When your next pill pack starts
Schedules for the listed products come from each product's own labelPage updated Sources
Enter the day you took the first pill of your current pack. The tool shows the date and weekday your next pack starts, and the packs after it, from your pill's label or your pack's format.
Choose your pill, or describe your pack if your pill isn't listed. Then enter the day you took the first pill of your current pack. The tool gives the start date and weekday of your next pack and the packs after it, for up to 6 packs, ready to print or add to your calendar.
The tool did not load. Reloading the page may help; the explanation on this page works without it.
How each pack leads into the next
Each listed pill's label says when the next pack begins, and the tool follows the label of the pill you choose.
- Packs that end with inactive pills, such as Sprintec, Taytulla, Lo Loestrin Fe and Slynd: the next pack starts the day after the last inactive pill. For these 28-day packs, that is 28 days after the first pill of the current pack.
- Packs taken every day with no break, such as Amethyst, Heather, Opill and Cerazette: the next pack starts the day after the last pill.
- Packs followed by a tablet-free interval, such as Microgynon 30 in the UK: the next pack starts after the break, on the same day of the week as the current pack.
- Camrese comes in 91-day packs (13 weeks). Its label starts each pack on a Sunday, so the tool only accepts a Sunday as the first day of a Camrese pack.
When you choose a listed pill, the tool also names the days of each pack in wording based on its label, such as active tablets, inactive tablets or a tablet-free interval.
If your pill isn't listed
You can describe your pack instead by choosing how many tablets it has. In this mode the tool gives only the start dates of your next packs. It doesn't name any days of the pack, and it doesn't read your pill's leaflet, so check the dates against it. The sizes listed with tablet-free days always include them; the others run back to back.
Reading the pack dates
- The day you took the first pill of your current pack is the first day of the count.
- For every listed pill, the next pack starts on the same day of the week as your current pack.
When to use something other than this tool
With a listed pill, the tool follows the routine pattern in that pill's label. In format mode it counts from the pack size you enter and doesn't read any leaflet. Talk to someone instead if:
- this is your first pack of this pill, you are starting again after a break, or you are switching from another method;
- you take your pills in a different pattern from the leaflet, for example skipping the break or running packs together;
- you changed brand in the middle of a pack, or take pills from different packs;
- a pill is missing, broken or lost, or your pack is damaged;
- you have been sick (vomited) or had severe diarrhea since your last pill;
- you recently gave birth, had a miscarriage or had an abortion;
- you take, or recently stopped taking, another medicine;
- you think you might be pregnant;
- you aren't sure which day you took the first pill of this pack.
The leaflet in your pack comes first, and a pharmacist or clinic can help.
This tool does not assess protection from pregnancy.
Worked examples
Both examples use made-up dates. If you took the first pill of a Sprintec pack on Tuesday, 9 March 2027, your next pack starts on Tuesday, 6 April 2027, and the pack after that on Tuesday, 4 May 2027.
A Camrese pack started on Sunday, 10 January 2027 is followed by a new pack on Sunday, 11 April 2027.