Sunya 20/75mcg - 63 Tablets (3-month course)

Contraception Doctor Service

Sunya 20/75mcg coated tablets is a contraceptive pill and is used to prevent pregnancy.  Sunya is a Combined Oral Contraceptive (COC) tablet also called pill. It contains two types of female hormones in a low dose - a progestogen: gestodene and an oestrogen: ethinylestradiol.

These help to stop you from getting pregnant, just as your natural hormones would stop you conceiving again when you are already pregnant.

The COC pill protects you against getting pregnant in three ways:

• Alters the lining of the womb to make it less likely to accept a fertilised egg
• Stops the ovary from releasing an egg each month (ovulation)
• Thickens the fluid (at the neck of the womb making it more difficult for the sperm to reach the egg

This combined contraceptive pill can be prescribed for females who experience painful or irregular menstruation in order to ease the pain and regulate the period. 

You can order Sunya tablets from our UK registered online pharmacy and doctor service. To see if you are suitable for this treatment, complete the online assessment and checkout. Our UK registered doctors will review the order and after approval pass the prescription to the Pharmacy team. We will then dispense and dispatch your order to your chosen address.

• The safety and efficacy in adolescents below 18 years has not been established.
• This medicine is not recommended for females who have an elevated risk of having thrombosis. 

A good self care guide and information for contraceptives is available on the NHS website.

NHS - Contraception

Sunya 20/75 coated tablets, like other hormonal contraceptives, do not protect against HIV infection (AIDS) or any other sexually transmitted disease.

What are the side effects of the Contraceptive Pill? 

While side effects are usually uncommon and mild in nature, it is best to be aware of any that may occur. Some of the most common side effects include mood swings, headaches nausea, breast tenderness. For a full list of side effects and more information, you can read the Patient Information Leaflet of the medication.

What are the Advantages of the Combined Oral Contraceptive?

• Can reduce the risk of some cancers
• Can improve acne symptoms 
• Can reduce menopausal symptoms

What are the disadvantages of the Combined Oral Contraceptive?

• Can cause headaches, breast tenderness and mood changes
• Can increase blood pressure
• Can experience breakthrough bleeding

What are the advantages of Progesterone only contraceptives?

• Reduced likelihood of side effects associated with combined pill
• Can be used during breastfeeding
• Can help with premenstrual symptoms

What are the disadvantages of Progesterone only contraceptives?

• Can cause irregular periods
• Can cause periods to be more frequent, or stop altogether
• Must be taken at the same time each day

Which pill is right for me?

Prescribers will take a thorough medical history before choosing the right contraceptive pill for you. For most people, the combined contraceptive pill works best. For those who are over 35, smoke, suffer from migraine or have other risk factors your doctor will look into, the Progesterone-only pill may be more suitable.

Am I protected straight away?

Some pills, if taken correctly, will provide protection immediately, while others take time to provide contraceptive cover. Refer to your patient information leaflet to find out when you are protected on your pill.

Do I still need to use a condom?

Although you will be covered against pregnancy with the pill, it is always advised to use a condom. This is to reduce the risk of sexually transmitted diseases such as chlamydia and gonorrhoea.

I forgot to take my pill – what should I do?

You should always take your pill around the same time each day to ensure maximum contraceptive cover. Different pills vary in the amount of time you can delay your dose. Always refer to your prescribed medication’s patient information leaflet to find more detailed information relating to missed doses.

Like all medicines Sunya 20/75 tablets can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.

While side effects are usually uncommon and mild in nature, it is best to be aware of any that may occur.

An increased risk of blood clots in your arteries is present for all women taking combined hormonal contraceptives.

Common side effects (may affect more than 1 in 10 people)

• Headaches, nervousness, poor tolerance of contact lenses, visual disturbances, nausea, acne, migraine, increase in weight, fluid retentions, bleeding and spotting between your periods can sometimes occur for the first few months but this usually stops once your body has adjusted to Sunya 20/75 coated tablets. If it continues, becomes heavy or starts again, contact your doctor. Absence of or reduced menstruations, sore breasts, loss of interest in sex, depressive moods, irritability.

Uncommon side effects (may affect up to 1 in 100 people)

• Excess of lipids in blood, vomiting, hypertension.

For a full list of side effects, read the Patient Information Leaflet.

If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, our Rightdose pharmacists or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet.

You can help to make medicines safer by reporting any side-effects to the Yellow Card Scheme at www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard.

Before taking any medication, it is important to read the Patient Information Leaflet. You can find information leaflets for your medicines by typing them into the search bar at medicines.org, or by contacting us.

Patient Information Leaflet Sunya 20/75 Coated Tablets

They are one of the most reliable reversible methods of contraceptives if used correctly.

Important information about Combined Hormonal Contraceptives

They slightly increase the risk of having a blood clot in their veins and arteries, especially in the first year when restarting a combined hormonal contraceptive following a break of 4 or more weeks.

• Please be alert and see your doctor if you think you may have symptoms of a blood clot.

Regular check-ups

Before you start taking Sunya, your doctor should take your medical history by asking you some questions about yourself and other members of your family. Your doctor will take your blood pressure and make sure you are not pregnant. Your doctor may also examine you. Once you have started taking Sunya tablets, your doctor will see you again for regular check-ups. This will happen when you go back to your doctor for more pills.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Use of Sunya 20/75 coated tablets is generally not advisable when a woman is breastfeeding. If you want to take the pill while you are breastfeeding you should contact your doctor. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking any medicine.

Driving and using machines

There is no information suggesting that use of Sunya 20/75 coated tablets affects driving or use of machines.

Sunya 20/75 coated tablets contain lactose and sucrose.

If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking this medicinal product.

How to store Sunya coated tablets

• Do not store above 30 ºC.
• Do not use Sunya 20/75 coated tablets after the expiry date which is stated on the blister and carton after EXP.
• The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.

Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.

Before using any medication, it is important to read the Patient Information Leaflet. You can find information leaflets for your medicines by typing them into the search bar at medicines.org, or by contacting us.

Sunya tablet is for oral use only.

Always use this medicine exactly as described in the patient information leaflet or as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.

Each pack of Sunya contains 1 calendar strip of 21 coated tablets or 3, 6, 13 calendar strips of 21 coated tablets. The calendar strip has been designed to help you remember to take your tablet, and each tablet marked with the day of the week it should be taken on. 

Directions:

• 1. Swallow one tablet per day with water for 21 days. Take the first tablet on the first day of your period. The first day of your cycle - the day when bleeding starts. Take a tablet marked for the day of the week (for example, if it is Tuesday when your period starts, take the tablet marked Tuesday on the pack). Follow the direction of the arrow and continue to take one tablet each day until the strip is empty.

If you start on day 2-5 of your period, you should use another method of contraception as well, such as condom for the first seven tablet-taking days, but this is only for the first pack.

Try to take the pill at the same time each day. It can be taken at any time but taking it at the same time everyday will increase its effectiveness.

• 2. After 21 days, you will take a 7-day pill free break. During the break, you will have a withdrawal bleed, like your period. You will still be protected from pregnancy during the 7-day break if you took all the pills as instructed during the week before your break.
• 3. After the 7-day break, start your next strip on the day 8th - even if the bleeding has not ended yet. As long as you take Millinette correctly, you will always start each strip on the same day of the week, and you will always have your monthly period on the same day of the week in each month (in every 28 days). 

What happens if you miss a Sunya pill?

If you miss one pill and are less than 12 hours late then your protection from pregnancy will not be reduced. You should take the missed tablet as soon as you remember even if it means taking two in one day. Take the following pills at your usual time.

If you are more than 12 hours late taking your pill, your protection from pregnancy may be reduced. Continue to take your pill as normal but you should avoid unprotected sex for 7 days. If you have already had unprotected sex (after your missed pill), you will need to use emergency contraception.

If you miss a pill and your strip ends within the next six days, you should skip your usual 7-day break and continue with the next strip of pills.

If you take more Sunya tablet than you should it is not likely that it will do you any harm, but you may feel sick, actually be sick or have some vaginal bleeding. If you have any of these symptoms, you should talk to your doctor who can tell you what, if anything you need to do.

Do not use Sunya 20/75 coated tablets
You should not use Sunya 20/75 coated tablets if you have any of the conditions listed below. If you do have any of the conditions listed below, you must tell your doctor. Your doctor will discuss with you what other form of birth control would be more appropriate.

• if you have (or have ever had) a blood clot in a blood vessel of your legs (deep vein thrombosis, DVT), your lungs (pulmonary embolus, PE) or other organs;
• if you know you have a disorder affecting your blood clotting – for instance, protein C deficiency, protein S deficiency, antithrombin-III deficiency, Factor V Leiden or antiphospholipid antibodies;
• if you need an operation or if you are off your feet for a long time (thrombosis and embolus)
• if you have ever had a heart attack or a stroke;
• if you have (or have ever had) angina pectoris (a condition that causes severe chest pain and may be a first sign of a heart attack) or transient ischaemic attack [TIA – temporary stroke symptoms]);
• if you have any of the following diseases that may increase your risk of a clot in the arteries:
  - severe diabetes with blood vessel damage
  - very high blood pressure
  - a very high level of fat in the blood (cholesterol or triglycerides)
  - a condition known as hyperhomocysteinaemia
• if you have (or have ever had) a type of migraine called ‘migraine with aura’;
• if you have (had) an inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis)
• if you have or have had a liver disease and your liver function is still not normal.
• if you have or have had a tumour in the liver.
• if your kidneys are not working well (renal failure).
• if you have (had) or if you are suspected to have breast cancer or cancer of the genital organs.
• if you have any unexplained bleeding from the vagina.
• if you are allergic to ethinylestradiol or gestodene, or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6). This can be recognised by itching, rash or swelling.

Warnings and precautions

When should you contact your doctor?
Seek urgent medical attention

• if you notice possible signs of a blood clot that may mean you are suffering from a blood clot in the leg (i.e. deep vein thrombosis), a blood clot in the lung (i.e. pulmonary embolism), a heart attack or a stroke.
  For a description of the symptoms of these serious side effects please read the Patient Information Leaflet.

Ingredients:

The active substances: Each tablet contains 20 micrograms ethinylestradiol and 75 micrograms gestodene.

The other ingredients:

Tablet core: Magnesium stearate, Povidone K-25, Maize starch, Lactose monohydrate.

Tablet coating: Povidone K-90, Macrogol 6000, Talc, Calcium carbonate, Sucrose, Wax montan glycol.

What Sunya 20/75 coated tablets looks like and contents of the pack

Sunya 20/75 coated tablets are available as white round, biconvex sugar coated tablets, and both sides without imprinting.
The pills are supplied in a blister strip - each strip containing 21 tablets.
The blister strips are supplied in a carton box. Each box contains 1, 3 or 6 blister strips.

Not all pack sizes may be marketed.