The UK instruction for Foundayo

The current UK Foundayo label advises anyone on oral hormonal contraception to switch to a non-oral method or add a barrier method. This applies for 30 days after starting treatment and for 30 days after each dose increase. The precaution is specific to Foundayo.

Write the dates into your plan before you begin. If your dose goes up at the shortest monthly interval, the precaution periods run back to back. Do not shorten 30 days to four weeks without checking, and do not borrow the rule from another medicine.

Why taking Foundayo with or without food changes nothing here

A medicine taken with or without food still affects how your body absorbs an oral contraceptive. Foundayo's flexible meal timing leaves the contraceptive warning in place. Taking the two tablets at different times will not solve the problem.

A non-oral method does not depend on absorbing a tablet. The best method for you depends on your circumstances. Discuss options with a pharmacist, GP or sexual health service. Vomiting or diarrhoea causes further problems for an oral method and needs separate advice.

If your protection may have dropped

Get prompt advice from a pharmacist or sexual health service if you have had sex without reliable protection and think an interaction, a missed pill or vomiting cut your contraceptive cover. Emergency contraception choices are time sensitive and depend on the details.

Give the clinician the GLP-1 medicine name, dose, the date you started or increased, your contraceptive name, any missed pills and when you had sex. Do not wait for a positive pregnancy test before asking about emergency options. The clinician picks the emergency method for your circumstances.

Contraception and pregnancy planning need separate plans

Contraception prevents pregnancy during treatment. Planning a pregnancy also needs a set gap after you stop the medicine and, if you have diabetes, a safe replacement plan for your glucose. Each medicine has its own washout period.

Weight changes or more regular periods give no reliable protection. Nor does a belief you are unlikely to conceive because conceiving was difficult before. If pregnancy is possible, agree protection before you start.

Your contraception discussion should be private, practical and based on your real circumstances. The clinician should explain why the precautions exist and which options you have, without assuming one method suits everyone. If your first prescribing consultation missed this, ask a pharmacist or sexual health professional before you rely on an uncertain plan.

Questions for your appointment

Confirm the full 30-day periods after starting and after every increase, and write the dates down. Ask whether your current method is oral and whether a non-oral option would make treatment easier to manage.

Keep your start and dose increase dates where you will see them. You may start a prescription later than the date it was issued, so count the precaution period from the day your treatment changes. If a dose increase is postponed, update the plan. The original monthly ordering calendar no longer applies.

Sources

Your own medicine leaflet and prescriber come first. A source from another country does not mean the same rule applies in the UK.

  1. Foundayo UK Summary of Product Characteristics medicines.org.uk
  2. Foundayo UK patient information leaflet medicines.org.uk
  3. MHRA UK authorisation announcement gov.uk

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