Norelgestromin and Ethinyl Estradiol (Systemic)

Brand Names : Ortho Evra

Side Effects of This Medicine

Healthy women who do not smoke cigarettes have almost no chance of having a severe side effect from using hormonal contraceptives. For most women, more problems occur because of pregnancy than will occur from using hormonal contraceptives. But for some women who have special health problems, hormonal contraceptives can cause some unwanted effects. Some of these unwanted effects include heart disease, heart attack, benign (not cancerous) liver tumors, liver cancer, or blood clots or related problems, such as a stroke. Although these effects are very rare, they can be serious enough to cause death. You may want to discuss these effects with your doctor.

Other health problems that may be affected by using hormonal contraceptives are high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and being overweight.

Smoking cigarettes during the use of hormonal contraceptives has been found to greatly increase the chances of these serious side effects occurring. This risk increases with heavy smoking (15 or more cigarettes a day) or if you are over 35 years old. To reduce the risk of serious side effects, do not smoke cigarettes while you are taking hormonal contraceptives .

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:

Use with caution around small children. The contraceptive patch may be a choking hazard if swallowed by a child.

More common

Body aches or pain

chills; cough; difficulty breathing; ear congestion; fever; headache; loss of voice; nasal congestion; runny nose; sneezing; sore throat; unusual tiredness or weakness

Symptoms of Overdose

Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur

Nausea; vomiting; unusual vaginal bleeding in women

Frequency unknown

Anxiety; changes in skin color; chest pain or discomfort; confusion; dark urine; diarrhea; eye pain; dizziness; fainting; inability to speak; itching; lack or loss of appetite; light-colored stools; lightheadedness; nausea; nervousness; numbness in hands; pain in abdomen; pain in chest, groin, or legs, especially the calves; pain, tenderness, or swelling of foot or leg; pain or discomfort in arms, jaw, back or neck; pounding in the ears; rash; seizures; slow or fast heartbeat; slurred speech; sudden headache; sudden loss of coordination; sudden, severe weakness or numbness in arm or leg on one side of the body; sudden, unexplained shortness of breath; sweating; swelling, pain, or tenderness in upper abdominal area; temporary blindness; unpleasant breath odor; vision changes; vomiting of blood; yellow eyes or skin

Other side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. However, check with your doctor if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome.

More Common

Burning, itching, or redness of skin; menstrual cramps; pain, soreness, swelling, or discharge from the breast or breasts; swelling or soreness at patch site

Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your doctor.

Frequency unknown