Clairette

What is Clairette?

Clairette is a hormone-based medicine that is used in the treatment of acne, oily skin and excessive hair growth in women. Because of its ingredients, it also protects against pregnancy.

How does Clairette work?

This medication contains anti-androgens; androgens are hormones that stimulate hair growth and grease glands in the skin. Producing too much of this hormone can lead to blocked grease glands which can become infected and result in acne spots, which Clairette’s ingredients will help to counteract and restore balance in your skin.

What are the benefits of taking Clairette?

Acne can have both physical and mental effects, with spots often causing pain and irritation as well as embarrassment and self consciousness. Treating acne simply and efficiently with Clairette, allows patients to feel good again.

Because of the hormone content, Clairette is also a contraceptive pill and it’s dual use can make life simpler.

How do I use Clairette?

Clairette is a prescription-only medication. Follow the advice of your doctor and read the patient information leaflet provided in the medication packet. Take the tablets orally by swallowing whole with some water.

When starting Clairette, you should take the first tablet on the first day of your next period to ensure you have protection from the first pill.

If you wish to start taking Clairette but are already on a different pill, then you should start your Clairette on the day after you finish your last pack of the previous pill.

The packets are clearly marked with days of the week and arrows to guide users on the direction of use. You select your first pill based on the day of the week that you begin (for example, if you start on a Wednesday then take the tablet on the first row marked ‘Wed’). Follow the direction of the arrows, taking one tablet a day until you finish the pack.

Once you have had the 21 tablets in the pack, you should have a 7 day break with no pills. You will still be protected against pregnancy during this time, provided you were taking the pills correctly. After the 7 day break, you should begin the next pack on the appropriate day (so if your last pill from the previous pack was on a Friday, you should begin the new pack on the following Saturday). During the break, you should have some vaginal bleeding like a period and even if it has not stopped by the time you are due to begin the next Clairette pack, you should still start it on the intended day.

Clairette dosage

Clairette contains the active ingredients cyproterone acetate and ethinylestradiol, at a strength of 2000 mg and 35 micrograms respectively, per tablet.

The dose is one tablet taken once a day, at the same time of day. You should repeat this for 21 days and then have a 7 day pill-free break.

If you forget to take your Clairette tablet then you should take it as soon as you remember, even if this means taking a double dose. However, if you are more than 12 hours late taking it, then you should be aware that it’s contraceptive benefits may be affected and you should use additional contraception (such as condoms) for the next 7 days.

If you take more Clairette than you should, then it’s likely you won’t have any side effects. However, you could have some sickness, diarrhoea or vaginal bleeding; if you are worried then you should contact your doctor or pharmacist.

Side effects & precautions

Before taking Clairette, you should always first consult your doctor. You should not take Clairette if any of the following apply to you:

• If you are using another hormonal contraceptive
• If you are pregnant or might be pregnant
• If you are breastfeeding
• If you have or have ever had breast cancer
• If you have (or have ever had) a blood clot in your body
• If you have (or have ever had) a disease that may be an indicator of a heart attack
• If you have (or have ever had) a heart attack or stroke
• If you have a condition that may increase the risk of a blood clot in your arteries
• If you have problems with blood clotting (e.g. protein C deficiency)
• If you have (or have ever had) a migraine, with visual disturbances
• If you have ever had a severe liver disease
• If you have ever had liver tumours
• If you are allergic to any of the ingredients in this medicine

Your prescription of Clairette may also be affected by a number of other factors, so you should make your doctor aware if any of the following apply:

• If you or your close family have ever had problems with your heart or circulation, such as high blood pressure
• If you or your close family have ever had problems with blood clotting
• If you have had migraines
• If you are currently suffering from depression or have done so in the past
• If you are overweight (obese)
• If you have the inherited disease called porphyria
• If you have diabetes
• If you have inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis)
• If you have brown patches on your face or body (chloasma)
• If you have any illness that worsened during pregnancy or previous use of the Pill

Like many medications with active ingredients, Clairette can affect or be affected by other medicines. Particular medications that you may experience this with include the following:

• some medicines used to treat epilepsy
• some medicines used to treat HIV
• griseofulvin (an antifungal medicine)
• certain antibiotics (oral tetracyclines)
• certain sedatives (called barbiturates)
• St. John’s Wort (a herbal remedy)

If you are taking any of the above medications, then you should make your doctor aware so that they can advise whether or not Clairette will be the best course of action for you.

You should also be aware that hormone-based medications carry an increased risk of cervical cancer, breast cancer and blood clots. It’s important that you pay attention to your body, go to any scheduled checks or tests and notify your doctor if you notice any changes.

The most common side effects of using Clairette include:

• feeling sick
• stomach ache
• putting on weight
• Headaches
• depressive moods or mood swings
• sore or painful breasts
• fluid retention
• loss of interest in sex
• skin rash, which may be itchy

If you do experience one or more of these side effects and they persist or worsen, then inform your doctor right away. You should also contact your doctor if you notice any serious side effects such as breathlessness, swelling of the tongue or throat or painful sex.