Nordette can increase the risk of certain diseases and conditions, such as the following:

• Blood clots and blockage of blood vessels
• Heart attacks and strokes
• Gallbladder disease
• Liver tumors
• Cancer of the breast and womb
• Pancreatitis

Smoking cigarettes is believed to increase the risk of heart attack and stroke. This risk rises with the extent of smoking. For example, smoking 15 or more cigarettes a day puts a woman at high risk, especially if she is older than age 35. However, most doctors agree that the low dose forms of birth control sold today, such as Nordette, are less likely to put someone at risk than the older forms of birth control pills.

Sunlight can cause a darkening of the skin, so be careful to wear protective clothing and to use sunscreen whenever going outdoors for any length of time. Some women find that they have trouble tolerating contact lenses while on the pill.

If planning to have surgery, be sure to tell the doctor that birth control pills are a current medication. It may be necessary to stop the pills for a few weeks before surgery to avoid problems.

It is important to realize that birth control pills provide no protection against sexually transmitted diseases. This includes HIV, chlamydia, genital herpes, genital warts, gonorrhea, hepatitis B and syphilis.

Nordette Drug Interactions

Always be sure to tell a doctor or pharmacist about all of the medications currently being taken, even over-the-counter and natural/vitamin products. Certain medications can interact with birth control pills to make them less effective in preventing pregnancy, such as:

• Rifampin
• Medications used to treat epilepsy or seizures, such as barbiturates and phenytoin
• HIV medications
• Antibiotics used to treat infections
• St. John's Wort, an herbal remedy often used to treat mild depression