- Fast, discreet delivery
Delivered in secure, plain packaging on fully tracked delivery from just £2.95
- 100% UK-based pharmacy
Our team of doctors and pharmacists, and our support staff, are all UK-based.
- Free advice and support
Have a question? Telephone support is always free; Monday - Friday, 9am - 5pm.
- We're rated 4.9 out of 5
Based on over 24,000 reviews collected on Google and Reviews.io.
Rigevidon Tablets
- Free standard delivery on orders over £40Spend £40.00 more for free delivery
Rigevidon Contraceptive Pill
Rigevidon contraceptive pills can be bought quickly and easily online from The Independent Pharmacy. Women can order repeat supplies of Rigevidon with a fast, free online consultation and receive your contraceptive pill as soon as the next day from a UK Pharmacy.
- Suitable for age:18 years +
- Maximum per order:1
- Consultation required?YesThis treatment requires an online consultation for review by our medical team. The decision to supply the specific treatment and quantity requested will be based on whether our medical team are satisfied that it will be safe, appropriate, and effective.
Rigevidon Summary
Type of medicine | Contraceptive |
Works by | Prevents ovulation and makes womb harder for sperm to reach the egg |
Active ingredient | 150 micrograms levonorgestrel and 30 micrograms ethinylestradiol. |
Effective within | Immediately if taken on first day of period |
Pack size | 63 tablets |
Common side effects | Nausea, Breast tenderness and Breakthrough bleeding |
Manufacturer | Gedeon Richter (UK) Ltd |
Generic | No |
Use with alcohol | No known issues |
Rigevidon Information
What is Rigevidon & what is it used for?
Rigevidon is an oral contraceptive. When used correctly, it will provide 99% protection against pregnancy. Its two active ingredients, levonorgestrel and ethinylestradiol, prevent ovulation from occurring during the menstrual cycle. Rigevidon is a monophasic combined pill, meaning each pill contains the same dose of levonorgestrel and ethinylestradiol.
Rigevidon may also help reduce acne and protect against conditions such as fibroids, ovarian cysts and pelvic inflammatory disease. It will not protect against sexually transmitted infections.
There are 21 Rigevidon pills in a pack. Once you have finished a pack, you will stop taking the pill for seven days. During this time you will have a normal bleed. Once seven days have passed, begin your next cycle of treatment.
How does Rigevidon work?
Pregnancy occurs when an egg released from the ovaries is fertilised by sperm. In a normal menstrual cycle, the ovaries release one egg each month – this is the process of ovulation. This process is controlled by the female sex hormones progesterone and oestrogen. Rigevidon contains two synthetic hormones, levonorgestrel and ethinylestradiol, which imitate these two natural hormones. They control the levels of each hormone in such a way that prevents an egg from being released. The Pill also makes it more difficult for sperm to reach the uterus, by thickening the fluid that is in the cervix.
During a regular menstrual cycle, the endometrium (the wall of the uterus) builds up in preparation for a fertilised egg. Rigevidon reduces the extent of this buildup, making it less likely that a fertilised egg will develop into an embryo. As a further result, periods become lighter.
Alternatives to Rigevidon
Rigevidon is a combined oral contraceptive pill that contains the same hormones as other contraceptive pills, including Microgynon, Ovranette and Levest.
Check out our Contraception Advice page for more information surrounding contraception including a variety of progesterone-only pills and patches.
Non-Medicinal Contraception Alternatives
- Female Condoms- Not only do they prevent pregnancy they also prevent STIs. There is currently only one brand available in the UK, called Femidom. Shown to be 95% effective.
- Male Condoms- Prevent pregnancy and also prevent STIs. Shown to be 98% effective.
Sources
Rigevidon directions
Rigevidon can be prescribed by The Independent Pharmacy and bought by adults over the age of 18 years.
- Rigevidon is for oral use only.
- Take 1 tablet, at the same time each day, for 21 days. Take your first tablet, next to the correct day of the week, from the top row of the pack and follow the directions of the arrows printed on the pack.
- After 21 days, have a 7-day pill-free break, where you should expect to have a bleed.
- Start your new pack, after your 7 days pill-free, on the same day of the week that you started your previous pack.
For full details on how to take Rigevidon, please read the Patient Information Leaflet thoroughly.
Starting Rigevidon
If you have not used any contraceptive with hormones in the previous month:
Start Rigevidon on the first day of your period. Starting Rigevidon on the first day of your period means you are immediately protected against pregnancy and do not need to use additional barrier contraceptives.
If you start Rigevidon any time after day 1 of your period you must use additional barrier contraceptives such as condoms for 7 days.
Switching from another combined hormonal contraceptive pill:
Start Rigevidon the day after your last pill from your previous pill packet. Do not have a 7-day pill-free break. If you start Rigevidon after your 7-day break you will need to use an additional barrier contraceptive such as condoms for 7 days.
Changing from a progestogen-only pill, injection, implant or a progesterone-releasing IUD:
You may switch to Rigevidon, any convenient day, from the progestogen-only pill, from the day of removal of an implant or an IUD and the due date of the injection. In all of these cases, you must use an additional barrier contraceptive such as condoms for 7 days.
After having a baby:
You can start taking Rigevidon between 21 and 28 days after having a baby. If you start taking Levest later than day 28 you must use an additional barrier method of contraception such as condoms for the next 7 days.
Rigevidon missed pill
If you forget to take your daily Rigevidon tablet or you are sick or have diarrhoea within 3-4 hours after taking your tablet, take it as soon as you remember or when you feel better, even if this means taking 2 tablets on the same day.
If you are more than 12 hours late taking your Rigevidon tablet:
- You will not be protected from getting pregnant and should use additional barrier contraception such as a condom for 7 days.
You are at more risk of becoming pregnant if you miss multiple tablets within one packet or if the missed pill is at the start or the end of your packet. If you think you are at risk of being pregnant while taking Rigevidon you should speak to a doctor for advice as soon as possible.
If you are less than 12 hours late taking your Rigevidon tablet:
- You will be protected from getting pregnant. You will not need to use additional contraception.
Rigevidon ingredients
The active ingredients contained in Rigevidon are: 150 micrograms of levonorgestrel and 30 micrograms of ethinylestradiol.
Rigevidon also contains the following inactive ingredients: Colloidal anhydrous silica, magnesium stearate, talc, maize starch, lactose monohydrate, sucrose, calcium carbonate, titanium dioxide (E171), copovidone, macrogol 6000, povidone carmellose sodium.
Rigevidon side effects
In the same way as other medicine, Rigevidon can cause some people to experience side effects. The most commonly reported side effects are usually mild but if you are bothered by them or are concerned you should speak to a doctor or pharmacist for advice.
Most commonly people who take Rigevidon report the following side effects:
- Feeling sick
- Abdominal cramps
- Headaches
- Breast tenderness
- Weight gain or fluid retention
- Mood changes
- Change in sex drive
- Irregular bleeding
- Increased blood pressure
If you experience an allergic reaction or severe side effects while taking Rigevidon you should seek immediate medical attention from a doctor or your nearest emergency department.
For full details on reported side effects associated with taking Rigevidon please read the Patient Information Leaflet.
Rigevidon warnings
Reading the following warnings carefully will help to ensure you are selecting an appropriate product.
Rigevidon is unsuitable for you if you have:
- An allergy to any of the ingredients of Rigevidon
- A history of breast cancer, or cancer of the uterus or cervix
- A blood clotting disorder
- Ever had a blood clot
- A history of heart attack or stroke
- Angina pectoris
- Very high blood pressure
- Severe diabetes
- High levels of lipids in the blood
- Impaired liver function
- Severe migraines
You may be advised not to take Rigevidon if you suffer from any of the following conditions:
- Crohn’s disease or chronic inflammatory bowel disease
- Kidney failure
- Sickle-cell anaemia
- Systemic lupus erythematosus
- Pancreatitis
- Inflammation of veins under the skin
- Varicose veins
- Diabetes
- Depression
- Otosclerosis
- Gall bladder disease
- Sydenham’s chorea (a movement disorder)
- Porphyria
- A family history of blood clots or circulation problems
- Migraines
- Herpes gestationis (a rash associated with pregnancy)
- Chloasma
If you require any blood test, inform your doctor of which medicines you are taking – Rigevidon may alter the results of some blood tests.
Rigevidon and cancer
Do not use Rigevidon if you have breast cancer, or if you have had it before. Long-term use of hormonal contraceptives may slightly increase your chance of developing breast cancer. Once you have stopped using the Pill for at least 10 years, your risk levels will come back down. Women who are elderly and/or overweight are more vulnerable to breast cancer. Take care using Rigevidon if a close relative has suffered from breast cancer before. Check your breasts and nipples regularly for any changes or lumps. If you notice anything abnormal, visit your doctor as soon as you can.
Rigevidon may increase your chance of developing cervical cancer. For this reason, you should have regular smear tests while taking the Pill.
Rigevidon and blood clots
You may be more susceptible to blood clots while taking Rigevidon, especially during the first year of use. Talk to your GP before having any operation while taking the Pill. You may need to stop using Rigevidon to avoid the increased risk of a blood clot in advance of the operation. You are also at a heightened risk of developing a blood clot if you:
- Smoke
- Are obese
- Have a family history of blood clots
- Do not exercise regularly
- Have had a miscarriage in the past
- Have recently given birth
Rigevidon and other medicines
The following medicines may impact the effectiveness of Rigevidon:
- Epilepsy medicines (e.g. phenytoin, carbamazepine)
- Antivirals for Hepatitis C or HIV (e.g. ritonavir, nevirapin)
- Griseofulvin
- Etoricoxib
- Bosentan
- St John’s Wort
Rigevidon may impact the effectiveness of the following medicines:
- Ciclosporin
- Lamotrigine
- Theophylline
- Tizanidine
Please read all packaging and the Patient Information Leaflet before taking any new medicine and inform your doctor of medicines you are taking or intend to take.
Rigevidon Tablets reviews
Rigevidon Tablets FAQs
If possible, begin taking Rigevidon on the first day of your period. If you begin taking the Pill in the first five days of your cycle, you will be immediately protected from pregnancy. If you begin later in your cycle, you will need to abstain from sex or use alternative contraception for the first seven days of taking Rigevidon.
If you have a menstrual cycle of less than 24 days, you may need to use alternative contraception for your first seven days regardless of when you start.
If you have just given birth, begin taking Rigevidon on day 21 following the birth. If you begin taking the Pill later than this, you will not be immediately protected against another pregnancy.
Begin taking Rigevidon immediately following an abortion or miscarriage. If more than seven days have passed, you will need to use additional contraception for your first seven days of using the Pill.
Yes – we understand that sometimes you will want your treatment as soon as possible. If ordered before 4pm Monday to Friday, Rigevidon is available for next-day delivery.
Yes – as long as you are buying from a website that is a legally operating and regulated pharmacy, it is perfectly safe to buy Rigevidon online.
The Independent Pharmacy is an NHS Online Pharmacy based in Bristol and has all the necessary regulation to be able to safely provide convenient access to genuine prescription treatments through our Online Pharmacy and Online Doctor.
All of our contraceptives are supplied by the same UK-based wholesalers used by the large high-street chains.
It’s simple!
Just select ‘Start Consultation’ next to the product above, or on the links below.
You will need to fill in a simple health questionnaire so that our GPs and Pharmacists can ensure it is safe for us to supply your Rigevidon to you. It only takes a few minutes, and your treatment can be delivered to your door as soon as the next working day.
There are many advantages to buying the Pill online, some include:
- It's quick and easy- there is no need to spend time at the doctor or pharmacy.
- Fast delivery- We offer same day dispatch before 4pm and fast delivery to your address of choice with Royal Mail.
- Great prices- we are able to offer very competitive prices and we guarantee to beat any other Online Doctor service.
- Wealth of information - we provide all the information you could need on Rigevidon and other contraceptives, in easy to digest formats, at a time that suits you.
Rigevidon is a combined oral contraceptive pill which contains 150µg levonorgestrel (a progesterone) and 30µg ethinylestradiol (an oestrogen), which work with each other to prevent egg release.
While these pills do have different names, they are identical in content and so have the same active ingredient, quality and effect. They are simply made by different manufacturers. They should work in exactly the same way and, if you have followed the instructions on the patient information leaflet, both prove to be equally effective reversible forms of contraception.
You should always start on day one of your menstrual period and take one every day, until you have used all of the pills in the blister strip. Then have seven free days, before starting again. If correctly used, commencement will always be on the same day of the month (three weeks on and one week off).
If you are changing your brand of pill, or are going to use another method of contraception e.g. implant or intrauterine device, injection, patch, or vaginal ring, or are recommencing the pill after childbirth, abortion or a miscarriage, always read the patient information leaflet, before commencement.
Rigevidon provides synthetic versions of oestrogen and progesterone and these female sex hormones prevent the ovaries from releasing eggs. It also makes the sperm’s journey more difficult, by producing a mucus in the neck of the womb (the cervix), as well as making it more difficult for an egg to implant itself to the lining of the womb.
It can also be taken by women who have heavy, irregular of painful periods.
If taking a contraceptive pill is a new experience for you, or if this is the first time that you have used Rigevidon, your period may be late or missed altogether. You could also experience spotting or breakthrough bleeding. If you go two months without a period, while it is unlikely that you have become pregnant, take a pregnancy test as a safeguard, before taking the next month’s course.
Like any other medicine, Rigevidon may produce side-effects. These can include irregular bleeding, breast tenderness and headache, nausea and weight increase, which usually occur at the beginning of the course of pills. Other reported effects include fluid retention, no or reduced bleeding, depression, acne, nervousness, excitability, migraine, sight disturbances, ocular irritation with contact lenses and also changes in sexual desire.
Taking the pill later in the expected day, and within 12 hours of your normal time of taking it, should not affect its function and you shouldn’t need to take any additional contraception. If you forget to take a pill one day only, you can always take two the next. However, if you have gone over 12 hours, or you have forgotten to take more than one pill, contraceptive cover could be compromised. In such cases, it is advisable to use extra precautions e.g. a condom. Always refer to the patient information leaflet for advice and guidance and, in the case of missing more than one pill, you can always seek advice from your doctor or a pharmacist.
Being sick, or having diarrhoea, within 4 hours of having taken the pill, your body may not have had time to absorb the contraceptive medication and so follow the same advice as given for missed pills. It is also advisable to take extra precautions e.g. a condom, for up to seven days.
As regards to combined oral contraceptive pills, there has been indication of a slight rise in breast cancer in those taking this medication when compared to women of a similar age who do not take any contraceptive pills. However, it is not certain that this increased risk is directly as a result of the medication. For example, women on combined oral contraceptive pills are examined by their doctors more often and so information is gathered more widely than for people not taking the pill. This could be why more tumours are detected in this group of women.
Long-term use of the contraceptive pill may increase the risk of breast cancer but, equally, this risk reduces upon cessation and so the heightened risk no longer exists after ten years. For further information, and for peace of mind, always read the patient information leaflet in your pill packet.
The risk of developing blood clots in the veins while taking HRT may increase temporarily if you experience major trauma, are immobile for long periods of time (includes travelling for over three hours without moving) or have surgery. If you will be immobile for long periods, or have planned a surgery, particularly abdominal surgery or orthopaedic surgery on the lower limbs your doctor may recommend that you stop HRT for a period of time. You can reduce the risk of blood clots during travel by getting appropriate exercise during the trip and by wearing elastic hosiery. Discuss this with your doctor.
Stop taking this medication and contact your doctor right away if you experience any of the following symptoms: pain while breathing or coughing; stabbing pains or swelling in one leg; coughing up blood; breathlessness; sudden numbness; sudden chest pain; fainting; worsening of epilepsy; visual disturbances; migraine or severe headaches; severe abdominal complaints; whole body itch; increased blood pressure; yellowing of the skin or eyes; or severe depression.
For more detail, read the 'Warnings' section above.
Some medicines may stop the effectiveness of your pill and so you will need to take extra precautions. These include antibiotics, and also medicines for fungal infections, HIV, epilepsy and tuberculosis. St. John’s Wort, most commonly prescribed for anxiety, sleep loss, depression and heart palpitations, can also cause lower effectiveness of the contraceptive pill and other medications. Other medications affected by St. John’s Wort include lamotrigine (to treat epilepsy) and ciclosporin (an immunosuppressant). Speak with your doctor or a pharmacist, if you will be taking any other medications at the same time as your contraceptive pill.
If Rigevidon does not suit you, speak with your doctor, as there are other contraceptive pills which include different active ingredients to those in this particular contraceptive pill.
No contraceptive measures as 100% effective and, bearing this in mind, Rigevidon is measured as 99% effective, if used correctly.
- Logynon & Logynon ED
Logynon & Logynon ED
from£22.99 - Cilique Pill
Cilique Pill
£19.991 review - Synphase Tablets
Synphase Tablets
£21.99 - Eloine Tablets
Eloine Tablets
£32.9910 reviews
We stock 31 other treatments for Contraception
Visit our Contraception page for treatments, advice and FAQs.
Ordering as easy as 1, 2, 3...
- Find the ideal treatment
We can provide over 1077 leading medicines to treat over 90 conditions.
- Get a free consultation
Our qualified healthcare professionals will assess your condition and needs.
- Enjoy our speedy delivery
And when the time comes to re-order, it'll only take a couple of clicks.
Authored by
Scott is one of the two founders of The Independent Pharmacy. He is a registered pharmacist and the registered manager of our service with the CQC.
Reviewed by
Dan is an experienced pharmacist having spent time working in both primary and secondary care. He currently supports our clinical team by providing robust clinical governance review of our internal processes and information.
Need something else?
Or browse all treatments or conditions