What should I tell my care team before I take this medication?
They need to know if you have or ever had any of these conditions:
- Abnormal vaginal bleeding
- Blood vessel disease
- Cancer, such as breast, cervical, endometrial, ovarian, liver, or uterine cancer
- Diabetes
- Gallbladder disease
- Having surgery
- Heart disease or recent heart attack
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol or triglycerides
- History of blood clots
- History of irregular heartbeat or heart valve problems
- History of a stroke
- Kidney disease
- Liver disease
- Lupus
- Migraine headaches
- Protein C deficiency
- Protein S deficiency
- Recently had a baby, miscarriage, or abortion
- Tobacco use
- An unusual or allergic reaction to estrogens, progestins, other medications, foods, dyes, or preservatives
- Pregnant or trying to get pregnant
- Breastfeeding
What may interact with this medication?
Do not take this medication with the following:
- Dasabuvir; ombitasvir; paritaprevir; ritonavir
- Ombitasvir; paritaprevir; ritonavir
This medication may also interact with the following:
- Acetaminophen
- Antibiotics or medications for infections, especially rifampin, rifabutin, rifapentine, and griseofulvin, and possibly penicillins or tetracyclines
- Aprepitant
- Ascorbic acid (vitamin C)
- Atorvastatin
- Barbiturate medications, such as phenobarbital
- Bosentan
- Carbamazepine
- Caffeine
- Clofibrate
- Cyclosporine
- Dantrolene
- Doxercalciferol
- Felbamate
- Grapefruit juice
- Hydrocortisone
- Medications for anxiety or sleeping problems, such as diazepam or temazepam
- Medications for diabetes, including pioglitazone
- Mineral oil
- Modafinil
- Mycophenolate
- Nefazodone
- Oxcarbazepine
- Phenytoin
- Prednisolone
- Raloxifene
- Ritonavir or other medications for HIV infection or AIDS
- Rosuvastatin
- Selegiline
- Soy isoflavones supplements
- St. John's wort
- Tamoxifen
- Theophylline
- Thyroid hormones
- Topiramate
- Warfarin
This list may not describe all possible interactions. Give your health care provider a list of all the medicines, herbs, non-prescription drugs, or dietary supplements you use. Also tell them if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs. Some items may interact with your medicine.
What should I watch for while using this medication?
Visit your care team for regular checks on your progress. You will need a regular breast and pelvic exam and Pap smear while on this medication. You should also discuss the need for regular mammograms with your care team, and follow his or her guidelines for these tests.
This medication can make your body retain fluid, making your fingers, hands, or ankles swell. Your blood pressure can go up. Contact your care team if you feel you are retaining fluid.
Use an additional method of contraception during the first cycle that you take these tablets.
If you may be pregnant, stop taking this medication right away and contact your care team.
If you are taking this medication for hormone related problems, it may take several cycles to see improvement in your condition.
Talk to your care team if you use tobacco products. Changes to your treatment plan may be needed. Tobacco increases the risk of getting a blood clot or having a stroke while you are taking this medication. This risk is higher if you are 35 years or older.
This medication can make you more sensitive to the sun. Keep out of the sun. If you cannot avoid being in the sun, wear protective clothing and sunscreen. Do not use sun lamps, tanning beds, or tanning booths.
If you wear contact lenses and notice visual changes, or if the lenses begin to feel uncomfortable, consult your eye care specialist.
Tenderness, swelling, or minor bleeding of the gums may occur. Talk to your dentist if this happens. Brushing and flossing your teeth regularly may reduce the risk of side effects. Visit your dentist on a regular basis. Tell your dentist about any medications you are taking.
If you are going to have elective surgery, tell your care team you are taking this medication. You may need to stop taking this medication before the surgery.
Using this medication does not protect you or your partner against HIV or other sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
What are the most serious risks of this medication?
This medication can increase the risk of serious blood clots, which can cause a heart attack or stroke. This risk increases if you are older than 35 years of age or use tobacco. You are strongly advised not to use tobacco.