Drug Uses

Levlen is used for preventing pregnancy. It may be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor. It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.

How Taken

Use Levlen as directed by your doctor. Take Levlen with or without a meal. If stomach upset occurs, take with food to reduce stomach irritation. Begin taking Levlen on the first Sunday following the start of your period, unless otherwise directed by your doctor. If your period begins on a Sunday, begin taking Levlen on that day. Try to take Levlen at the same time every day, not more than 24 hours apart. After taking the last pill in the pack, start taking the first pill from a new pack the very next day. For Levlen to be effective it must be taken every day.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose of Levlen and remember it on the same day, take it as soon as possible and go back to your regular dosing schedule. If you do not remember until the next day or if you miss more than 1 dose of Levlen, contact your doctor for further instructions. You may need to use an extra form of birth control (eg, condoms). If you are not sure about how to handle Missed Doses of Levlen, use an extra form of birth control (eg, condoms) until you talk with your doctor.

More Information

Levlen may cause dizziness. These effects may worsen if Levlen is taken with alcohol or certain other medications. Use Levlen with caution. Do not drive or perform other possibly unsafe tasks until you know how you react to this drug. Levlen should be used only by the patient for whom it has been prescribed. Do not take less or more or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.

Storage

Store Levlen at 68 –77 °F (20 –25 °C). Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep Levlen out of the reach of children.

Warnings/Precautions

Before taking Levlen, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances, if you are allergic to any ingredient in Levlen, if you have endometriosis, growths in the uterus, abnormal mammogram, irregular menstrual periods, heart problems, diabetes, headaches or migraines, gallbladder problems, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol or lipid levels, kidney problems, blood problems, blood in the urine, depression or other mental/mood problems, lupus, chorea, high blood calcium levels, yellowing of the eyes or skin, pancreas problems, seizures, or a history of cancer, if you are overweight, or you are a smoker, if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant or are breast–feeding. Do not use Levlen if you are pregnant. Avoid becoming pregnant while you are taking it. If you think you may be pregnant, contact your doctor right away. Levlen is found in breast milk. Do not breast–feed while taking Levlen. Some medicines may interact with Levlen. Therefore tell your doctor of all prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement that you are taking. Do not use Levlen if you have a history of blood clotting problems, blood vessel problems (eg, blood flow problems in the brain or heart, stroke), endometrial, cervical, or vaginal cancer, estrogen–dependent growths, undiagnosed vaginal bleeding, yellowing of the eyes or skin due to pregnancy or prior birth control use, or liver disease or tumors. If you will be having surgery or will be confined to a bed or chair for a long period of time (such as a long plane flight), notify your doctor 3 to 4 weeks ahead of time. Special precautions may need to be taken in these circumstances while taking Levlen. Levlen may cause dark skin patches on your face. Exposure to the sun may make these patches darker. If patches develop, use a sunscreen or protected clothing when exposed to the sun, sunlamps, or tanning booths. Use of Levlen will not protect against HIV infection or prevent the spread of STDs. Bleeding or spotting may occur while taking Levlen. Do not stop taking Levlen if this occurs. If bleeding or spotting continues for more than 7 days or is heavy, contact your doctor. Smoking while using Levlen may increase your risk of stroke, heart attack, blood clots, or other diseases of the heart and blood vessels. Levlen may interfere with certain lab tests. Be sure your doctor and lab personnel know you are using Levlen. Taking certain antibiotics, anticonvulsants, or some other medicines, while you are using Levlen may decrease the effectiveness of Levlen. To prevent pregnancy, use an additional form of birth control until your next period. If you miss your period during the week of inactive pills, call your doctor immediately. A missed period may indicate that you are pregnant. You may not be able to become pregnant for several months after stopping this medicine. Do not use Levlen in children who have not had their first menstrual period.

Disclaimer

This is only general information, it does not cover all directions, drug integrations or precautions. You should not rely on it for any purpose, it does not contain any specific instructions for a particular patient. We disclaim all responsibility for the accuracy and reliability of this information. We`re not responsible for any damage.

Possible Side Effects

Some of the Possible Side Effects are- Acne, breast tenderness or enlargement, changes in sexual interest, changes in weight, dizziness, hair loss, headache, nausea, stomach cramps or bloating, unusual spotting or bleeding, vomiting. Contact your doctor if any of these or other side effects occur. If you experience any of the following serious side effects, you should seek medical attention immediately- allergic reactions, breast discharge, breast lumps, calf/leg pain, change in amount of urine produced, change in vaginal secretions, changes in vision or speech, confusion, coughing of blood, crushing chest pain or heaviness in the chest, dark–colored urine, depression, difficulty sleeping, difficulty wearing contact lenses, fainting, fluid retention, lack of energy, light–colored bowel movements, mental or mood changes, missed menstrual period, numbness of an arm or leg, one–sided weakness, persistent headache or migraines, persistent or recurrent abnormal vaginal bleeding, persistent or severe dizziness, severe pain or tenderness in the stomach, sudden partial or complete loss of vision, sudden vomiting, shortness of breath, vaginal irritation or discharge, yellowing of the skin or eyes.