Desogestrel
Indications
Desogestrel is used for:
Oral contraception
Adult Dose
Oral
Oral contraception
Adult: 75 mcg daily when used alone. For monophasic combined oral contraceptives: Typically, 150 mcg daily; for triphasic combined oral contraceptives: 50-150 mcg daily.
Child Dose
Renal Dose
Administration
Contra Indications
Pregnancy, undiagnosed vaginal bleeding, severe arterial disease; liver adenoma, porphyria; after evacuation of hydatidiform mole; history of breast cancer.
Precautions
Heart disease, sex-steroid dependent cancer, past ectopic pregnancy, malabsorption syndromes, functional ovarian cysts, active liver disease, recurrent cholestatic jaundice, history of jaundice in pregnancy, history of CV or renal impairment, DM, asthma, epilepsy, migraine, depression and thromboembolism; lactation.
Pregnancy-Lactation
Interactions
Reduced efficacy with enzyme-inducing drugs; aminoglutethimide. May inhibit ciclosporin metabolism.
Adverse Effects
Side effects of Desogestrel :
Menstrual irregularities; nausea, vomiting, headache, dizziness, breast discomfort, gynecomastia, depression, skin disorders, disturbance of appetite, wt changes, fluid retention, oedema, changes in libido, cholestatic jaundice, hair loss or hirsutism.
Mechanism of Action
Desogestrel is a progestogen structurally related to levonorgestrel that has been shown to reliably inhibit ovulation.