Levlen

Levlen

Levlen

What is Levlen?

Levlen may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Levlen side effects

If necessary, get emergency medical helpSigns of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; Swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Birth control pills can have serious side effects. Stop taking birth control pills and call your doctor immediately if you have:

• Signs of a stroke - sudden numbness or weakness (especially on one side of the body), severe headache, slurred speech, problems with balance;

• Signs of a blood clot - sudden loss of vision, stabbing chest pain, shortness of breath, coughing up blood, swelling or redness in an arm or leg;

• Heart attack symptoms – chest pain or feeling of pressure, pain spreading to the jaw or shoulder, sweating;

• Liver problems - loss of appetite, pain in the upper abdomen, fatigue, fever, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);

• increased blood pressure – severe headache, blurred vision, throbbing in the neck or ears;

• Gallbladder problems – hard stools, stomach pain after eating, nausea, heartburn, bloating and severe pain in the upper abdomen that can spread to the back;

• swelling of your hands, ankles, or feet;

• changes in the pattern or severity of migraine headaches;

• a lump in the breast; or

• Symptoms of depression: sleep problems, weakness, fatigue, mood swings.

Common side effects of Levlen may include:

• Nausea, vomiting (especially when you start taking this medicine);

• breast tenderness;

• breakthrough bleeding;

• acne, darkening of facial skin;

• weight gain; or

• Problems with contact lenses.

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

Warnings

Do not use birth control pills if you are pregnant or have recently had a child.

You should not use birth control pills if you:uncontrolled high blood pressure, heart disease, coronary artery disease, circulatory problems (especially with diabetes), undiagnosed vaginal bleeding, liver disease or liver cancer, severe migraines, if you are also taking certain hepatitis C medications, if you are about to have major surgery, if you smoke and are over 35 years old, or if you have ever had one Have had a heart attack, a stroke, a blood clot, jaundice caused by pregnancy or birth control pills, or breast, uterine/cervical or vaginal cancer.

Taking birth control pills can increase your risk of blood clots, strokes, or heart attacks.

Smoking can significantly increase your risk of blood clots, strokes or heart attacks.You should not take Levlen if you smoke and are over 35 years old.

Before you take this medicine

Taking this medicine may increase your risk of blood clots, stroke, or heart attack. You are at even greater risk if you have high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol or are overweight. Your risk of a stroke or blood clot is highest in the first year of taking birth control pills. Your risk is also high if you take this medicine again after you have not taken it for 4 weeks or more.

Smoking can significantly increase your risk of blood clots, strokes or heart attacks.Your risk increases the older you are and the more you smoke. If you smoke and are over 35 years old, you should not take combined birth control pills.

Do not use if pregnant.Stop using this medicine and tell your doctor immediately if you become pregnant or miss two consecutive periods. If you have recently had a child, wait at least 4 weeks before taking birth control pills.

You should not take birth control pills if you:

• untreated or uncontrolled high blood pressure;

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

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

• circulatory problems (especially if caused by diabetes);

• 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 problems), especially if you are older than 35;

• a history of jaundice caused by pregnancy or birth control pills; or

• if you are taking hepatitis C medications that contain ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir (Technivie).

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

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

• high cholesterol or triglyceride levels or if you are overweight;

• Depression;

• a seizure or migraine headache;

• diabetes, gallbladder disease;

• liver or kidney disease;

• irregular menstrual cycles; or

• fibrocystic breast disease, lumps, nodules, or an abnormal mammogram.

Levlen may slow the production of breast milk. You should not breast-feed while using this medicine.

How should I take Levlen?

Follow all instructions on your prescription label and read any medication guides or instructions for use. Use the medicine exactly as directed.

Take your first pill on the first day of your period or the first Sunday after your period starts. The first time you use Levlen, you may need to use additional contraception such as condoms or spermicide. Follow your doctor's instructions.

Take one tablet every day, no more than 24 hours apart. When the pills are finished, start a new pack the next day. You may become pregnant if you do not take one tablet every day. Get your prescription refilled before you completely run out of pills.

Some birth control packs contain seven “reminder pills” to maintain your regular cycle. Your period usually starts while you are taking these reminder pills.

You should chew the chewable tablet (pill) and then swallow it with a glass of water, or, if you prefer, you should swallow the chewable tablet (pill) whole. Take it on an empty stomach.

Use additional contraception if you experience severe vomiting or diarrhea.

Breakthrough bleeding may occur, particularly in the first three months. Tell your doctor if this bleeding continues or is very heavy.

If you need major surgery or need to stay in bed for a long period of time,You may need to stop taking this medicine for a short time. Any doctor or surgeon who treats you should know that you are taking birth control pills.

While you are taking birth control pills, you must visit your doctor regularly.

Store at room temperature, protected from moisture, heat and light.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Follow the patient instructions that come with your medicine. If you forget the pill, your risk of becoming pregnant increases.

If you miss an active pill, take two tablets on the day you remember. Then take one tablet per day for the rest of the pack.

If you miss two active pills in a row in week 1 or 2, take two pills a day for two days in a row. Then take one tablet per day for the rest of the pack. Use additional contraception for at least seven days after the missed pill.

If you miss two active pills in a row in week 3, throw away the rest of the pack and start a new pack on the same day if you start on day one. If you start on Sunday, continue taking one tablet daily until Sunday. On Sunday, throw away the rest of the pack and start a new pack that day.

If you miss three active pills in a row in week 1, 2, or 3, throw away the rest of the pack and start a new pack on the same day if you start on day one. If you start on Sunday, continue taking one tablet daily until Sunday. On Sunday, throw away the rest of the pack and start a new pack that day.

If you miss two or more active pills, you may not get a period during the month.If you miss your period for two months in a row, call your doctor because you may be pregnant.

If you forget a reminder pill, throw it away and continue taking one reminder pill per day until the pack is finished.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help hotline at 1-800-222-1222. Symptoms of overdose may include nausea, vomiting and drowsiness.

What should I avoid while taking Levlen?

Do not smoke while taking birth control pills.especially if you are over 35 years old.

Birth control pills do not protect you from sexually transmitted diseases – including HIV and AIDS. The only way to protect yourself from these diseases is to use a condom.

What other medications affect Levlen?

Other medications can interact with birth control pills, including prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and herbal products. Some medications can make birth control pills less effective, which can lead to pregnancy. Tell your doctor about all medications you are currently taking and any medications you are taking or stopping.

More information

Remember to keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medicine only for the prescribed indication.