Levonorgestrel/Ethinyl Estradiol And Ethinyl Estradiol

FDA Drug Information • Also known as: Camrese Lo, Lojaimiess, Rivelsa

Brand Names
Camrese Lo, Lojaimiess, Rivelsa
Dosage Form
KIT
Product Type
HUMAN PRESCRIPTION DRUG

⚠ Boxed Warning (Black Box)

WARNING: CIGARETTE SMOKING AND SERIOUS CARDIOVASCULAR EVENTS Cigarette smoking increases the risk of serious cardiovascular events from combination oral contraceptives (COC) use. This risk increases with age, particularly in women over 35 years of age, and with the number of cigarettes smoked. For this reason, COCs , including LoJaimiess, are contraindicated in women who are over 35 years of age and smoke [see Contraindications ( 4 ) and Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 )]. WARNING: CIGARETTE SMOKING AND SERIOUS CARDIOVASCULAR EVENTS See full prescribing information for complete boxed warning. LoJaimiess is contraindicated in women over 35 years old who smoke. ( 4 ) Cigarette smoking increases the risk of serious cardiovascular events from combination oral contraceptive (COC) use. ( 4 )

Description

11 DESCRIPTION LoJaimiess (Levonorgestrel and Ethinyl Estradiol Tablets, USP and Ethinyl Estradiol Tablets, USP) tablets provide an oral contraceptive regimen of 84 orange tablets each containing 0.1 mg levonorgestrel and 0.02 mg ethinyl estradiol, followed by 7 yellow tablets each containing 0.01 mg ethinyl estradiol. The structural formulas for the active components are: Levonorgestrel C 21 H 28 O 2 MW: 312.4 Levonorgestrel is chemically 18,19-Dinorpregn-4-en-20-yn-3-one, 13-ethyl-17-hydroxy-, (17α)-, (-)-. Ethinyl Estradiol C 20 H 24 O 2 MW: 296.4 Ethinyl Estradiol is 19-Norpregna-1,3,5(10)-trien-20-yne-3,17-diol, (17α)-. Inactive ingredients for the orange tablets include anhydrous lactose, magnesium stearate, polyvinyl alcohol, polyethylene glycol, povidone, red iron oxide, talc, titanium dioxide, and yellow iron oxide. Inactive ingredients for the yellow tablets include lecithin, lactose monohydrate, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, polyvinyl alcohol, talc, titanium dioxide, yellow iron oxide and xanthan gum. Structural formula of levonorgestrel Structural formula of ethinyl estradiol

What Is Levonorgestrel/Ethinyl Estradiol And Ethinyl Estradiol Used For?

1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE LoJaimiess is indicated for use by females of reproductive potential to prevent pregnancy. LoJaimiess is a combination of levonorgestrel, a progestin, and ethinyl estradiol, an estrogen, indicated for use by females of reproductive potential to prevent pregnancy. ( 1 )

Dosage and Administration

2 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION Take one tablet daily by mouth at the same time every day for 91 days in the order directed on the blister pack. ( 2 ) 2.1 How to Start and Take LoJaimiess Begin LoJaimiess on the first Sunday after the onset of menstruation. If menstruation begins on a Sunday, take the first orange tablet that day. For each 91-day course, take in the following order: Take one orange tablet daily for 84 consecutive days. Use a non-hormonal back-up method of contraception (such as condoms or spermicide) until an orange tablet has been taken daily for 7 consecutive days. Then take one yellow tablet for 7 consecutive days. A scheduled period should occur during the 7 days that the yellow tablets are taken. Begin the next and all subsequent 91-day cycles without interruption on the same day of the week (Sunday) on which the patient began her first dose of LoJaimiess, following the same schedule: 84 days taking an orange tablet followed by 7 days taking a yellow tablet. If the patient does not immediately start her next pill pack, instruct her to protect herself from pregnancy by using a non-hormonal back-up method of contraception until she has taken an orange tablet daily for 7 consecutive days. Switching to LoJaimiess from another oral hormonal contraceptive or from another contraceptive method (transdermal patch, vaginal ring, injection, intrauterine contraceptive, implant) Start on the Sunday after the patient’s next period starts. Use additional non-hormonal contraceptive (such as condoms and spermicide) until the patient has taken an orange tablet for 7 consecutive days. Starting LoJaimiess after Abortion or Miscarriage First-trimester LoJaimiess may be started on the Sunday after an abortion or miscarriage. The patient must use additional non-hormonal contraception (such as condoms and spermicide) until the patient has taken an orange tablet for 7 consecutive days. Second-trimester Do not start until 4 weeks after a second-trimester abortion or miscarriage, due to the increased risk of thromboembolic disease. Start contraceptive therapy with LoJaimiess following the instructions for women not currently using hormonal contraception. Use additional non-hormonal contraception (such as condoms and spermicide) until the patient has taken an orange tablet for 7 consecutive days [see Contraindications ( 4 ) and Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 )]. Starting LoJaimiess after Childbirth Do not start until 4 weeks after delivery, due to the increased risk of thromboembolic disease. Start contraceptive therapy with LoJaimiess following the instructions for women not currently using hormonal contraception. Use additional non-hormonal contraception (such as condoms and spermicide) until the patient has taken an orange tablet for 7 consecutive days [see Contraindications ( 4 ) and Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 )]. If the woman has not yet had a period postpartum, consider the possibility of ovulation and conception occurring prior to use of...

Side Effects (Adverse Reactions)

6 ADVERSE REACTIONS The following serious adverse reactions with the use of COCs are discussed elsewhere in the labeling: Serious cardiovascular events and stroke [see Boxed Warning and Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 )] Vascular events [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 )] Liver disease [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.2 )] The most common adverse reactions in clinical trials for levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol tablets, USP and ethinyl estradiol tablets, USP were headaches, irregular and/or heavy uterine bleeding, dysmenorrhea, nausea and/or vomiting and back pain. ( 6 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Xiromed LLC at 1-844-XIROMED (1-844-947-6633) or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. 6.1 Clinical Trial Experience Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to the rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice. The clinical trial that evaluated the safety and efficacy of levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol tablets, USP and ethinyl estradiol tablets, USP was a 12-month, multicenter, non-comparative open-label study, which enrolled women aged 18-41, of whom 2,185 took at least one dose of levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol tablets, USP and ethinyl estradiol tablets, USP. Adverse Reactions Leading to Study Discontinuation: 11% of the women discontinued from the clinical trial due to an adverse reaction; the most common adverse reactions leading to discontinuation were irregular and/or heavy uterine bleeding, headache, mood changes, nausea, acne, and weight gain. Common Treatment-Emergent Adverse Reactions (≥5% of women): headaches (33%); irregular and/or heavy uterine bleeding (13%), dysmenorrhea (11%), nausea and/or vomiting (11%), back pain (8%). 6.2 Postmarketing Experience Five studies that compared breast cancer risk between ever-users (current or past use) of COCs and never-users of COCs reported no association between ever use of COCs and breast cancer risk, with effect estimates ranging from 0.90 - 1.12 (Figure 3). Three studies compared breast cancer risk between current or recent COC users (<6 months since last use) and never users of COCs (Figure 2). One of these studies reported no association between breast cancer risk and COC use. The other two studies found an increased relative risk of 1.19 - 1.33 with current or recent use. Both of these studies found an increased risk of breast cancer with current use of longer duration, with relative risks ranging from 1.03 with less than one year of COC use to approximately 1.4 with more than 8-10 years of COC use. Figure 3: Relevant Studies of Risk of Breast Cancer with Combined Oral Contraceptives RR = relative risk; OR = odds ratio; HR = hazard ratio. “ever COC” are females with current or past COC use; “never COC use” are females that never used COCs. Breast cancer data

Drug Interactions

7 DRUG INTERACTIONS The sections below provide information on substances for which data on drug interactions with COCs are available. There is little information available about the clinical effect of most drug interactions that may affect COCs. However, based on the known pharmacokinetic effects of these drugs, clinical strategies to minimize any potential adverse effect on contraceptive effectiveness or safety are suggested. Consult the approved product labeling of all concurrently used drugs to obtain further information about interactions with COCs or the potential for metabolic enzyme or transporter system alterations. No formal drug-drug interaction studies were conducted with levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol tablets, USP and ethinyl estradiol tablets, USP. Enzyme inducers (e.g., CYP3A4): May decrease the effectiveness of LoJaimiess or increase breakthrough bleeding. Counsel patients to use a back-up method or alternative method of contraception when enzyme inducers are used with LoJaimiess. ( 7.1 ) 7.1 Effects of Other Drugs on Combined Oral Contraceptives Substances Decreasing the Plasma Concentrations of COCs and Potentially Diminishing the Efficacy of COCs: Table 4 includes substances that demonstrated an important drug interaction with levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol tablets, USP and ethinyl estradiol tablets, USP. Table 4: Significant Drug Interactions Involving Substances That Affect COCs Metabolic Enzyme Inducers Clinical effect Concomitant use of COCs with metabolic enzyme inducers may decrease the plasma concentrations of the estrogen and/or progestin component of COCs. Decreased exposure of the estrogen and/or progestin component of COCs may potentially diminish the effectiveness of COCs and may lead to contraceptive failure or an increase in breakthrough bleeding. Prevention or management Counsel females to use an alternative method of contraception or a backup method when enzyme inducers are used with COCs. Continue backup contraception for 28 days after discontinuing the enzyme inducer to maintain contraceptive reliability. Examples Aprepitant, barbiturates, bosentan, carbamazepine, efavirenz, felbamate, griseofulvin, oxcarbazepine, phenytoin, rifampin, rifabutin, rufinamide, topiramate, products containing St. John’s wort a , and certain protease inhibitors (see separate section on protease inhibitors below). Colesevelam Clinical effect Concomitant use of COCs with colesevelam significantly decreases systemic exposure of ethinyl estradiol. Decreased exposure of the estrogen component of COCs may potentially reduce contraceptive efficacy or result in an increase in breakthrough bleeding, depending on the strength of ethinyl estradiol in the COC. Prevention or management Administer 4 or more hours apart to attenuate this drug interaction. a Induction potency of St. John’s wort may vary widely based on preparation. Substances increasing the systemic exposure of COCs: Co-administration of atorvastatin or rosuvastatin...

Contraindications

4 CONTRAINDICATIONS LoJaimiess is contraindicated in females who are known to have or develop the following conditions: A high risk of arterial or venous thrombotic diseases. Examples include females who are known to: Smoke, if over age 35 [see Boxed Warning and Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 )] Have current or history of deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 )] Have cerebrovascular disease [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 )] Have coronary artery disease [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 )] Have thrombogenic valvular or thrombogenic rhythm diseases of the heart (for example, subacute bacterial endocarditis with valvular disease, or atrial fibrillation) [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 )] Have inherited or acquired hypercoagulopathies [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 )] Have uncontrolled hypertension or hypertension with vascular disease [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.5 )] Have diabetes mellitus and are over age 35, diabetes mellitus with hypertension or with vascular disease or other end-organ damage, or diabetes mellitus of > 20 years duration [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.7 )] Have headaches with focal neurological symptoms, migraine headaches with aura, or over age 35 with any migraine headaches [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.8 )] Current diagnosis of, or history of, breast cancer, which may be hormone sensitive [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.11 )] Liver tumors, acute viral hepatitis, or severe (decompensated) cirrhosis [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.2 )] Undiagnosed abnormal uterine bleeding [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.9 )] Use of Hepatitis C drug combinations containing ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir, with or without dasabuvir, due to the potential for ALT elevations [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.4 )] . A high risk of arterial or venous thrombotic diseases ( 4 ) Undiagnosed abnormal uterine bleeding ( 4 ) Breast cancer ( 4 ) Liver tumors or liver disease, acute viral hepatitis or...

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

8.1 Pregnancy Risk Summary There is no use for contraception in pregnancy; therefore, levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol tablets, USP and ethinyl estradiol tablets, USP should be discontinued during pregnancy. Epidemiologic studies and meta-analyses have not found an increased risk of genital or non-genital birth defects (including cardiac anomalies and limb reduction defects) following exposure to COCs before conception or during early pregnancy. In the U.S. general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2 to 4 percent and 15 to 20 percent, respectively.

8.2 Lactation Risk Summary Contraceptive hormones and/or metabolites are present in human milk. COCs can reduce milk production in breastfeeding females. This reduction can occur at any time but is less likely to occur once breastfeeding is well-established. When possible, advise the nursing female to use other methods of contraception until she discontinues breastfeeding [See Dosage and Administration ( 2.1 ]. The developmental and health benefits of breastfeeding should be considered along with the mother’s clinical need for levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol tablets, USP and ethinyl estradiol tablets, USP and any potential adverse effects on the breastfed child from levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol tablets, USP and ethinyl estradiol tablets, USP or the underlying maternal condition.

Overdosage

10 OVERDOSAGE There have been no reports of serious ill effects from overdose of oral contraceptives, including ingestion by children. Overdosage may cause withdrawal bleeding in females and nausea.

How Supplied

16 HOW SUPPLIED/STORAGE AND HANDLING LoJaimiess (Levonorgestrel and Ethinyl Estradiol Tablets, USP and Ethinyl Estradiol Tablets, USP) tablets are available in an Extended-Cycle Tablet Dispenser, each containing a 13-week supply of tablets: 84 orange tablets, each containing 0.1 mg of levonorgestrel and 0.02 mg ethinyl estradiol, and 7 yellow tablets each containing 0.01 mg of ethinyl estradiol. The orange tablets are round, biconvex, film- coated, with XI and L2 debossed on opposite side. The yellow tablets are round, film-coated, with SZ and L1 debossed on opposite side. NDC 70700-124-87 (1 extended-cycle tablet dispensers, each tablet dispenser contains 91 tablets) Storage Store at 20 to 25°C (68 to77°F) [See USP Controlled Room Temperature].

About This Information

This drug information is sourced from FDA-approved labeling via the openFDA database. It is intended for educational and reference purposes only. This is not medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider before making decisions about medication. Drug information may be updated by the FDA; check with your pharmacist for the most current information.

What are side effects?

Side effects are unwanted reactions that can occur when taking a medication. They range from mild (headache, nausea) to severe (allergic reactions, organ damage). Not everyone experiences side effects, and severity varies. Report any concerning side effects to your doctor.

What are drug interactions?

Drug interactions occur when a medication is affected by another drug, food, or supplement. Interactions can make medications less effective or cause dangerous side effects. Always tell your doctor about all medications and supplements you take.