What is Mircette: Uses, Warnings & Interactions

Updated May 14, 2025  •  Published Dec 30, 2020

Mircette overview

BRAND NAMES:

  • Apri, Azurette, Bekyree, Caziant, Cyclessa, Cyred, Cyred EQ, Emoquette, Enskyce, Isibloom, Juleber, Kalliga, Kariva, Mircette, Ortho-Cept

Generic Names:

  • Desogestrel-Ethinyl Estradiol

Uses:

  • Prevents pregnancy.

Therapeutic Classes:

  • Contraceptive

Forms:

  • Tablet

How it’s taken:

  • By mouth

What is Mircette used for?

Kariva is birth control tablet used to prevent pregnancy. It may also be used to treat other conditions as prescribed by your doctor. Kariva contains progesterone and estrogen that stops ovulation, thickens the fluid in your cervix and changes the lining of the uterus to prevent a fertilized egg from attaching to your uterus. It also slows the progress of sperms in the uterus.

What form(s) does Mircette come in

  • Tablet

What are common Mircette doses?

  • Disp Pack 28 Tablets

Common Mircette prescriptions

  • Mircette
    28 tablets disp pack

How to take Mircette

  • Your doctor will tell you how much medicine to use. Do not use more than directed.

  • Each brand of birth control pills comes with specific directions. Read and follow the patient instructions that come with your prescribed brand. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.

  • It is best to take your pill at the same time every day. Birth control pills work best when there is no more than 24 hours between doses.

  • Missed dose: Read and carefully follow the patient instructions on what to do if you miss a dose.Use a second form of birth control for 7 days after you miss a dose.If you miss a pill or change your schedule, you may not have a period that month. Tell your doctor if you miss your period 2 months in a row, because you may be pregnant.You could have light bleeding or spotting if you do not take a pill on time. The more pills you miss, the more likely you are to have bleeding.

  • Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light.

  • Your doctor will tell you how much medicine to use. Do not use more than directed.

  • Missed dose: Read and carefully follow the patient instructions on what to do if you miss a dose.Use a second form of birth control for 7 days after you miss a dose.If you miss a pill or change your schedule, you may not have a period that month. Tell your doctor if you miss your period 2 months in a row, because you may be pregnant.You could have light bleeding or spotting if you do not take a pill on time. The more pills you miss, the more likely you are to have bleeding.

  • It is best to take your pill at the same time every day. Birth control pills work best when there is no more than 24 hours between doses.

  • Each brand of birth control pills comes with specific directions. Read and follow the patient instructions that come with your prescribed brand. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.

  • Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light.

What to do if you miss a dose of Mircette

Mircette contraindications

  • This medicine is not right for everyone. Do not use it if you had an allergic reaction to desogestrel or ethinyl estradiol, or if you are pregnant or have unusual vaginal bleeding that has not been checked by a doctor. Do not use it if you have liver tumors, breast cancer, problems with blood clots, certain heart problems, or diabetes with kidney, eye, nerve, or blood vessel damage. Do not use this medicine if you have ever had jaundice (yellow eyes or skin) caused by pregnancy or birth control pills, or if you are having a surgery that requires bedrest for a long time.

Mircette warnings

  • It is not safe to take this medicine during pregnancy. It could harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant.

  • Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding, or if you had a baby within 4 to 6 weeks before you start using this medicine. Tell your doctor if you have kidney disease, diabetes, epilepsy, migraine headaches, heart or blood vessel disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, a family history of breast cancer, or a personal history of cervical cancer, or depression. Tell your doctor if you smoke cigarettes.

  • This medicine may cause the following problems: Increased risk of heart attack, stroke, or blood clots (which is more likely when you first start taking birth control pills or when starting again after not using them for at least a month)Possible increased risk of breast or cervical cancerLiver problems (including liver cancer or tumors)Eye or vision problemsGallbladder diseaseHigh cholesterol in the bloodHigh blood pressureIncreased risk of ectopic pregnancy (pregnancy outside the uterus)

  • This medicine will not protect you from HIV/AIDS or other sexually transmitted infections.

  • Tell any doctor or dentist who treats you that you are using this medicine. You may need to stop using this medicine several days before you have surgery or medical tests.

  • Tell any doctor or dentist who treats you that you are using this medicine. This medicine may affect certain medical test results.

  • Your doctor will check your progress and the effects of this medicine at regular visits. Keep all appointments.

  • Keep all medicine out of the reach of children. Never share your medicine with anyone.

Mircette interactions

  • Do not use this medicine together with medicine to treat hepatitis C virus infection, including ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir, with or without dasabuvir.

  • Some foods and medicines can affect how desogestrel/ethinyl estradiol works. Tell your doctor if you are also using any of the following:Acetaminophen, aprepitant, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), atorvastatin, boceprevir, bosentan, clofibrate, cyclosporine, glipizide, morphine, prednisolone, rosuvastatin, St John's wort, temazepam, theophylline, tizanidine, tolbutamide, torsemideAnother birth control pillMedicine to lower cholesterol (including irbesartan, losartan, valsartan)Medicine to treat an infection (including fluconazole, griseofulvin, isoniazid, itraconazole, ketoconazole, rifabutin, rifampicin, rifampin, sulfamethoxazole, voriconazole)Medicine to treat HIV/AIDS (including amprenavir/ritonavir, atazanavir/ritonavir, boceprevir, darunavir/ritonavir, efavirenz, etravirine, fosamprenavir/ritonavir, indinavir, lopinavir/ritonavir, nelfinavir, nevirapine, ritonavir, telaprevir, tipranavir/ritonavir)Medicine to treat seizures (including carbamazepine, felbamate, lamotrigine, oxcarbazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin, rufinamide, topiramate)NSAID arthritis or pain reliever medicine (including aspirin, diclofenac, ibuprofen, naproxen, piroxicam)Thyroid replacement medicine

  • If you are using colesevelam, take it at least 4 hours before or after using this medicine.

  • Do not eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice while you are using this medicine.

  • This medicine will not protect you from HIV/AIDS or other sexually transmitted infections.

  • Tell any doctor or dentist who treats you that you are using this medicine. This medicine may affect certain medical test results.

  • Your doctor will check the effects of this medicine at regular visits. He may also want to monitor your blood pressure while you take this medicine. Keep all appointments.

  • Keep all medicine out of the reach of children. Never share your medicine with anyone.

Mircette side effects

Serious Side Effects

  • Sudden and severe stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, lightheadedness

  • Rapid weight gain, swelling in your hands, ankles, or feet

  • Vision loss, double vision

  • Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing

  • Breast changes or lumps

  • Chest pain that may spread, unusual sweating, fainting

  • Dark urine or pale stools, loss of appetite, yellow skin or eyes

  • Numbness or weakness on one side of your body, pain in your lower leg (calf), sudden or severe headache, problems with vision, speech, or walking

  • Heavy vaginal bleeding, irregular or missed menstrual period

  • Trouble breathing, coughing up blood

Less Serious Side Effects

  • Darkening of the skin, especially on the face

  • Vaginal spotting or light bleeding between periods

  • Headache

  • Depression, mood changes

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