Oral contraceptives are indicated for the prevention of pregnancy in women who elect to use this product as a method of contraception. Oral contraceptives are highly effective. Table II lists the typical accidental pregnancy rates for users of combination oral contraceptives and other methods of contraception. The efficacy of these contraceptive methods, except sterilization and the IUD, depends upon the reliability with which they are used.
Correct and consistent use of methods can result in lower failure rates. TABLE II: PERCENTAGE OF WOMEN EXPERIENCING AN UNINTENDED PREGNANCY DURING THE FIRST YEAR OF USE OF A CONTRACEPTIVE METHOD Method Perfect Use Typical Use Levonorgestrel implants 0.05
0.05 Male sterilization 0.1
0.15 Female sterilization 0.5
0.5 Depo-Provera ® (injectable progestogen) 0.3
0.3 Oral contraceptives 5 Combined
0.1NA
Progestin only
0.5 NA IUD Progesterone 1.5
2.0 Copper T 380A 0.6
0.8Condom (male)
without spermicide 3 14 (Female) without spermicide 5 21 Cervical cap Nulliparous women 9 20 Parous women 26 40 Vaginal sponge Nulliparous women 9 20 Parous women 20 40 Diaphragm with spermicidal cream or jelly 6 20 Spermicides alone (foam, creams, jellies, and vaginal suppositories) 6 26 Periodic abstinence (all methods) 1-9* 25 Withdrawal 4 19 No contraception (planned pregnancy) 85 85 NA – not available *Depending on method (calendar, ovulation, symptothermal, post-ovulation) Adapted from Hatcher RA et al, Contraceptive Technology : 17 t h Revised Edition .
Combination oral contraceptives should not be used in women with any of the following conditions: Thrombophlebitis or thromboembolic disorders. A past history of deep-vein thrombophlebitis or thromboembolic disorders. Cerebral-vascular or coronary-artery disease. Thrombogenic valvulopathies. Thrombogenic rhythm disorders. Diabetes with vascular involvement. Uncontrolled hypertension. Known or suspected carcinoma of the breast.
Carcinoma of the endometrium or other known or suspected estrogen-dependent neoplasia. Undiagnosed abnormal genital bleeding. Cholestatic jaundice of pregnancy or jaundice with prior pill use. Hepatic adenomas or carcinomas, or active liver disease, as long as liver function has not returned to normal. Known or suspected pregnancy. Hypersensitivity to any of the components of LEVONEST™ (levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol tablets–triphasic regimen).
Are receiving Hepatitis C drug combinations containing ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir, with or without dasabuvir, due to the potential for ALT elevations (see Warnings , RISK OF LIVER ENZYME ELEVATIONS WITH CONCOMITANT HEPATITIS C TREATMENT ).
Warnings and precautions
The use of oral contraceptives is associated with increased risks of several serious conditions including venous and arterial thrombotic and thromboembolic events (such as myocardial infarction, thromboembolism, and stroke), hepatic neoplasia, gallbladder disease, and hypertension, although the risk of serious morbidity or mortality is very small in healthy women without underlying risk factors. The risk of morbidity and mortality increases significantly in the presence of other underlying risk factors such as certain inherited or acquired thrombophilias, hypertension, hyperlipidemias, obesity, and diabetes.
Practitioners prescribing oral contraceptives should be familiar with the following information relating to these risks. The information contained in this package insert is based principally on studies carried out in patients who used oral contraceptives with higher formulations of estrogens and progestogens than those in common use today. The effect of long-term use of the oral contraceptives with lower formulations of both estrogens and progestogens remains to be determined.
Throughout this labeling, epidemiological studies reported are of two types: retrospective or case control studies and prospective or cohort studies. Case control studies provide a measure of the relative risk of disease, namely, a ratio of the incidence of a disease among oral-contraceptive users to that among nonusers. The relative risk does not provide information on the actual clinical occurrence of a disease. Cohort studies provide a measure of attributable risk, which is the difference in the incidence of disease between oral-contraceptive users and nonusers.
The attributable risk does provide information about the actual occurrence of a disease in the population. For further information, the reader is referred to a text on epidemiological methods. 1. Thromboembolic Disorders And Other Vascular Problems a. Myocardial infarction An increased risk of myocardial infarction has been attributed to oral-contraceptive use. This risk is primarily in smokers or women with other underlying risk factors for coronary-artery disease such as hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, morbid obesity, and diabetes.
The relative risk of heart attack for current oral-contraceptive users has been estimated to be two to six. The risk is very low under the age of 30. Smoking in combination with oral-contraceptive use has been shown to contribute substantially to the incidence of myocardial infarctions in women in their mid-thirties or older with smoking accounting for the majority of excess cases. Mortality rates associated with circulatory disease have been shown to increase substantially in smokers over the age of 35 and nonsmokers over the age of 40 (Table III) among women who use oral contraceptives.
Oral contraceptives may compound the effects of well-known risk factors, such as hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemias, age, and obesity. In particular, some progestogens are known to decrease HDL cholesterol and cause glucose intolerance, while estrogens may create a state of hyperinsulinism. Oral contraceptives have been shown to increase blood pressure among users (see section 9 in " WARNINGS " ). Similar effects on risk factors have been associated with an increased risk of heart disease.
Oral contraceptives must be used with caution in women with cardiovascular disease risk factors. b. Thromboembolism An increased risk of venous thromboembolic and thrombotic disease associated with the use of oral contraceptives is well established. Case control studies have found the relative risk of users compared to nonusers to be 3 for the first episode of superficial venous thrombosis, 4 to 11 for deep-vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism, and 1.5 to 6 for women with predisposing conditions for venous thromboembolic disease.
Cohort studies have shown the relative risk to be somewhat lower, about 3 for new cases and about 4.5 for new cases requiring hospitalization. The approximate incidence of deep-vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism in users of low dose (<50 mcg ethinyl estradiol) combination oral contraceptives is up to 4 per 10,000 woman-years compared to 0.5 to 3 per 10,000 woman-years for non-users. However, the incidence is substantially less than that associated with pregnancy (6 per 10,000 woman-years).
The risk of thromboembolic disease due to oral contraceptives is not related to length of use and disappears after pill use is stopped. A two- to four-fold increase in relative risk of postoperative thromboembolic complications has been reported with the use of oral contraceptives. The relative risk of venous thrombosis in women who have predisposing conditions is twice that of women without such medical conditions. If feasible, oral contraceptives should be discontinued at least four weeks prior to and for two weeks after elective surgery of a type associated with an increase in risk of thromboembolism and during and following prolonged immobilization.
Since the immediate postpartum period is also associated with an increased risk of thromboembolism, oral contraceptives should be started no earlier than four to six weeks after delivery in women who elect not to breast-feed, or a midtrimester pregnancy termination. c. Cerebrovascular diseases Oral contraceptives have been shown to increase both the relative and attributable risks of cerebrovascular events (thrombotic and hemorrhagic strokes), although, in general, the risk is greatest among older (>35 years), hypertensive women who also smoke.
Hypertension was found to be a risk factor for both users and nonusers, for both types of strokes, while smoking interacted to increase the risk for hemorrhagic strokes. In a large study, the relative risk of thrombotic strokes has been shown to range from 3 for normotensive users to 14 for users with severe hypertension. The relative risk of hemorrhagic stroke is reported to be 1.2 for nonsmokers who used oral contraceptives, 2.6 for smokers who did not use oral contraceptives, 7.6 for smokers who used oral contraceptives, 1.8 for normotensive users, and 25.7 for users with severe hypertension.
The attributable risk is also greater in older women. Oral contraceptives also increase the risk for stroke in women with other underlying risk factors such as certain inherited or acquired thrombophilias, hyperlipidemias, and obesity. Women with migraine (particularly migraine with aura) who take combination oral contraceptives may be at an increased risk of stroke. d. Dose-related risk of vascular disease from oral contraceptives A positive association has been observed between the amount of estrogen and progestogen in oral contraceptives and the risk of vascular disease.
A decline in serum high-density lipoproteins (HDL) has been reported with many progestational agents. A decline in serum high-density lipoproteins has been associated with an increased incidence of ischemic heart disease. Because estrogens increase HDL cholesterol, the net effect of an oral contraceptive depends on a balance achieved between doses of estrogen and progestogen and the nature and absolute amount of progestogen used in the contraceptive.
The amount of both hormones should be considered in the choice of an oral contraceptive. Minimizing exposure to estrogen and progestogen is in keeping with good principles of therapeutics. For any particular estrogen/progestogen combination, the dosage regimen prescribed should be one which contains the least amount of estrogen and progestogen that is compatible with a low failure rate and the needs of the individual patient.
New acceptors of oral-contraceptive agents should be started on preparations containing less than 50 mcg of estrogen. e. Persistence of risk of vascular disease There are two studies which have shown persistence of risk of vascular disease for ever-users of oral contraceptives. In a study in the United States, the risk of developing myocardial infarction after
Our copy of this section ends here. The full text is in the official label at the FDA. Open Drugs@FDA
Adverse reactions
To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Northstar Rx LLC. Toll-Free at 1-800-206-7821 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch . An increased risk of the following serious adverse reactions (see " WARNINGS " section for additional information) has been associated with the use of oral contraceptives. Thromboembolic disorders and other vascular problems (including thrombophlebitis, arterial thromboembolism, pulmonary embolism, myocardial infarction, cerebral hemorrhage, cerebral thrombosis), carcinoma of the reproductive organs, hepatic neoplasia (including hepatic adenomas or benign liver tumors), ocular lesions (including retinal vascular thrombosis), gallbladder disease, carbohydrate and lipid effects, elevated blood pressure, and headache.
The following adverse reactions have been reported in patients receiving oral contraceptives and are believed to be drug related: Nausea. Vomiting. Gastrointestinal symptoms (such as abdominal pain, cramps and bloating). Breakthrough bleeding. Spotting. Change in menstrual flow. Amenorrhea. Temporary infertility after discontinuation of treatment. Edema/fluid retention. Melasma/chloasma which may persist. Breast changes: tenderness, pain, enlargement, secretion.
Change in weight or appetite (increase or decrease). Change in cervical erosion and secretion. Diminution in lactation when given immediately postpartum. Cholestatic jaundice. Rash (allergic). Mood changes, including depression. Vaginitis, including candidiasis. Change in corneal curvature (steepening). Intolerance to contact lenses. Mesenteric thrombosis. Decrease in serum folate levels. Exacerbation of systemic lupus erythematosus.
Exacerbation of porphyria. Exacerbation of chorea. Aggravation of varicose veins. Anaphylactic/anaphylactoid reactions, including urticaria, angioedema, and severe reactions with respiratory and circulatory symptoms. The following adverse reactions have been reported in users of oral contraceptives, and the association has been neither confirmed nor refuted: Congenital anomalies. Premenstrual syndrome. Cataracts. Optic neuritis, which may lead to partial or complete loss of vision.
Cystitis-like syndrome. Nervousness. Dizziness. Hirsutism. Loss of scalp hair. Erythema multiforme. Erythema nodosum. Hemorrhagic eruption. Impaired renal function. Hemolytic uremic syndrome. Budd-Chiari syndrome. Acne. Changes in libido. Colitis. Sickle-cell disease. Cerebral-vascular disease with mitral valve prolapse. Lupus-like syndromes. Pancreatitis. Dysmenorrhea.
Prognia shows this product information for reference and learning. It is not treatment advice and can lag behind the official text. Always check the current product information and local protocols before prescribing.
At a glance
Brand name
Levonest
Active substance
ethinyl estradiol
Drug class
Progestogens and estrogens, fixed combinations, Progestogens and estrogens, sequential preparations
