and/or pruritus related to cholestasis; gallstone formation; porphyria; systemic lupus erythematosus; haemolytic uraemic syndrome: Sydenham’s chorea; herpes gestationis; otosclerosis-related hearing loss.
•          Acute or chronic disturbances of liver function may necessitate the discontinuation of CHC use until markers of liver function return to normal. Recurrence of cholestatic jaundice which occurred previously during pregnancy or use of sex steroids necessitates the discontinuation of CHCs.

•       Although CHCs may have an effect on peripheral insulin resistance and glucose tolerance, there is no evidence for a need to alter the therapeutic regimen in diabetics using CHCs.
However, diabetic women should be carefully observed while taking CHCs.
•       Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis have been associated with CHC use.
•       Chloasma may occasionally occur, especially in women with a history of chloasma gravidarum. Women with a tendency to chloasma should avoid exposure to the sun or ultraviolet radiation whilst taking this preparation.
•       Mercilon contains < 80 mg lactose per tablet. Patients with rare hereditary problems of galactose intolerance, the Lapp lactase deficiency or glucose-galactose malabsorption should not take medicine.

Relative Contraindications

Severe depression or a history of this condition. Depressed mood and depression are well- known undesirable effects of hormonal contraceptive use (see section 4.8). Depression can be serious and is a well-known risk factor for suicidal behaviour and suicide. Women should be advised to contact their physician in case of mood changes and depressive symptoms, including shortly after initiating the treatment.


4.4.2    Medical Examination/consultation
Prior to the initiation or reinstitution of Mercilon a complete medical history (including family history) should be taken and pregnancy must be ruled out. Blood pressure should be measured and a physical examination should be performed, guided by the contraindications (see section 4.3) and warnings (see section 4.4). It is important to draw a woman’s attention to the information on venous and arterial thrombosis, including the risk of Mercilon compared with other CHCs, the symptoms of VTE and ATE, the known risk factors and what to do in the event of a suspected thrombosis.
The woman should also be instructed to carefully read the user leaflet and to adhere to the advice given. The frequency and nature of examinations should be based on established practice guidelines and be adapted to the individual woman.
Women should be advised that hormonal contraceptives do not protect against HIV infections (AIDS) and other sexually transmitted diseases. If there is risk of STI/HIV (including during pregnancy or postpartum), the correct and consistent use of condoms is recommended, either alone or with another contraceptive method.

4.4.3    Reduced Efficacy
The efficacy of Mercilon may be reduced in the event of missed tablets (Section 4.2.3), gastrointestinal disturbances (Section 4.2.4) or concomitant medications that decrease the plasma concentration of etonogestrel, the active metabolite of desogestrel (Section 4.5.1).

4.4.4    Reduced Cycle Control/ irregular bleeding
With all CHCs, irregular bleeding (spotting or breakthrough bleeding) may occur, especially during the first months of use. Therefore, the evaluation of any irregular bleeding is only meaningful after an adaptation interval of about three cycles.

If bleeding irregularities persist or occur after previously regular cycles, then non-hormonal causes should be considered and adequate diagnostic measures are indicated to exclude malignancy or pregnancy. These may include curettage.
In some women withdrawal bleeding may not occur during the tablet-free interval. If the CHC has been taken according to the directions described in Section 4.2, it is unlikely that the woman is pregnant. However, if the CHC has not been taken according to these directions prior to the first missed withdrawal bleed or if two withdrawal bleeds are missed, pregnancy must be ruled out before CHC use is continued.

Effects on Driving

4.7 Effects on ability to drive and use machines
No effects on ability to drive and use machines have been observed.