NORETHINDRONE AND ETHINYL ESTRADIOL AND FERROUS FUMARATE

NORETHINDRONE AND ETHINYL ESTRADIOL AND FERROUS FUMARATE-
Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc.

WARNING: CIGARETTE SMOKING AND SERIOUS CARDIOVASCULAR EVENTS

Cigarette smoking increases the risk of serious cardiovascular events from combination oral contraceptive (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 should not be used by women who are over 35 years of age and smoke [see Contraindications (4)].

1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE

Norethindrone and ethinyl estradiol tablets (chewable) 0.8 mg/0.025 mg and ferrous fumarate tablets (chewable) 75 mg are indicated for use by women to prevent pregnancy.

The efficacy of norethindrone and ethinyl estradiol tablets (chewable) 0.8 mg/0.025 mg and ferrous fumarate tablets (chewable) 75 mg in women with a body mass index (BMI) of > 35 kg/m2 has not been evaluated.

2 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION

2.1 How to Take Norethindrone and Ethinyl Estradiol Tablets (Chewable) and Ferrous Fumarate Tablets (Chewable)

To achieve maximum contraceptive effectiveness, norethindrone and ethinyl estradiol tablets (chewable) and ferrous fumarate tablets (chewable) must be taken exactly as directed. Chew and swallow one tablet without water at the same time every day. Tablets must be taken in the order directed on the blister pack. Tablets should not be skipped or taken at intervals exceeding 24 hours. For patient instructions for missed pills, see FDA-Approved Patient Labeling. Norethindrone and ethinyl estradiol tablets (chewable) and ferrous fumarate tablets (chewable) may be administered without regard to meals [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)].

2.2 How to Start Norethindrone and Ethinyl Estradiol Tablets (Chewable) and Ferrous Fumarate Tablets (Chewable)

Instruct the patient to begin taking norethindrone and ethinyl estradiol tablets (chewable) and ferrous fumarate tablets (chewable) on Day 1 of her menstrual cycle (that is, the first day of her menstrual bleeding). One dark yellow tablet should be taken daily for 24 consecutive days followed by one brown tablet daily for 4 consecutive days [see FDA-Approved Patient Labeling]. Instruct the patient to use a non-hormonal contraceptive as back-up during the first 7 days if she starts taking norethindrone and ethinyl estradiol tablets (chewable) and ferrous fumarate tablets (chewable) other than on the first day of her menstrual cycle.

For postpartum women who do not breastfeed or after a second trimester abortion, norethindrone and ethinyl estradiol tablets (chewable) and ferrous fumarate tablets (chewable) may be started no earlier than 4 weeks postpartum. Recommend use of a non-hormonal back-up method for the first 7 days. When combined oral contraceptives (COCs) are used during the postpartum period, the increased risk of thromboembolic disease associated with the postpartum period must be considered. The possibility of ovulation and conception before starting COCs should also be considered.

If the patient is switching from a combination hormonal method such as:

o
Another pill
o
Vaginal ring
o
Patch
Instruct her to take the first dark yellow pill on the day she would have started a new cycle of her previous birth control pack (Day 1).
If she previously used a vaginal ring or transdermal patch, she should start using norethindrone and ethinyl estradiol tablets (chewable) and ferrous fumarate tablets (chewable) on the day she would have restarted the ring or patch.
Instruct the patient to use a non-hormonal back-up method such as a condom and spermicide for the first 7 days.

If the patient is switching from a progestin-only method such as:

o
Progestin-only pill
o
Implant
o
Intrauterine system
o
Injection
Instruct her to take the first dark yellow pill on the day she would have taken her next progestin-only pill or on the day of removal of her implant or intrauterine system or on the day when she would have had her next injection.
Instruct the patient to use a non-hormonal back-up method such as a condom and spermicide for the first 7 days.

2.3 Advice in Case of Gastrointestinal Disturbances

In case of severe vomiting or diarrhea, absorption may not be complete and additional contraceptive measures should be taken. If vomiting or diarrhea occurs within 3-4 hours after taking a dark yellow tablet, this can be regarded as a missed tablet [see FDA-Approved Patient Labeling].

3 DOSAGE FORMS AND STRENGTHS

Norethindrone and ethinyl estradiol tablets (chewable) and ferrous fumarate tablets (chewable) are available in blister packs.

Each blister pack (28 tablets) contains in the following order:

24 dark yellow, round tablets (active) debossed with 259 on one side and other side plain and each containing 0.8 mg norethindrone and 0.025 mg ethinyl estradiol.
4 brown, round tablets (non-hormonal placebo) debossed with 310 on one side and other side plain and each containing 75 mg ferrous fumarate. The ferrous fumarate tablets (chewable) do not serve any therapeutic purpose.

4 CONTRAINDICATIONS

Norethindrone and ethinyl estradiol tablets (chewable) and ferrous fumarate tablets (chewable) are contraindicated in females who are known to have or develop the following conditions:

A high risk of arterial or venous thrombotic diseases. Examples include women who are known to:s
o
Smoke, if over age 35 [see Boxed Warning, and Warnings and Precautions (5.1)]
o
Have deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism, now or in the past [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)]
o
Have cerebrovascular disease [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)]
o
Have coronary artery disease [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)]
o
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)]
o
Have inherited or acquired hypercoagulopathies [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)]
o
Have uncontrolled hypertension [see Warnings and Precautions (5.5)]
o
Have diabetes with vascular disease [see Warnings and Precautions (5.7)]
o
Have headaches with focal neurological symptoms or have migraine headaches with or without aura if over age 35 [see Warnings and Precautions (5.8)]
Current diagnosis of, or history of, breast cancer, which may be hormone-sensitive [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2)]
Liver tumors, benign or malignant, or liver disease [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3), Use in Specific Populations (8.7), and Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)]
Undiagnosed abnormal uterine bleeding [see Warnings and Precautions (5.9)]
Pregnancy, because there is no reason to use COCs during pregnancy [see Warnings and Precautions (5.9) and Use in Specific Populations (8.1)]
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)]

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