XULANE does not protect against HIV infection (AIDS) and other sexually transmitted infections.
Who should not use XULANE?
Do not use XULANE if you have or have had blood clots; an inherited problem that makes your blood clot more than normal; history of heart attack, stroke, or certain heart valve or rhythm problems that can cause blood clots to form in the heart; high blood pressure that medicine cannot control; diabetes with kidney, eye, nerve, or blood vessel damage; certain kinds of severe migraine headaches with aura, numbness, weakness, or changes in vision or any migraine headaches if you are over 35; a BMI of 30 kg/m2 or more; liver disease or liver tumors; unexplained vaginal bleeding; have had breast cancer or any cancer that is sensitive to female hormones; if you take Hepatitis C drugs containing ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir, with or without dasabuvir, as this may increase levels of the liver enzyme “alanine aminotransferase” (ALT) in the blood; or if you are or may be pregnant.
Before you use XULANE:
Tell your healthcare professional about all of your medical conditions, including:
- If you are pregnant or think you are pregnant.
- If you are scheduled for surgery as XULANE may increase your risk of blood clots after surgery. You should stop using your XULANE patch at least 4 weeks before and through at least 2 weeks after surgery.
- If you are scheduled for any laboratory tests as certain blood tests may be affected by XULANE.
- If you have experienced yellowing of the skin or eyes caused by pregnancy or related to previous use of hormonal birth control.
- Are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. XULANE may decrease the amount of milk you make, and a small amount of hormones from the XULANE patch may pass into your breast milk.
Tell your healthcare professional about all medicines and herbal products that you take, including those for seizures and thyroid replacement therapy, as some of these may require dosing adjustments or may make XULANE less effective. Use another birth control method (such as a condom and spermicide or diaphragm and spermicide) when you take medicines that may make the XULANE patch less effective.
Some medicines and grapefruit juice may increase your level of the hormone ethinyl estradiol if used together with XULANE.
What are the most serious risks of taking XULANE?
XULANE may cause serious side effects, including blood clots, especially if you have other risk factors, such as smoking, obesity, or age>35. Some examples of blood clots are deep vein thrombosis (legs), pulmonary embolus (lungs), loss of eyesight (eyes), heart attack (heart), and stroke (brain). These can cause death or lead to permanent disability.
The risk of blood clots is highest when you first start using XULANE and when you restart XULANE or a different hormonal birth control after a break of a month or more. Some studies have reported that women who use norelgestromin and ethinyl estradiol transdermal system have a higher risk of getting a blood clot. Talk with your healthcare professional about your risk of getting a blood clot before using XULANE or deciding which type of birth control is right for you.
Call your healthcare professional right away if you have:
Leg pain that will not go away; sudden shortness of breath; sudden blindness, partial or complete; severe pain or pressure in your chest; sudden, severe headache unlike your usual headaches; weakness or numbness in an arm or leg, or trouble speaking; yellowing of the skin or eyeballs.
Other serious risks include:
Liver problems including liver tumors; gallbladder disease; high blood pressure.
What are the most common side effects of XULANE?
The most common side effects reported in at least 5% of women during clinical trials were breast symptoms (discomfort, swelling, or pain); nausea/vomiting; headache; skin irritation, redness, pain, swelling, itching or rash at the patch application site; stomach pain; pain during menstruation; vaginal bleeding and menstrual disorders, such as spotting or bleeding between periods; and mood, affect and anxiety disorders.
Tell your healthcare professional about any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away. These are not all the possible side effects of XULANE. For more information, ask your healthcare professional or pharmacist. Call your healthcare provider for medical advice about side effects.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA.
Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
Does hormonal birth control cause cancer?
It is not known if hormonal birth control causes cancer. Some studies, but not all, suggest that there could be a slight increase in the risk of breast cancer among current users with longer duration of use.
Women who use hormonal birth control methods may have a slightly higher chance of getting cervical cancer. However, this may be due to other reasons such as having more sexual partners.
What is XULANE?
XULANE is a prescription birth control patch for women with a BMI<30 kg/m2. It contains two female hormones, an estrogen called ethinyl estradiol, and a progestin called norelgestromin.
Hormones from XULANE get into the blood stream and are processed by the body differently than hormones from birth control pills. You will be exposed to about 60% more estrogen if you use XULANE than if you use a typical birth control pill containing 35 micrograms of estrogen. In general, increased estrogen may increase the risk of side effects.
Limitations of Use:
XULANE may not be as effective in women weighing more than 198 lbs. (90 kg). If you weigh more than 198 lbs. (90 kg), talk to your healthcare provider about which method of birth control is right for you.
Do not use XULANE if your Body Mass Index (BMI) is 30 kg/m2 or more.
This is not all of the information you should read prior to using XULANE. Please see the accompanying Patient Information and full Prescribing Information, including Boxed WARNING.