Cyproterone+ethinylestradiol
About Cyproterone+ethinylestradiol
Cyproterone+ethinylestradiol is an oral prescription medicine used primarily to treat skin and systemic conditions linked to hormone sensitivity, such as moderate to severe acne and excessive facial or body hair growth (hirsutism) in women. It is typically prescribed when other treatments, such as topical creams or oral antibiotics, have not worked. Because of how it works in the body, it also functions as an oral contraceptive, meaning you should not take other hormonal birth control pills alongside it.
For this medicine to work effectively, you must take it consistently at the same time every day. You can take Cyproterone+ethinylestradiol with or without food, though taking it with food or at bedtime may help if you experience mild nausea. Making simple lifestyle adjustments, such as maintaining a gentle skincare routine and eating a balanced diet, can support your treatment results.
Some women may experience mild side effects, including nausea, stomach ache, breast tenderness, or slight changes in body weight. While these are often temporary, you must contact your doctor immediately if you experience signs of serious conditions, such as severe leg pain, sudden chest pain, or difficulty breathing, which could indicate a blood clot.
Before taking Cyproterone+ethinylestradiol, tell your doctor if you have high blood pressure, diabetes, migraines, or a family history of blood clots. Do not take this medicine if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have a history of liver damage, unexplained vaginal bleeding, or blood circulation disorders.
This medication can interact with certain epilepsy drugs, tuberculosis treatments, and herbal remedies, which can make it less effective. Smoking while taking Cyproterone+ethinylestradiol significantly increases your risk of serious cardiovascular side effects, so avoiding tobacco is highly recommended. It is not intended for use in males, pregnant or breastfeeding individuals, or postmenopausal elderly women.
Uses of Cyproterone+ethinylestradiol
• Treatment of Hormonal Acne: Cyproterone+ethinylestradiol effectively manages hormone-related acne, promoting a clearer and healthier complexion over time.
• Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) Management: Cyproterone+ethinylestradiol helps regulate menstrual cycles and alleviate symptoms associated with PCOS.
• Hair Growth Regulation: Cyproterone+ethinylestradiol reduces unwanted facial and body hair in women through its anti-androgenic properties.
• Contraceptive Use: Cyproterone+ethinylestradiol serves as an oral contraceptive to prevent pregnancy when used as prescribed.
• Menstrual Regulation: Cyproterone+ethinylestradiol supports the regularization of menstrual cycles in women with irregular periods, improving overall menstrual health.
Medicinal Benefits
Cyproterone+ethinylestradiol helps manage hormone-related conditions by addressing the effects of excess androgen activity in the body. By helping restore hormonal balance, it can improve skin health, reduce unwanted hair growth, and support more regular menstrual cycles. This medicine offers several key benefits:
- Supports Clearer and Healthier Skin: By targeting hormonal factors that contribute to acne, Cyproterone+ethinylestradiol helps reduce the formation of pimples, inflammatory lesions, and deep acne breakouts. This can improve skin appearance while reducing discomfort associated with acne-related inflammation.
- Helps Reduce Unwanted Hair Growth: Cyproterone+ethinylestradiol may help decrease excessive facial and body hair growth associated with hormonal imbalances. With continued treatment, hair may become finer, softer, and less noticeable, reducing the need for frequent hair removal.
- Promotes More Regular Menstrual Cycles: For individuals experiencing irregular periods due to hormonal disturbances, Cyproterone+ethinylestradiol can help establish a more predictable menstrual cycle. It may also contribute to lighter periods and reduced menstrual discomfort in some patients.
Directions for Use
To get the full benefit of Cyproterone+ethinylestradiol and minimise side effects, follow these simple guidelines:
- Take Cyproterone+ethinylestradiol exactly as directed by your doctor.
- Swallow the tablet whole with a glass of water. Do not chew, crush, or break the tablet.
- Take this medicine at the same time each day to maintain a steady level of hormones in your body and ensure its effectiveness.
- You can take Cyproterone+ethinylestradiol with or without food. If you experience mild nausea, taking it after a meal or before bed can help.
- Always follow the specific instructions on your prescription pack, and do not stop taking this medication without consulting your doctor.
Storage
Side Effects of Cyproterone+ethinylestradiol
Common Side Effects (Usually mild):
- Nausea or mild stomach upset
- Headaches
- Breast tenderness or swelling
- Slight weight changes or fluid retention
- Mood changes or mild irritability
Serious Side Effects (Call a doctor right away):
- Sudden chest pain, coughing up blood, or sudden shortness of breath (signs of a blood clot in the lungs)
- Severe pain, swelling, or redness in one of your legs (signs of a blood clot in the leg)
- Severe, unusual, or long-lasting headaches or migraines
- Yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes, combined with dark urine (signs of liver damage)
- Signs of a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat, or difficulty swallowing or breathing
Medicines Containing this Salt
View All
Drug Warnings
- Watch for blood clot symptoms: This medication carries a small but serious risk of blood clots. Seek immediate medical care if you experience sudden chest pain, shortness of breath, or painful swelling in one leg.
- Plan ahead for surgeries: If you are scheduled for a major surgery or will be immobilized for a long period, tell your doctor. You may need to stop taking Cyproterone+ethinylestradiol temporarily to reduce your risk of blood clots.
- Do not use duplicate contraception: Cyproterone+ethinylestradiol acts as an oral contraceptive. Do not take other hormonal birth control pills, patches, or vaginal rings at the same time.
- Attend regular health checkups: Your doctor will likely want to check your blood pressure, weight, and perform regular physical exams while you are taking this medication.
- Do not share this medicine: This medication has been prescribed specifically for you based on your hormonal profile. Sharing it with others can be highly dangerous.
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug Interactions
- Epilepsy and seizure medications (such as carbamazepine, phenytoin, or phenobarbital): These can speed up the removal of Cyproterone+ethinylestradiol from your body, making it less effective.
- Certain antibiotics and tuberculosis medications (such as rifampicin): These can reduce the therapeutic effect and contraceptive protection of Cyproterone+ethinylestradiol.
- Herbal supplements: Taking them can significantly lower the effectiveness of this medicine and lead to breakthrough bleeding.
Drug-Food Interactions
- Grapefruit juice: Consuming large amounts of grapefruit juice may increase the concentration of hormones in your blood, potentially increasing the risk of side effects.
Drug-Disease Interactions
- Circulatory and blood vessel disorders: Cyproterone+ethinylestradiol must not be used if you have a history of deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, heart attack, or stroke, as it can increase the risk of these conditions.
- Liver disease: If you have active liver damage or a history of liver tumours, taking this medicine can worsen your condition.
- Severe diabetes: If you have diabetes with damaged blood vessels, this medication can worsen circulation issues.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
consult your doctorIt is not known whether Cyproterone+ethinylestradiol interacts with alcohol. Please consult your doctor.
Pregnancy
unsafeCyproterone+ethinylestradiol is not recommended during pregnancy. Please consult the doctor if you are pregnant or think you may be pregnant.
Breast Feeding
unsafeCyproterone+ethinylestradiol is not recommended during lactation. Please consult the doctor if you are breastfeeding.
Driving
safe if prescribedCyproterone+ethinylestradiol is unlikely to affect your ability to drive.
Liver
cautionCyproterone+ethinylestradiol may not be recommended for patients with severe liver disease. Please consult the doctor if you have liver problems.
Kidney
consult your doctorPlease consult the doctor if you have kidney problems.
Children
cautionCyproterone+ethinylestradiol is not recommended for children. It is only indicated after menarche.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Maintain a gentle skincare routine: Avoid harsh scrubs or squeezing acne lesions, as this can worsen inflammation. Use non-comedogenic (won't clog pores) skincare and makeup products.
- Focus on a low-glycaemic diet: Eating whole grains, lean proteins, and plenty of vegetables can help regulate insulin levels, which is highly beneficial if you are managing PCOS-related symptoms.
- Stay active: Regular physical activity helps improve insulin sensitivity, manage weight, and support overall hormonal balance.
- Limit dairy and processed sugars: Some clinical evidence suggests that reducing high-glycaemic foods and excessive dairy intake can help reduce the frequency and severity of hormonal acne breakouts.
- Protect your skin from the sun: Hormonal therapies can sometimes make your skin more sensitive to sunlight, increasing the risk of dark patches (chloasma). Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen daily.
Special Advise
- Your doctor may advise regular check-ups whilst on treatment with Cyproterone+ethinylestradiol.
- Check your breasts and nipples every month and consult the doctor if you notice anything odd, such as lumps or dimpling of the skin.
- Inform the doctor that you are taking Cyproterone+ethinylestradiol if you are due to undergo any tests or surgery.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Acne vulgaris: Acne is a skin condition that involves papules (inflamed pimples), pustules (spots containing pus), erythema (skin redness), and tenderness. It mainly occurs on the face, back, and chest. Acne occurs due to the plugging of hair follicles with oil and dead skin cells. Symptoms include pimples, bumps, and uninflamed blackheads.
Hirsutism: Hirsutism is unwanted male-pattern hair growth in women, which occurs due to excess male hormones called androgens. This causes excess amounts of stiff and pigmented hair on a woman’s face, back and chest.
FAQs
Cyproterone+ethinylestradiol is used to treat moderate to severe symptoms of PCOS, particularly androgen-sensitive acne and hirsutism (excess hair growth) in women of reproductive age. It works by reducing the effects of male hormones (androgens), which contribute to these symptoms.
Cyproterone+ethinylestradiol works by blocking the production of androgens (male hormones) in the ovaries.
Cyproterone+ethinylestradiol is also a hormonal contraceptive; it should not be used in combination with other hormonal contraceptives, as this will expose the patient to an excessive dose of hormones and is not necessary for effective contraception.
Cyproterone+ethinylestradiol does not protect against sexually transmitted diseases like HIV or Chlamydia. Only condoms can help do this.
Avoid using sunbeds or sunlamps and prolonged sunbathing whilst on treatment with Cyproterone+ethinylestradiol as it might increase the chance of chloasma (patchy discolouration of the skin).
Cyproterone+ethinylestradiol should be swallowed as a whole with water; do not crush or chew it. The dose will be determined by the doctor based on your condition.
If you miss a dose of Cyproterone+ethinylestradiol, take it within the next 12 hours. If it has been more than 12 hours, skip the missed dose and take the next dose at the scheduled time.
Repeat the dose if you have vomited within 3-4 hours of taking Cyproterone+ethinylestradiol. If it has been more than 4 hours, take the next dose at the scheduled time.
Yes, Cyproterone+ethinylestradiol works as an oral contraceptive by preventing ovulation and reducing the likelihood of pregnancy. However, it is prescribed primarily for women with PCOS who require treatment for androgen-related symptoms such as acne or excess hair growth, rather than solely for contraception.
Cyproterone+ethinylestradiol may cause nausea, abdominal pain, headache, weight gain and mood changes. Most of these side effects may not require medical attention and resolve gradually over time. However, you are advised to consult the doctor if the side effects persist or worsen.
Improvement in acne may begin within a few weeks of starting treatment. However, hormonal treatments generally require consistent use for several months, and it may take 3 to 6 months to experience the full benefits. Continue taking the medicine as prescribed and consult your doctor if you do not notice improvement after several months.
Some women may experience minor weight changes or fluid retention when they start taking Cyproterone+ethinylestradiol. This is usually temporary as your body adjusts to the hormones. If you notice rapid or significant weight gain, talk to your doctor.
Spotting or breakthrough bleeding between periods is common during the first few months of taking Cyproterone+ethinylestradiol. If the bleeding is heavy, lasts for more than a few days, or occurs after you have been taking the medicine for several months, talk to your doctor.
You should highly avoid smoking while taking Cyproterone+ethinylestradiol. Smoking significantly increases the risk of serious cardiovascular side effects, including blood clots, heart attacks, and strokes, particularly in women over the age of 35. Talk to your doctor for support with smoking cessation.
No, you must not take Cyproterone+ethinylestradiol if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. If you suspect you might be pregnant while taking this medication, stop taking it immediately and talk to your doctor.
While there is no direct interaction between alcohol and Cyproterone+ethinylestradiol, excessive alcohol intake can affect your liver function and may increase some side effects like headaches or nausea. It is always best to consume alcohol in moderation. Talk to your doctor if you have concerns about alcohol use.
You must inform your surgeon or doctor that you are taking Cyproterone+ethinylestradiol well in advance of any planned surgery. Because of the risk of blood clots during periods of inactivity, you may need to stop taking the medication several weeks before and after the procedure. Talk to your doctor to plan this safely.
