Novgest

Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start using this medicine because it contains important information for you.

• Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
• If you have any further questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
• This medicine has been prescribed for you only. Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if their signs of illness are the same as yours.
• If you get any side effects talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. See section 4.

What is in this leaflet:

1. What Novgest is and what it is used for
2. What you need to know before you use Novgest
3. How to use Novgest
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store Novgest
6. Contents of the pack and other information

What Novgest is used for

Novgest can be used to help pregnancy during in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles.

To help pregnancy

Novgest is for women who need extra progesterone while undergoing treatment in an Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) programme.

• If you are allergic (hypersensitive) to soya
• If you are allergic to progesterone or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in Section 6)
• If you have severe liver disease
• If you have unexplained vaginal bleeding
• If you have mammary or genital tract carcinoma
• If you have thrombophlebitis
• If you have or have had blood clots in a vein (thrombosis), such as in the legs (deep venous thrombosis) or the lungs (pulmonary embolism)
• If you have cerebral haemorrhage
• If you have a rare blood problem called “porphyria” which is passed down in families (inherited)
• If you are pregnant but your baby has died inside of you (missed abortion)

Warning and precautions

Novgest should be used during the first 3 months of pregnancy.

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before using Novgest.

Novgest is not a contraceptive.

If you think you may have miscarried, you should speak for your doctor as you will need to stop using Novgest.

Children

Novgest is not for use in children.

Other medicines and Novgest

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines. This includes medicines obtained without a prescription, including herbal medicines. This is because Novgest can affect the way some other medicines work. Also some other medicines can affect the way Novgest works.

In particular tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any of the following medicines:

• Bromocriptine used for problems with the pituitary gland or Parkinson’s Disease.
• Cyclosporin (used to suppress the immune system).
• Rifamycin medicines such as rifampicin (used to treat infections).
• Ketoconazole (used for fungal infections).

Novgest with food and drink

Novgest is to be administered intravaginally. Food and drink have no effect on the treatment.

Pregnancy breast-feeding and fertility

• Novgest will help you become pregnant. See Section 3 on how to use Novgest.
• Do not use Novgest if you are breastfeeding.

Driving and using machines

Novgest has negligible effects on driving or using machinery.

Novgest contains soybean lecithin

If you are allergic to peanut or soya, do not use this medicinal product.

Using this medicine to help pregnancy

• Use this medicine by inserting it deep into the vagina.
• Do not take it by mouth, However, if you take Novgest by mouth accidentally it will not harm you, only reduce your chances of becoming pregnant.

How much to use

• Your treatment will start the day of embryo transfer.
• Every day, use 100mg of Novgest in the morning, at lunchtime and at bedtime, or 100mg in the morning and the evening, as instructed by your doctor.
• If there is laboratory evidence of pregnancy, continue with the same dose regime until the 7th to 12th week of pregnancy, as instructed by your doctor.

If you use more Novgest than you should

If you use more Novgest than you should, talk to your doctor or go to a hospital. Take the medicine pack with you.

The following effects may happen: feeling dizzy or feeling tired.

If you forget to use Novgest

• If you forget a dose, insert it as soon as you remember it. However, if it is nearly time for the next dose, skip the missed dose.
• Do not use a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.

Reporting of side effects

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

By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine

What Novgest contains

• The active substance is progesterone. Each capsule contains 100mg progesterone.
• The other ingredients are sunflower oil and soybean lecithin. The other ingredients in the capsule shell are gelatin, glycerol, titanium dioxide (E171) and water, purified.