Kurvelo

What Is Kurvelo?

Kurvelo (levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol) is an oral contraceptive indicated for the prevention of pregnancy in women who elect to use this product as a method of contraception. Kurvelo is available in generic form.

What Are Side Effects of Kurvelo?

Common side effects of Kurvelo include:

• nausea,
• vomiting,
• abdominal cramps,
• bloating,
• breakthrough bleeding,
• spotting,
• changes in menstrual flow,
• missed periods,
• swelling,
• freckles or darkening of facial skin,
• breast tenderness or enlargement,
• nipple discharge,
• weight gain or loss,
• changes in vaginal discharge,
• migraine,
• rash (allergic),
• depression,
• vaginal yeast infection,
• and intolerance to contact lenses.

Cigarette smoking increases the risk of serious cardiovascular side effects from use of oral contraceptives such as Kurvelo. Women who use oral contraceptives including Kurvelo are strongly advised not to smoke.

Dosage for Kurvelo

To achieve maximum contraceptive effectiveness, Kurvelo must be taken exactly as directed and at intervals not exceeding 24 hours. The dosage of Kurvelo is one light orange tablet daily for 21 consecutive days, followed by one pink inert tablet daily for 7 consecutive days, according to prescribed schedule.

What Drugs, Substances, or Supplements Interact with Kurvelo?

Kurvelo may interact with:

• with rifampin,
• drugs used for epilepsy such as barbiturates and phenytoin,
• primidone,
• topiramate,
• phenylbutazone,
• some drugs used for HIV such as ritonavir, modafinil, certain antibiotics, St. John's wort, lamotrigine, bosentan, carbamazepine, felbamate, griseofulvin, and oxcarbazepine.

Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use.

Kurvelo During Pregnancy or Breastfeeding

Kurvelo is not recommended for use during pregnancy. Small amounts of Kurvelo pass into breast milk and may cause adverse reactions in nursing infants. Breastfeeding while using Kurvelo is not recommended.

Additional Information

Our Kurvelo (levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol) Side Effects Drug Center provides a comprehensive view of available drug information on the potential side effects when taking this medication.

 

Kurvelo Consumer Information

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop using birth control pills and call your doctor at once if you have:

• signs of a stroke--sudden numbness or weakness (especially on one side of the body), severe headache, slurred speech, balance problems;
• signs of a blood clot--sudden vision loss, stabbing chest pain, feeling short of breath, coughing up blood, swelling or redness in an arm or leg;
• heart attack symptoms--chest pain or pressure, pain spreading to your jaw or shoulder, nausea, sweating;
• liver problems--loss of appetite, upper stomach pain, tiredness, fever, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);
• increased blood pressure--severe headache, blurred vision, pounding in your neck or ears;
• swelling in your hands, ankles, or feet;
• changes in the pattern or severity of migraine headaches;
• a breast lump; or
• symptoms of depression--sleep problems, weakness, tired feeling, mood changes.

Common side effects may include:

• nausea, vomiting (especially when you first start taking this medicine);
• breast tenderness;
• breakthrough bleeding;
• acne, darkening of facial skin;
• weight gain; or
• problems with contact lenses.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Read the entire detailed patient monograph for Kurvelo (Levonorgestrel and Ethinyl Estradiol Tablets)

 

Kurvelo Professional Information

SIDE EFFECTS

An increased risk of the following serious adverse reactions (see WARNINGS section for additional information) has been associated with the use of oral contraceptives:

Thromboembolic disorders and other vascular problems (including thrombophlebitis, arterial thromboembolism, pulmonary embolism, myocardial infarction, cerebral hemorrhage, cerebral thrombosis), carcinoma of the reproductive organs, hepatic neoplasia (including hepatic adenomas or benign liver tumors), ocular lesions (including retinal vascular thrombosis), gallbladder disease, carbohydrate and lipid effects, elevated blood pressure, and headache.

The following adverse reactions have been reported in patients receiving oral contraceptives and are believed to be drug-related:

Nausea
Vomiting
Gastrointestinal symptoms (such as abdominal pain, cramps and bloating)
Breakthrough bleeding
Spotting
Change in menstrual flow
Amenorrhea
Temporary infertility after discontinuation of treatment
Edema/fluid retention
Melasma/chloasma which may persist
Breast changes: tenderness, pain, enlargement, secretion
Change in weight or appetite (increase or decrease)
Change in cervical erosion and secretion
Diminution in lactation when given immediately postpartum
Cholestatic jaundice
Rash (allergic)
Mood changes, including depression
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

Read the entire FDA prescribing information for Kurvelo (Levonorgestrel and Ethinyl Estradiol Tablets)