Maitalon

Maitalon is a combination pill containing the progestin desogestrel. It is available in different doses (Maitalon 20 and 30) and provides reliable hormonal contraception.

Contraception through inhibition of ovulation, thickening of the cervical mucus and changes to the endometrium.

Women without an increased risk of thrombosis who are looking for proven contraception.

Maitalon 20: 0.02 mg ethinylestradiol and 3 mg drospirenone Maitalon 30: 0.03 mg ethinylestradiol and 3 mg drospirenone

21 days of taking the pill, 7-day break.

Missed tablets:

• Less than 12 hours: Take the tablet immediately and the following tablets at the usual time again. Contraceptive protection is not reduced.
• More than 12 hours: Contraceptive protection may be reduced. Take the missed tablet immediately, even if this means taking 2 tablets on one day. What to do next depends on the week of use:
• Week 1: Also use a barrier method such as a condom for 7 days. If you had sexual intercourse in the previous 7 days, pregnancy is possible.
• Week 2: If you took your tablets regularly on the previous 7 days, no additional protection is needed. Otherwise, or if more than 1 tablet was missed, also use a barrier method for 7 days.
• Week 3: Start the next pack straight after the current one without a break. Alternatively, stop the current pack and start the next one after a break of no more than 7 days, including the days you missed. Both options apply only if you took your tablets regularly on the 7 days before the missed tablet. Otherwise, continue with the next pack without a break and also use a barrier method for 7 days.
• If the withdrawal bleeding then does not occur during the next break, pregnancy is possible.

Maitalon must not be used in cases of:

• current or previous venous thromboembolism (e.g. deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism), a known hereditary or acquired predisposition to it, or major surgery with prolonged immobilization
• current or previous arterial thromboembolism (e.g. heart attack), early stages such as angina pectoris, or a known hereditary or acquired predisposition to it
• stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA), including in the past
• high risk of thrombosis due to several risk factors or one serious risk factor such as diabetes with blood vessel damage, severe high blood pressure or a severe lipid metabolism disorder
• a history of migraine with focal neurological symptoms
• current or previous severe liver disease, as long as liver values are not normal
• current or previous liver tumors (benign or malignant)
• severe renal insufficiency or acute kidney failure
• known or suspected sex hormone-dependent malignant tumors (e.g. of the genital organs or the breast)
• unexplained vaginal bleeding
• hypersensitivity to the active substances, soy, peanut or any of the other ingredients
• concomitant use of hepatitis C medicines containing ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir and dasabuvir, glecaprevir/pibrentasvir or sofosbuvir/velpatasvir/voxilaprevir
• pregnancy

Women over 35 who continue to smoke are strongly advised to use a different method of contraception.

Common: headache, breast tenderness, nausea.

Rare: venous and arterial thromboembolism (blood clots in veins or arteries). An increased risk of blood clots has been observed in women taking combination pills, e.g. vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, heart attack or stroke. Pills containing levonorgestrel, norgestimate or norethisterone have the lowest risk of blood clots in the veins; pills such as Maitalon can have up to twice this risk. The risk is highest in the first year of use; after a break of 4 weeks or longer, it may be increased again when you restart. If you notice signs of a blood clot, e.g. swelling or pain in one leg, seek medical help immediately and say that you are taking the pill.