US 7,320,969 B2
Oral contraceptives to prevent pregnancy and diminish premenstrual symptomatology
Robert G. Bell, Palm Harbor, Fla. (US); Carole Ben-Maimon, Merion, Pa. (US); and Beata Iskold, Livingston, N.J. (US)
Assigned to Duramed Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cincinnati, Ohio (US)
Filed on Dec. 04, 2002, as Appl. No. 10/309,313.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/335807, filed on Dec. 05, 2001.
Prior Publication US 2003/0139381 A1, Jul. 24, 2003
Int. Cl. A61K 31/56 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 514—170  [514/171; 514/182] 19 Claims
 
1. A method of contraception in a female in need thereof, the method comprising administering to the female a dosage comprising a combination of estrogen and progestin for a period of 81 to 89 consecutive days, followed by administration of a dosage consisting essentially of estrogen for a period of 2 to 8 consecutive days,
wherein the estrogen that is administered in combination with progestin for the period of 81 to 89 consecutive days is administered in a daily amount equivalent to about 10 μg to about 50 μg of ethinyl estradiol,
the estrogen that is administered for the period of 2 to 8 consecutive days is administered in a daily amount equivalent to about 5 μg to about 10 μg of ethinyl estradiol, and
the progestin that is administered for the period of 81 to 89 consecutive days is administered in a daily amount of about 150 μg of levonorgestrel.