Ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel transdermal

Generic name: Ethinyl Estradiol And Levonorgestrel (transdermal)
Brand names: Twirla
Dosage form: transdermal film (30 mcg-120 mcg)
Drug class: Contraceptives

Usage of Ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel transdermal

Ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel transdermal (skin patch) is a combination birth control medicine used to prevent pregnancy.

Ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel transdermal side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel may cause serious side effects. Stop using ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel and call your doctor at once if you have:

signs of a stroke--sudden numbness or weakness (especially on one side of the body), severe headache, problems with vision or speech;

signs of a blood clot--sudden vision loss, stabbing chest pain, feeling short of breath, coughing up blood, swelling or pain in an arm or leg;

heart attack symptoms--chest pain or pressure, pain spreading to your jaw or shoulder, nausea, sweating;

severe headache, pounding in your neck or ears;

jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);

swelling in your hands, ankles, or feet;

a change in the pattern or severity of migraine headaches; or

symptoms of depression--sleep problems, weakness, tired feeling, mood changes.

Common side effects of ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel may include:

menstrual cramps;

nausea;

weight gain;

headache; or

skin reactions where a patch was worn--bumps, redness, skin color changes, itching, rash, dryness, pain, swelling, bleeding.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Before taking Ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel transdermal

Using ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel can increase your risk of blood clots, stroke, or heart attack. You are even more at risk if you have high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, or if you are overweight

Smoking can greatly increase your risk of blood clots, stroke, or heart attack. Your risk increases the older you are and the more you smoke. You should not use ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel if you smoke and are over 35 years old.

Your risk of serious blood clot may be higher with the use of birth control skin patches than with the use of birth control pills.

You should not use ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel if you have:

untreated or uncontrolled high blood pressure;

heart disease (chest pain, coronary artery disease, history of heart attack, stroke, or blood clot);

an increased risk of having blood clots due to a heart problem or a hereditary blood disorder;

diabetes (and you are over 35, have high blood pressure, have had diabetes longer than 20 years, or if diabetes has caused damage to your kidneys, eyes, nerves, or blood vessels);

a history of hormone-related cancer, or cancer of the breast, uterus/cervix, or vagina;

unusual vaginal bleeding that has not been checked by a doctor;

liver disease or liver cancer;

severe migraine headaches (with aura, numbness, weakness, or vision changes), especially if you are older than 35; or

if you take any hepatitis C medication containing ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir (Viekira).

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

heart disease, high blood pressure, or if you are prone to having blood clots;

high cholesterol that is not controlled;

depression;

migraine headache;

diabetes, gallbladder disease;

jaundice caused by pregnancy or hormonal birth control;

hereditary angioedema;

irregular menstrual cycles; or

dark patches of skin on your face (chloasma).

Do not use this medicine if you are pregnant. You may need to have a negative pregnancy test before using ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel. Tell your doctor if you think you may be pregnant.

Ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel can slow breast milk production. You should not breastfeed while using this medicine.

Relate drugs

How to use Ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel transdermal

Usual Adult Dose for Contraception:

Oral tablets: 1 tablet orally once a day at the same time each day in the order directed on the blister packTransdermal System: Four week cycle: Apply 1 patch once a week for 3 consecutive weeks; no patch is to be worn during week 4, cycle is then repeatedComments: -To achieve maximal contraceptive efficacy, tablets should be taken at intervals not exceeding 24 hours.-Tablets may be started on the first Sunday after the onset of menstruation (Sunday Start) or on Day 1 of menstruation (Day 1 Start).-The first transdermal system should be applied during the first 24 hours of menstruation. Use: To prevent pregnancy. --Transdermal use is for women with a body mass index (BMI) of less than 30 kg/m2 as those with a BMI of 30 kg/m2 or greater may have reduced efficacy and may be at higher risk for venous thromboembolism events; consider reduced effectiveness in women with a BMI of 25 to less than 30 kg/m2

Usual Pediatric Dose for Contraception:

For postmenarchal females: Oral tablets: 1 tablet orally once a day at the same time each day in the order directed on the blister packTransdermal System: Four week cycle: Apply 1 patch once a week for 3 consecutive weeks; no patch is to be worn during week 4, cycle is then repeatedComments: -To achieve maximal contraceptive efficacy, tablets should be taken at intervals not exceeding 24 hours.-Tablets may be started on the first Sunday after the onset of menstruation (Sunday Start) or on Day 1 of menstruation (Day 1 Start).-The first transdermal system should be applied during the first 24 hours of menstruation. Use: To prevent pregnancy. --Transdermal use is for women with a body mass index (BMI) of less than 30 kg/m2 as those with a BMI of 30 kg/m2 or greater may have reduced efficacy and may be at higher risk for venous thromboembolism events; consider reduced effectiveness in women with a BMI of 25 to less than 30 kg/m2

Warnings

You should not use this medicine if you have: uncontrolled high blood pressure, heart disease, coronary artery disease, health problems caused by diabetes (such as damage to your kidneys, eyes, nerves, or blood vessels), undiagnosed vaginal bleeding, liver disease or liver cancer, severe migraine headaches, if you also take certain hepatitis C medication, if you will have major surgery, if you smoke and are over 35, or if you have ever had a heart attack, a stroke, a blood clot, jaundice caused by pregnancy or this medicine, or cancer of the breast, uterus/cervix, or vagina.

Using this medicine can increase your risk of blood clots, stroke, or heart attack (especially if you smoke). You should not use this medicine if you smoke and are over 35 years old.

What other drugs will affect Ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel transdermal

Many drugs can affect ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel, and some drugs can make hormonal birth control less effective, which may result in pregnancy. Tell your doctor about all your other medicines, especially:

acetaminophen, aprepitant, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), bosentan, levothyroxine, St. John's wort;

antibiotic or antifungal medicine--fluconazole, griseofulvin, itraconazole, ketoconazole, rifabutin, rifampin, voriconazole;

antiviral medicine to treat HIV or hepatitis C--atazanavir, boceprevir, darunavir, efavirenz, etravirine, fosamprenavir, indinavir, lopinavir, nelfinavir, nevirapine, ritonavir, telaprevir, tipranavir;

cholesterol medicine--atorvastatin, rosuvastatin; or

seizure medicine--Carbamazepine, felbamate, lamotrigine, oxcarbazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin, rufinamide, topiramate.

This list is not complete and many other drugs may affect ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.

Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.