Cilest Tablets - 3 Months Calendar Pack

Cilest tablets (YOUR OWN PRESCRIPTION IS NOT NEEDED*) are a combined oral contraceptive pill containing ethinylestradiol 35mcg and norgestimate 0.25mg. Cilest contains two hormones that are similar to the hormones oestrogen and progesterone that are produced by the body. Cilest is used to prevent women from becoming pregnant.

*If you don't have a prescription click the green banner above 'Buy now...' to access our online doctor. The medication could be with you as soon as tomorrow.

Cilest is a 21-day Pill - you take one each day for 21 days, followed by 7 days when you take no pills.

How to take it:
To prevent pregnancy, always take Cilest as described below. Check with your doctor or family planning nurse if you are not sure.
Take Cilest every day for 21 days
Cilest comes in a strip of 21 pills, each marked with a day of the week. Take your pill at the same time every day. Start by taking a pill marked with the correct day of the week. Follow the direction of the arrows on the strip. Take one pill each day. Swallow each pill whole, with water if necessary. Do not chew the pill.

Then have seven pill-free days:
After you have taken all 21 pills in the strip, you have seven days when you take no pills. So if you take the last pill of one pack on a Friday, you will take the first pill of your next pack on the Saturday of the following week.
Within a few days of taking the last pill from the strip, you should have a withdrawal bleed like a period. This bleed may not have finished when it is time to start your next strip of pills.
You don't need to use extra contraception during these seven pill-free days - as long as you have taken your pills correctly and start the next strip of pills on time.
Then start your next strip
Start taking your next strip of Cilest after the seven pill-free days - even if you are still bleeding. Always start the new strip on time.
As long as you take Cilest correctly, you will always start each new strip on the same day of the week. 

Cilest will not protect you against sexually transmitted infections, such as Chlamydia or HIV. Only condoms can help to do this.
Cilest needs to be taken as directed to prevent pregnancy. 

Keep out of reach of children.

Cilest may increase the chances of developing blood clots or cancers such breast cancer or cervical cancer. However, it may provide some protection against ovarian and endometrial cancer. You and your prescriber will need to weigh up the benefits and risks of taking Cilest before you start to take it.

In certain situations the effectiveness of Cilest may be reduced and you will need to take extra contraceptive precautions. These situations include: missing a dose by more than 12 hours; taking other medicines that interact with Cilest; having diarrhoea, vomiting or an upset stomach or any medical condition which interferes with the absorption of your medicine. If any of these situations occur during the last seven days of your strip you should not have a tablet-free break between strips of tablets. Start taking the next strip of tablets without a break.

As there is no gap between strips you will not have a withdrawal bleed at the end of the first strip. But you may have some menstrual bleeding while you are taking the second strip and you should have a withdrawal bleed once you finish the second strip. For more information about situations when the effectiveness of Cilest may be reduced and when to take additional contraceptive precautions ask your prescriber, family planning nurse or read the patient information leaflet that comes with your medicine.

Do not share your medicine with other people. It may not be suitable for them and may harm them.Cilest is not suitable for everyone and some people should never use it. Other people should only use it with special care. It is important that the person prescribing this medicine knows your full medical history.

Your prescriber may only prescribe this medicine with special care or may not prescribe it at all if you:

* are allergic or sensitive to or have had a reaction to any of the ingredients in the medicine
* are elderly
* are pregnant or think you may be pregnant
* have high blood pressure
* have metabolic problems
* have or have had liver problems such as livertumours or jaundice
* have porphyria
* have vaginal bleeding and the cause of the bleeding is not known
* have or have had systemic lupus erythematosus
* have or have had epilepsy
* have or have had migraine or severe headaches
* have or have had gallstones
* have an oestrogen dependent tumour, have risk factors for developing an oestrogen dependent tumour or are having investigations for an oestrogen dependent tumour
* have diabetes
* have or have had depression
* have sickle cell anaemia
* have irregular menstrual cycles
* have or have had chloasma
* have chorea
* have problems such as jaundice, otosclerosis, rashes or itching that worsened during pregnancy or steroid treatment
* have an oestrogen dependent condition such as a fibroma, endometriosis or endometrial hyperplasia
* have or have had heart or circulation problems
* have risk factors for developing thromboembolic problems such as: having a personal or family history of thromboembolic problems or thrombophlebitis; having varicose veins or treatment for varicose veins; having problems with blood clotting; being immobile for a long period of time or if you have had recent surgery or are about to have surgery
* have risk factors for developing heart or circulation problems such as being over 35 years of age, being a smoker or having a personal history of heart or kidney problems