What is Levest?
Levest is a combined contraceptive pill. It contains synthetic versions of two sex hormones naturally produced by your body: progesterone and oestrogen. These hormones can help to reduce the symptoms of period pain.
Please note that period pain is an ‘off-label’ use of Levest. All medications we offer are fully licensed within the UK. Some medications, such as this, we prescribe for conditions, or circumstances that are outside of the licence also known as ‘off-label’. Prescribing ‘off-label’ is common practice by healthcare professionals to ensure a medication can safely benefit as many patients as possible. This is always based on updated information and evidence since the product first became available.
How to take Levest
Levest tablets are to be swallowed whole, without chewing or crushing them. You can take your Levest tablet either with or without water or food.
You need to take one Levest tablet per day, every day at around the same time (e.g. just before you go to bed) for 21 days in a row. After 21 days of taking the pill, you will have a 7-day break period during which you take no pills. In this break, you will usually experience a ‘withdrawal’ bleed that acts in the same way as your natural monthly period.
You should always follow the directions for dosage given to you by your prescribing pharmacist, nurse or doctor. Otherwise, the following dosage applies:
Each packet of Levest tablets contains 21 pills, with each pill marked by the corresponding day of the week on the blister foil strip. If you start your packet on a Monday, you will press your first tablet through the blister foil marked ‘MON’, and carry on through the usual days of the week following the arrow. Please note, product packaging may differ from the image above.
If this is the first hormonal contraceptive you have used in the past month, you should take your first Levest pill on the first day of your menstrual cycle, i.e. on the first day of your usual menstrual bleed.
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