Crisanta Tablet (Drospirenone/Ethinylestradiol) Medically reviewed by Sanjay Gangani, B.Pharm, CMO & Pharmacist
Active Ingredient Ethinylestradiol/Drospirenone Indication Contraception Packaging 21 tablets in 1 strip, 24 tablets in 1 strip Manufacturer Cipla Limited
INQUIRE ABOUT Crisanta Tablet (Drospirenone/Ethinylestradiol)
What is Crisanta? Crisanta is a combined oral contraceptive pill.
Each tablet contains drospirenone 3 mg and ethinylestradiol 0.03 mg.
Drospirenone is a progestogen related to spironolactone.
Ethinylestradiol is an oestrogen.
It is made by Cipla Ltd. in Goa, India.
It has the same composition as Bayer’s Yasmin.
The US label licenses that composition to prevent pregnancy.
Canada also licenses it for moderate acne from age 16.
That acne use applies only to women who also want contraception.
It does not protect against sexually transmitted infections.
It is not for use before a girl’s first period.
It is not indicated after the menopause.
Crisanta LS is a separate product with a lower oestrogen dose.
How Crisanta Works (Mechanism of Action) The action happens in four simple steps:
The two hormones suppress the brain signals that trigger ovulation.
That stops an egg being released.
The pill also changes the mucus at the cervix.
Together these prevent pregnancy.
What makes drospirenone different:
It is chemically related to spironolactone, a water tablet.
It has a mild anti-mineralocorticoid effect.
That can raise blood potassium in some women.
It also has anti-androgenic properties.
How well it works:
In trials, fewer than 1 pregnancy occurred per 100 woman-years.
About 1 in 100 women may become pregnant in the first year.
How the body handles it:
Dosage Guide Crisanta comes as 21 tablets. Follow the Indian pack insert for exact rules.
Situation What to Do Timing Key Note Standard regimen One tablet daily for 21 days Same time each day Then a 7-day tablet-free break Preferred time After the evening meal or at bedtime Daily With or without food First strip, day 1 of period Start on the first day of bleeding Day 1 No extra protection needed First strip, started later Start as directed Later in the cycle Use condoms for the first 7 days Switching from another pill Start when its next pack was due No gap As your doctor advises Switching from a patch or ring Start when the next was due That day As your doctor advises Switching from an injection Start when the next injection was due That day As your doctor advises Switching from a coil or implant Start on the day of removal Same day As your doctor advises After childbirth, not breastfeeding No earlier than 4 weeks after birth Week 4 onwards Use condoms until 7 tablets taken Breastfeeding Consider another method Until breastfeeding stops It can reduce milk supply Before major surgery Stop at least 4 weeks before Restart 2 weeks after Reduces blood clot risk
If you miss a tablet – common principles:
Take the missed tablet as soon as you remember.
That may mean taking two tablets in one day.
The more tablets missed, the higher the pregnancy risk.
If two or more are missed, use condoms for the next 7 days.
Vomiting within 3 to 4 hours counts as a missed tablet.
Follow the exact missed-tablet rules in the Crisanta pack insert.
If two periods in a row are missed, rule out pregnancy.
A note on pack formats:
The US Yasmin pack has 21 active and 7 inactive tablets.
Crisanta is listed as a strip of 21 active tablets.
Detailed missed-tablet rules differ between pack types and countries.
How to Take Crisanta Have a medical check first, including blood pressure .
Tell your doctor about any kidney, liver or adrenal problem.
Tell your doctor about every long-term medicine you take.
Take one tablet daily at the same time, in the order shown.
Swallow it whole with water.
After 21 tablets, stop for 7 days.
A withdrawal bleed usually starts within 3 days of the last tablet.
Start the next strip after the 7-day break..
Have a yearly check, including blood pressure.
Practical tips:
Spotting is common in the first months and usually settles.
Unscheduled bleeding fell from 12% to 6% over a year in trials.
Keep a spare strip and condoms available.
Tell every doctor that you take a drospirenone pill.
Precautions Contraindications – Do Not Use Crisanta If You Have: Kidney impairment.
Liver disease or a liver tumour.
Adrenal insufficiency.
A blood clot in a vein or lung, now or in the past.
Cerebrovascular disease or a past stroke.
Coronary artery disease or a past heart attack.
Heart valve or rhythm problems that cause clots, such as atrial fibrillation.
An inherited or acquired tendency to form blood clots.
High blood pressure that is not controlled.
Diabetes with blood vessel disease.
Headaches with focal neurological symptoms.
Migraine of any kind, if you are over 35.
Unexplained abnormal bleeding from the womb.
Breast cancer, now or in the past.
Also do not use it if you:
Smoke and are over 35 years old.
Take certain hepatitis C combinations with ombitasvir and paritaprevir.
Are pregnant or think you may be.
Conditions Needing Close Supervision Well-controlled high blood pressure.
Diabetes or prediabetes.
Raised cholesterol or triglycerides.
A history of depression.
Jaundice during a past pregnancy.
Hereditary angioedema.
Thyroid replacement therapy, as the dose may need raising.
Obesity or a family history of blood clots.
Any long-term medicine that raises potassium.
Food, Drink and Lifestyle It can be taken with or without food.
Grapefruit juice can raise hormone levels.
Do not smoke, especially if you are over 35.
Avoid potassium supplements unless your doctor advises them.
Limit sun exposure if you tend to develop skin patches.
Before-Use Checklist Have you any kidney, liver or adrenal disease?
Do you take any medicine that raises potassium?
Do you smoke, and are you over 35?
Have you or a close relative had a blood clot?
Do you get migraines, and with what symptoms?
Has your blood pressure been checked?
Have you discussed its clot risk compared with other pills?
Do you know this is not Crisanta LS?
Do you know what to do if you miss a tablet?
Side Effects and Risks Frequencies come from US clinical trials in 2,837 women.
Side Effect Frequency What It Feels Like What to Do Premenstrual symptoms 13.2% Bloating, irritability before periods Usually settles Headache or migraine 10.7% Head pain Report new, severe or worsening headaches Breast pain or tenderness 8.3% Sore breasts Usually settles Nausea or vomiting 4.5% Stomach upset Vomiting within 3 to 4 hours needs action Abdominal pain 2.3% Stomach discomfort Report if severe Mood changes, including depression 2.3% Low mood or irritability Tell your doctor promptly Unscheduled bleeding 12% early, 6% by a year Spotting between periods Usually settles No withdrawal bleed 1% to 11% per cycle A missed period Rule out pregnancy if unsure High potassium Reported after marketing Can cause serious heart problems Follow your potassium monitoring plan High blood pressure Reported after marketing Often no symptoms Regular checks needed Gallbladder disease Small increased risk Pain under the right ribs Seek medical advice Blood clot, stroke or heart attack Rare but serious See Section 8 Emergency – call for help
About blood clot risk:
All combined pills raise clot risk compared with non-use.
Studies comparing drospirenone with levonorgestrel pills gave mixed results.
Results ranged from no increase to a threefold increase.
An FDA-funded study found about 1.5 to 1.6 times the risk.
Non-users: about 1 to 5 clots per 10,000 women each year.
Pregnancy and after birth carry a higher risk still.
Risk is highest in the first months, and after restarting.
About cancer risks:
Studies do not show a consistent link with breast cancer overall.
Some show a small increase in current users, especially with longer use.
Benign liver tumours are rare, about 3 per 100,000 users.
Drug Interactions Medicines that can raise potassium (see the box on page 1):
ACE inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers and potassium-sparing diuretics.
Potassium supplements, heparin and aldosterone antagonists.
Anti-inflammatory painkillers taken daily for a long time.
Medicines that can make the pill less effective:
Phenytoin, carbamazepine, barbiturates, oxcarbazepine, topiramate and felbamate.
Rifampicin, used for tuberculosis.
Bosentan and griseofulvin.
St John’s wort, a herbal remedy.
Use a back-up method during use and for 28 days after stopping them.
Medicines that can raise hormone levels:
Ketoconazole, itraconazole, voriconazole and fluconazole.
Clarithromycin and erythromycin.
Verapamil, diltiazem and grapefruit juice.
Ketoconazole raised drospirenone exposure about 2.7-fold in a study.
Medicines Crisanta can affect:
Emergency Warning Signs – Seek Urgent Medical Help Contact a doctor immediately if you have:
Persistent pain in a leg.
Sudden shortness of breath.
Severe chest pain.
Sudden partial or complete blindness.
A sudden, severe headache unlike your usual ones.
Weakness or numbness in an arm or leg, or trouble speaking.
Yellowing of the skin or eyes.
Swelling of the face, lips or throat.
Any thoughts of harming yourself.
Critical instructions:
Tell every treating doctor that you take a drospirenone pill.
Stop the pill if a blood clot is suspected.
Use another method until your doctor advises otherwise.
Why Choose Crisanta? Benefits when clinically appropriate:
Fewer than 1 pregnancy per 100 woman-years occurred in trials.
Drospirenone has anti-androgenic properties.
Canada licenses this composition for moderate acne in contraceptive users.
Unscheduled bleeding became less common over the first year.
It can be taken with or without food.
Cipla is a large, established Indian manufacturer.
Honest balance for the buyer:
It is unsuitable with kidney, liver or adrenal disease.
It may raise potassium alongside certain other medicines.
Its clot risk may exceed that of levonorgestrel pills.
It is not suitable for smokers over 35.
It gives no protection against sexual infections.
It must be taken every day to work reliably.
Storage Instructions Store at around 25°C.
Brief exposure between 15°C and 30°C is permitted.
Keep tablets in the strip until use.
Keep out of the reach of children.
Check the expiry date before use.
Follow the storage statement on the Indian pack.
Return unused tablets to a pharmacy take-back scheme.
Sanjay Gangani
B.Pharm, CMO & Pharmacist
Licensed pharmacist (B.Pharm) with 12+ years in clinical pharmacy and patient care. Reviews every article for evidence-based accuracy before it is published on ACTIZA Store.
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