Ethinyl Estradiol-Norelgestrom TD - Drug Information and Side Effects on Drug3k.com


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Ethinyl Estradiol-Norelgestrom TD images:

Overview

Photos

How To Use

Side Effects

Precautions

Missed Dose

Drug Interactions

Ethinyl Estradiol-Norelgestrom TD

Uses
This combination hormone patch is used to prevent pregnancy. It contains hormones similar to those in birth control pills (ethinyl estradiol, an estrogen, and norelgestromin, a progestin). The hormones slowly release from the patch over time and are absorbed through the skin. This medication works like birth control pills by preventing the release of an egg (ovulation) and changing the womb and cervical mucus to make it more difficult for an egg to meet sperm (fertilization) or attach to the wall of the womb (implantation). Using this medication does not protect you or your partner against HIV or other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).Studies have shown that the total amount of estrogen you receive when using the patch is higher than the amount from most birth control pills. If you weigh more than 198 pounds (90 kilograms), this patch may not work as well for you. Make sure your doctor knows your current weight, and ask about which form of birth control is best for you.
Notes

Do not share this medication patch with others.Keep all laboratory and medical appointments.
You should have regular complete physical exams including blood pressure, breast exam, pelvic exam, and screening for cervical cancer (Pap smear).
Follow your doctor's instructions for examining your own breasts, and report any lumps immediately.
Consult your doctor for more details.

Storage

Store in protective foil pouches at room temperature at 77 degrees F (25 degrees C).
Brief storage between 59-86 degrees F (15-30 degrees C) is permitted.
Do not refrigerate or freeze.
Protect from light and moisture.
Keep all medicines away from children and pets.

How To Use

Read the Patient Information Leaflet provided by your pharmacist before you start using this medication and each time you get a refill.
Make sure you understand how to apply a new patch and dispose of the used product.
If you have any questions, consult your doctor or pharmacist.Remove the patch from the foil pouch and apply as directed by the manufacturer.
Apply one patch to an area of clean, dry skin on the buttock, abdomen, upper outer arm, or upper body (torso) where it will not be rubbed by tight clothing.
Change the patch once a week, and wear a patch continuously for 3 weeks or as directed by your doctor.
The chance of becoming pregnant increases with incorrect use, so follow the directions carefully and make sure the patch stays in place.Do not apply the patch on or near a breast, to red/cut/irritated skin, or over other skin products (e.g., make-up, lotions, powders).
Apply the patch to a different area on your body each time to avoid irritation.If this is the first time you are using this medication, apply the patch on the first Sunday following the beginning of your menstrual period or on the first day of your period.
If your period begins on a Sunday, begin on that day.
For the first cycle of use only, use an additional form of non-hormonal birth control (e.g., condom or spermicide) for the first 7 days to prevent pregnancy until the medication has enough time to work.
If you start the first patch on the first day of your period, you do not need to use back-up birth control the first week.
Change the patch once weekly on the same day.
Remember to remove the old patch before placing a new patch.After wearing patches continuously for 3 weeks, do not apply a patch during week 4.
You should have your period during this time.
If you do not get your period, consult your doctor.
After not wearing a patch for a week, apply a new patch whether or not you have your period.
Do not go longer than 7 days without a patch, or you will increase your risk of becoming pregnant.
It may be helpful to mark a calendar to remind you when to change the patch and which week to leave it off.If the patch comes off at the wrong time, replace with a new patch within 24 hours.
If the patch is not replaced quickly, or if you are not sure how long it has been off, you could become pregnant.
Start a new cycle by applying a new patch on the day you remember, and use an additional form of non-hormonal birth control (e.g., condom or spermicide) for 7 days to prevent pregnancy.
Continue to apply patches for a total of 3 weeks.After removing each patch, fold it in half so it sticks to itself, and discard in the trash away from children and pets.
Do not flush the patch down the toilet.Ask your doctor or pharmacist for information about switching from other forms of birth control to the patch.
If any of this information is unclear, consult the Patient Information Leaflet or your doctor or pharmacist.

Side Effects

Vaginal bleeding between periods (spotting) may commonly occur during the first few months of use.
If this bleeding is persistent or unusually heavy, contact your doctor.
Nausea, vomiting, headache, redness/irritation at the application site, dizziness, breast tenderness/enlargement, vaginal discomfort/irritation, increased vaginal discharge, missed/irregular periods, acne, or stomach cramping/bloating may occur.
If you miss 2 periods in a row (or 1 period if the patch has not been used properly), talk to your doctor about a pregnancy test.
If any of these effects persist or worsen, notify your doctor.Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects.
Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects.Tell your doctor immediately if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur: changes in vaginal bleeding (e.g., continuous spotting, sudden heavy bleeding, missed periods), unwanted facial/body hair (hirsutism), dark patches on the skin (melasma), mental/mood changes (e.g., depression, suicidal thoughts, persistent trouble sleeping), swelling of the ankles/feet, weight changes (gain or loss), problem wearing contact lenses.This medication may rarely cause serious (sometimes fatal) blood clot problems (e.g., thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, stroke, heart attack).
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience: tingling/weakness/numbness in the arms/legs, pain/swelling/warmth in the groin/calf, chest/jaw/left arm pain, confusion, coughing up blood, sudden shortness of breath, sudden dizziness/fainting, weakness on one side of the body, vision problems/changes, slurred speech, sudden severe headaches, headaches that are different from those you may have experienced in the past (e.g., headaches with other symptoms such as vision changes/lack of coordination, existing migraines becoming worse).Tell your doctor immediately if any of these highly unlikely but very serious side effects occur: lumps in the breast, severe stomach/abdominal/pelvic pain, yellowing eyes/skin, unusual tiredness, dark urine.A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is unlikely, but seek immediate medical attention if it occurs.
Symptoms of a serious allergic reaction may include: rash, itching, swelling, severe dizziness, trouble breathing.If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

Precautions

See also Warning section.Before using this medication patch, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to any of its ingredients; or to other estrogens or progestins; or if you have any other allergies.This medication should not be used if you have certain medical conditions.
Before using this medicine, consult your doctor or pharmacist if you have: history of stroke or other blood clots (e.g., in the legs, eyes, lungs), severe high blood pressure, abnormal breast exam, breathing problems (e.g., asthma), cancer (especially endometrial or breast cancer), diabetes that has caused kidney/eye/nerve/blood vessel disease, severe headaches, history of heart disease (e.g., heart attack, chest pain), heart valve disease, kidney problems, liver problems (e.g., liver tumor), current or suspected pregnancy, seizure, recent major surgery, long periods of sitting or lying down (e.g., immobility such as being bedridden), history of yellowing eyes/skin (jaundice) during pregnancy or while using birth control pills, unexplained vaginal bleeding, heavy tobacco use (especially if 35 or over).Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: high cholesterol or triglyceride (blood fat) levels, depression, diabetes, high blood pressure, fluid retention (edema), gallbladder problems, migraine, obesity, irregular/missed/very light periods, recent pregnancy, thyroid problems.Do not smoke cigarettes.
Hormonal birth control (e.g., pills, injections, devices) products combined with smoking cigarettes significantly increase your risk for stroke, blood clots, high blood pressure, and heart attacks, especially in women older than 35.
For more details, ask your doctor or pharmacist or consult the Patient Information Leaflet that comes with this product.Notify your doctor beforehand if you will be having surgery or will be confined to a chair/bed for a long time (e.g., a long plane flight).
You may need to stop the medication for a time or take special precautions in these circumstances while you are taking this drug.The drugs in this patch may cause blotchy, dark areas on your skin (melasma).
Sunlight may intensify this effect.
If this occurs, avoid prolonged sun exposure, use a sunscreen, and wear protective clothing when outdoors.If you are nearsighted or wear contact lenses, you may develop vision problems or may have problems wearing your contact lenses.
Contact your eye doctor if these problems occur.This medication patch should not be used in pregnancy.
If you become pregnant or think you may be pregnant, inform your doctor immediately.
If you have just given birth and are not breast-feeding, or if you have had a pregnancy loss or abortion after the first trimester, wait at least 4 weeks before starting the patch.
Talk with your doctor about other forms of birth control and when it is safe to start the patch.The medication from this patch passes into breast milk and may have undesirable effects on the nursing infant.
Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.

Missed Dose

If the patch comes off or you forget to remove it at the proper time, consult the Patient Information Leaflet or your doctor or pharmacist to establish a new dosing schedule.
You may need to use a back-up form of birth control (e.g., condoms or spermicide) to prevent pregnancy.If you have trouble remembering to change your patch, or if the patch falls off repeatedly, contact your doctor to discuss switching to another form of birth control.

Drug Interactions

Your healthcare professionals (e.g., doctor or pharmacist) may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them.
Do not start, stop or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with them first.This drug should not be used with the following medications because very serious interactions may occur: aromatase inhibitors (e.g., anastrazole, exemestane), sodium tetradecyl sulfate, troleandomycin.If you are currently using any of these medications listed above, tell your doctor or pharmacist before starting this medication.Certain drugs can decrease the effectiveness of combination-type birth control by decreasing the amount of birth control hormones in your system.
This can result in pregnancy.
These drugs include: many antibiotics (e.g., cephalosporins, chloramphenicol, macrolides such as erythromycin, penicillins, sulfas), aprepitant, bexarotene, bosentan, dapsone, griseofulvin, certain HIV protease inhibitors (e.g., amprenavir, nelfinavir, ritonavir), modafinil, nevirapine, rifamycins (e.g., rifampin), many seizure medications (e.g., barbiturates, carbamazepine, phenytoin, lamotrigine, topiramate), St.
John's wort.
Consult your doctor or pharmacist for details, and ask them if you should use additional reliable birth control methods while taking any of the drugs mentioned above.Before taking this medication, tell your doctor of all prescription and nonprescription medications you may use, especially of: acetaminophen, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), aspirin, atorvastatin, azole antifungals (e.g., itraconazole, ketoconazole), certain benzodiazepines (e.g., diazepam, lorazepam, temazepam), clofibric acid, corticosteroids (e.g., prednisolone), cyclosporine, metoprolol, morphine, phenylbutazone, raloxifene, tamoxifen, theophylline, medication for low thyroid (hypothyroidism).This medication can affect the results of certain lab tests (e.g., blood tests such as glucose, clotting factors, lipids, thyroid).
Make sure laboratory personnel and all your doctors know you use this medication.

CONDITIONS OF USE: The information in this database is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the expertise and judgement of healthcare professionals. The information is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, drug interactions or adverse effects, nor should it be construed to indicate that use of a particular drug is safe, appropriate or effective for you or anyone else. A healthcare professional should be consulted before taking any drug, changing any diet or commencing or discontinuing any course of treatment.