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One tablet of Qlaira should be taken every day, if necessary with a small amount of water. The tablets may be taken with or without food, but it should be taken at around the same time every day.
Preparation of the wallet: To keep track, there are 7 weekday sticker strips marked with the 7 days of the week.
Choose the weekday sticker strip that starts with the day the tablet is taken. For example, if the patient starts on a Wednesday, use the weekday sticker strip that starts with "WED".
Stick the weekday sticker strip along the top of the Qlaira wallet where it reads "Place weekday sticker strip here", so that the first day is above the tablet marked "1".
There is now a day shown above every tablet and can see whether a pill has taken on a particular day. Follow the direction of the arrow on the wallet until all 28 tablets have been taken.
Usually, so-called withdrawal bleeding starts when taking the second dark red tablet or the white tablets and may not have finished before starting the next wallet. Some women still experience bleeding after taking the first tablets of the new wallet.
Start the following wallet without a gap, in other words the day after the patient finished her current wallet, even if the bleeding has not stopped. This means that she should start the following wallet on the same day of the week as the current wallet and that the withdrawal bleed should occur on the same weekdays each month.
If Qlaira is used in this manner, the patient is protected against pregnancy even during the 2 days when she takes inactive tablets.
When to start with the first wallet: If the patient has not used a contraceptive with hormones during the previous month: Start taking Qlaira on the first day of the cycle (that is, the first day of period).
Changing from another combined hormonal contraceptive pill, or combined contraceptive vaginal ring or patch: Start Qlaira the day after taking the last active tablet (the last tablet containing the active substances) of the previous pill. When changing from a combined contraceptive vaginal ring or patch, start using Qlaira on the day of removal or, follow the advice of the doctor.
Changing from a progestogen-only-method (progestogen-only pill, injection, implant or a progestogen-releasing 'IUS', intrauterine system): The patient may switch from the progestogen-only pill any day (from an implant or the IUS on the day of its removal, from an injectable when the next injection would be due) but in all of these cases the patient must use extra protective measures (for example, a condom) during the first 9 days of Qlaira use.
After a miscarriage: Follow the advice of the doctor.
After having a baby: The patient can start Qlaira between 21 and 28 days after having a baby. If the patient starts later than day 28, use a barrier method (e.g. a condom) during the first 9 days of Qlaira use.
If, after having a baby, the patient had sex before starting Qlaira, be sure that the patient is not pregnant or wait until the next menstrual period.
If the patient wants to start Qlaira after having a baby and are breast-feeding, read the section on Use in Pregnancy & Lactation.
The doctor must be asked what to do if the patient is not sure when to start.
If the patient forgets to take Qlaira: Inactive tablets: If a white tablet was missed (2 tablets at the end of the wallet), there is no need to take it later because they do not contain any active substances. However, it is important that the patient discard the missed white tablet(s) and make sure that the number of days when taking the tablets is not increased as this would increase the risk of pregnancy. Continue with the next tablet at the usual time.
Active tablets: Depending on the day of the cycle on which one active tablet has been missed, the patient may need to take additional contraceptive precautions, for example a barrier method such as a condom.
Take the tablets according to the following principles. See also the 'missed pill chart' for details.
If less than 12 hours late when taking a tablet, the protection against pregnancy is not reduced. Take the tablet as soon as it is remembered and then continue taking the tablets again at the usual time.
If more than 12 hours late when taking a tablet, the protection against pregnancy may be reduced. Depending on the day of the cycle on which one tablet has been missed, use additional contraceptive precautions e.g. a barrier method such as a condom. See also the 'missed pill chart' for details.
More than one tablet forgotten in this wallet, contact the doctor.
Do not take more than 2 active tablets on a given day.
If the patient forgot to start a new wallet, or if one or more tablets have been missed during days 3 - 9 of the wallet, there is a risk that the patient is already pregnant (if the patient had sex in the 7 days before forgetting the tablet). In that case, contact the doctor. The more tablets the patient has forgotten (especially those on days 3-24) and the closer they are to the inactive tablet phase, the greater the risk that the protection from pregnancy is reduced. See also the 'missed pill chart' for details.
If any of the active tablets have been forgotten in a wallet, and the patient has no bleeding at the end of a wallet, the patient may be pregnant. Contact the doctor before starting the next wallet. (See figure.)
Click on icon to see table/diagram/imageUse in children: No data available in adolescents below 18 years.
If the patient stops taking Qlaira: The patient can stop taking Qlaira at any time. If the patient does not want to become pregnant, ask the doctor for advice about other reliable methods of birth control. If the patient wants to become pregnant, stop taking Qlaira and wait for a menstrual period before starting to try to become pregnant. The patient will be able to calculate the expected delivery date more easily.
For further questions on the use of this product, ask the doctor or pharmacist.
