Marvelon

Country: Australia

Language: English

Source: Department of Health (Therapeutic Goods Administration)

Active ingredient:

Ethinyloestradiol; Desogestrel

Available from:

Merck Sharp & Dohme Australia Pty Ltd

Class:

Medicine Registered

Patient Information leaflet

MARVELON
®
 28

(MAR-VE-LON)
_Ethinyloestradiol and Desogestrel_
CONSUMER MEDICINE INFORMATION

WHAT IS IN THIS LEAFLET
1. WHAT MARVELON 28 IS USED FOR
2. WHEN YOU MUST NOT USE
MARVELON 28
3. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE
USING MARVELON 28
4. WHEN SHOULD YOU CONTACT YOUR
DOCTOR?
5. HOW TO USE MARVELON 28
6. WHAT TO DO IF...
7. SIDE EFFECTS
8. AFTER TAKING MARVELON 28
9. PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
This leaflet answers some common
questions about Marvelon 28. It does
not contain all the available
information. It does not take the
place of talking to your doctor or
pharmacist.
All medicines have risks and
benefits. Your doctor has weighed
the risks of you taking Marvelon 28
against the benefits they expect it
will have for you.
IF YOU HAVE ANY CONCERNS ABOUT
TAKING THIS MEDICINE, ASK YOUR
DOCTOR OR PHARMACIST.
READ THIS INFORMATION CAREFULLY
BEFORE YOU START TAKING MARVELON
28 TABLETS.
KEEP THIS LEAFLET.
You may need to read it again.
1. WHAT MARVELON 28 IS
USED FOR
Marvelon 28 is an oral contraceptive,
commonly known as a "Birth Control
Pill" or "The Pill" that has been
prescribed to prevent you from
getting pregnant.
Marvelon 28 prevents pregnancy in
several ways:
•
It inhibits the egg release by
stopping it maturing.
•
Changing the cervical mucus
consistency making it difficult for
the sperm to reach the egg.
•
Changing the lining of the uterus
making it less suitable for
implantation.
Marvelon 28 consists of 21 large
white tablets, each containing 2
active ingredients: 30 micrograms of
ethinyloestradiol (an oestrogen) and
150 micrograms of desogestrel (a
progestogen) and 7 small white
inactive tablets (first row of the
blister pack).
Because of the small amounts of
different female hormones in the
active tablets, Marvelon 28 is
considered a low-dose combined oral
contraceptive.
Oral contraceptives are a very
effective method of birth control.
When taken correctly (without
missing tablets) the chance of
becoming pregnant is very low.
The following non-contraceptive
health benefits have been

Summary of Product characteristics

 
RA 0102 AU S7 (6.0) 
Marvelon V1.0 
1

PRODUCT INFORMATION 

MARVELON

 28 

NAME OF THE DRUG

MARVELON
® 
28 

Each pack contains 21 active tablets each containing 150
micrograms desogestrel and 30 micrograms 
ethinyloestradiol and 7 inert (placebo) tablets. 

ETHINYLOESTRADIOL 

_Molecular Formula_ C
20
H
24
O   
_Molecular mass_ 296.4 
_CHEMICAL
NAME:_ 19-nor-17a-pregna-1,3,5,(10)-triene-20-yne-3,17b-diol 

CAS No. 57-63-6 

DESOGESTREL 

_Molecular Formula_ C
22
H
30
O 
_Molecular mass_ 310.5 
_CHEMICAL NAME:_ 13

-Ethyl-11-methylene-18, 19-dinor-17

-pregn-4-en-20-yn-17

-ol. 

CAS No. 54024-22-5 

DESCRIPTION

Marvelon is a combined oral contraceptive
(COC) preparation containing the oestrogen 
ethinyloestradiol and the progestagen desogestrel as the active
substances. 

RA 0102 AU S7 (6.0) 
Marvelon V1.0 
2

Ethinyloestradiol: a white or slightly yellowish
white crystalline powder. Melting Point: 181-185
º
C. It is 
practically insoluble in water, freely soluble in
ethanol (96%) and in ether, sparingly soluble in 
chloroform. It dissolves in dilute alkaline solutions. 

Desogestrel: a crystalline powder, it is a progestagen,
semi synthetically produced from naturally 
occurring plant steroids.
It is optically pure, is practically insoluble in water,
and slightly soluble in 
ethanol and ethylacetate. 
_ _
PHARMACOLOGY 

The contraceptive effect of COCs is based on the
interaction of various factors. The primary 
mechanisms are
inhibition of ovulation (by suppression of gonadotropins) and
changes in the cervical 
secretion (blocking the entry of sperm into the uterus).
Besides protection against pregnancy, COCs 
have several positive properties which, next to the negative
properties (see PRECAUTIONS, 
ADVERSE REACTIONS), can be useful in deciding on the
method of bir