norgestimate and ethinyl estradiol ({7 (ethinyl estradiol 0.035 mg / norgestimate 0.18 mg oral tablet) / 7 (ethinyl estradiol 0.035 mg / norgestimate 0.215 mg oral tablet) / 7 (ethinyl estradiol 0.035 mg / norgestimate 0.25 mg oral tablet) / 7 (inert ingredients 1 mg oral tablet) } pack [tr) Dailymed

Norgestimate and Ethinyl Estradiol Tablets, USP is indicated for use by females of reproductive potential to prevent pregnancy [see .

Norgestimate and Ethinyl Estradiol Tablets, USP is indicated for use by females of reproductive potential to prevent pregnancy [see CLINICAL STUDIES (14)] .

Table 1: Instructions for Administration of Norgestimate and Ethinyl Estradiol Tablets, USP Complete instructions to facilitate patient counseling on proper tablet usage are located in the FDA-Approved Patient Labeling. Starting COCs in women not currently using hormonal contraception (Day 1 Start or Sunday Start) Important : Consider the possibility of ovulation and conception prior to initiation of this product. Tablet Color: Norgestimate and Ethinyl Estradiol Tablets, USP active tablets are white (Day 1 to Day 7), light blue (Day 8 to Day 14) and blue (Day15 to Day 21). Norgestimate and Ethinyl Estradiol Tablets, USP has green inactive tablets (Day 22 to Day 28). Day 1 Start: Take first active tablet without regard to meals on the first day of menses. Take subsequent active tablets once daily at the same time each day for a total of 21 days. Take one green inactive tablet daily for 7 days and at the same time of day that active tablets were taken. Begin each subsequent buler pack on the same day of Norgestimate and Ethinyl Estradiol Tablets, USP the week as the first cycle buler pack (i.e., on the day after taking the last inactive tablet) Sunday Start: Take first active tablet without regard to meals on the first Sunday after the onset of menses. Due to the potential risk of becoming pregnant, use additional non-hormonal contraception (such as condoms and spermicide) for the first seven days of the patient's first cycle pack of Norgestimate and Ethinyl Estradiol Tablets, USP. Take subsequent active tablets once daily at the same time each day for a total of 21 days. Take one green inactive tablet daily for the following 7 days and at the same time of day that active tablets were taken. Begin each subsequent pack on the same day of the week as the first cycle pack (i.e., on the Sunday after taking the last inactive tablet) and additional non-hormonal contraceptive is not needed. Switching to Norgestimate and Ethinyl Estradiol Tablets, USP from another oral contraceptive Start on the same day that a new pack of the previous oral contraceptive would have started. Switching from another contraceptive method to Norgestimate and Ethinyl Estradiol Tablets, USP Start Norgestimate and Ethinyl Estradiol Tablets, USP: Transdermal patch On the day when next application would have been scheduled Vaginal ring On the day when next insertion would have been scheduled Injection On the day when next injection would have been scheduled Intrauterine contraceptive On the day of removal If the IUD is not removed on first day of the patient's menstrual cycle, additional non-hormonal contraceptive (such as condoms and spermicide) is needed for the first seven days of the first cycle pack. Implant On the day of removal Starting Norgestimate and Ethinyl Estradiol Tablets, USP after Abortion or Miscarriage First-trimester After a first-trimester abortion or miscarriage, Norgestimate and Ethinyl Estradiol Tablets, USP may be started immediately. An additional method of contraception is not needed if Norgestimate and Ethinyl Estradiol Tablets, USP is started immediately. If Norgestimate and Ethinyl Estradiol Tablets, USP is not started within 5 days after termination of the pregnancy, the patient should use additional non-hormonal contraception (such as condoms and spermicide) for the first seven days of her first cycle buler pack of Norgestimate and Ethinyl Estradiol Tablets, USP. Second-trimester Do not start until 4 weeks after a second-trimester abortion or miscarriage, due to the increased risk of thromboembolic disease. Start Norgestimate and Ethinyl Estradiol Tablets, USP, following the instructions in Table 1 for Day 1 or Sunday start, as desired. If using Sunday start, use additional non-hormonal contraception (such as condoms and spermicide) for the first seven days of the patient's first cycle pack of Norgestimate and Ethinyl Estradiol Tablets, USP. [See CONTRAINDICATIONS (4), WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS (5.1), and FDA-Approved Patient Labeling.] Starting Norgestimate and Ethinyl Estradiol Tablets, USP after Childbirth Do not start until 4 weeks after delivery, due to the increased risk of thromboembolic disease. Start contraceptive therapy with Norgestimate and Ethinyl Estradiol Tablets, USP following the instructions in Table 1 (above) for women not currently using hormonal contraception. Norgestimate and Ethinyl Estradiol Tablets, USP is not recommended for use in lactating women [see USE IN SPECIFIC POPULATIONS (8.3)]. If the woman has not yet had a period postpartum, consider the possibility of ovulation and conception occurring prior to use of Norgestimate and Ethinyl Estradiol Tablets, USP. [See CONTRAINDICATIONS (4), WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS (5.1), USE IN SPECIFIC POPULATIONS (8.1 and 8.3), and FDA-Approved Patient Labeling ]. BEFORE YOU START TAKING YOUR PILLS DECIDE WHAT TIME OF DAY YOU WANT TO TAKE YOUR PILL. It is important to take it at about the same time every day. LOOK AT YOUR PILL BLISTER PACK The pill pack has 21 active pills (with hormones) to take for 3 weeks. This is followed by 1 week of reminder green pills (without hormones). 3.ALSO FIND: where on the pack to start taking pills, in what order to take the pills (follow the arrows) The week numbers as shown in the diagram below 4.BE SURE YOU HAVE READY AT ALL TIMES: Another kind of birth control (such as a condom or spermicide) to use as a back-up method in case you miss pills. An extra, full pill buler pack.

Stop norgestimate and ethinyl estradiol if an arterial thrombotic event or venous thromboembolic (VTE) event occurs. Stop norgestimate and ethinyl estradiol if there is unexplained loss of vision, proptosis, diplopia, papilledema, or retinal vascular lesions. Evaluate for retinal vein thrombosis immediately [see ADVERSE REACTIONS (6.2)]. If feasible, stop norgestimate and ethinyl estradiol 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 and following prolonged immobilization. Start norgestimate and ethinyl estradiol no earlier than 4 weeks after delivery, in women who are not breastfeeding. The risk of postpartum VTE decreases after the third postpartum week, whereas the risk of ovulation increases after the third postpartum week. The use of COCs increases the risk of VTE. However, pregnancy increases the risk of VTE as much or more than the use of COCs. The risk of VTE in women using COCs is 3 to 9 cases per 10,000 woman-years. 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. The risk of thromboembolic disease due to COCs gradually disappears after use is discontinued. Use of COCs also increases the risk of arterial thromboses such as strokes and myocardial infarctions, especially in women with other risk factors for these events. COCs have been shown to increase both the relative and attributable risks of cerebrovascular events (thrombotic and hemorrhagic strokes). This risk increases with age, particularly in women over 35 years of age who smoke. Use COCs with caution in women with cardiovascular disease risk factors.

Studies suggest a small increased relative risk of developing gallbladder disease among COC users. Use of COCs may worsen existing gallbladder disease. A past history of COC-related cholestasis predicts an increased risk with subsequent COC use. Women with a history of pregnancy-related cholestasis may be at an increased risk for COC related cholestasis.

Unscheduled Bleeding and Spotting Unscheduled (breakthrough or intracyclic) bleeding and spotting sometimes occur in patients on COCs, especially during the first three months of use. If bleeding persists or occurs after previously regular cycles, check for causes such as pregnancy or malignancy. If pathology and pregnancy are excluded, bleeding irregularities may resolve over time or with a change to a different contraceptive product. In clinical trials of norgestimate and ethinyl estradiol, the frequency and duration of breakthrough bleeding and/or spotting was assessed in 1,647 patients (21,275 evaluable cycles) and 4,826 patients (35,546 evaluable cycles), respectively. A total of 231 (4.8%) women discontinued norgestimate and ethinyl estradiol at least in part, due to bleeding or spotting. Based on data from the clinical trials, 13 to 38% of women using norgestimate and ethinyl estradiol experienced unscheduled bleeding per cycle in the first year. The percent of women who experienced breakthrough/unscheduled bleeding tended to decrease over time. Amenorrhea and Oligomenorrhea Women who use norgestimate and ethinyl estradiol may experience amenorrhea. Some women may experience amenorrhea or oligomenorrhea after discontinuation of COCs, especially when such a condition was pre-existent. If scheduled (withdrawal) bleeding does not occur, consider the possibility of pregnancy. If the patient has not adhered to the prescribed dosing schedule (missed one or more active tablets or started taking them on a day later than she should have), consider the possibility of pregnancy at the time of the first missed period and take appropriate diagnostic measures. If the patient has adhered to the prescribed regimen and misses two consecutive periods, rule out pregnancy.

Extensive epidemiological studies have revealed no increased risk of birth defects in women who have used oral contraceptives prior to pregnancy. Studies also do not suggest a teratogenic effect, particularly in so far as cardiac anomalies and limb reduction defects are concerned, when oral contraceptives are taken inadvertently during early pregnancy. Discontinue norgestimate and ethinyl estradiol use if pregnancy is confirmed.

Extensive epidemiological studies have revealed no increased risk of birth defects in women who have used oral contraceptives prior to pregnancy. Studies also do not suggest a teratogenic effect, particularly in so far as cardiac anomalies and limb reduction defects are concerned, when oral contraceptives are taken inadvertently during early pregnancy. Discontinue norgestimate and ethinyl estradiol use if pregnancy is confirmed. Administration of COCs to induce withdrawal bleeding should not be used as a test for pregnancy [see USE IN SPECIFIC POPULATIONS (8.1) ].

There is little or no increased risk of birth defects in women who inadvertently use COCs during early pregnancy. Epidemiologic studies and meta-analyses have not found an increased risk of genital or non-genital birth defects (including cardiac anomalies and limb reduction defects) following exposure to low dose COCs prior to conception or during early pregnancy.

There is little or no increased risk of birth defects in women who inadvertently use COCs during early pregnancy. Epidemiologic studies and meta-analyses have not found an increased risk of genital or non-genital birth defects (including cardiac anomalies and limb reduction defects) following exposure to low dose COCs prior to conception or during early pregnancy. Do not administer COCs to induce withdrawal bleeding as a test for pregnancy. Do not use COCs during pregnancy to treat threatened or habitual abortion.

Advise the nursing mother to use other forms of contraception, when possible, until she has weaned her child. COCs can reduce milk production in breastfeeding mothers. This is less likely to occur once breastfeeding is well-established; however, it can occur at any time in some women. Small amounts of oral contraceptive steroids and/or metabolites are present in breast milk.

Oral Contraception COCs lower the risk of becoming pregnant primarily by suppressing ovulation. Other possible mechanisms may include cervical mucus changes that inhibit sperm penetration and endometrial changes that reduce the likelihood of implantation. Acne Acne is a skin condition with a multifactorial etiology, including androgen stimulation of sebum production. While the combination of ethinyl estradiol and norgestimate increases sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) and decreases free testosterone, the relationship between these changes and a decrease in the severity of facial acne in otherwise healthy women with this skin condition has not been established.

In three US clinical trials with norgestimate and ethinyl estradiol, 1,651 women aged 18 to 38 years were studied for up to 24 cycles, proving a total of 24,272 cycles of exposure. The racial demographic was about 73 to 86% Caucasian, 8 to 13% African-American, 6 to 14% Hispanic with the remainder Asian or Other (≤1%). There were no exclusions on the basis of weight; the weight range for women treated was 82 to 303 lbs, with a mean weight of about 135 lbs. The pregnancy rate was approximately 1 pregnancy per 100 women-years.

In three US clinical trials with norgestimate and ethinyl estradiol, 1,651 women aged 18 to 38 years were studied for up to 24 cycles, proving a total of 24,272 cycles of exposure. The racial demographic was about 73 to 86% Caucasian, 8 to 13% African-American, 6 to 14% Hispanic with the remainder Asian or Other (≤1%). There were no exclusions on the basis of weight; the weight range for women treated was 82 to 303 lbs, with a mean weight of about 135 lbs. The pregnancy rate was approximately 1 pregnancy per 100 women-years. In four clinical trials with norgestimate and ethinyl estradiol, 4,756 women aged 15 to 41 years were studied for 24 cycles, providing a total of 45,244 cycles of exposure. The racial demographic was about 87 to 90% Caucasian, 6 to 10% African-American, with the remainder Asian (≤1%) or Other (2 to 5%). There were no exclusions on the basis of weight; the weight range for women treated was 80-310 lbs, with a mean weight of about 132 lbs. The pregnancy rate was approximately 1 pregnancy per 100 women-years.