Etonogestrel and Ethinyl Estradiol (Vaginal)

Brand Names : NuvaRing

Before Receiving This Device

In deciding whether to use the combined contraceptive vaginal ring as a method of birth control, you need to consider the risks of using it as well as the good it can do. This is a decision you, your sexual partner, and your health care professional will make. For etonogestrel and ethinyl estradiol vaginal ring the following should be considered:

Allergies - Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to etonogestrel, ethinyl estradiol, estrogens or progesterones. Also tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy - Etonogestrel and ethinyl estradiol vaginal ring use is not recommended during pregnancy or if you think you are pregnant. Before using this contraceptive ring be sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or if you may become pregnant.

Breast-feeding - The hormones contained in this contraceptive ring have been shown to cause unwanted effects in the nursing baby when they were administered orally to the nursing mother. It may be necessary for you to use another form of contraception or to stop breast-feeding while you are using this contraceptive ring. Be sure you have discussed the risks and benefits of using this contraceptive ring with your doctor.

Children - Studies with this contraceptive ring have been done only in adult patients, and it is not expected to cause different side effects in children than it does in adults. The etonogestrel and ethinyl estradiol vaginal ring is not intended for use in children or adolescents who have not yet started menstruating.

Older adults - Many medicines have not been studied specifically in older people. Therefore, it may not be known if this works the same way in younger adults as it does in older adults. There is no specific information comparing the use of etonogestrel and ethinyl estradiol vaginal ring in the elderly with use in other age groups. The etonogestrel and ethinyl estradiol vaginal ring is not intended for use in women older than child-bearing age.

Other medicines - Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Be sure to tell your health care professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine. When you are using the etonogestrel and ethinyl estradiol vaginal ring, it is especially important that your doctor and pharmacist know if you are taking any of the following:

• Antibiotics (medicines to treat infections) such as:
• Ampicillin or
• Rifampin (e.g., Rifadin, Rifadin IV. Rimactane) or
• Tetracyclines (e.g., Declomycin, Doxycycline, Minocycline, Monodox, Vibra-Tabs) - Taking these medicines while using the contraceptive ring can cause the ring to fail and cause unintended pregnancy.

• Anticonvulsants (medicine for seizures) such as:
• Carbamazepine (e.g., Epitol, Tegretol) or
• Felbamate (e.g., Felbatol) or
• Oxcarbazepine (e.g., Trileptal) or
• Phenytoin (e.g., Dilantin, Phenytek) or
• Topiramate (e.g.,Topamax) - These medicines may prevent the contraceptive ring from working properly and may result in an unplanned pregnancy. While taking these medicines you may need to use a back up form of contraception.

• Antifungals (medicine for fungus infections) such as:
• Griseofulvin (e.g., Fulvicin, Grifulvin, Gris-Peg) - These medicines may prevent the contraceptive ring from working properly and may result in an unplanned pregnancy. While taking these medicines you may need to use a back up form of contraception.

• Barbiturates (e.g., Mebaral, Nembutal, Phenobarbital, Seconal) - This medicine may prevent the contraceptive ring from working properly and may result in an unplanned pregnancy. While taking this medicine you may need to use a back up form of contraception.

• Cyclosporine (e.g., Neoral, Sandimmune) or
• Prednisolone (e.g., Prelone) or
• Theophylline - The hormones in your contraceptive ring can prevent these medicines being removed from your body and this can cause problems from having too much of these medicines in your body.

• Protease inhibitors (medicine used to treat HIV infections) - This medicine may prevent the contraceptive ring from working properly or increase hormone levels in your body leading to unwanted side effects. Tell your doctor which protease inhibitors you are taking.

• Smoking, cigarette - Smoking increases the risk for very serious side effects. If you are using etonogestrel and ethinyl estradiol vaginal ring it is strongly advised that you do not smoke.
• St. Johns's Wort - This herbal medicine may prevent the contraceptive ring from working properly and result in unplanned pregnancy.

Other medical problems - The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of etonogestrel and ethinyl estradiol vaginal ring. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Abnormal or unusual vaginal bleeding (nonmenstrual) - The use of etonogestrel and ethinyl estradiol vaginal ring may delay diagnosis or worsen this condition. The reason for the bleeding should be determined before etonogestrel and ethinyl estradiol vaginal ring is used.

• Breast cancer (now or in the past or if suspected) or
• Cancer of the lining of the uterus, cervix or vagina (now or in the past) or
• Cancer that worsens when estrogen is present (now or in the past) or
• Confined to bed or inability to move for long period of time or
• Coronary artery disease (now or in the past) or
• Diabetes mellitus with blood vessel problems or
• Headache (severe) with changes in vision, loss of coordination, inability to move, numbness in arms or legs, or fainting or
• High blood pressure, severe or
• Jaundice while using birth control pills or
• Jaundice during pregnancy or
• Liver disease (active) or
• Liver tumors or
• Surgery (major) or
• Problems with circulation or blood clots, now or in the past, such as:
• Blood clots in your brain or
• Blood clots in your legs or
• Blood clots in your lungs or
• Blood clots in your eyes
• Problems with heart valves - these conditions may increase your chance of serious side effects.

• Coronary artery disease risk factors such as:
• Diabetes (sugar diabetes) or
• High blood pressure or
• High cholesterol or
• Obesity - These conditions may increase your chance of serious side effects when using etonogestrel and ethinyl estradiol vaginal ring.

• Depression or
• Diabetes mellitus (sugar diabetes) or
• Headache of type not experience before or
• High blood pressure or
• Kidney disease or
• Migraine headache or
• Problems with too much insulin in your blood or
• Problems with too much sugar in your blood - This medication may make this condition worse.

• Menstrual vaginal bleeding (lack of or heavy) - This problem may occur when contraceptive medicine is stopped, especially if it has happened in the past.

• Smoking cigarettes - Smoking may increase your chance of serious side effects, especially if you are over 35 years of age or smoke 15 cigarettes or more a day.

• Swollen ankles, feet, or hands - This medication may make this condition worse. This medicine may also make other medical problems worse when your body keeps too much water or fluid.