Rigevidon

What is Rigevidon?

Rigevidon contains two types of female hormones: ethinylestradiol (oestrogen) and levonorgestrel (progesterone). It’s known as a combined contraceptive pill and at 99% effectiveness, it’s a reliable way to prevent pregnancy. 

The Rigevidon pill can’t protect you against sexually transmitted infections (STIs), so you’ll need to consider using condoms. You can find out more about STIs in our article What is an STI.

In the same article, you’ll also find helpful information about tests and treatments you can order from us too.

How does Rigevidon work?

As a contraceptive pill, Rigevidon works to:

• Prevent your ovaries from releasing an egg (ovulation).
• Make it difficult for sperm to reach an egg.
• Help prevent an egg from implanting in your womb lining.

How effective is Rigevidon?

Provided you follow the advice of your clinician and the patient information leaflet that comes with your medicine, the combined pill Rigevidon is 99% effective at stopping you getting pregnant. The NHS describe this as being ‘perfect use’. They also say the combined pill is 91% effective with ‘typical use’, which is when women don’t always follow the instructions.

Rigevidon tablets might also be less effective if you're vomiting or have severe diarrhoea. If you are ill with either or both, you should keep taking your pill as usual. If you’re unwell for longer than 24 hours, follow the same advice as you would for a missed pill. Please read Rigevidon’s patient information leaflet for further advice.

Important: Only start Rigevidon if you’re sure you’re not pregnant.

Rigevidon dosage

Rigevidon 150 micrograms/30 micrograms coated tablets come in packs of 63 tablets in three strips. Each pill contains 150 micrograms (mcg) of levonorgestrel and 30 micrograms (mcg) of ethinylestradiol. You take just one tablet at the same time every day. 

You can also request 3, 6 or 12 months’ worth of treatment.

How to take Rigevidon

Typically, women take 1 tablet each day for 21 days, followed by a 4 or 7-day interval before beginning the next pack. During this interval you're likely to experience a withdrawal bleed which resembles a period but isn't one.
You can also use the Rigevidon contraceptive in these three ways:

• Tricycling: Take 1 tablet each day for 9 weeks without an interval. After 9 weeks (3 packs of tablets) take a 4 or 7 day interval and then begin the cycle again.

• Continuous use: Take 1 tablet each day without an interval.

• Flexible extended use: Take 1 tablet each day for at least 21 days. If you experience bleeding that's unacceptable to you, take a 4-day interval. On the fifth day begin taking the tablet each day again and don't have another interval for at least 21 days.
  

It’s important you take the tablet as prescribed by your clinician and follow the instructions in the pack. 

You should also aim to take the tablet at the same time each day. This is often simpler to remember if you take your pill first thing in the morning or last thing at night.

What to do if you miss a pill

This depends on timing and how many pills you've forgotten. For example, forgetting one pill, at any point, won't affect your contraceptive protection. Forgetting two or more pills or starting a new pack late might impact your contraceptive cover.

• Within 48 hours since your last pill: take your next pill as soon as you remember and carry on with the rest of the pack as usual. This might mean taking two pills in one day.
• Over 48 hours: This depends on when you last took your pill and where you are in your pill packet. Please check the patient information leaflet for further information.

Setting a daily phone alarm or using a contraception app can help you remember when to take your pill every day.

There are more tips in our article remembering to take your pill.

If you need emergency contraception

Tell your doctor, clinician or pharmacist that you use Rigevidon when you request emergency contraception. This can influence which treatment is likely to be the most effective.

If you can’t get to see your GP or go to a pharmacy, or would prefer not to, we offer the morning after pill.

Who can take Rigevidon?

Like your GP, our clinicians will need to be certain the birth control pill Rigevidon is right for you and safe to prescribe. We’ll ask a few questions during your online consultation.

You shouldn't use Rigevidon if:

• You're allergic to any of the ingredients
• You've had a blood clot
• You have a condition that affects blood clotting
• You've had a heart attack or stroke
• You've ever had a migraine with aura
• You have very high blood pressure
• You have diabetes with blood vessel damage

Is Rigevidon safe to use while breastfeeding?

If you’re breastfeeding, it's not recommended to use Rigevidon until six weeks after having a baby. That’s because, like other combined pills, Rigevidon can affect how much milk you produce and there’s a small possibility the hormones in the medicine can affect your newborn child.

What are the side effects of Rigevidon?

Many women do not experience any side effects, however some will. Common side effects tend to stop once your body has gotten used to the pill.

Common side effects (may affect up to 1 in 10 people) include:

• Vaginitis
• Mood swings including depression
• Changes in interest in sex
• Nervousness
• Dizziness
• Feeling sick and/or being sick
• Abdominal pain
• Acne
• Breast tenderness and/or breast pain
• Breast enlargement and discharge
• Painful periods
• No or reduced period bleeding
• Weight changes 

Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people) include:

• Changes in appetite
• High blood pressure
• Abdominal cramps
• Bloating
• Excessive hair growth
• Hair loss 

Rare (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people) include:

• Severe allergic reaction (anaphylactic reaction)
• Glucose intolerance
• Yellowing of the skin (jaundice)
• Blood clots
• Heart attack
• Stroke 

For full information on side effects and correct use, see the patient information leaflet. If any side effects concern you, contact us via your account.

Does Rigevidon affect blood pressure?

According to the patient information leaflet, 

there's no indication that Rivevidon causes high blood pressure. But it's important to monitor if you already have the condition and be aware of drug interactions.

With that in mind, it’s best to speak to your GP or message us via your account.

Ordering Rigevidon with Online Doctor

You can’t buy Rigevidon over the counter as it’s a prescription-only medicine. But you can buy Rigevidon online through our Online Doctor service if our clinicians consider it a suitable treatment after reviewing your consultation.
This helps our clinical team check that Rigevidon is the right, safest choice for you, or can recommend other treatments that might be more appropriate. For example the progestogen-only pill (POP), known as the mini pill.