Transdermal Contraceptive Patch

From Anvita Health Wiki

Contents 1 Introduction 2 Dosage 3 Adverse-effects 4 Mechanism-of-action 5 Notes 6 More General Terms 7 References

Introduction

• Contraceptive transdermal patch. FDA approved 12/01.

Dosage

• Apply one patch/week for 3 weeks, skip & week, restart cycle
• Reapply patch if it falls off. No back up contraception needed if patch off < 24 hours
• Start new cycle with back-up contraception if patch off > 24 hours
• May not be effective for women > 200 lbs (90 kg)

Adverse-effects

• skin irritation
• venous thrombosis

• risk similar to oral contraceptives 9-18/100,000/year [3]
• 2-fold increased risk relative to oral contraceptives [6,7,8]
  

• drug adverse effects of hormonal contraception

Mechanism-of-action

• contains norelgestromin + ethinyl estradiol
• higher overall estrogen levels than 35 ug of estrogen [4]

Notes

• Manufacturer: Ortho-McNeil

More General Terms

• contraceptive
• ethinyl estradiol/norelgestromin

References

1. Prescriber's Letter 8(12):72 2001
2. Prescriber's Letter 9(6):32 2002
3. Prescriber's Letter 12(9): 2005 Ortho Evra and the Risk of Thromboembolism Detail-Document#: [1] (subscription needed) [2]
4. Prescriber's Letter 12(12): 2005 An Update on Ortho Evra and the Risk of Thromboembolism Detail-Document#: [3] (subscription needed) [4]
5. FDA Medwatch [5]
6. FDA Medwatch [6]
7. FDA Medwatch [7]
8. Lidegaard O et al Venous thrombosis in users of non-oral hormonal contraception: follow-up study, Denmark 2001-10 BMJ 2012;344:e2990 Not yet indexed in PubMed [8]

transdermal contraceptive patch; Ortho Evra (norelgestromin, ethinyl estradiol)