Previfem

PREVIFEM- norgestimate and ethinyl estradiol
Par Pharmaceutical, 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 are contraindicated in women who are over 35 years of age and smoke [see CONTRAINDICATIONS (4)].

1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE

1.1 Oral Contraceptive

Previfem® (norgestimate and ethinyl estradiol tablets) are indicated for use by females of reproductive potential to prevent pregnancy [see CLINICAL STUDIES (14)].

2 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION

2.1 How to Start Previfem®

Previfem® (norgestimate and ethinyl estradiol tablets), are dispensed in a blister pack [see HOW SUPPLIED/STORAGE AND HANDLING (16)]. Previfem® may be started using either a Day 1 start or a Sunday start (see Table 1). For the first cycle of a Sunday Start regimen, an additional method of contraception should be used until after the first 7 consecutive days of administration.

2.2 How to Take Previfem®

Table 1: Instructions for Administration of Previfem®
Complete instructions to facilitate patient counseling on proper tablet usage are located in the FDA-Approved Patient Labeling.

Starting COCs in women not currently using hormonal contraception (Day 1 Start or Sunday Start)


Important :
Consider the possibility of ovulation and conception prior to initiation of this product.


Tablet Color:

  • Previfem® active tablets are blue (Day 1 to Day 21).
  • Previfem® has green inactive tablets (Day 22 to Day 28)

Day 1 Start:

  • Take first active tablet without regard to meals on the first day of menses.
  • Take subsequent active tablets once daily at the same time each day for a total of 21 days.
  • Take one green inactive tablet daily for 7 days and at the same time of day that active tablets were taken.
  • Begin each subsequent blister pack on the same day of Previfem® the week as the first cycle blister pack (i.e., on the day after taking the last inactive tablet)

Sunday Start:

  • Take first active tablet without regard to meals on the first Sunday after the onset of menses. Due to the potential risk of becoming pregnant, use additional non-hormonal contraception (such as condoms and spermicide) for the first seven days of the patient’s first cycle blister pack of Previfem®.
  • Take subsequent active tablets once daily at the same time each day for a total of 21 days.
  • Take one green inactive tablet daily for the following 7 days and at the same time of day that active tablets were taken.
  • Begin each subsequent blister pack on the same day of the week as the first cycle blister pack (i.e., on the Sunday after taking the last inactive tablet) and additional non-hormonal contraceptive is not needed.

Switching to Previfem® from another oral contraceptive

Start on the same day that a new blister pack of the previous oral contraceptive would have started.

Switching from another contraceptive method to Previfem®

Start Previfem®:

  • Transdermal patch
  • On the day when next application would have been scheduled
  • Vaginal ring
  • On the day when next insertion would have been scheduled
  • Injection
  • On the day when next injection would have been scheduled
  • Intrauterine contraceptive
  • On the day of removal
  • If the IUD is not removed on first day of the patient’s menstrual cycle, additional non-hormonal contraceptive (such as condoms and spermicide) is needed for the first seven days of the first cycle blister pack.
  • Implant
  • On the day of removal

Starting Previfem® after Abortion or Miscarriage

First-trimester

  • After a first-trimester abortion or miscarriage, Previfem® may be started immediately. An additional method of contraception is not needed if Previfem® is started immediately.
  • If Previfem® is not started within 5 days after termination of the pregnancy, the patient should use additional non-hormonal contraception (such as condoms and spermicide) for the first seven days of her first cycle blister pack of Previfem®.

Second-trimester

  • Do not start until 4 weeks after a second-trimester abortion or miscarriage, due to the increased risk of thromboembolic disease. Start Previfem® , following the instructions in Table 1 for Day 1 or Sunday start, as desired. If using Sunday start, use additional non-hormonal contraception (such as condoms and spermicide) for the first seven days of the patient’s first cycle blister pack of Previfem® [see CONTRAINDICATIONS ( 4), WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS ( 5.1), and FDA-APPROVED PATIENT LABELING].

Starting Previfem® after Childbirth

  • Do not start until 4 weeks after delivery, due to the increased risk of thromboembolic disease. Start contraceptive therapy with Previfem® following the instructions in Table 1 for women not currently using hormonal contraception.
  • Previfem® is not recommended for use in lactating women [see USE IN SPECIFIC POPULATIONS (8.3)].
  • If the woman has not yet had a period postpartum, consider the possibility of ovulation and conception occurring prior to use of Previfem®. [See CONTRAINDICATIONS ( 4) , WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS (5.1), USE IN SPECIFIC POPULATIONS (8.1 and 8.3), and FDA- APPROVED PATIENT LABELING].

BEFORE YOU START TAKING YOUR PILLS

1. DECIDE WHAT TIME OF DAY YOU WANT TO TAKE YOUR PILL.

It is important to take it at about the same time every day.

2. LOOK AT YOUR PILL PACK

The pill blister pack has 21 active pills (with hormones) to take for 3 weeks. This is followed by 1 week of reminder green pills (without hormones).

There are 21 blue active pills, and 7 green reminder pills.

3. ALSO FIND:

1. where on the blister pack to start taking pills,

2. in what order to take the pills (follow the arrows)

3. The week numbers as shown in the diagram below.

blister
(click image for full-size original)

4. BE SURE YOU HAVE READY AT ALL TIMES:

Another kind of birth control (such as a condom or spermicide) to use as a back-up method in case you miss pills.

An extra, full pill blister pack.

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