Ovral is a product of Wyeth Pharmaceuticals. 

Wyeth, formerly known as American Home Products, is one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world. They are headquartered in New Jersey. They are known for manufacturing the over-the-counter drugs as well as the prescription drugs.

Divisions of Wyeth

Wyeth Consumer Healthcare

Wyeth Consumer Healthcare operates in over 65 countries. The division had sales of $2.5 million in 2004 and is the fifth largest over-the-counter health products company in the world.

Wyeth Pharmaceuticals

Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, formerly Wyeth-Ayerst Laboratories, is the original company founded by the Wyeth brothers, originally known as John Wyeth and Brother. They focus on the research, develop, and marketing of prescription drugs. The pharmaceuticals division is further subdivided into five subdivisions: Wyeth Research, Prescription Products, Biopharmaceuticals, Vaccines, and Nutritionals.

Fort Dodge Animal Health

Fort Dodge was founded in 1912 and became a division of Wyeth in 1945. They are a leading manufacturer of prescription and over-the-counter drugs for veterinary medicine as well as livestock 

2.OVRAL FACTS

Ovral is an oral contraceptive that contains a combination of hormones that are used to prevent ovulation (the release of an egg from an ovary). The pills contain a form of estrogen (ethinyl estradiol) and a form of progesterone (norgestrel), which are both female hormones involved in conception.

Ovral also has other effects that inhibit pregnancy. They cause the cervical mucous to thicken, which makes it harder for sperm to move toward the uterus, and they prevent the attachment of an egg to the uterus. 

3.ABOUT OVRAL MEDICATION

Birth control pills (oral contraceptives) use synthetic forms of the hormones to prevent pregnancy. Since their introduction in the 1960s, Birth control pills have maintained a high level of popularity and for good reason. Women who always use the pill correctly experience an effectiveness rate of 99 percent. Under typical use, the effectiveness rate is 95 percent.

How does it work?

The Birth control pill impedes pregnancy by preventing the ovaries from releasing eggs (ovulation). If eggs aren't released, sperm can't fertilize them and pregnancy can't occur. The pill also thickens your cervical mucus, making it difficult for sperm to enter the uterus and reach any eggs that may have been released.

How do you use the pill?

Birth control pills are timed to coincide with your monthly menstrual cycle. Depending on the type of pill prescribed, you take your first pill at either the onset of menstruation, or the Sunday after or on which your period begins. You take the pills at the same time every day for three weeks. During the fourth week, you stop taking active pills and your menstrual period occurs.

Some packets of Birth control pills contain seven inactive pills of a different color. These pills, which contain no hormones, are taken during the fourth week. Their purpose is to help you maintain a regular schedule for taking your pills. Other packets don't contain inactive pills. In these cases, you don't take any pills during the fourth week. Regardless of which type pill you take, the following week you begin the active pills again and continue for another three weeks until it's time for your next period.

No matter which type of Birth control pill you're on, during the first cycle of pill use you must use an additional form of birth control for seven days to prevent pregnancy. After that, if you take the pill at the same time each day, additional birth control methods aren't necessary.

4.OVRAL EFFECTIVENESS
When is Ovral best taken?

Ovral doses when taken correctly without missing any pills, the chance of becoming pregnant is approximately 1% per year. Average failure rates are approximately 5% per year when women who miss Ovral doses are included. The chance of becoming pregnant increases with each missed Ovral dose during the menstrual cycle 

5.OVRAL EFFECTS ON SPECIAL POPULATION
How do different people react to Ovral?

Pregnancy

Ovral are not recommended for use during pregnancy and should be discontinued if you become pregnant or think you are pregnant. When oral contraceptives were accidentally taken early in pregnancy, problems in the fetus did not occur. Women who are not breast-feeding may begin to take oral contraceptives two weeks after having a baby.

Breast-feeding

Ovral passes into the breast milk and can change the content or lower the amount of breast milk. Also, they may shorten a woman's ability to breast-feed by about 1 month, especially when the mother is only partially breast-feeding. Because the amount of hormones is so small in low-dose contraceptives, your doctor may allow you to begin using an oral contraceptive after you have been breast-feeding for a while. However, it may be necessary for you to use another method of birth control or to stop breast-feeding while taking oral contraceptives.

Adolescents

Ovral is frequently used for birth control in teenage females and has not been shown to cause different side effects or problems than it does in adults. Some teenagers may need extra information on the importance of taking Ovral exactly as prescribed.

6.OVRAL EFFECTS ON MEDICAL CONDITIONS
(How does Ovral affect your existing condition/ailment? 

Ovral should not be used if you suffer from high blood pressure, angina or heart disease.

Ovral should not be used if you have had a stroke or blood-clotting disorder.

Ovral should not be used if you have breast, uterine or another hormone related cancer.

Ovral should not be used if you have liver disease or a history of jaundice, asthma, migraines or seizures or epilepsy.

7.OTHER/ALTERNATE USES OF OVRAL
(What else does Ovral treat?)

Ovral tablets can also help regulate menstrual flow, treat acne, or may be used for other hormone related problems in females. However, the type and amount of estrogen and/or progestin may be different from one product to another.

8.ADVERSE/SIDE EFFECTS of OVRAL
(What are the side effects of Ovral?)

An increased risk of the following serious adverse reactions has been associated with the use of Ovral:

Thromboembolic and thrombotic disorders and other vascular problems (including thrombophlebitis and venous thrombosis with or without pulmonary embolism, mesenteric thrombosis, arterial thromboembolism, myocardial infarction, cerebral hemorrhage, cerebral thrombosis), carcinoma of the reproductive organs and breasts, hepatic neoplasia (including hepatic adenomas or benign liver tumors), ocular lesions (including retinal vascular thrombosis), gallbladder disease, carbohydrate and lipid effects, elevated blood pressure, and headache including migraine.

The following adverse reactions have been reported in patients using Ovral and are believed to be drug related:

• Acne
• Amenorrhea
• Anaphylactic/anaphylactoid reactions, including urticaria, angioedema, and severe reactions with respiratory and circulatory symptoms
• Breakthrough bleeding
• Breast changes: tenderness, pain, enlargement, and secretion
• Budd-Chiari syndrome
• Cervical erosion and secretion, change in
• Cholestatic jaundice
• Chorea, exacerbation of
• Colitis Corneal curvature (steepening), change in
• Diminution in lactation when given immediately postpartum
• Dizziness
• Edema/fluid retention
• Erythema multiforme
• Erythema nodosum
• Gastrointestinal symptoms (such as abdominal pain, cramps, and bloating)
• Hirsutism
• Intolerance to contact lenses
• Libido, changes in
• Loss of scalp hair
• Melasma/chloasma, which may persist
• Menstrual flow, change in
• Mood changes, including depression
• Nausea
• Nervousness
• Pancreatitis
• Porphyria, exacerbation of
• Rash (allergic)
• Serum folate levels, decrease in
• Spotting
• Systemic lupus erythematosus, exacerbation of
• Temporary infertility after discontinuation of treatment
• Vaginitis, including candidiasis
• Varicose veins, aggravation of
• Vomiting
• Weight or appetite (increase or decrease), change in

• Cataracts
• Cystitis-like syndrome
• Dysmenorrhea
• Hemolytic uremic syndrome
• Hemorrhagic eruption
• Optic neuritis, which may lead to partial or complete loss of vision
• Porphyria
• Premenstrual syndrome
• Renal function, impaired