What is Alysena?
Alysena are combination oral contraceptive tablets that contain a combination of two female sex hormones, 100 mcg Levonorgestrel and 20 mcg Ethinyl Estradiol. Alysena is most prominently used as a form of birth control (contraceptive) to prevent pregnancy. In some cases, it’s also used as a treatment for acne (acne vulgaris). For more resources, including a full list of the risks and benefits of Alysena, please review the product monograph.
How does Alysena work?
The primary function of Alysena is inhibition of ovulation, but the effect of the medication may also result from other factors, like the hostility of the cervical mucus to sperm penetration and migration. For acne, the suppression of gonadotropins by Alysena leads to decreased ovarian production of the androgens, including androstenedione. Alysena also significantly reduces bioavailable serum testosterone by preserving the estrogen-induced increases in sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG). In addition, Alysena decreases serum levels of 3β-androstanediol glucuronide. These biochemical changes are consistent with improvement of acne in healthy women.
What is Alysena used to treat?
Alysena has two distinct uses:
1. As an oral contraceptive control
2. Treatment of moderate acne (acne vulgaris) in women over 14 years of age, who have no known contraindications to oral contraceptives, would like to begin using contraception, and have started menstruating.
How do you take Alysena?
As a contraceptive, Alysena follows a 28-day series for each package. This includes Alysensa- 21 ‘active’ pink pills, and if you take Alysena-28, 7 ‘inactive’ white pills.
For each 28-day course of Alysena, the pills must be taken daily; preferably at around the same time each day. All the active pink pills should be taken first, followed by a 7-day stretch of taking the inactive, white pills, or taking no pills.
The acne treatments follow the same dosing schedule as the contraceptive use.
If you miss a dosage, it’s important not to double-up the following day. Talk to your Felix healthcare practitioner about what timing methods you should follow to continue ensuring its effectiveness, if you happen to miss a dose during your 28-day course.
How long does Alysena last after you take it?
What are the common side effects of Alysena?
The most common side effects of taking online Alysena prescriptions include:
Increased duration of menstrual flow (metrorrhagia)
- Sinusitis
- Flu syndrome
- Yeast infection (vaginal moniliasis)
- Indigestion
- Weight gain
- Migraines
- Bronchitis
- Rash
- General aches and pains
- Back pain
- Breast pain
- Myalgia
- Accidental injury
- Acne
- Rhinitis
- Mood swings (emotional lability)
- Vaginitis - Pharyngitis
- Urinary tract infection
- Dizziness
- Rhinitis
- Dysmenorrhea
- Diarrhea
- Bronchitis
- Depression
- Infection
- Lack of energy and strength (asthenia)
- Vomiting
- Absence of menstruation (amenorrhea)
If you start to experience any serious side effects from using Alysena, be sure to talk to your healthcare practitioner at Felix. They may be able to suggest alternative medications that might work better for you.
Who shouldn't take Alysena?
There are a number of people that should avoid taking Alysena, such as:
- Post-menopausal woman (over 65)
- Women under the age of 14 or who have not yet had their first period
- Women who are taking other forms of oral or injectable contraceptives
- Women who have been shown to have negative reactions when taking Alysena
- Women with specific conditions that are contraindicated, such as circulatory disorders, breast cancer, liver cancer, or gallbladder cancer.
If you fall into any of these categories, or you believe that there are other conditions you’re experiencing, be sure to talk to your Felix healthcare practitioner about them prior to requesting an online Alysena prescription.
Further reading
