General MedicationsOralHigh Alert

VIENVA TM

LEVONORGESTREL AND ETHINYL ESTRADIOL

Standard Dose

DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION To achieve maximum contraceptive effectiveness, Vienva (levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol tablets, USP) must be taken exactly as directed and at intervals not exceeding 24 hours. The dosage of Vienva (levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol tablet, USP) is one white tablet daily for 21 consecutive days, followed by one peach inert tablet daily for 7 consecutive days, according to the prescribed schedule. It is recommended that Vienva (levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol tablet, USP) be taken at the same time each day. During The First Cycle Of Use The possibility of ovulation and conception prior to initiation of medication should be considered. The patient should be instructed to begin taking Vienva (levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol tablet, USP) on either the first Sunday after the onset of menstruation (Sunday Start) or on Day 1 of menstruation (Day 1 Start). Sunday start The patient is instructed to begin taking Vienva (levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol tablet, USP) on the first Sunday after the onset of menstruation. If menstruation begins on a Sunday, the first tablet (white) is taken that day. One white tablet should be taken daily for 21 consecutive days, followed by one peach inert tablet daily for 7 consecutive days. Withdrawal bleeding should usually occur within 3 days following discontinuation of white tablets and may not have finished before the next pack is started. During the first cycle, contraceptive reliance should not be placed on Vienva (levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol tablet, USP) until a white tablet has been taken daily for 7 consecutive days, and a nonhormonal back-up method of birth control should be used during those 7 days. Day 1 start During the first cycle of medication, the patient is instructed to begin taking Vienva (levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol tablet, USP) during the first 24 hours of her period (day one of her menstrual cycle). One white tablet should be taken daily for 21 consecutive days, followed by one peach inert tablet daily for 7 consecutive days. Withdrawal bleeding should usually occur within 3 days following discontinuation of white tablets and may not have finished before the next pack is started. If medication is begun on day one of the menstrual cycle, no back-up contraception is necessary. If Vienva (levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol tablet, USP) tablets are started later than day one of the first menstrual cycle or postpartum, contraceptive reliance should not be placed on Vienva (levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol tablet, USP) tablets until after the first 7 consecutive days of administration, and a nonhormonal back-up method of birth control should be used during those 7 days. After the first cycle of use The patient begins her next and all subsequent courses of tablets on the day after taking her last peach tablet. She should follow the same dosing schedule: 21 days on white tablets followed by 7 days on peach tablets. If in any cycle the patient starts tablets later than the proper day, she should protect herself against pregnancy by using a nonhormonal back-up method of birth control until she has taken a white tablet daily for 7 consecutive days. Switching from another hormonal method of contraception When the patient is switching from a 21-day regimen of tablets, she should wait 7 days after her last tablet before she starts Vienva (levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol tablet, USP). She will probably experience withdrawal bleeding during that week. She should be sure that no more than 7 days pass after her previous 21-day regimen. When the patient is switching from a 28-day regimen of tablets, she should start her first pack of Vienva (levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol tablet, USP) on the day after her last tablet. She should not wait any days between packs. The patient may switch any day from a progestin-only pill and should begin Vienva (levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol tablet, USP) the next day. If switching from an implant or injection, the patient should start Vienva (levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol tablet, USP) on the day of implant removal or, if using an injection, the day the next injection would be due. In switching from a progestin-only pill, injection, implant, or intrauterine system (IUS), the patient should be advised to use additional nonhormonal contraception (such as condoms) until active tablets have been taken for 7 consecutive days of the first pack. If spotting or breakthrough bleeding occurs If spotting or breakthrough bleeding occur, the patient is instructed to continue on the same regimen. This type of bleeding is usually transient and without significance; however, if the bleeding is persistent or prolonged, the patient is advised to consult her physician. Risk of pregnancy if tablets are missed While there is little likelihood of ovulation occurring if only one or two white tablets are missed, the possibility of ovulation increases with each successive day that scheduled white tablets are missed. Although the occurrence of pregnancy is unlikely if Vienva (levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol tablet, USP) is taken according to directions, if withdrawal bleeding does not occur, the possibility of pregnancy must be considered. If the patient has not adhered to the prescribed schedule (missed one or more tablets or started taking them on a day later than she should have), the probability of pregnancy should be considered at the time of the first missed period and appropriate diagnostic measures taken. If the patient has adhered to the prescribed regimen and misses two consecutive periods, pregnancy should be ruled out. The risk of pregnancy increases with each active (white) tablet missed. For additional patient instructions regarding missed tablets, see the WHAT TO DO IF YOU MISS PILLS section in the DETAILED PATIENT LABELING below. Use after pregnancy, abortion or miscarriage Vienva (levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol tablet, USP) may be initiated no earlier than day 28 postpartum in the nonlactating mother or after a second trimester abortion due to the increased risk for thromboembolism (see CONTRAINDICATIONS , WARNINGS , and PRECAUTIONS concerning thromboembolic disease). The patient should be advised to use additional nonhormonal contraception (such as condoms) until active tablets have been taken for 7 consecutive days. Vienva (levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol tablet, USP) may be initiated immediately after a first trimester abortion or miscarriage. Instruct the patient to use additional nonhormonal contraception (such as condoms) until active tablets have been taken for 7 consecutive days, unless starting Vienva on the day of surgical abortion.

Max Dose

See official label

Primary Use

INDICATIONS AND USAGE Vienva (levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol tablets, USP) is indicated for use by females of reproductive potential to prevent pregnancy.

Summary

Indications and usage INDICATIONS AND USAGE Vienva (levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol tablets, USP) is indicated for use by females of reproductive potential to prevent pregnancy.

Limitations of use : The efficacy of levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol in women with a body mass index (BMI) of > 35 kg/m 2 has not been adequately evaluated.

Structured Monograph

Clinical summary

Indications and usage INDICATIONS AND USAGE Vienva (levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol tablets, USP) is indicated for use by females of reproductive potential to prevent pregnancy. Limitations of use : The efficacy of levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol in women with a body mass index (BMI) of > 35 kg/m 2 has not been adequately evaluated. In a clinical trial with levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol tablets, 1,477 subjects had 7,720 cycles of use and a total of 5 pregnancies were reported. This represents an overall pregnancy rate of 0.84 per 100 woman-years. This rate includes patients who did not take the drug correctly. One or more pills were missed during 1,479 (18.8%) of the 7,870 cycles; thus all tablets were taken during 6,391 (81.2%) of the 7,870 cycles. Of the total 7,870 cycles, a total of 150 cycles were excluded from the calculation of the Pearl index due to the use of backup contraception and/or missing 3 or more consecutive pills. The mean BMI of the study population was 24 kg/m 2 . Females with a BMI greater than 30 kg/m 2 accounted for 12.1% (n=179) of the study population. Females with a BMI over 35 kg/m 2 accounted for 4.3% (n=63) of the study population. Dosage and administration DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION To achieve maximum contraceptive effectiveness, Vienva (levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol tablets, USP) must be taken exactly as directed and at intervals not exceeding 24 hours. The dosage of Vienva (levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol tablet, USP) is one white tablet daily for 21 consecutive days, followed by one peach inert tablet daily for 7 consecutive days, according to the prescribed schedule. It is recommended that Vienva (levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol tablet, USP) be taken at the same time each day. During The First Cycle Of Use The possibility of ovulation and conception prior to initiation of medication should be considered. The patient should be instructed to begin taking Vienva (levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol tablet, USP) on either the first Sunday after the onset of menstruation (Sunday Start) or on Day 1 of menstruation (Day 1 Start). Sunday start The patient is instructed to begin taking Vienva (levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol tablet, USP) on the first Sunday after the onset of menstruation. If menstruation begins on a Sunday, the first tablet (white) is taken that day. One white tablet should be taken daily for 21 consecutive days, followed by one peach inert tablet daily for 7 consecutive days. Withdrawal bleeding should usually occur within 3 days following discontinuation of white tablets and may not have finished before the next pack is started. During the first cycle, contraceptive reliance should not be placed on Vienva (levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol tablet, USP) until a white tablet has been taken daily for 7 consecutive days, and a nonhormonal back-up method of birth control should be used during those 7 days. Day 1 start During the first cycle of medication, the patient is instructed to begin taking Vienva (levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol tablet, USP) during the first 24 hours of her period (day one of her menstrual cycle). One white tablet should be taken daily for 21 consecutive days, followed by one peach inert tablet daily for 7 consecutive days. Withdrawal bleeding should usually occur within 3 days following discontinuation of white tablets and may not have finished before the next pack is started. If medication is begun on day one of the menstrual cycle, no back-up contraception is necessary. If Vienva (levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol tablet, USP) tablets are started later than day one of the first menstrual cycle or postpartum, contraceptive reliance should not be placed on Vienva (levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol tablet, USP) tablets until after the first 7 consecutive days of administration, and a nonhormonal back-up method of birth control should be used during those 7 days. After the first cycle of use The patient begins her next and all subsequent courses of tablets on the day after taking her last peach tablet. She should follow the same dosing schedule: 21 days on white tablets followed by 7 days on peach tablets. If in any cycle the patient starts tablets later than the proper day, she should protect herself against pregnancy by using a nonhormonal back-up method of birth control until she has taken a white tablet daily for 7 consecutive days. Switching from another hormonal method of contraception When the patient is switching from a 21-day regimen of tablets, she should wait 7 days after her last tablet before she starts Vienva (levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol tablet, USP). She will probably experience withdrawal bleeding during that week. She should be sure that no more than 7 days pass after her previous 21-day regimen. When the patient is switching from a 28-day regimen of tablets, she should start her first pack of Vienva (levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol tablet, USP) on the day after

Monitoring

• WARNINGS WARNING: CIGARETTE SMOKING AND SERIOUS CARDIOVASCULAR EVENTS Cigarette smoking increases the risk of serious cardiovascular events from combined 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 levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol, are contraindicated in women who are over 35 years of age and smoke.
• 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.

Interaction Notes

• Review official label interaction section.