Lactic acid, citric acid, and potassium bitartrate (vaginal route)
Available brands
Phexxi
About this medication
Lactic acid, citric acid, and potassium bitartrate combination is used to prevent pregnancy. This medicine is a gel that is inserted into the vagina through an applicatorbeforeany genital contact occurs or sexual intercourse begins. It works by lowering the pH and reducing the sperm movement in the vagina. This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription. This product is available in the following dosage forms:
Before using this medication
In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered: Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully. Appropriate studies on the relationship of age to the effects of lactic acid, citric acid, and potassium bitartrate combination have not been performed in the pediatric population. However, pediatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of this medicine in teenagers are not expected. This medicine may be used for birth control in teenage females but should not be used before the start of menstruation. No information is available on the relationship of age to the effects of lactic acid, citric acid, and potassium bitartrate combination in geriatric patients. This medicine is not indicated for use in elderly women. Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your healthcare professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine. Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco. The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:
How to use this medication
It is very important that youuse this medicine exactly as directed by your doctor. Do not use more of it, do not use it more often, and do not use it for a longer time than your doctor ordered. To do so may cause unwanted side effects. This medicine comes with a patient information leaflet. Read and follow these instructions carefully. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions. This medicine is to be usedonly in the vagina. This combination medicine is contained in a prefilled single-dose applicator that delivers the medicine when inserted into your vagina. Use each applicator only once, and then throw it away. You may use this medicine during any part of your menstrual cycle. Wash your hands with soap and water before and after you use this medicine. This medicine should be usedbeforehaving sexual intercourse. It will not prevent pregnancy if usedafterintercourse. Do not use this medicine together with vaginal rings. Ask your doctor before you use other products or medicines into your vagina. The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so. The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine. Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing. Keep out of the reach of children. Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.
Disclaimer: August is a health information platform and its responses don't constitute medical advise. Always consult with a licenced medical professional near you before making any changes.