
Slynd Birth Control Medication
Treatment Guide
There are no generics to Slynd currently on the market.
This birth control plan reviews the risks and benefits of the treatment we are recommending.
Please make sure to read it and the manufacturer's pamphlet that comes with the medicine. The manufacturer's pamphlet contains the full information on interactions, side effects, and other important information you should know about the medicine before you start.
Active Ingredients
- Drospirenone (Progestin)
Instructions
You have stated that you wish to take oral contraception pills to prevent pregnancy, and in some instances improve menstrual symptoms. This medication is a progestin only form of hormonal oral contraceptive. It contains the hormone: Drospirenone (progestin). It works mainly by suppressing the release of an egg (ovulation) during your menstrual cycle, thickening your cervical mucus, and thinning your endometrium. This contraceptive should be taken daily.
This contraceptive is great for those with a history of high blood pressure, migraines with aura, migraines without aura in patients over age 35, and other conditions that prevent estrogen contraceptive use.
When to Start
This treatment can be started on the day of pick up or delivery. You do not need to start this pill at any particular point within your menstrual cycle. You will need to use a backup method, like condoms, for the first week if you're having reproductive intercourse before pregnancy prevention will begin.
Oftentimes packs start on a Sunday, if you'd like to wait until the Sunday of your next cycle to assist with lining up your cycles on the placebo week you may, but you may still experience irregular bleeding for the first 3 packs as your body is adjusting to the hormones as expected.
Switching from a different contraceptive
Oral or vaginal ring contraceptive- Start your oral birth control the day after your last contraceptive pill was taken.
Transdermal patch- Start your oral birth control on the day when next patch would have been scheduled
Injection- Start your oral birth control when your next injection was scheduled
Vaginal ring- Start your oral birth control when your next insertion would have been scheduled
IUD or implant: Start your oral birth control on the day of removal.
Refills
You will automatically be sent a refill every 90 days (subject to a refill visit to help screen for side effects). You may request a refill early by logging into your Account (Subscriptions > Next Refill) or placing a new one-time order. If you decide to stop treatment prior to using your complete subscription please contact us for further guidance.
Allergies
This medicine, like all medications, may cause an allergic reaction if you are allergic to similar medicines or components. If you are allergic to any of the following please do not take the medicine and call or message us or see your doctor in person.
- Drospirenone
Conditions
We have evaluated your health history and the specific health information you provided us, however if anything changes and you develop one of these conditions, please stop taking this medicine and call or message us immediately. This list may not be all inclusive.
- Adrenal insufficiency
- Current or history of estrogen or progesterone sensitive cancer
- Hepatic tumors
- Pregnancy
- Renal impairment
- Undiagnosed abnormal uterine bleeding
- Taking Hepatitis C drugs (Ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir with or without dasabuvir)
- Cerebrovascular disease or history of strokes
- Coronary artery disease or history of heart attack
- Lupus with unknown or positive antiphospholipid antibody status
- Porphyria
- Bariatric surgeries (Roux-en-y & biliopancreatic diversion)
- Advised by a healthcare provider to not take hormones
- Menopause
- POTS (Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome)
- Hyperkalemia
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
This contraceptive is not recommended during pregnancy.
No effects on breastfed newborns/infants are anticipated. No adverse effects have been found on milk production or on the health growth, or development of the infant with use of progestin only contraceptives during breastfeeding.
Medicines, Supplements, and Foods
We have evaluated the specific health information you provided us, however if you are taking any of the medicines, foods, or supplements listed below call or message us before you take the medicine. Some of these can cause dangerous interactions with the medicine we are prescribing you and we will help you evaluate that risk and decide on an appropriate treatment plan. Please ensure your chart is up to date with your current medications, allergies, and medical conditions so your provider can safely treat you as this list may not be all inclusive.
- Antibiotics: Rifampin, Rifabutin
- Anticonvulsants or anti-seizure medications such as: carbamazepine (Tegretol®), phenytoin (Dilantin®), oxcarbazepine (Trileptal®), primidone or topiramate (Topamax®), Lamictal (Lamotrigine), Rufinamide, Felbamate
- Antiretrovirals: Efavirenz, nevirapine, nelfinavir, and some ritonavir-containing drugs
- Herbal medications such as St. John’s wort
- HIV Medications
- Modafinil (Provigil®)
- Barbiturates like Phenobarbital
- Ella (Ulipristal Acetate)
- Spironolactone
- Other Potassium sparing medications and diuretics
Emergency Side Effects
This medicine can cause dangerous and potentially life-threatening side effects. If any of the emergency side effects listed in the manufacturer’s pamphlet or those below happen to you please stop taking the medicine and call 911 or seek immediate medical help in person.
- Allergic reaction like: rash, hives, itching, red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin with or without fever, wheezing, tightness or pain in the chest or throat, trouble breathing, swallowing, or talking, unusual hoarseness, or swelling of the mouth, face, lips, tongue, or throat.
- Liver problems like: dark urine, feeling tired, not hungry, upset stomach or stomach pain, light-colored stools, throwing up, or yellow skin or eyes.
- Signs of a blood clot like: chest pain or pressure, coughing up blood, shortness of breath, swelling, warmth, numbness, change of color, or pain in a leg or arm, trouble speaking, or swallowing
- Visual changes
- Sudden severe onset headaches
- One sided or persistent leg pain with or without swelling
- Weakness or numbness in your extremities
- Trouble speaking
Other Side Effects
This medicine can also cause other side effects including (this list is not all inclusive):
- Headaches
- Vaginal discharge
- Edema (swelling in legs)
- Worsening of varicose veins
- Mood changes
- Melasma (brownish skin, on the forehead, nose, upper lip, and cheeks)
- Amenorrhea (loss of period)
- Breast Changes: breast enlargement, discharge, tenderness, pain
- Increased or decreased weight
- Changes in menstrual flow
- Abdominal cramps, bloating, nausea, vomiting
- Breakthrough bleeding, spotting, changes in secretions
- Yeast infection
- Change in sexual drive
- Acne
- Changes in hair growth
Risks
Accurate Information
We have evaluated your health history and your specific health information you provided and determined it is safe to proceed with this treatment at this time. If your health history changes including diagnoses or medications please message or call us before you take the medicine to ensure it's safe to proceed. Some medications and conditions can cause dangerous interactions with the medicine we are prescribing and we will help you evaluate that risk and decide on an appropriate treatment plan.
Treatment Failure
The effectiveness of hormonal oral contraception is very high when it is consistently taken and doses are not missed. The average treatment failure for oral contraception is 9 pregnancies per 100 women. The biggest cause of pregnancy is missed doses.
Missed Dose
- 1 active (white) tablet missed- Take the tablet as soon as possible. Continue taking one tablet a day until your pack is finished
- 2 or more active (white) tablets missed- Take the last tablet missed as soon as possible and continue taking one tablet a day until the pack is finished. (Your remaining missed pills will remain intact with the pack). You should use a back-up method, like condoms, for the next 7 days after missing your tablets for pregnancy prevention.
- 1 or more placebo (green)- Skip the missed pill days and continue taking one tablet until the pack is finished
Misdiagnosis or Delayed Diagnosis
Through telehealth, there is also a risk that we misdiagnose or fail to diagnose conditions that you may have which could affect our recommendation for treatment. This risk exists with a doctor in person as well but they may have additional resources to aid their evaluation. We use evidence-based practice and guidelines as well as clinical decision-making to minimize these risks.
Accepting or Declining Our Recommendation
We have based our recommendation on your specific case and medical guidelines, but there may be alternative treatments or strategies that may be helpful to you. Some may be more or less effective than what we provide. Some treatments may require an in-person exam or procedure which we can’t provide. Message us or talk to your doctor in person to discuss alternative treatments.
Alternative Treatment
We have based our recommendation on your specific case and current medical guidelines, but there may be alternative treatments or strategies that may be helpful to you. Some may be more or less effective than what we provide. Some treatments may require an in-person exam or procedure which we can't provide. Message us or talk to your doctor in-person to discuss alternative treatments. Here are some other treatments or strategies that you might consider:
- Implanon implant contraceptives
- Intrauterine device (IUD)
- Intermittent injections
- Transdermal patches
- Nuvaring
- Male or female condoms
- Diaphragm
- Spermicide
- Alternative oral contraceptive pill
- Sterilization
- Sponge
- Cap
Share with Your In-Person Healthcare Team
You can access your records anytime. We strongly recommend that you update your in-person doctor, pharmacist, and the rest of your healthcare team to let them know about any new medicines you are taking or other changes in your health.
You can also ask us questions anytime and we are happy to help you share any information about your health with your in-person healthcare team.