Lo Loestrin Fe (norethindrone acetate/ethinyl estradiol, ethinyl estradiol, ferrous fumarate) is a brand-name drug that doctors prescribe to help prevent pregnancy. Lo Loestrin Fe comes as an oral tablet that’s typically taken once per day.
Lo Loestrin Fe belongs to a drug class called hormonal birth control pills. Lo Loestrin Fe is not available in a generic version.
Keep reading for specific information about the dosage of Lo Loestrin Fe, including its strength and how to take the medication. For a comprehensive look at Lo Loestrin Fe, see this article.
Note: This article describes typical dosages for Lo Loestrin Fe provided by the drug’s manufacturer. When taking Lo Loestrin Fe, always follow the dosage prescribed by your doctor.
Below is information about Lo Loestrin Fe’s form, strength, and dosage.
Lo Loestrin Fe form
Lo Loestrin Fe comes as an oral tablet.
Lo Loestrin Fe strength
Lo Loestrin Fe comes in a 28-tablet blister pack that contains three types of tablets:
Typical dosages
The following information describes the recommended dosage of Lo Loestrin Fe. However, be sure to take the dosage your doctor prescribes for you. Your doctor will determine the best dosage to fit your needs.
Dosage for helping prevent pregnancy
Doctors may prescribe Lo Loestrin Fe to help prevent pregnancy.
If your doctor prescribes Lo Loestrin Fe for you, your starting dose will likely be one tablet once per day. This is the typical recommended dosage of Lo Loestrin Fe for helping prevent pregnancy.
For more information about your specific dosage, talk with your doctor.
How to take Lo Loestrin Fe
Lo Loestrin Fe comes as an oral tablet that you swallow whole. Your doctor will tell you when to start Lo Loestrin Fe. Once you start the medication, you’ll take the tablets in the order shown on the package labeling.
It may be helpful to take your dose of Lo Loestrin Fe at around the same time every day. This helps maintain a steady level of the drug in your body so it can work effectively. It also helps you remember to take Lo Loestrin Fe each day.
You can take Lo Loestrin Fe with or without food.
If you have trouble swallowing tablets, see this article for tips on how to take this form of medication. You can also talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
If you have questions about how to take Lo Loestrin Fe, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Long-term treatment
Lo Loestrin Fe is meant to be taken as a long-term treatment. If you and your doctor determine that Lo Loestrin Fe is safe and effective for you, you’ll likely take it long term.
Before you start taking Lo Loestrin Fe, your doctor will discuss your treatment plan with you.
ACCESSIBLE DRUG LABELS AND CONTAINERSSome pharmacies offer labels with large print, braille, or a code you scan with a smartphone to convert text to speech. If your local pharmacy doesn’t have these options, your doctor or pharmacist might be able to recommend a pharmacy that does.
If you’re having trouble opening medication bottles, ask your pharmacist about putting Lo Loestrin Fe in an easy-open container. They also may recommend tools that can make it easier to open bottles.
It’s important that you don’t take more Lo Loestrin Fe than your doctor prescribes. For some medications, taking more than the recommended amount may lead to harmful effects or overdose.
Symptoms of an overdose
Overdose symptoms of Lo Loestrin Fe can include nausea or vaginal bleeding.
If you take more than the recommended amount of Lo Loestrin Fe
Call your doctor right away if you believe you’ve taken too much Lo Loestrin Fe. Another option is to call America’s Poison Centers at 800-222-1222 or use its online tool. If you have severe symptoms, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number or go to the nearest emergency room.
Below are answers to some common questions about Lo Loestrin Fe.
How do the dosages of Loestrin vs. Lo Loestrin Fe compare?
You cannot compare the dosages of Loestrin and Lo Loestrin Fe. This is because Loestrin is no longer available. Currently, there are several versions of hormonal birth control pills that are similar to Loestrin.
Loestrin Fe 1/20 is a brand-name hormonal birth control pill that is no longer available. Currently, there are several versions of hormonal birth control pills that are similar to Loestrin Fe 1/20.
Loestrin Fe 1/20 contained the same amount of progestin (norethindrone acetate) as Lo Loestrin Fe. However, it contained more estrogen (ethinyl estradiol) than the Lo Loestrin Fe estrogen amount. It contained 20 micrograms (mcg) of ethinyl estradiol compared with 10 mcg in Lo Loestrin Fe.
You can learn more about how Lo Loestrin Fe compares with other hormonal birth control pills by talking with your doctor or pharmacist.
What is the dosage of Lo Loestrin Fe for hormonal imbalance?
Lo Loestrin Fe isn’t approved to treat hormonal imbalance. However, doctors may choose to prescribe Lo Loestrin Fe off-label for this purpose. With off-label use, doctors prescribe a drug for a purpose for which the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) hasn’t approved it.
Because Lo Loestrin Fe isn’t approved for hormonal imbalance, the drug’s manufacturer doesn’t provide recommended dosages for this use. Your doctor will prescribe the dosage that’s right for you.
If you’d like to learn more about Lo Loestrin Fe for hormonal imbalance, talk with your doctor.
Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.