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Important Safety Information, including BOXED WARNING
Indications and Usage
Balcoltra is a progestin/estrogen combination oral contraceptive (COC) indicated for use by females of reproductive potential to prevent pregnancy.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION for Balcoltra® (levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol tablets and ferrous bisglycinate tablets)
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.
Contraindications
Balcoltra is contraindicated in women with a high risk of arterial or venous thrombotic diseases, liver tumors (benign or malignant) or liver disease, undiagnosed abnormal uterine bleeding, during pregnancy, with current diagnosis of, or history of, breast cancer, which may be hormone-sensitive (now or in the past), hypersensitivity to any of the components, or in women who are currently taking Hepatitis C drug combinations containing ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir (with or without dasabuvir).
Warnings and Precautions
- Discontinue Balcoltra if an arterial thrombotic event or venous thromboembolic event (VTE) occurs, and at least 4 weeks before and through 2 weeks after major surgery or other surgeries known to have an elevated risk of VTE as well as during prolonged immobilization. Balcoltra should not be started any earlier than 4 weeks after delivery, in women who are not breastfeeding. The use of COCs increases the risk of VTE. The risk of VTE is highest during the first year of use of COCs and when restarting hormonal contraception after a break of 4 weeks or longer. Use of COCs also increases the risk of arterial thromboses such as strokes and myocardial infarctions. Use COCs with caution in women with cardiovascular disease risk factors.
- If jaundice occurs, treatment should be discontinued.
- Balcoltra should not be prescribed for women with uncontrolled hypertension or hypertension with vascular disease. An increase in blood pressure has been reported in women taking COCs, and this increase is more likely in older women with extended duration of use. If Balcoltra is used in women with well-controlled hypertension, monitor blood pressure and stop treatment if blood pressure rises significantly.
- Women who are prediabetic or diabetic should be monitored while using Balcoltra. Alternate contraceptive methods should be considered for women with uncontrolled dyslipidemia.
- Patients using Balcoltra who have a significant change in headaches or who develop new headaches that are recurrent, persistent, or severe should be evaluated, and Balcoltra should be discontinued if indicated.
- Irregular bleeding and spotting sometimes occurs in patients on COCs, especially during the first three months of use. If bleeding persists or occurs after previously regular cycles on Balcoltra, check for causes such as pregnancy or malignancy.
- This product contains FD&C Yellow No. 5 (tartrazine) which may cause allergic-type reactions (including bronchial asthma) in certain susceptible persons. Sensitivity to tartrazine is frequently seen in patients who have aspirin hypersensitivity.
Adverse Reactions
In a clinical trial with levonorgestrel 0.1 mg and ethinyl estradiol 0.02 mg, the most common adverse reactions (incidence ≥ 2%) were headache (14%), metrorrhagia (8%), dysmenorrhea (7%), nausea (7%), abdominal pain (4%), breast pain (4%), emotional lability (3%), acne (3%), depression (2%), amenorrhea (2%), and vaginal moniliasis (2%).
Drug Interactions
Drugs or herbal products that induce certain enzymes, including cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4), may decrease the effectiveness of COCs or increase breakthrough bleeding.
Patients should be counseled that COCs do not protect against HIV infection (AIDS) and other sexually transmitted diseases.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. To report suspected adverse reactions, visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
Please see Full Prescribing Information, including BOXED WARNING, and Patient Information.
© 2021 Avion Pharmaceuticals, LLC
Alpharetta, GA 30005 | 1-888-612-8466 | ML-0335 0421-02
Balcoltra is a registered trademark of Avion Pharmaceuticals, LLC. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
This site is intended for US healthcare professionals only.
© 2021 Avion Pharmaceuticals, LLC
Alpharetta, GA 30005 | 1-888-612-8466
ML-0335 0421-02
Balcoltra is a registered trademark of Avion Pharmaceuticals, LLC. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
This site is intended for US healthcare professionals only.
AVION CELEBRATES 60 YEARS OF THE PILL
In 1960, the FDA approved the first oral contraceptive in the US, empowering women to control their reproductive futures. See how Avion is supporting women’s access to Balcoltra through our co-pay program.
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.
Contraindications
Balcoltra is contraindicated in women with a high risk of arterial or venous thrombotic diseases, liver tumors (benign or malignant) or liver disease, undiagnosed abnormal uterine bleeding, during pregnancy, with current diagnosis of, or history of, breast cancer, which may be hormone-sensitive (now or in the past), hypersensitivity to any of the components, or in women who are currently taking Hepatitis C drug combinations containing ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir (with or without dasabuvir).
Warnings and Precautions
- Discontinue Balcoltra if an arterial thrombotic event or venous thromboembolic event (VTE) occurs, and at least 4 weeks before and through 2 weeks after major surgery or other surgeries known to have an elevated risk of VTE as well as during prolonged immobilization. Balcoltra should not be started any earlier than 4 weeks after delivery, in women who are not breastfeeding. The use of COCs increases the risk of VTE. The risk of VTE is highest during the first year of use of COCs and when restarting hormonal contraception after a break of 4 weeks or longer. Use of COCs also increases the risk of arterial thromboses such as strokes and myocardial infarctions. Use COCs with caution in women with cardiovascular disease risk factors.
- If jaundice occurs, treatment should be discontinued.
- Balcoltra should not be prescribed for women with uncontrolled hypertension or hypertension with vascular disease. An increase in blood pressure has been reported in women taking COCs, and this increase is more likely in older women with extended duration of use. If Balcoltra is used in women with well-controlled hypertension, monitor blood pressure and stop treatment if blood pressure rises significantly.
- Women who are prediabetic or diabetic should be monitored while using Balcoltra. Alternate contraceptive methods should be considered for women with uncontrolled dyslipidemia.
- Patients using Balcoltra who have a significant change in headaches or who develop new headaches that are recurrent, persistent, or severe should be evaluated, and Balcoltra should be discontinued if indicated.
- Irregular bleeding and spotting sometimes occurs in patients on COCs, especially during the first three months of use. If bleeding persists or occurs after previously regular cycles on Balcoltra, check for causes such as pregnancy or malignancy.
- This product contains FD&C Yellow No. 5 (tartrazine) which may cause allergic-type reactions (including bronchial asthma) in certain susceptible persons. Sensitivity to tartrazine is frequently seen in patients who have aspirin hypersensitivity.
Adverse Reactions
In a clinical trial with levonorgestrel 0.1 mg and ethinyl estradiol 0.02 mg, the most common adverse reactions (incidence ≥ 2%) were headache (14%), metrorrhagia (8%), dysmenorrhea (7%), nausea (7%), abdominal pain (4%), breast pain (4%), emotional lability (3%), acne (3%), depression (2%), amenorrhea (2%), and vaginal moniliasis (2%).
Drug Interactions
Drugs or herbal products that induce certain enzymes, including cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4), may decrease the effectiveness of COCs or increase breakthrough bleeding.
Patients should be counseled that COCs do not protect against HIV infection (AIDS) and other sexually transmitted diseases.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. To report suspected adverse reactions, visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
Please see Full Prescribing Information, including BOXED WARNING, and Patient Information.