Kurvelo (Page 2 of 5)

PRECAUTIONS

1.Lipid Disorders

Women who are being treated for hyperlipidemias should be followed closely if they elect to use oral contraceptives. Some progestogens may elevate LDL levels and may render the control of hyperlipidemias more difficult [see WARNINGS (7)].

In patients with familial defects of lipoprotein metabolism receiving estrogen-containing preparations, there have been case reports of significant elevations of plasma triglycerides leading to pancreatitis.

2.Fluid Retention

Oral contraceptives may cause some degree of fluid retention. They should be prescribed with caution, and only with careful monitoring, in patients with conditions which might be aggravated by fluid retention.

3.Gastrointestinal Motility

Diarrhea and/or vomiting may reduce hormone absorption (see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION).

4.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 drug-drug interaction studies were conducted with levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol tablet.

4.1Effects of Other Drugs on Combined Oral Contraceptives

Substances Decreasing the Plasma Concentrations of COCs and Potentially Diminishing the Efficacy of COCs:

Table 1 includes substances that demonstrated an important drug interaction with levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol tablet.

Table 1: Significant Drug Interactions Involving Substances That Affect COCs
*
Induction potency of St. John’s wort may vary widely based on preparation.
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 *, 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.

Substances increasing the systemic exposure of COCs:

Co-administration of atorvastatin or rosuvastatin and COCs containing ethinyl estradiol increase systemic exposure of ethinyl estradiol by approximately 20 to 25 percent. Ascorbic acid and acetaminophen may increase systemic exposure of ethinyl estradiol, possibly by inhibition of conjugation. CYP3A inhibitors such as itraconazole, voriconazole, fluconazole, grapefruit juice7 , or ketoconazole may increase systemic exposure of the estrogen and/or progestin component of COCs.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/hepatitis C virus (HCV) protease inhibitors and non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors:

Significant decreases in systemic exposure of the estrogen and/or progestin have been noted when COCs are co-administered with some HIV protease inhibitors (e.g., nelfinavir, ritonavir, darunavir/ritonavir, (fos)amprenavir/ritonavir, lopinavir/ritonavir, and tipranavir/ritonavir), some HCV protease inhibitors (e.g., boceprevir and telaprevir), and some non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (e.g., nevirapine).

In contrast, significant increases in systemic exposure of the estrogen and/or progestin have been noted when COCs are co-administered with certain other HIV protease inhibitors (e.g., indinavir and atazanavir/ritonavir) and with other non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (e.g., etravirine).

4.2Effects of Combined Oral Contraceptives on Other Drugs

Table 2 provides significant drug interaction information for drugs co-administered with levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol tablet.

Table 2: Significant Drug Interaction Information for Drugs Co-Administered With COCs
Lamotrigine
Clinical effect • Concomitant use of COCs with lamotrigine may significantly decrease systemic exposure of lamotrigine due to induction of lamotrigine glucuronidation. • Decreased systemic exposure of lamotrigine may reduce seizure control.
Prevention or management Dose adjustment may be necessary. Consult the approved product labeling for lamotrigine.
Thyroid Hormone Replacement Therapy or Corticosteroid Replacement Therapy
Clinical effect Concomitant use of COCs with thyroid hormone replacement therapy or corticosteroid replacement therapy may increase systemic exposure of thyroid- binding and cortisol-binding globulin (see Warnings, EFFECT ON BINDING GLOBULINS).
Prevention or management The dose of replacement thyroid hormone or cortisol therapy may need to be increased. Consult the approved product labeling for the therapy in use (see Warnings, EFFECT ON BINDING GLOBULINS).
Other Drugs
Clinical effect Concomitant use of COCs may decrease systemic exposure of acetaminophen, morphine, salicylic acid, and temazepam. Concomitant use with ethinyl estradiol containing COCs may increase systemic exposure of other drugs (e.g., cyclosporine, prednisolone, theophylline, tizanidine, and voriconazole).
Prevention or management The dosage of drugs that can be affected by this interaction may need to be increased. Consult the approved product labeling for the concomitantly used drug.

4.3 Concomitant Use with Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Combination Therapy – Liver Enzyme Elevation

Do not co-administer levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol tablet with HCV drug combinations containing ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir, with or without dasabuvir, [see Warnings (5)], and glecaprevir/pibrentasvir due to potential for ALT elevations.

4.4 Effect on Laboratory Tests

The use of COCs may influence the results of certain laboratory tests, such as coagulation factors, lipids, glucose tolerance, and binding proteins.

5.Carcinogenesis

See WARNINGS (11).

6.Pregnancy

Risk Summary

Discontinue levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol tablet if pregnancy occurs because there is no reason to use COCs in pregnancy. Epidemiologic studies and meta- analyses have not found an increased risk of genital or nongenital birth defects (including cardiac anomalies and limb-reduction defects) following exposure to COCs before conception or during early pregnancy. Animal studies to evaluate embryo/fetal toxicity were not conducted.

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.

7.Lactation

Risk Summary

Contraceptive hormones and/or metabolites are present in human milk. COCs can reduce milk production in breast-feeding females. This reduction can occur at any time but is less likely to occur once breast-feeding is well-established. When possible, advise the nursing female to use other methods of contraception until she discontinues breast-feeding. (see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION). The developmental and health benefits of breast-feeding should be considered along with the mother’s clinical need for levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol tablet and any potential adverse effects on the breast-fed child from levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol tablet or from the underlying maternal condition.

8.Pediatric Use

Safety and efficacy of levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol tablet have been established in females of reproductive potential. Use of levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol tablet before menarche is not indicated.

9.Geriatric Use

Levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol tablet has not been studied in postmenopausal women and is not indicated in this population.

10.PATIENT COUNSELING INFORMATION

  • Counsel patients that cigarette smoking increases the risk of serious cardiovascular events from COC use, and that women who are over 35 years old and smoke should not use COCs. (see BOXED WARNING and CONTRAINDICATIONS)
  • Counsel patients that this product does not protect against HIV-infection (AIDS) and other sexually transmitted infections.
  • Counsel patients to take one tablet daily by mouth at the same time every day. Instruct patients what to do in the event pills are missed.
  • Counsel patients to use a back-up or alternative method of contraception when enzyme inducers are used with COCs.
  • Counsel patients who are breastfeeding or who desire to breastfeed that COCs may reduce breast milk production. This is less likely to occur if breastfeeding is well established.
  • Counsel any patient who starts levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol tablet postpartum, and who has not yet had a period, to use an additional method of contraception until she has taken a light-orange tablet for 7 consecutive days.
  • Counsel patients that amenorrhea may occur. Pregnancy should be considered in the event of amenorrhea, and should be ruled out if amenorrhea is associated with symptoms of pregnancy, such as morning sickness or unusual breast tenderness.

ADVERSE REACTIONS

The following serious adverse reactions with the use of COCs are discussed elsewhere in the labeling:

Adverse reactions reported by COC users and described elsewhere in the labeling are:

The following adverse reactions have been reported in patients receiving oral contraceptives and are believed to be drug-related: Breast tenderness, pain, enlargement, secretion; Nausea, vomiting and gastrointestinal symptoms (such as abdominal pain, cramps and bloating); Change in menstrual flow; Temporary infertility after discontinuation of treatment; Change in weight or appetite (increase or decrease); Change in cervical erosion and secretion; Cholestatic jaundice; Rash (allergic); Vaginitis, including candidiasis; Change in corneal curvature (steepening); Intolerance to contact lenses; Mesenteric thrombosis; Decrease in serum folate levels; Exacerbation of systemic lupus erythematosus; Exacerbation of porphyria; Exacerbation of chorea; Aggravation of varicose veins; Anaphylactic/anaphylactoid reactions, including urticaria, angioedema, and severe reactions with respiratory and circulatory symptoms.

The following adverse reactions have been reported in users of oral contraceptives, and the association has been neither confirmed nor refuted: Congenital anomalies; Premenstrual syndrome; Cataracts; Optic neuritis, which may lead to partial or complete loss of vision; Cystitis-like syndrome; Nervousness; Dizziness; Hirsutism; Loss of scalp hair; Erythema multiforme; Erythema nodosum; Hemorrhagic eruption; Impaired renal function; Hemolytic uremic syndrome; Budd-Chiari syndrome; Acne; Changes in libido; Colitis; Sickle-cell disease; Cerebral-vascular disease with mitral valve prolapse; Lupus-like syndromes; Pancreatitis; Dysmenorrhea.

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