Product Name
Mercilon 21 Tablets/Pack (MSD brand)
Active Ingredient
ethinyloestradiol and desogestrel
Manufacturer
Merck Sharp & Dohme
Product Type
Oral contraceptive (oestrogen plus progestogen)

What is Mercilon 21 used for?

Mercilon 21 is a low dose combined oral contraceptive pill and is used as an effective means of birth control to prevent unwanted pregnancy. Mercilon 21contraceptive pills contain a combination of two hormones at low doses in a single pill. Each pack of Mercilon 21 contains one month’s supply of pills of which there are 21 hormone-containing pills and 7 placebo (non-hormonal) pills, to allow each monthly cycle to end with a withdrawal bleed. When using Mercilon 21 for contraception, you will probably find that your periods become regular. You may also experience lighter, less painful menstruation and an improvement in pre-menstrual symptoms, like bloating, swelling or weight gain related to fluid retention, also improvement in acne and reductions in greasiness of the skin and hair. 

How does Mercilon 21 work?

Mercilon 21 contraceptive pills contain a combination of two hormones, ethinyloestradiol, a synthetic oestrogen, and Desogestrel, a synthetic progestogen, which work together to protect against pregnancy. Preparation for pregnancy depends on a complex interaction between the female sex hormones produced by the ovaries; oestrogen, which stimulates ovulation, and progesterone which prepares the endometrium (lining of the uterus) for implantation of an embryo, as well as other regulating hormones, produced by the hypothalamus in the brain and the pituitary gland. Mercilon 21 combined hormonal contraception works by disrupting the normal menstrual, preventing egg maturation and suppressing ovulation, as well as preventing development of the endometrium, so that a fertilised egg would not be able to implant and grow. Another contraceptive action of Mercilon 21 pills is that the cervical mucus, which normally changes consistency at ovulation to become thinner, remains thick, forming a physical barrier to sperm. Desogestrel, the progestogen component of Mercilon 21 is one of the newer synthetic progestogens and has very little androgenic activity, unlike natural progesterone and therefore has a beneficial effect on androgen-related skin disorders, such as acne and hirsutism (unwanted hair). 

What does Mercilon 21 contain?

Mercilon 21 contraceptive pills contain the active ingredient combination of two hormones, ethinyloestradiol (0.02mg), a synthetic oestrogen, and Desogestrel (0.15mg), a synthetic progestogen, which work together to protect against pregnancy. The hormone-containing pills also contain: silica colloidal anhydrous, lactose monohydrate, potato starch, povidone, stearic acid, alpha-tocopherol. There are also 7 white non-hormonal tablets that do not contain any active ingredients but also contain lactose monohydrate, magnesium stearate, potato starch. 

Taking Mercilon 21 as a contraceptive pill

Mercilon 21 contraceptive pills contain a combination of two hormones, ethinyloestradiol, a synthetic oestrogen, and desogestrel, a synthetic progestogen, which work together to provide effective birth control by protecting against pregnancy. Mercilon 21 contraceptive pills work by preventing egg maturation and suppressing ovulation, as well as preventing development and thickening of the endometrium (lining of the uterus) in preparation for implantation, so that a fertilised egg would not be able to implant and grow. You must take your Mercilon 21 contraceptive pills continually to ensure effective contraception, with 21 days of hormonal pills followed by 7 days non-hormonal pills, during which time you will have a menstrual bleed, which may be light and less painful than usual. 

Can you get pregnant if you miss a Mercilon 21 pill

Mercilon 21 contraceptive pills provide effective contraception when taken correctly and have a failure rate of approximately 1% per year. The failure rate may increase if you miss a pill and may result in an unwanted pregnancy. To prevent this ensure that you take your Mercilon 21 contraceptive pills correctly and continually. 

What are the side effects of Mercilon 21?

The most commonly reported side effects when taking Mercilon 21 contraceptive pills include: breast tenderness, breast pain, abdominal pain, nausea, oedema, and headache, skin rash and itching, insomnia and depression. Less common side effects include: migraine, fluid retention, changes in body weight, changes in libido. 

When should Mercilon 21 not be used?

You should not use Mercilon 21 contraceptive pills if you:
  • are allergic to ethinyloestradiol or desogestrel or any ingredients in Mercilon 21 contraceptive pills
  • have a past or family history of carcinoma of the breast or endometrial carcinoma
  • have liver disease
  • have high blood pressure, lipid disorders or migraine
  • have had deep venous thrombosis, thromboembolic disorders, heart attack or stroke
  • have diabetes with changes to the blood vessels
  • have diabetes without discussion with your doctor as you may need to change your dose of medication when taking Mercilon 21
  • have abnormal genital bleeding of unknown cause
  • are pregnant or planning to become pregnant
  • are taking other medications that may interact with Mercilon 21, such as anticonvulsants like phenytoin and carbamazepin, barbiturates, anti-infectives like rifampicin, rifabutin, nevirapine, the antifungal griseofulvin, antibiotics like penicillin, preparations containing St John's Wort

What medications interact with Mercilon 21?

Some medications interact with Mercilon 21 contraceptive pills and prevent them working effectively, increasing your risk of becoming pregnant. If you are taking any of the following you may need to take other contraceptive precautions: 
  • anticonvulsants like phenytoin and carbamazepin
  • barbiturates
  • anti-infectives like rifampicin, rifabutin, nevirapine, griseofulvin
  • antibiotics like penicillin
  • preparations containing St John's Wort

What are the health risks of Mercilon 21?

Combination contraceptive pills like Mercilon 21 can increase risk of thrombosis (blood clots), which can have serious consequence depending on where the clot forms. There is also an increased risk of breast cancer. 

How should Mercilon 21 be taken?

Each pack of Mercilon 21 contraceptive pills contains 21 pills for a complete monthly cycle and should be taken continually to ensure effective contraception. The first 21 pills large white contain the contraceptive hormones and the last 7 small white pills are a placebo, which do not contain any hormones. While you are taking these placebo pills you will have a menstrual bleed. When you have finished one pack, start a new one the next day. If you have gastrointestinal problems like vomiting or diarrhoea within 3-4 hours of taking your hormonal pill, this is the same as missing a pill and you should take other contraceptive precautions for the next 7 days. 

How long should you take Mercilon 21?

Each pack of Mercilon 21 contraceptive pills contains 21 pills for a complete monthly cycle and should be taken continually to ensure effective contraception. You should take Mercilon 21 contraceptive pills for as long as your doctor recommends. 

Missed dose of Mercilon 21

If you miss a dose of Mercilon 21 follow these guidelines to help you decide what to do: 

Weeks 1 to 3 (large white hormonal pills) 
  • If you are less than 12 hours late in taking your pill, take it as soon as you remember and take the next one at your usual time. You are still protected against pregnancy.
  • If you are more than 12 hours late in taking your pill, take the last tablet as soon as you remember and take the next one at your normal time, which may mean taking 2 tablets in one day. Contraceptive protection may be reduced and you are at risk of becoming pregnant, unless you take other contraceptive precautions for the next 7 days.

Week 4 no pills needed

Take the next pill as usual and discard the missed pill. You are not at risk of becoming pregnant. 


How should Mercilon 21 be stored?

Keep your Mercilon 21 contraceptive pills in their calendar pack until use and store your below 25°C in a cool dry place. 

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Payment: We Accept PAYPAL & Credit Card


Shipping & Handling:

• We ship to worldwide.The Shipping & Handling is FREE SHIPPING!! 

• Normally your order will arrived within 7 - 14 business days for almost country. (maybe longer during holiday/tax season.) 

• We do not deliver on public holidays.  

• The package will be shipped directly from Thailand By Thailand post.


** At Wholehealth, customer satisfaction is our number one priority. We do not ship items that are expired or close to expire. As we are contacting the manufacturer difectly, you can be sure that all our products are authentic. We do not sell counterfeit products.** 


**Please note that we are trying our best to ship the item out as soon as possible. Should you have any questions about the product/delivery/shipping, please feel free to contact us directly at bkkdrugs@gmail.com. We are more than happy to answer any inquiries you may have.** 


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

About Us


Founded by a team of Medical Doctors, Nutritionist and Nurses, we are a health store located in the heart of Bangkok focusing on high quality pharmaceutical products, herbal remedy, neutraceutical grade dietary supplements as well as Thai functional health food products that you can barely find from elsewhere.   

Our products are well-sourced with the highest quality possible to meet your satisfaction. We do not sell expired product or close to expired product. 


Wholehealth is aimed to support you from the inside out and help revitalize you from within. So please feel free to drop us a line if you have any questions. Our staff are more than happy to help you. All opinions are welcome.