• Gedarel is a combined oral contraceptive pill
• This combined contraceptive pill is available in two different strengths
• Gedarel contains synthetic versions of the hormones naturally produced within a woman’s body
• Gedarel is the brand name, and the active ingredients are desogestrel (synthetic progesterone) and ethinylestradiol (synthetic oestrogen)
• It is taken if you want to avoid getting pregnant whilst sexually active
• The combined pill is not suitable for all women, as it can increase the risk of blood clots and some cancers
• Gedarel does not protect against sexually transmitted infections
• It is important to read the patient leaflet for a full list of side effects and cautions.

Gedarel contains two hormones that would naturally be produced by a woman’s body. When taken in the dose contained within the pill, the active ingredients prevent you from getting pregnant.

Gedarel works in three ways to prevent a pregnancy from occurring.

1. An egg is prevented from being released from the ovary
2. The mucus around the cervix becomes thicker to stop sperm from entering the uterus
3. The lining of the uterus remains thin, so that a fertilised egg would be unable to implant and begin developing.

The combined pill is one of the most effective reversible forms of contraception. In this context, the word reversible means that if you stop taking it, you could get pregnant. It is therefore not a permanent choice and should not prevent you from getting pregnant in future if you wanted to.

If you are not using another form of contraception, you should start taking Gedarel on day 1 of your period. In this way, contraceptive cover starts on day one. If you do not start taking Gedarel until days 2 to 5 of your period, you will need to use an additional form of contraception.

One Gedarel tablet should be taken every day for 21 days in a row. After this, you will have a 7 day break where you do not take Gedarel. During this time, you are likely to have a withdrawal bleed. This is a bleed that is like a period.

At the end of the 7 day break, you start a new strip of 21 tablets and continue this cycle to maintain your contraceptive cover.

If you are changing from another combined oral contraceptive, take your first tablet of Gedarel on the first day immediately after the end of the previous oral contraceptive course.

If you are changing from a progesterone-only pill (POP or mini-pill), you can switch to Gedarel on any day, but you must use an additional form of contraception for at least the first 7 days of tablet taking.

You should take Gedarel at the same time every day. If you forget to take a pill, take it as soon as you remember. If the delay is less than 12 hours, contraceptive protection is maintained. If you miss your pill by more than 12 hours, additional contraception will be required, such as condoms.

One tablet should be taken every day at the same time for 21 days. A 7 day break should then occur, before commencing a new strip of tablets.

Two different strengths of Gedarel are available:

• Gedarel 30/150 contains 30 micrograms of ethinylestradiol (synthetic oestrogen) and 150 micrograms of desogestrel (synthetic progesterone).
• Gedarel 20/150 contains 20 micrograms of ethinylestradiol (synthetic oestrogen) and 150 micrograms of desogestrel (synthetic progesterone).

Your prescriber can advise you which strength will best suit you.

Like all medications, Gedarel can have some side effects. The most common side effects include:

• Nausea (feeling sick)
• Abdominal pain
• Weight gain
• Headache
• Altered mood or depression
• Breast tenderness or pain.

These side effects are likely to settle down, but if they persist or become troublesome you should speak to your doctor for further advice.

Occasionally, using a combined oral contraceptive can have serious side effects. If any of the following occur, you must contact your doctor straight away:

• Sudden, severe chest pain
• Swelling or pain in one of your legs
• Severe stomach pain
• Sudden breathlessness or coughing up blood
• Severe headache, loss of sight or hearing, or difficulty swallowing
• A fainting attack, fit, or numbness to one side of your body
• Yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes (jaundice).

Serious allergic reactions happen very rarely. If you have a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) including breathlessness, lip swelling or tongue swelling, call 999 immediately.

Gedarel may not be suitable for everyone. You should tell your prescriber if you:

• Are at high risk of blood clots to the legs or lungs
• Have ever had a deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism (DVT or PE, clots to the legs or lungs)
• Have a blood clotting disorder
• Are awaiting major surgery that will cause prolonged immobilisation
• Have ever had a heart attack or stroke, or have angina
• Have migraines
• Have diabetes
• Have severe hypertension (high blood pressure)
• Have, or have had, breast cancer or cervical cancer
• Have otosclerosis
• Have gallstones
• Have liver or kidney disease
• Have systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE or lupus)
• Have sickle cell anaemia
• Have hereditary angioedema
• Have any allergies
• Might be pregnant, or are breastfeeding.

Gedarel may not be suitable if a close family member has been diagnosed with a previous PE (lung clot) or DVT (leg clot), breast cancer or cervical cancer.

Some medications can interact with Gedarel. You may be advised that Gedarel will not suit you if you already take:

• Anti-seizure medications including phenytoin, carbamazepine, topiramate and phenobarbitone or other barbiturates
• Certain antibiotics or antifungal medications
• Antiretroviral medications including ritonavir, nelfinavir and nevirapine
• Etoricoxib
• St John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum).

Because Gedarel may not suit everyone, we will complete a Consultation with you including a health questionnaire. This will ensure that the medication will be suitable for you.

A qualified prescriber will review your current medications, including any herbal remedies or supplements, to ensure that Gedarel will not interact with them. 

Once prescribed, Gedarel will be ordered on your behalf via electronic prescription. Gedarel will then be conveniently dispatched from one of our partner pharmacies.

Can I buy Gedarel online?

You can safely buy Gedarel online at EU Meds. You will first need to have an online consultation with a pharmacist independent prescriber before your order will be supplied. The online consultation will ensure that Gedarel is the right medication for your medical condition.

Do I need a prescription for Gedarel?

Yes, in order to purchase Gedarel you will need a valid prescription. Please note, all requests for supply of prescription medications are subject to an online clinical consultation and the decision to prescribe will be made by a doctor.