Microgestin FE

Medically Reviewed by Dr. Harshi Dhingra, M.D.

Last Reviewed: Oct 13, 2022

Warnings

Microgestin Fe Risks, Warnings, and Complications

Microgestin Fe can cause severe health problems, especially in certain high-risk patients. Some of the risks of microgestin Fe use include:

CIGARETTE SMOKING: Cigarette smoking and using combined oral contraceptives, such as Microgestin Fe, increases your risk for serious health issues, such as heart attacks, strokes, and blood clots. Females who smoke and aged 35 years and older are at even greater risk. If you smoke, talk with your healthcare provider about other birth control alternatives.
BLOOD CLOTS AND STROKES: Microgestin Fe can cause an increased risk of blood clots. Blood clots can occur in your body, including lungs (pulmonary embolism), legs (deep vein thrombosis), heart (heart attack), and brain (stroke). Risk factors include females aged 35 years and above who smoke, females above 40 years who are not smokers, recent surgery with extended bed rest, microgestin Fe started less than a month after childbirth, obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and higher estrogen doses. Seek emergency medical help if you have any signs of a blood clot:

Heart (chest pain, nausea, sweating, or dizziness)
Brain (weakness or numbness in arms, legs, or face on one side of the body, difficulty in speaking, blurred vision, dizziness or confusion, loss of balance, walking difficulties)
Eyes (double vision, trouble seeing, bulging eyes)
Lungs (chest pain, breathing difficulties, or cough)
Legs (swelling, pain, cramps, muscle tightness)

IRREGULAR BLEEDING: When taking Microgestin Fe, some people may have irregular bleeding and spotting, usually in the first three months. The severity of irregular bleeding can range from slight staining to bleeding that resembles a period. Take your medication as prescribed, as this issue may only be short-term. If the bleeding bothers you, let your doctor know so they can adjust your birth control. Get a pregnancy test to make sure you are not pregnant if your period is missed, or call your provider.
HIGH BLOOD SUGAR AND CHOLESTEROL: Your cholesterol and blood sugar levels may increase if you take microgestin Fe. If you have diabetes, prediabetes, or high cholesterol, discuss your options with your doctor before beginning oral contraceptives. If you decide to use Microgestin Fe while having certain diseases, your doctor will do regular complete physical exams.
HEADACHE: While taking microgestin Fe, let your doctor know if you develop new onset or severe migraines or headaches. If your migraine or headache doesn't go away or gets worse, you might need to stop taking it.
HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE: Make sure to keep an eye on your blood pressure while taking microgestin Fe because it may cause it to rise. People who are older, have used birth control pills for a long time, have already high blood pressure, or have kidney issues are at higher risk. If you have any of the risk factors, talk to your doctor. They can help you choose a birth control method that is safer for you. After stopping Microgestin Fe, your blood pressure may return to normal.
BREAST AND CERVICAL CANCER RISK: Despite the mixed findings of the studies, microgestin Fe and other combined oral contraceptives have the possibility that they can increase your risk of developing breast and cervical cancer.

If you have breast cancer, avoid using microgestin Fe since birth control pills contain estrogen, which can cause breast cancer to grow more quickly. You can perform monthly breast self-exams at home and yearly breast exams with your doctor to aid in the early diagnosis of breast cancer. Contact your healthcare professional immediately if you experience lumps, pain, or swelling in your breasts or observe any unusual changes

If you suffer unusual vaginal bleeding, discharge, or pain while having sex, seek medical attention right away because these could be symptoms of cervical cancer.

Precautions Before Starting Microgestin Fe

Tell your doctor if you have ever had an allergic reaction to ethinyl estradiol, norethindrone, ferrous fumarate, or to other estrogens, progestins, or iron products, or if you have any other allergies. This product may have inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Your pharmacy can give you a list of ingredients.

Give your healthcare provider a complete medical history. Microgestin Fe may not be right for people with certain medical conditions, such as thromboembolic disorders or blood clots in your legs, eyes, or lungs, blood clot diseases (such as protein S or protein C deficiency), stroke, heart disease (such as a history of irregular heartbeat or heart valve problems, coronary artery disease, recent heart attack), high blood pressure, high cholesterol or triglycerides, diabetes, abnormal vaginal bleeding, breast, cervical, endometrial, ovarian, liver, or uterine cancers, depression, gallbladder disease, severe headaches or migraines, kidney disease, liver problems, history of yellowing of the eyes or skin during pregnancy or while taking hormonal birth control (such as pills, patches, rings), history of angioedema, thyroid disease, excessive weight gain, fluid retention during the menstrual cycle, recent surgery or prolonged immobilization for any reason.

Give your doctor a complete list of all your medications, including prescription and nonprescription drugs, vitamins, dietary supplements, and herbal products. This can help avoid serious interactions between microgestin Fe and your other medications.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, could be pregnant, plan to get pregnant, or are breastfeeding.

Ask your doctor when you should start taking Microgestin Fe if you've had an abortion or miscarriage. You should wait 4 weeks after delivery before starting Microgestin Fe if you just gave birth.

Precautions During Use of Microgestin Fe

Keep all your doctors’ appointments while on microgestin Fe. Visit your doctor or health care professional for regular checks on your progress. You will need a regular breast and pelvic exam and Pap smear while on this medicine.

Use an additional method of contraception during the first cycle that you take these tablets. If you are taking this medicine for hormone-related problems, it may take several cycles of use to see improvement in your condition.

If you have any reason to think you are pregnant, stop taking this medicine right away and contact your doctor or health care professional.

Microgestin Fe can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight. Avoid unnecessary sun exposure and wear protective clothing when outdoors and use sunscreen. Do not use sun lamps or tanning beds/booths.

Smoking increases the risk of getting a blood clot or having a stroke while you are taking birth control pills, especially if you are more than 35 years old. You are strongly advised not to smoke.

This medicine can make your body retain fluid, making your fingers, hands, or ankles swell. Your blood pressure can go up. Contact your doctor or health care professional if you feel you have signs of fluid retention.

If you wear contact lenses and notice visual changes, or if the lenses begin to feel uncomfortable, consult your eye care specialist.

In some women, tenderness, swelling, or minor bleeding of the gums may occur. Notify your dentist if this happens. Brushing and flossing your teeth regularly may help limit this. See your dentist regularly and inform your dentist of the medicines you are taking.

Tell all your doctors you are on microgestin Fe before any surgery, including dental procedures

Microgestin Fe Drug Interactions

Taking microgestin Fe with other drugs can affect microgestin Fe metabolism and how the medications work. Possible drug interactions between microgestin Fe and your other medicines can also increase the risk of serious side effects. Your healthcare professional may choose a different medication for you, change the dose or frequency of your medications, and/or closely monitor you for side effects if there are known interactions between microgestin Fe and your other drugs.

There can be possible drug interactions between microgestin Fe and other drugs such as:

Certain antibiotics such as ampicillin (Principen), clarithromycin (Biaxin), erythromycin (E.E.S., E-Mycin, Erythrocin), isoniazid (INH, Nydrazid), metronidazole (Flagyl), minocycline (Dynacin, Minocin), rifabutin (Mycobutin), rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane), tetracycline (Sumycin)
Blood thinners or anticoagulants such as warfarin (Coumadin)
Antifungal drugs like fluconazole (Diflucan), griseofulvin (Fulvicin, grifulvin, Grisactin), itraconazole (Sporanox), and ketoconazole (Nizoral)
Cholesterol lowering drugs like atorvastatin (Lipitor), clofibrate (Atromid-S)
Immunosuppressants like cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune)
Bosentan (Tracleer)
Cimetidine (Tagamet)
Anti-seizure drugs like phenytoin (Dilantin), carbamazepine (Tegretol), felbamate (Felbatol), lamotrigine (Lamictal), oxcarbazepine (Trileptal), phenobarbital (Luminal, Solfoton), primidone (Mysoline), and topiramate (Topamax)
Oral steroid medicines like methylprednisolone (Medrol), prednisone (Deltasone), dexamethasone (Decadron, Dexone) and prednisolone (Prelone)
Asthma medications such as theophylline (Theobid, Theo-Dur), Zafirlukast (Accolate)
Danazol (Danocrine)
HIV medications such as indinavir (Crixivan), ritonavir (Norvir), delavirdine (Rescriptor)
Antidepressant medications like fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem, in Symbyax), nefazodone
Certain pain medications such as morphine (Kadian, MS Contin, MSIR, others), and acetaminophen (APAP, Tylenol)
Modafinil (Provigil)
Calcium channel blockers such as verapamil (Calan, Covera, Isoptin, Verelan), and diltiazem (Cardizem, Dilacor, Tiazac)
Thyroid medications such as levothyroxine (Levothroid, Levoxyl, Synthroid)
Herbal products, especially St. John's wort
Ascorbic acid (vitamin C)

Give your doctor or pharmacist a complete list of your medications, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, dietary supplements, and herbal products.

Also, tell your doctor if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs because some of these substances can cause serious health complications when used with prescription drugs.

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