Lindynette 20

Quick links to important sections

Lindynette 20

Selected form

Medically reviewed

Marina Burgos

Last updated on 22/12/2025

This page provides general, reference-level information compiled from official medical sources. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. For decisions about your health, please consult a qualified healthcare professional.

Overview of Lindynette 20

Quick Facts

Property Description
Active Ingredients Ethinyl Estradiol, Gestodene
Form Film-coated tablet (Oral)
Pharmacological Class Hormonal Contraceptive (Combined Oral Contraceptive)
General Purpose Prevention of Pregnancy
Origin Synthetic Steroid Hormones

What is Lindynette 20?

Lindynette 20 is a pharmaceutical preparation prescribed for hormonal contraception. It is categorized within the pharmacological class of Combined Oral Contraceptives (COCs). This synthetic, combination product is designed for oral administration in the form of a film-coated tablet. It is structurally defined as a monophasic tablet, ensuring a fixed, consistent quantity of the active compounds throughout the cycle, a standard feature for ease of use.

Classification and Composition

Lindynette 20 is classified as a Combined Oral Contraceptive (COC), featuring a fixed-dose combination of the synthetic estrogen Ethinyl Estradiol and the synthetic progestogen Gestodene. Gestodene is specifically identified as a third-generation progestin. This formulation is characterized as low-dose, a feature indicated by the "20" designation which commonly refers to the 20 \mug quantity of the estrogen component. Combined Oral Contraceptives provide a highly reliable and effective method for prevention of pregnancy.

Purpose and Mechanism Overview

The sole, general purpose of Lindynette 20 is contraception, achieved by systematically interrupting the natural biological processes required for conception in women of childbearing age. The synthetic hormones provide this benefit through a multi-point action. The drug's efficacy relies on the central mechanism of inhibiting ovulation and the secondary mechanism of altering the cervical mucus and inducing endometrial changes. This coordinated action of the estrogen and third-generation progestin ensures the combination acts as a robust, prophylactic anti-conception agent.

Regulatory References

  1. Gestodene and Ethinyl Estradiol Drug Label (e.g., Myvlar)

What side effects are possible with Lindynette 20?

Possible Side Effects and Safety Information

The official safety profile for Lindynette 20, a Combined Oral Contraceptive (COC) containing Ethinyl Estradiol and Gestodene, is structured by government regulatory bodies to define expected adverse reactions and critical risks. These effects are formally classified based on their frequency of occurrence.

Frequency-Classified Adverse Reactions

Classification Examples of Documented Reactions
Common Nausea, vomiting, headache, migraine, breast tenderness or pain, mood changes, and breakthrough bleeding (spotting) [Source 2.7].
Rare Venous Thromboembolism (VTE) and Arterial Thromboembolism (ATE) [Source 3.1].

Serious Adverse Reactions and Systemic Risks

The most serious safety concerns documented in regulatory warnings are rare but critical. These include Thromboembolic Events (blood clots), which can manifest as Deep Vein Thrombosis, Pulmonary Embolism, Stroke, or Myocardial Infarction. The risk of VTE is documented to be highest during the first year of use or upon restarting treatment after a break [Source 1.1].

Other systemic risks include the rare occurrence of benign and malignant Hepatic Tumours and a slight increase in the diagnosis of certain Malignant Neoplasms (such as breast and cervical cancer) [Source 3.3]. Adverse effects are also categorized by the systems they affect, including Vascular, Gastrointestinal, Hepatobiliary, and Nervous System Disorders [Source 2.7].

Population-Specific Safety Considerations

Labeling defines specific safety constraints for certain populations. The risk of serious cardiovascular events is significantly increased for smokers over 35 years. Additionally, due to an increased risk of thromboembolism, the use of this medication is not recommended earlier than four weeks after delivery for non-breastfeeding women [Source 2.5]. Estrogen-containing products may also worsen symptoms of hereditary or acquired angioedema [Source 1.1].

Overdose and Emergency Response

Overdose and When to Seek Help

Official regulatory information emphasizes that the ingestion of a large number of tablets of Lindynette 20 is not associated with serious harmful effects. Reports of overdosage indicate that the primary clinical manifestations are mild and generally self-limiting. The components of Lindynette 20 (ethinylestradiol and levonorgestrel) have a documented, low acute toxicity profile in overdose situations.


Documented Overdose Manifestations

Symptoms following the ingestion of an excessive dose are typically limited to the following presentations:

  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Withdrawal Bleeding (Slight Vaginal Bleeding)

This slight vaginal bleeding may occur in females, including young girls who have not yet started menstruation (before menarche), if they accidentally ingest the tablets.


Required Emergency Actions

Due to the absence of reported serious harmful effects, the primary management approach specified in regulatory documents is symptomatic treatment. No specific antidote is required, and the goal is to manage any discomfort from the transient symptoms. If an overdose is suspected, even if symptoms are mild, contact a poison control center or healthcare professional for guidance. Immediate, life-threatening emergency intervention is generally not required based on the officially documented clinical profile of this oral contraceptive overdose.


This information is strictly based on governmental regulatory summaries regarding overdose and does not constitute advice for therapeutic use or general safety.

Therapeutic Uses of Lindynette 20

What Lindynette 20 Treats: Main Uses and Benefits

The primary and most widely recognized therapeutic application of Lindynette 20 is providing systematic hormonal contraception, and it is used for the prevention of pregnancy in women of reproductive potential. This use is the primary clinical application for the medication and may be part of a strategy for reproductive health planning. This therapeutic use is relevant across several key symptomatic domains.

Supportive Therapy for Cyclical Symptoms

Lindynette 20 is commonly applied in clinical settings for the supportive management of symptoms related to physical discomfort during menstruation. It helps address symptom groups like excessive pain and cramping (dysmenorrhea) and abnormally heavy blood loss (menorrhagia). The medication may assist with managing symptoms that create noticeable physiological strain, which may contribute to making monthly periods more manageable. Furthermore, the medication is relevant in conditions characterized by fluctuating symptom patterns, extending its use to offer supportive therapeutic benefit for secondary cyclical issues. This includes easing the burden of severe premenstrual symptoms (such as PMDD) and is used for managing symptoms of moderate acne vulgaris that are demonstrably linked to hormonal activity.

Quick Fact: Relief for Cyclical Symptoms
Primary Goal Systematic contraception.
Secondary Benefit Support for heavy and painful menstrual cycles.
Supportive Context Relevant in managing symptoms of hormonally-linked conditions like PMDD and acne vulgaris.

Regulatory References

  1. MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia

Eligibility and Restrictions for Use

Lindynette 20 is officially indicated only for females of reproductive potential who do not have specific health conditions or risk factors documented as contraindications in regulatory labeling.


Absolute Contraindications

Use of this medicine is strictly contraindicated for several high-risk populations. The medicine must not be used by women who smoke and are over 35 years of age. It is also prohibited for those with a known or suspected pregnancy or a history of, or high risk for, arterial or venous thrombotic diseases, including deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, stroke, or heart attack.

Additional contraindications include any known or suspected hormone-sensitive cancer (such as breast cancer), liver tumors, severe active liver disease, uncontrolled hypertension, or migraine with aura.


Eligibility Restrictions and Special Populations

Lindynette 20 is not recommended for women who are nursing or breastfeeding. Use must be carefully managed around specific events: the medicine must be discontinued at least four weeks prior to and for two weeks after major surgery or prolonged immobilization. In non-breastfeeding women, initiation should be deferred for a minimum of four weeks following delivery. The medicine is not indicated for use in the geriatric population.

What should I know about interactions with other medicines?

Interactions with other medicines and products

The interaction profile of Lindynette 20, a combined oral contraceptive containing Ethinyl Estradiol and Gestodene, is defined by interactions that affect the exposure of the hormonal components or interfere with co-administered medicines.


Documented Pharmacokinetic Interactions

Co-administration with substances that induce hepatic enzymes, primarily CYP3A4, is documented to decrease the systemic exposure of the contraceptive steroids. This effect, referred to as antagonism in regulatory labeling, may lead to reduced contraceptive efficacy. Specific medicinal products listed as enzyme inducers include Rifampin, Phenytoin, and Carbamazepine. The herbal product St. John's wort is also documented as an enzyme inducer that reduces effectiveness. Conversely, strong CYP3A inhibitors and SULT1E1 Inhibitors (e.g., Etoricoxib) are documented to increase the systemic exposure of the Ethinyl Estradiol component.


Formal Restrictions and Interferences

The combination of Lindynette 20 with Hepatitis C drug regimens containing ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir pm dasabuvir is formally contraindicated. This prohibition is established due to the documented risk of significant liver enzyme (ALT) elevation.

Pharmacodynamic interference is documented when Lindynette 20 is co-administered with certain medications. For instance, the contraceptive may alter the efficacy of Sulfonylureas, and it may necessitate increased doses of Thyroid Hormone Replacement Therapy due to increased serum concentrations of Thyroid-Binding Globulin (TBG).

Mechanism of Action

Lindynette 20 is a combined hormonal preparation that exerts its physiological effect primarily through its constituent progestin, gestodene, and estrogen, ethinylestradiol.

Gestodene functions as a non-selective agonist of the intracellular progesterone receptor (PR) within the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian (HPO) axis, notably in the anterior pituitary and the hypothalamus. Binding to PR inhibits the pulsatile secretion of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) from the hypothalamus and reduces the sensitivity of pituitary cells to available GnRH. This inhibition suppresses the release of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) from the anterior pituitary. Simultaneously, ethinylestradiol acts as an agonist for the estrogen receptor (ER), further contributing to the suppression of FSH release. The resultant low peripheral concentrations of LH and FSH prevent ovarian follicular development, maturation, and subsequent ovulation. Furthermore, gestodene induces physicochemical alterations in the cervical mucus, increasing its viscosity and impeding molecular transport. The progestin component also modulates the proliferation and secretory differentiation of the endometrium, inducing endometrial atrophy. The systemic consequence of this coordinated suppression within the HPO axis is the functional abolition of the physiological ovulatory cycle.

Dosage and Administration Information

How to Use Lindynette 20: Official Administration Guidelines

Lindynette 20 is a monophasic combined oral contraceptive tablet administered for oral use only via a film-coated tablet. The fixed-dose tablet contains 20 µg Ethinyl Estradiol and 75 µg Gestodene. The high-level use protocol is defined by a 28-day cyclic schedule and is intended for females of reproductive potential; the medication is not indicated for postmenopausal women.


Administration Scope

Instruction Detail
Route of administration Oral use, via film-coated tablet.
Dosing schedule One active tablet daily for 21 consecutive days, defining the active phase.
Frequency pattern Daily, following the 28-day cyclic pattern (21 active / 7 hormone-free).
Age-group rules Intended only for females of reproductive potential.

Procedural and Timing Requirements

The tablet is consumed at the same time each day to maintain consistent systemic hormone levels. Intake must follow the sequence directed on the blister pack.

  • Official step sequence: The cycle begins with the first tablet taken on the first day of the menstrual cycle. The active tablet is taken daily for three weeks. This is followed by a 7-day tablet-free interval, after which a new pack must be started immediately.
  • Missed-dose rules: Guidance indicates that any delay in taking the tablet that exceeds 24 hours may compromise the drug’s required efficacy. Severe gastrointestinal upset (such as vomiting or diarrhea) occurring within a few hours of intake should be treated as a potentially missed dose.

Connection to the overall use protocol:

The entire usage protocol is structured around the continuous 28-day cyclic pattern, which requires adherence to both the daily timing and the tablet sequence to achieve the intended fixed hormonal exposure. This regimen is designed to be repeated indefinitely for the duration of its use.

Recent Clinical Evidence

Lindynette 20: Recent Clinical Evidence

Efficacy and Hormonal Profile

Lindynette 20 combines Ethinylestradiol (20 micrograms) and Gestodene (75 micrograms). Studies have shown this combination results in effective ovulation inhibition, which is the primary mechanism of action. Clinical trials consistently report high efficacy rates when the medication is taken strictly as directed, demonstrating its role in preventing pregnancy.

Research has explored the hormonal profile of this low-dose formulation. The low estrogen dose (20 mug) aims to minimize estrogen-related side effects while maintaining efficacy, which is supported by data on its satisfactory cycle control and reduced incidence of breast tenderness compared to higher-dose pills.


Non-Contraceptive Benefits and Study Outcomes

Beyond contraception, research has investigated the impact of Lindynette 20 on several non-contraceptive outcomes. Findings related to cycle regularity show the formulation significantly helps in establishing predictable menstrual patterns. Studies examining dysmenorrhea (painful periods) reported a measurable reduction in pain intensity and duration among users.


Venous Thromboembolism (VTE) Risk

As with all combined hormonal contraceptives, the use of Lindynette 20 is associated with an increased risk of VTE. Epidemiological studies have generally categorized formulations containing Gestodene as having a slightly higher risk of VTE compared to levonorgestrel-containing pills, though the absolute risk remains very low. The risk of VTE is highest during the first year of use and is influenced by individual risk factors such as age and body mass index (BMI).

Key Studies & References

  1. Comparison of risk of pulmonary embolism and arterial thromboembolism with oral contraceptives according to dose and type of estrogen-progestin

How should Lindynette 20 be stored and disposed of?

Storage and Disposal Information

Lindynette 20 must be stored strictly according to the official regulatory instructions to maintain its stability. The medicine should be stored at a temperature not exceeding 25 °C and must not be refrigerated or frozen. Always keep the tablets in their original package to ensure protection from light and moisture.

Handling and Safety

It is mandatory to keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children to prevent unintentional ingestion. Do not use the tablets after the expiry date printed on the packaging.

Disposal of Unused Product

Unused or expired Lindynette 20 should not be thrown away via wastewater or with household waste. Consult a pharmacist or local waste management service for instructions on how to properly dispose of the medicine in accordance with local pharmaceutical waste regulations.

Attention! Always consult to a doctor or pharmacist before using pills or medicines.

Available in countries:

Equivalent of Lindynette 20 found in:

A-Z Index: