How to take NEXTSTELLIS

For NEXTSTELLIS to work effectively, you need to make sure you take it at the same time every day, as discussed with your healthcare professional.

Follow the instructions below on how to take NEXTSTELLIS correctly.

If you start on the first Sunday after your period begins, then use an extra barrier method of birth control (e.g. condoms) for the first 7 days of your first cycle of NEXTSTELLIS.

Pro tip: To make sure you don’t miss any pills, associate it with something you do on the daily, like having breakfast or brushing your teeth. You can even set an alarm on your phone to remind you!

Important things to know while you’re taking NEXTSTELLIS:

Do not skip any days. There is no need to stop taking NEXTSTELLIS for a rest period.
Do not skip tablets even if you are spotting or bleeding between monthly periods or feel sick to your stomach.
Do not skip tablets even if you do not have sex very often.
You might notice bleeding 2 to 4 days after the last pink tablet. The bleeding might not finish before you start the next pack. This is normal. If this happens, do not stop taking NEXTSTELLIS. These symptoms will usually go away. If they remain for a long time, check with your healthcare professional.
If you vomit within 4 hours after taking a pink tablet, take a new tablet as soon as possible. A new tablet should be taken within 24 hours of the usual dose time. Take the next tablet at the usual dose time. If it has been more than 24 hours since the last tablet was taken, click here to follow the instructions on what to do when you’ve missed a dose.

How to store and dispose of NEXTSTELLIS

NEXTSTELLIS should be stored at room temperature (15–30°C), in its original packaging and out of reach and sight of children.

To help protect the environment, it’s important that you do not throw away any drugs via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away drugs you no longer use.

It’s important to remember to take your pill at around the same time everyday – and not to miss ANY days…but what if you do? Keep reading for instructions on what to do when you’ve missed a pill.

So you’ve missed a pill…now what?

It’s important to understand that if you miss pink pills, you could get pregnant. The more pills you miss, the more likely you are to get pregnant, especially if you miss taking the first few or the last few pink pills in your pack.

Missed 1 pink pill?

Missed 2 or more pink pills in a row (from Day 1 to Day 17)?

Take the last missed pill as soon as possible and take the next pill at the usual time, even if it means you might take two pills on the same day.
Keep taking one pill a day until the pack is finished (one or more missed pill(s) will remain in the blister pack).
Use a back-up barrier method of birth control (such as condom) if you have sex in the 7 days after you miss the pills.

You may be pregnant if:

You missed pills during Day 1 to Day 7, and
You had unprotected sex during the 7 days before the first missed pill.
Tell your healthcare professional right away.

Missed 2 or more pink pills in a row (from Day 18 to Day 24)?

Take the last missed pill as soon as possible and take the next pill at the usual time. This means that you might take two pills on the same day.
SUNDAY START
Keep taking one pill a day until the next Sunday and then discard the pack with the missed pills and start a new pack right away.
DAY 1 START
Keep taking one pill a day until the active pink pills are used up and then discard the four white pills and start a new pack right away.
Use a back-up barrier method of birth control (such as a condom) until you have taken 7 pink pills in a row.

You may not have your period this month.

If you miss two periods in a row, you might be pregnant. Contact your healthcare professional right away.

Missed 1 or more white pills?

Unsure about the number or the colour of pills missed?

Use a barrier method of birth control (such as a condom) until you have taken the pink pills for 7 days.

Notice some bleeding?

Missing pills can cause you to have some spotting or light bleeding, even if you take the missed pills.

What should you have on hand?

An extra full pack of pills;
Back-up methods of birth control. These are types that do not include hormones, like latex or polyurethane condoms and spermicidal foam or gel. You will need back-up birth control if you miss pills and in some other situations. Always talk to your healthcare professional if you are not sure whether you need to use back-up birth control.