Lybrel is a combination hormone birth control pill that is made of progesterone and estrogen. The hormones prevent pregnancy by preventing ovulation, thickening of the cervical mucus and altering the lining of the uterus, according to Drugs.com. Women should report any allergies, health conditions or other medications they are using to their doctor before accepting a prescription for Lybrel, as it has the risk of side effects and drug interactions.
Common Side Effects
EMedTV.com notes that the most common side effects of Lybrel use are considered harmless unless they become persistent or overly bothersome. These side effects include breast tenderness, enlarged breasts, changes in they eyes that make contact wearing more difficult, headache, nausea, vomiting, bloating, acne or changes in sex drive.
Menstrual Changes
According to eMedTV.com, women will not have a regular, scheduled monthly period with the use of Lybrel but spotting or bleeding is common. Nearly all women will have irregular bleeding or spotting when they begin taking the medication, but over time this should improve. Nearly 59 percent of women no longer have bleeding or spotting after 13 months of use, as indicated by eMedTV.com.
Cardiovascular Side Effects
Blood clots, heart attack and stroke are all possible side effects of using Lybrel. Symptoms of these cardiovascular concerns, according to eMedTV.com, include pain in the calf, leg cramps, leg or foot swelling, shortness of breath, sharp pain in the chest, coughing up blood, chest pain, heaviness in the chest, vision or speech changes, weakness in an arm or a leg, numbness in an arm or leg and/or severe headaches.
Serious Side Effects
Drugs.com warns women to report serious side effects of Lybrel, including depression, lumps in the breast, migraines, signs of allergy (hives, itching, unexplained swelling or trouble breathing), yellowing of the skin or the whites of the eyes, darkening of the urine and/or pain in the upper right area of the abdomen. EMedTV.com also reports that increased blood pressure or cholesterol is possible with Lybrel use.
Less Common Side Effect
According to Drugs.com, there are several other serious side effects that occur in only a few women using Lybrel. These include breast discharge, confusion, fainting, pale stools, vaginal irritation, vaginal discharge or vaginal odor.
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