| Certain adverse drug reactions (ADRs) that have been associated with oral contraceptive use may require immediate medical attention and/or cessation of oral contraceptive use. These ADRs include: myocardial infarction, deep venous thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, cerebrovascular accidents, retinal vein thrombosis, new onset of migraine -type headache , breast cancer, hepatic tumours adenomas, high blood pressure, angioedema, urticaria and hypersensitivity.Alternative non-hormonal methods of contraception should be used, while appropriate diagnostic and therapeutic measures are undertaken.Based on pooled safety data from 5 clinical trials, the most commonly reported ( 10%) ADR was headache (27.9%). The most commonly reported ( 10%) ADR identified during post-marketing experience was diarrhoea (11.8%). The most common ADRs ( 10%) reported in the first treatment cycle in clinical trials were: dysmenorrhoea (40.4%); nausea (29.1%); metrorrhagia (26.3%); gastrointestinal disorder [reported as nausea or vomiting] (24.6%) and abnormal withdrawal bleeding (16.9%). The incidence of these ADRs was highest in cycle 1 and decreased over time with the exception dysmenorrhoea. The highest incidence of vomiting occurred in cycle 12 (11.8%).The 5 clinical trials (2 randomised active-controlled trials and 3 uncontrolled open-label trials), which were used to evaluate the safety of Cilest, included 1,891 healthy women of child bearing potential. In 3 trials, subjects were followed for up to 24 cycles and in the other 2 trials for up to 12 cycles. An additional uncontrolled study (n=8,331) reported ADRs by treatment cycle for up to 24 cycles. As the frequency of ADRs vary according to the cycle of treatment, the highest cycle incidence has been used to assign the ADR to a frequency category.The table below displays all ADRs that have been reported with the use of Cilest in clinical trials or from post marketing experiences with norgestimate and ethinyl estradiol tablets.The displayed frequency categories use the following convention: Very common (>1/10); common (>1/100 to <1/10); uncommon (>1/1,000 to <1/100); rare (>1/10,000 to <1/1,000); very rare (<1/10,000); and not known (cannot be estimated from the available data).| Infections and Infestations | | Common
| Urinary tract infection, vaginal infection | | Neoplasms benign, malignant and unspecified (including cysts and polyps) | | Uncommon
| Cervical dysplasia
| | Rare
| Breast cyst
| | Frequency not known
| Hepatic adenomas , breast cancer, benign breast neoplasm, focal nodular hyperplasia, fibroadenoma of breast
| | Immune System Disorders | | Common
| Hypersensitivity | | Metabolism and nutrition disorders | | Common
| Fluid retention
| | Uncommon | Increase and decrease in appetite, weight fluctuation
| | Rare
| Appetite disorder
| | Frequency not known | Dyslipidaemia | | Psychiatric disorders | | Common | Mood altered, depression, nervousness, insomnia
| | Uncommon | Anxiety, libido disorder
| | Nervous system disorders | | Very common | Headache
| | Common | Migraine, dizziness
| | Uncommon
| Syncope, paraesthesia
| | Frequency not known | Cerebrovascular accident, convulsion
| | Eye disorders | | Uncommon
| Visual impairment, dry eye
| | Frequency not known
| Intolerance to contact lenses, retinal vascular thrombosis*
| | Ear and Labyrinth Disorders | | Rare
| Vertigo | | Cardiac disorders | | Uncommon
| Palpitations
| | Rare
| Tachycardia
| | Frequency not known
| Myocardial infarction
| | Vascular disorders | | Uncommon
| Thrombosis, hypertension, hot flush
| | Frequency not known
| Deep venous thrombosis* Arterial thromboembolism
| | Respiratory, Thoracic and Mediastinal Disorders | | Uncommon
| Dyspnoea
| | Frequency not known
| Pulmonary embolism*
| | Gastrointestinal disorders | | Very common
| Gastrointestinal disorder, vomiting, diarrhoea, nausea
| | Common | Gastrointestinal pain, abdominal pain, abdominal distension, constipation, flatulence
| | Rare | Pancreatitis | | Hepato-biliary disorders | | Rare | Hepatitis
| | Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders | | Common | Acne, rash
| | Uncommon | Alopecia, hirsutism, urticaria, pruritus, erythema, skin discolouration | | Rare
| Hyperhidrosis, photosensitivity reaction | | Frequency not known | Angioedema, erythema nodosum, night sweats | | Musculoskeletal and Connective Tissue Disorders | | Common
| Muscle spasms, pain in extremity, back pain
| | Uncommon
| Myalgia
| | Reproductive system and breast disorders | | Very common
| Dysmenorrhoea, metrorrhagia, abnormal withdrawal bleeding
| | Common
| Amenorrhoea, genital discharge, breast pain
| | Uncommon
| Breast discharge, breast enlargement, ovarian cyst, vulvovaginal dryness | | Rare
| Vaginal discharge
| | Frequency not known | Suppressed lactation | | General disorders and administration site conditions | | Common | Chest pain, oedema, asthenic conditions
| | Investigations | | Common
| Weight increased
| | Uncommon | Weight decreased | * Not seen in clinical trials therefore frequency cannot be estimated. See section 4.4 for frequency based on standard reporting rates for similar combined hormonal contraceptives.
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