These tools will no longer be maintained as of December 31, 2024. Archived website can be found here. PubMed4Hh GitHub repository can be found here. Contact NLM Customer Service if you have questions.


Pubmed for Handhelds

PUBMED FOR HANDHELDS

Search MEDLINE/PubMed

  • Title: Use multiple strategies to manage common pill side effects.
    Journal: Contracept Technol Update; 1988 Jul; 9(7):77-81. PubMed ID: 12281576.
    Abstract:
    At Emory University's annual Nurse Practitioner Conference on Women and Their Health, assistant professor Joyce King gave the attendees advice on how to manage common side effects associated with the pill. Managing the side effects of the pill has become more complicated due to changes in pill dose and composition, as well as what is now known about the effect of estrogen and progestin on the body. King discussed multiple strategies for dealing with such side effects as breakthrough bleeding, weight gain, amenorrhea, and depression. Some of her recommendations for managing breakthrough bleeding included: 1) evaluating the patient's pill-taking practices, since missing a dose can lead to breakthrough bleeding; 2) simply informing patients that this breakthrough bleeding is normal and offering reassurance; 3) if necessary, altering hormone content; and 4) in some instances simply switching pills can help. When dealing with weight gain, King suggested finding out about the patients weight history, whether she has experienced changes in appetite, or whether she has had changes in life-styles. Nonetheless, the pill may lead to fluid retention, leading to weight gain. To deal with increased appetite, King suggested changing the patient to a pill with decreased androgenic potency. The most serious side effect, King said, is headaches. The article contains a chart that contains guidelines for evaluating headaches. As far as handling amenorrhea, King recommends the following steps: ruling out pregnancy, evaluating pill-taking practices, and ruling out other possible factors. And although the pill rarely produces depression, King encouraged the attendees to evaluate the patient's history of depression and life-style. Another possibility is to discontinue pill use to see if the depression ends. And if the pill is ever discontinued, the patient should be helped in finding an alternative contraceptive method.
    [Abstract] [Full Text] [Related] [New Search]