Evra (Abbott) 6 mg + 600 mcg

Indication

- Female contraception (prevention of pregnancy) - Hormonal birth control via once-weekly transdermal patch

Ingredients

• Norelgestromin 6 mg + ethinylestradiol 600 mcg per transdermal patch (releases 203 mcg + 33.9 mcg per 24 h)

Direction

Apply one patch to clean, dry skin (buttock, abdomen, upper outer arm or upper back) once weekly for three consecutive weeks, followed by a patch-free fourth week; apply on the same day each week.

Side effects

• Application site reactions (redness
• irritation)
• Headache and nausea
• Breast tenderness and menstrual changes
• Mood changes
• Rarely
• blood clots (deep vein thrombosis
• pulmonary embolism)

Precautions

• Increased risk of venous and arterial thromboembolism (blood clots)
• higher in smokers over 35
• Contraindicated in history of blood clots
• certain cancers
• severe liver disease or migraine with aura
• May be less effective in women weighing 90 kg or more
• Does not protect against sexually transmitted infections