Type of medicine: contraceptive (birth control)
Generic and brand names: norelgestromin and ethinyl estradiol, transdermal; Ortho Evra
This medicine is a patch applied to the skin to prevent pregnancy. It is a combination of a progestin and estrogen, two female hormones. This medicine may be used for other conditions as determined by your healthcare provider.
Before taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:
Tell your healthcare provider if you smoke. Smoking while you are using this medicine increases the risk of serious side effects such as heart attack, stroke, and blood clots.
Females of childbearing age: Do not use this product if you are pregnant, think you may be pregnant, or are breast-feeding because it may harm the baby.
The patch is a weekly form of birth control. You will change your patch once a week for 3 weeks in a row. You will not wear a patch during the fourth week.
Apply the patch on the same day of the week each week. This is your "patch change day". For example, if the first patch is applied on Monday, apply future patches on Monday of each of the 3 weeks in a cycle. Wear only 1 patch at a time.
After 1 week without a patch (week 4), you start a new 4-week cycle by applying a new patch. Never go for more than 7 days without a patch or you will not be protected from getting pregnant.
You can decide with your healthcare provider when to start wearing the patch. This could be either on the first day of your period, or on the first Sunday after your period starts.
If you are starting on the first day of your period, you must apply the first patch during the first 24 hours of your menstrual period. If you start after day 1 of your menstrual period, you need to use another kind of birth control, such as condoms or a diaphragm, for the first 7 days that you wear the patch.
For a Sunday start, apply the first patch on the first Sunday after your period starts. Use another kind of birth control such as condoms or a diaphragm for the first 7 days that you wear the patch.
You can wear your patch on the buttocks, abdomen, upper body (front or back, except the breasts), or upper outer arm. Do not apply the patch on skin that is red, irritated, or cut. Do not apply the patch to your breasts. You can wear it in a different place each week to avoid irritation. Do not wear it under tight clothing.
Do not put make-up, creams, lotions, powders, or other products on the skin where you wear a patch.
If a patch comes off, try to put it back on the same spot, or replace it with a new patch right away. No back-up birth control is needed. Your patch change day will stay the same.
Do not reapply a patch if:
If you cannot reapply the same patch, apply a new patch right away. Do not use tape, bandages, or wraps to hold a patch in place.
If the patch comes off and stays off for more than 24 hours, or you are not sure how long the patch has been off, you may not be protected against pregnancy. You must start a new patch cycle by applying a new patch. This will be a new day 1 and a new patch change day. You must use a back-up method of birth control for the first week of the new cycle.
Check with your healthcare provider if you:
An acute overdose of this medicine is not likely to cause life-threatening symptoms. If you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much of this medicine, call the poison control center at 800-222-1222.
Smoking while you take this medicine increases your risk of side effects. The risk increases with age and the number of cigarettes smoked per day. Talk to your healthcare provider about ways to quit smoking.
Hormones from patches put on the skin get into the blood stream. You will be exposed to more estrogen if you use this medicine than if you use a birth control pill. Increased estrogen exposure may increase the risk of side effects. Talk with your provider about this.
If you need emergency care, surgery, or dental work, tell the healthcare provider or dentist you are using birth control hormones. You may have a greater risk of blood clots. The patch may need to be removed before certain tests or procedures such as MRIs.
If you need any lab tests, tell your healthcare provider you are using the patch. Birth control hormones may change some blood test results. If you need an MRI, remove the patch before the test. The patch may interfere with the MRI.
This product does not protect against HIV infection (AIDS) or other sexually transmitted diseases.
If you wear contact lenses your vision might change. You may not be able to wear contact lenses. Talk to your healthcare provider about this.
Diabetics: This medicine may affect your blood sugar level and change the amount of insulin or other diabetes medicines you may need. Talk to your healthcare provider about this.
Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.
Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away. If you are unable to reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help):
Serious (report these to your healthcare provider right away):
Other: Vaginal or urinary infection, vaginal discharge or itching, weight gain, headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, mood swings, skin irritation where you apply the patch.
When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these medicines together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:
If you are not sure if your medicines might interact, ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider. Keep a list of all your medicines with you. List all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.
Store this medicine at room temperature. Do not place in refrigerator or freezer. Keep the patches tightly sealed until ready to use. Protect them from heat, high humidity, and bright light.
This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.
Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.
Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.
Do not share medicines with other people.
