Isibloom
Isibloom is a birth control pill that's used to prevent pregnancy. It's a monophasic combined oral contraceptive (COC). Isibloom comes in blister packs of 28 tablets. Each of the 21 active combination pills has two hormones in it: desogestrel (a progestin) and ethinyl estradiol (an estrogen). The other 7 pills are inactive with no hormones. The usual dosage is 1 tablet by mouth once every day. Possible side effects include nausea, breast tenderness, and headaches.
Isibloom is a generic of the discontinued brand name Desogen. Other generics include Apri, Enskyce, Kalliga, Juleber, and Reclipsen.
What is Isibloom?
What is Isibloom used for?
To prevent pregnancy
How Isibloom works
Isibloom is a combined contraceptive that contains two hormones: desogestrel (a progestin) and ethinyl estradiol (an estrogen). The hormones work together to prevent pregnancy in a few ways.
It stops ovulation (the release of an egg from the ovary).
It changes cervical mucus to block sperm from moving through.
It changes the lining of the uterus (womb) to create an unfriendly environment for the fertilized egg.
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What are the side effects of Isibloom?
Common Side Effects
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Stomach cramps
- Bloating
- Spotting or breakthrough bleeding
- Change in menstrual flow
- Breast tenderness
- Change in weight (up or down)
- Headache
Other Side Effects
- Spotty darkening of skin
- Having trouble wearing contact lenses
- Change in sex drive
- Acne
- Change in appetite
- Higher blood pressure
- Depression
- Yeast infection
Serious Side Effects
- Heart attack: chest pain, stomach discomfort, sweating, nausea, dizziness
- Stroke: sudden numbness or weakness in one arm or leg, numbness or weakness on one side of the face, severe headache, confusion, trouble seeing, trouble walking
- Deep vein thrombosis (blood clot in the leg): leg cramp, swelling, or pain; muscle tightness
- Pulmonary embolism (blood clot in the lung): cough, chest pain, trouble breathing, racing heart
- Serious liver problems: yellowing of the skin or the whites of the eyes, tiredness, stomach pain
Source: DailyMed
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The following side effects have also been reported
Side effects that you should report to your care team as soon as possible:
- Allergic reactions—skin rash, itching, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
- Blood clot—pain, swelling, or warmth in the leg, shortness of breath, chest pain
- Gallbladder problems—severe stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, fever
- Increase in blood pressure
- Liver injury—right upper belly pain, loss of appetite, nausea, light-colored stool, dark yellow or brown urine, yellowing skin or eyes, unusual weakness or fatigue
- New or worsening migraines or headaches
- Stroke—sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg, trouble speaking, confusion, trouble walking, loss of balance or coordination, dizziness, severe headache, change in vision
- Unusual vaginal discharge, itching, or odor
- Worsening mood, feelings of depression
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your care team if they continue or are bothersome):
- Breast pain or tenderness
- Dark patches of skin on the face or other sun-exposed areas
- Irregular menstrual cycles or spotting
- Nausea
- Weight gain
Pros and cons of Isibloom
Pros
Taken once a day
Works well to prevent pregnancy (more than 90% successful at preventing pregnancy with typical use)
Blister packs have directions written on them for easy use
Can make your menstrual cycle more regular
Cons
Must take the pill at the same time every day for it to work the best it can to prevent pregnancy
Can cause side effects like nausea, headaches, and breakthrough bleeding
Doesn't protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
Not a good option for people with liver problems
Pharmacist tips for Isibloom
Take Isibloom at the same time every day. Making it a part of your everyday routine or setting an alarm can help you remember to take it. Forgetting to take the pill raises your chance of getting pregnant. If you miss a dose, look at the instructions that came with your prescription or call your prescriber to ask what to do.
You can have an upset stomach or spotting (light bleeding outside of your period) when you start Isibloom. These side effects should get better over time. But if they don't, talk to a healthcare professional (HCP).
If you vomit, have diarrhea, or take certain medications, Isibloom might not work as well to prevent pregnancy. Use a back-up birth control method along with Isibloom until you can check in with your HCP.
If you've been taking Isibloom as instructed and you've missed two periods in a row or feel like you might be pregnant, call a healthcare professional. You might also want to take a pregnancy test, especially if you've had sex recently. Birth control pills don't usually raise the risk of birth defects if taken early in pregnancy. But you won't need to take birth control anymore once you're pregnant.
If you're breastfeeding, ask your HCP about other birth control options.Isibloom isn't recommended while breastfeeding. It can lower the amount of breast milk you make.
After you stop taking Isibloom, it might take a little time before you can get pregnant. It's recommended to wait until you have regular menstrual cycles again after stopping Isibloom before you try to get pregnant. If you want to stop taking Isibloom and become pregnant, talk to your prescriber.
Be sure to use condoms while having sex, even if you're taking Isibloom. Isibloom doesn't protect you and your partner against sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
If you're prescribed Isibloom, the medication is only meant for you. Don't share it with anyone who wants to take birth control. Other people should talk to their own HCP to make sure they take a safe birth control option.
How to start Isibloom:
There are two common ways to start Isibloom: the Day 1 Start and the Sunday Start. For both ways, start with the first active pill of the pack. Talk to your HCP about which way is best for you to start Isibloom.
For the Day 1 Start: Begin taking Isibloom during the first 24 hours of your period. You don't need to use a back-up method of birth control if you have sex.
For the Sunday Start method: Begin taking Isibloom on the Sunday after your period starts (even if you're still bleeding). For this method, use another form of birth control (e.g., condom, spermicide) along with Isibloom if you have sex during the first 7 days.
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Frequently asked questions about Isibloom
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What are the risks and warnings for Isibloom?
Isibloom can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Cigarette smoking and the risk for serious heart problems
Risk factors: Over 35 years old and smoke cigarettes
If you smoke cigarettes, using combined oral contraceptives (COCs) like Isibloom raises your risk of serious health problems. These include strokes, heart attacks, and blood clots. People 35 years and older who smoke are at even higher risk. It's also even higher with the more cigarettes smoked. If you smoke, talk to your healthcare professional (HCP) about safer birth control options.
Risk for blood clots and related complications (e.g., heart attack, stroke)
Risk factors: Over 35 years old and smoke | Over 40 years old who don't smoke | Recent surgery with a long period of bedrest | Starting Isibloom less than a month after childbirth | People identified as obese | High blood pressure | High cholesterol | Diabetes | Higher dose of estrogen
Isibloom raises your risk of blood clots, though the overall risk is quite low. These clots can occur anywhere in your body. This can include your legs (a deep vein thrombosis or DVT) or lungs (a pulmonary embolism or PE). Clots can also happen near the brain (raising your risk for a stroke) or heart (raising your risk for a heart attack).
Get emergency help right away if you have any signs of a blood clot or its complications.
Brain (stroke): weakness or numbness on one side of the body, weakness or numbness on one side of the face, trouble speaking, blurred vision, dizziness, loss of balance, trouble walking, or confusion
Eyes: trouble seeing, bulging eye, double vision, or vision loss
Heart (heart attack): chest pain, sweating, nausea, or dizziness
Lungs (PE): trouble breathing, chest pain, or cough
Legs (DVT): cramps, swelling, pain, or muscle tightness
If you have a surgery planned, tell your HCP that you're taking Isibloom well beforehand. They might tell you to stop Isibloom 4 weeks before until 2 weeks after your surgery. This helps lower your risk of blood clots.
Risk of breast and cervical cancer
Risk factors: History of breast cancer | Taking COCs for a long time
Study results are mixed, but there's a possibility that Isibloom and other COCs can raise your risk for breast and cervical cancer.
Don't take Isibloom if you have breast cancer. Some types of breast cancer grow faster when there's estrogen around. Estrogen is one of the hormones in this birth control pill.
To help with early breast cancer detection, you can do monthly breast self-checks at home and yearly breast exams with your HCP. Call your HCP if you notice any abnormal changes or feel lumps, pain, or swelling in your breasts.
Also get medical help right away if you have abnormal vaginal bleeding, discharge, or pain during sex. These could be signs of cervical cancer.
Liver problems
Risk factors: History of liver problems | Taking certain hepatitis C combination medications
Don't take Isibloom if you have liver problems. Although rare, COCs like Isibloom can raise the risk of liver problems, like liver damage or benign liver tumors. This risk was higher with older COCs that had a higher estrogen dose (up to 50 mcg). The risk isn't as high with Isibloom because it contains 30 mcg of estrogen.
To be safe, it's important to still know about this risk. Call your HCP right away if you have tiredness, stomach pain, loss of appetite, or yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes. These can be signs of liver problems.
High blood sugar, high cholesterol levels, and high triglyceride levels
Risk factors: Prediabetes or diabetes | Personal or family history of high triglycerides
COCs like Isibloom might raise your blood sugar levels. If you have prediabetes or diabetes, the risk that your blood sugar can go up is higher. This is because COCs make it harder for your body to break down sugar. Tell your HCP if you have any changes in your blood sugar.
Some people who take COCs also might have higher cholesterol levels and triglyceride (fat) levels. In particular, high triglyceride levels might lead to a higher risk of pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas).
Talk to your HCP if you have a history of high blood sugar or high cholesterol. They can make sure Isibloom is safe for you. Be sure to get any blood work done so your HCP can monitor any changes.
High blood pressure
Risk factors: High blood pressure | Older age | Using COCs for a long time | Kidney problems
Isibloom and other COCs can raise your blood pressure. The risk might be higher as you get older and as you use COCs over a long time.
Your HCP might ask you to check your blood pressure regularly. Call your HCP if your blood pressure is higher than usual while you're taking this medication. They can help manage your blood pressure or find other birth control options for you. If you have uncontrolled high blood pressure, Isibloom might not be the best option for you.
Headache
Headaches are a common side effect of COCs like Isibloom. But if you have a new migraine, a migraine that's worse than normal, a new headache that keeps coming back, or a new headache that's severe, call your HCP so you can be checked out.
Irregular bleeding
Breakthrough bleeding and spotting are common side effects of hormonal birth control pills such as Isibloom. It's more likely to happen during the first 3 months of using Isibloom. Tell your prescriber if you have any vaginal bleeding outside of your period. Also let them know if your period has stopped completely. There are other reasons for irregular bleeding besides your birth control pills that your HCP can check out.
Depression
Risk factors: History of depression
Let your care team know if you have symptoms of depression or worsening depression while taking Isibloom. In cases of serious depression, your HCP might tell you to stop taking this medication.
Interactions with other medications
Tell your prescriber or pharmacist about all your medications so they can make sure they're safe for you. Certain medications can interact with Isibloom. Some can make Isibloom get broken down faster in the body, making it work less well to prevent pregnancy. Some examples include carbamazepine (Tegretol) and phenytoin (Dilantin). Use a back-up method or other form of birth control while you're taking these medications until at least 28 days after stopping them. Other medications can raise the amount of Isibloom in your body and lead to more side effects.
If you have hepatitis C and need to take Viekira Pak (dasabuvir / ombitasvir / paritaprevir / ritonavir), let your HCP know right away that you're taking a COC. You'll need to stop Isibloom before starting Viekira Pak because taking them together can cause liver problems. You can start Isibloom again 2 weeks after you stop Viekira Pak.
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Isibloom dosage forms
| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28 tablets of 0.15mg/0.03mg | 3 packages | $23.97 | $7.99 |
Typical dosing for Isibloom
Isibloom comes in a 28-day pack. Take the medication as instructed by your prescriber.
There are 21 active tablets that each contain 0.15 mg desogestrel and 30 mcg ethinyl estradiol. There are also 7 inactive (placebo) tablets that don't contain any active ingredients.
In general, the typical dose is 1 active tablet by mouth daily for 21 days, followed by 1 inactive tablet daily for the next 7 days. Repeat this dosing schedule for each pack.
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Isibloom contraindications
Smoking over the age of 35
Medical conditions that raise the risk for blood clots
Problems with blood flow to the brain (e.g., stroke)
Certain heart valve or heart rhythm problems
Uncontrolled high blood pressure
Diabetes with long-term complications
Certain types of headaches
Major surgery where you're on bedrest for a long time
Undiagnosed abnormal vaginal bleeding
Currently have or have a history of breast cancer
Endometrial cancer (also called uterine cancer) or other estrogen-dependent cancer
Currently have or have a history of jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes)
Liver problems
Liver tumor
Currently pregnant
Taking hepatitis C medication containing ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir, with or without dasabuvir
What are alternatives to Isibloom?
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References
Best studies we foundAllais, G., et al. (2009). Headache induced by the use of combined oral contraceptives. Neurological Sciences.
American Cancer Society. (2021). Breast cancer hormone receptor status.
American Liver Foundation. (2023). Benign liver tumors.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). Contraception and birth control methods.
Cooper, D. B., et al. (2024). Oral contraceptive pills. StatPearls.
Cortés, M. E., et al. (2014). The effects of hormonal contraceptives on glycemic regulation. The Linacre Quarterly.
French, V. (2023). What you should know about breakthrough bleeding with birth control. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
Garriga, M., et al. (2024). Contraception in patients with liver disease and liver transplant. Clinical Liver Disease.
International Agency for Research on Cancer. (2012). Combined estrogen-progestogen contraceptives. Pharmaceuticals.
Latwal, B., et al. (2020). Authorized generics vs. branded generics: A perspective. Journal of Generic Medicines.
LiverTox. (2020). Estrogens and oral contraceptives. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.
National Cancer Institute. (2018). Oral contraceptives and cancer risk.
Xiromed, LLC. (2023). Isibloom- desogestrel and ethinyl estradiol kit [package insert]. DailyMed.
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