Eloine is a type of daily contraceptive pill used to prevent pregnancy. It is a combined pill, meaning it contains 2 different female hormones (drospirenone and ethinylestradiol). These hormones work together to stop you from becoming pregnant if you have unprotected sex.

Eloine is also a low-dose contraceptive pill, which means it contains less oestrogen than the standard dose options. This makes it an excellent choice if you cannot take as much oestrogen.

While Eloine is primarily taken to prevent pregnancy, it can also reduce period pain and make bleeding lighter and more regular.

Eloine’s 2 active ingredients drospirenone (a synthetic progesterone) and ethinylestradiol (a synthetic oestrogen) work by:

• preventing ovulation (an egg being released from the ovaries)
• thickening cervical mucus
• thinning the lining of your uterus

This process makes it nearly impossible for sperm to reach and fertilise an egg (which causes pregnancy).

When taken as prescribed, combined pills like Eloine can be over 99% effective. However, things like being sick (vomiting), having diarrhoea or forgetting to take your pill can make it less effective. To get the most effectiveness out of Eloine, always take it as prescribed and take extra precautions (like using condoms) if you forget to take a pill, are sick, or have any concerns about whether you’ve been taking it correctly.

Can I buy Eloine online?

You can buy Eloine online if you have a prescription for it. You can use an online doctor service like Superdrug Online Doctor who can prescribe Eloine (if it’s suitable for you) and deliver it to you if needed.

To request Eloine with Superdrug Online Doctor, all you need to do is complete a short online consultation for a doctor to review. Here, you’ll answer some questions about your health so our doctors can make sure Eloine is safe and suitable for you before prescribing it. If it is, they’ll issue a prescription, and you can choose to get Eloine delivered to an address of your choosing or collect it from your nearest Superdrug Pharmacy after just 2 hours of doctor’s approval.

If you do buy Eloine online, you should choose a trusted provider like Superdrug Online Doctor. You can check for trusted providers by making sure the correct medical governing bodies approve them. A good place to start is to make sure they are registered by the CQC (Care Quality Commission) and that they use a GPhC-registered pharmacy. If you have any doubts about the reliability of an online retailer, you shouldn’t use them.

Can I buy Eloine over the counter?

No, you can only buy Eloine with a prescription. Most contraceptive options require a prescription from a doctor. This is to make sure your treatment is safe and suitable for you. If you see places offering to provide Eloine without a prescription, they may be operating illegally. You should never take prescription-only medication without a prescription.

If you are looking for an over-the-counter contraceptive, Hana is a brand of mini pill that is available in pharmacies, or online with us at Superdrug Online Doctor.

Can I get Eloine on the NHS?

Eloine is available on the NHS if your prescribing doctor thinks it’s the most suitable option for you. However, if they believe another option is safer or more suitable for you, they may prescribe that contraceptive option instead.

Like all medications, Eloine can give you side effects, but these are usually mild and go away as you get used to the medication. If your side effects are severe or unmanageable, you should stop taking Eloine and speak to your doctor. If you think you are having an allergic reaction to Eloine or any of its ingredients, you must immediately stop taking Eloine and call 999.

Common side effects include:

• mood swings
• headache
• nausea
• breast pain including breast tenderness
• menstrual bleeding irregularities such as irregular or no periods

Uncommon side effects include:

• depression
• nervousness
• sleepiness
• dizziness
• ‘pins and needles’
• migraine
• varicose veins
• body weight changes
• fluid retention
• changes in libido
• high blood pressure
• vomiting
• acne
• itching
• vaginitis (vaginal inflammation)
• inflammation of the stomach, indigestion, diarrhoea, stomach ache and gas
• vaginal fungal infection
• pelvic pain
• breast enlargement
• benign breast lumps
• vaginal bleeding or discharge
• hot flushes
• problems with periods, such as painful, reduced or very heavy periods
• vaginal dryness
• abnormal cervical smear
• lack of energy
• increased sweating

Rare side effects include:

• candida (a fungal infection)
• anaemia
• an increase in the number of platelets in your blood
• allergic reactions (hypersensitivity)
• hormonal (endocrine) disorder
• changes in appetite, including an increase or loss of
• changes in blood compostion, such as high potassion or low sodium
• failure to experience an orgasm
• insomnia
• giddiness or tremor
• eye disorder
• abnormally fast heartbeat
• inflammation of a vein, nosebleed and fainting
• enlarged abdomen
• bowel disorder
• bloating
• stomach hernia
• fungal infection of the mouth
• dry mouth
• constipation
• pain and/or inflammation in the bile ducts or gallbladder
• skin disorders, such as yellow brown patches, eczema, acne-like inflammation, dry skin, lumpy inflammation, stretch marks, light-sensitive skin or nodules
• hair loss or excessive hair growth
• difficult or painful sex
• vaginal inflammation
• bleeding after sex
• withdrawal bleeding
• changes to the breasts, such as breast cyst, increased number of breast cells (hyperplasia), malignant lumps in the breast
• womb changes, such as abnormal growth, shrinkage or wasting of the lining of the womb, ovarian cysts or enlargement of the womb
• feeling generally unwell
• weight loss
• harmful blood clots in an artery or vein, including the leg or foot, a lung, heart attack, stroke, mini stroke, or in other vital organs like the liver, kidneys or eye

Rare and serious side effects should be reported to a doctor. Call 999 or get someone to take you to A&E straight away in an emergency situation, such as if you think you’ve got a blood clot or you’re having a serious allergic reaction.

Learn more about the side effects of different contraceptive pills.

How long do Eloine side effects last?

Common side effects of Eloine tend to go away quickly as you get used to the medication. Most side effects should also go away if you stop taking Eloine. If side effects get worse or do not go away, you should speak to your doctor.

What to do if you get Eloine side effects

It’s common to experience side effects when taking Eloine, especially during the period where your body is getting used to the medication:

If you get mild Eloine side effects, like headaches, you can deal with them using over-the-counter treatments like paracetamol while your body gets used to the medication.

If you experience side effects that are difficult to manage or don’t go away, you should speak to your doctor.

If you experience serious side effects or an allergic reaction, you should immediately discontinue Eloine, speak to your doctor, and call 999 if its an emergency.

Before taking Eloine, you need to make sure you don’t have any conditions that it can affect or take any medications or supplements it can react with. Your prescribing doctor will review this with you to make sure it’s right for you.

Do not take Eloine if you:

• are allergic to ethinylestradiol, drospirenone or any of the other ingredients in Eloine
• have, or have ever had a disorder affecting your blood circulation – this includes any conditions to do with blood clots, embolism, or heart attacks
• have or have had a stroke
• had any signs of a heart attack (chest pains) or conditions relating to a heart attack, like angina
• get a type of migraines called migraine with aura
• have severe diabetes with blood vessel damage, very high blood pressure, very high fat levels in the blood or a condition called hyperhomocysteinaemia – these can all increase your risk of a blood clot in the arteries and shouldn’t be taken with Eloine
• have jaundice or liver disease
• have or have had a cancer that can grow under the influence of sex hormones
• have a severe kidney insufficiency or acute kidney failure
• have or have ever had benign or malignant liver tumours
• have any unexplained vaginal bleeding
• are pregnant or might be pregnant
• are due to have an operation and won’t be walking again for a long time – this could increase your risk of blood clots
• have Hepatitis C and also take medicines containing ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir, dasabuvir, glecaprevir/pibrentasvir or sofosbuvir/velpatasvir/voxilaprevir

If you think you have developed any of these conditions or might have while taking Eloine, you must stop taking it immediately and speak to your doctor. Eloine is also not intended for use in women who haven’t started their period or after menopause.

Check with your doctor before taking Eloine if you:

• smoke – using a combined pill and smoking increases your risk of blood clots, so your doctor may advise you to stop smoking, or if you’re over 35 and still smoke, you may need a mini pill instead
• have diabetes
• have depression
• are overweight
• have high blood pressure
• have a heart disorder
• have an inflammation of your veins
• have varicose veins
• have anyone in your immediate family who has had a blood clot, a heart attack or a stroke
• get migraines
• have epilepsy
• have a high potassium blood level
• have someone in your immediate family who has or has high cholesterol
• have anyone in your immediate family that has or has had breast cancer
• have liver or gallbladder disease
• have Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis (chronic inflammatory bowel disease)
• have lupus
• have sickle cell disease
• have haemolytic uraemic syndrome
• have elevated levels of fat in the blood (hypertriglyceridaemia) or a family history for this condition
• have just given birth – check with your doctor when you can start taking Eloine after birth
• have a disease that first appeared when you got pregnant or with earlier use of hormonal contraception, such as hearing loss, a blood disease called porphyria, skin rash with blisters during pregnancy (gestational herpes) or a nerve disease causing sudden movements of the body (Sydenham’s chorea)
• have or ever had chloasma (golden brown pigment patches on the skin), especially on the face
• have angoidema

You should also let your doctor know if you develop any of these conditions or start smoking while taking Eloine. See more detailed information on Eloine warnings in your patient information leaflet.

Breastfeeding/pregnancy warnings

You cannot take Eloine if you are pregnant or think you could be pregnant. If you think you’ve become pregnant while taking Eloine, you must consult your doctor as soon as you can.

You should not take Eloine while breastfeeding. Speak to your doctor for advice on contraceptive options while breastfeeding.

If Eloine isn’t suitable for you, other combined pills are available. There are also different types of pills and contraceptive methods you can consider. If you aren’t sure, you can complete a contraception consultation with Superdrug and a doctor will review your needs and health to help identify the safest and most suitable option for you.

Other combined pills

All combined pills, like Eloine, contain a combination of progesterone and oestrogen hormones. They’re not usually suitable for people with a high BMI, high blood pressure, and severe migraines.

However, they can make periods lighter, more regular, less painful, and help with PMS (pre-menstrual) symptoms and acne.

Popular combined pills include:

• Microgynon
• Rigevidon
• Yasmin

Mini pills

Mini pills (also known as progesterone-only pills) contain progesterone but not oestrogen. They work similarly to the combined pill but can be less effective in preventing ovulation. There’s also no break in between packs. Mini pills are still around 99% effective though, and a great option for people over 35 or people who can’t take oestrogen.

The most popular mini pills include:

• Cerelle
• Cerazette
• Hana

Contraceptive patches

Contraceptive patches like Evra work in the same way as contraceptive pills, except they’re patches you wear on your skin. This makes them a great option if you regularly forget to take pills or feel uncomfortable taking pills. They’re over 99% effective when used correctly and only need to be applied once a week.

The contraceptive ring

This is a ring that is directly inserted into your vagina. It’s up to 99% effective when used correctly, and there’s no need to think about taking pills or putting on patches. They last up to 3 weeks and contain both oestrogen and progesterone. And don’t worry, it’s easy to insert and doesn’t affect sex or tampon use. An example of a contraceptive ring brand is NuvaRing.

Copper IUD

This is a non-hormonal contraceptive that is inserted into your vagina by a health practitioner. It produces a reaction that is toxic to sperm and eggs, which stops you from becoming pregnant. Copper IUDs are considered to be over 99% effective.

Contraceptive implant

This is a small plastic rod placed under the skin in your upper arm. It slowly releases progestogen into your bloodstream to prevent pregnancy. It’s over 99% effective if replaced often enough. It can also last for 3 years.

Is Eloine the same as Yasmin?

Eloine is not quite the same as Yasmin. While it contains the same ingredients as Yasmin, it contains a lower dose of oestrogen. Both are still combined contraceptive pills that can protect against pregnancy, but which you choose depends on the oestrogen dose that’s most suitable for you.

Can Eloine make my periods lighter?

Yes. For some people, Eloine can make periods lighter and more manageable. This might not be the case for everyone who uses Eloine.

Does Eloine cause irregular bleeding?

Eloine can cause irregular bleeding in some patients, particularly when you first begin to take it. The spotting may occur outside of the placebo days (between periods). However, if you notice irregular bleeding that reoccurs while taking Eloine, you should speak to your doctor.