Kelnor is a type of birth control called a combined oral contraceptive (COC). It's taken by mouth every day to prevent pregnancy. This medication is a monophasic birth control, which means it contains the same amount of hormones in each active pill and doesn't vary from one week to the next. Kelnor (and some of its branded generics) comes in a high-dose estrogen version that typically isn't used unless your provider thinks it's medically needed.
To prevent pregnancy
Kelnor is a combination oral contraceptive (COC) that contains 2 hormones: ethinyl estradiol (an estrogen) and ethynodiol diacetate (a progestin). Both hormones work together to prevent pregnancy by:
Suppressing ovulation (release of an egg from the ovary)
Changing cervical mucus to block sperm movement
Creating an unfriendly environment for the fertilized egg by changing the lining in the uterus (womb)
Source: DailyMed
Side effects that you should report to your care team as soon as possible:
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your care team if they continue or are bothersome):
Once-daily dosing
Works better to prevent pregnancy compared to some other birth control methods
Pills are in an easy-to-follow blister pack
Can make menstrual (period) cycles more regular
Doesn't protect against sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)
Can't be used by females over 35 who smoke because of high risk of blood clots
Can cause unpleasant side effects like nausea, vomiting, and headaches
Raises risk of blood clots
Set an alarm to help you remember to take Kelnor at the same time every day. Take it with a meal or at bedtime to help with side effects like stomach upset and nausea.
It's normal to have spotting (light bleeding outside of your period) or feel sick to your stomach for the first few packs of Kelnor. This should get better over time, but if it doesn't contact your provider.
If you have vomiting or diarrhea, or take certain medications, Kelnor might not work as well for you. Always use a back-up birth control method until you're able to check with your healthcare provider.
Contact your eye provider right away if you wear contact lenses and notice vision changes when wearing them or when wearing your glasses while taking Kelnor.
If you've been taking Kelnor as instructed and have missed two periods in a row or feel like you might be pregnant, call your provider. Studies haven't confirmed a risk of birth defects in females who've used birth control pills before pregnancy or during early pregnancy, but it's no longer necessary to take them once you're pregnant.
Oral contraceptives like Kelnor can lower the amount of breast milk you're able to produce and aren't recommended during breastfeeding. Additionally, some babies have experienced yellowing of the skin (jaundice) and larger breasts after drinking breastmilk from mothers on COCs like Kelnor. If you're breastfeeding, ask your provider about alternative birth control options.
If you want to stop taking this medication and become pregnant, speak to your provider. There might be a delay in getting pregnant after taking Kelnor. It might help to wait until you have regular menstrual cycles again after stopping Kelnor before you try to get pregnant.
Kelnor has been prescribed specifically for you, so don't share it with anyone who wants to take birth control. Their provider should evaluate them to make sure they get a safe option.
Kelnor can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Risk factors: Females over 35 years old who smoke cigarettes
If you smoke cigarettes, using combined oral contraceptives (COCs), like Kelnor, raises your risk for serious health problems, such as strokes, heart attacks, and blood clots. Females age 35 years and older who smoke are at even higher risk for these problems. If you smoke, talk with your provider about safer birth control alternatives.
Risk factors: Females over 35 years old who smoke | Females over 40 years old who don't smoke | Recent surgery with a long period of bed rest | Starting Kelnor less than a month after childbirth | High blood pressure | People identified as obese | High cholesterol | Diabetes | Higher dose of estrogen
Kelnor raises your risk of blood clots. These clots can occur anywhere in your body, including your lungs (pulmonary embolism or PE), legs (deep vein thrombosis or DVT), brain (stroke), and heart (heart attack). Get emergency help right away if you have any signs of a blood clot:
Brain: weakness or numbness in your arms, legs, or face on one side of the body, trouble speaking, blurred vision, dizziness, loss of balance, trouble walking, or confusion
Eyes: trouble seeing, bulging eye, double vision
Heart: chest pain, sweating, nausea, or dizziness
Lungs: trouble breathing, chest pain, or cough
Legs: cramps, swelling, pain, or muscle tightness
If you need to have surgery, tell your provider you're taking Kelnor. They might have you stop taking it 4 weeks before until 2 weeks after your surgery to lower your risk of blood clots.
Risk factors: History of breast cancer | Taking COCs for a long time
Study results are mixed, but there's a possibility that Kelnor and other COCs can raise your risk for breast and cervical cancer.
Don't use Kelnor if you have breast cancer because some types of breast cancer grow faster in the presence of estrogen, an ingredient in this birth control pill. To help with early breast cancer detection, you can do monthly breast self-checks at home and yearly breast exams with your healthcare provider. Call your healthcare provider if you notice any abnormal changes or feel lumps, pain, or swelling in your breasts.
Get medical help right away if you experience abnormal vaginal bleeding, discharge, or pain during sex, since these could be signs of cervical cancer.
Risk factors: Liver problems or infection in the liver | Taking COCs with 50 mcg of estrogen or higher
Though rare, Kelnor can cause liver problems, such as liver damage and liver tumors. These problems are linked more with earlier formulations of COCs that contained higher levels of estrogen (50 mcg or higher), so keep this in mind if you're using the higher strength of this medication that contains 50 mcg of estrogen. Don't use this medication if you already have liver problems. Call your provider right away if you experience symptoms of liver problems, such as tiredness, stomach pain, or yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes.
Risk factors: High blood pressure | Older age | Using COCs for a long time | Kidney problems
Kelnor and other COCs can raise your blood pressure. Your provider might ask you to check your blood pressure regularly. If you notice your blood pressure is higher while you're taking this medication, contact your provider. If you have uncontrolled high blood pressure, Kelnor might not be the best option for you.
Risk factors: Prediabetes or diabetes | Personal or family history of high triglycerides
COCs like Kelnor might raise your blood sugar and triglyceride (fat) levels. In addition, some progesterones could raise LDL levels ("bad" cholesterol). If you have diabetes, let your provider know if you experience any changes in your blood sugar. Make sure to go to all of your check-ups so your provider can monitor any changes.
Headaches are a common side effect of COCs like Kelnor. But, if you experience a new migraine, a migraine that's worse than normal, or a new headache that keeps coming back or is severe, call your provider so you can be checked out.
Breakthrough bleeding and spotting are common side effects of Kelnor. This is more common at first, but should get better over time. Let your provider know if you experience any irregular vaginal bleeding so they can help you figure out why you're bleeding.
Risk factors: History of depression
Let your provider know if you experience symptoms of depression or worsening depression while taking Kelnor. In cases of serious depression, your provider might have you stop taking it.
Certain medications can make Kelnor get broken down faster in your body, making it less effective and lead to pregnancy. Some examples include rifampin (Rifadin) and phenytoin (Dilantin). Other medications can raise the amount of Kelnor in your body, which can lead to more side effects. Make sure to tell your provider or pharmacist about all of your medications so they can make sure they don't interact with Kelnor.
If you have hepatitis C and need to be treated with Viekira Pak (dasabuvir / ombitasvir / paritaprevir / ritonavir), let your provider know right away that you're taking a COC. You'll need to stop Kelnor before starting Viekira Pak because taking them together can cause liver problems. You can start Kelnor again 2 weeks after you stop Viekira Pak.
Your medication might look different and have slightly different directions depending on which branded generic your provider prescribes. Please take the medication as instructed by your provider. In general:
Kelnor (and its branded generics) comes in a 28-day pack. There are 21 active tablets that each contain 1 mg of ethynodiol diacetate and either 35 mcg or 50 mcg of ethinyl estradiol. There are 7 placebo tablets, and they don't contain any active medications.
The typical dose is to take 1 active tablet by mouth daily for 21 days, followed by 1 placebo tablet daily for the remaining 7 days.
Currently have or history of DVT, PE, or other blood clotting problems
Coronary artery disease
Cerebrovascular disease (problems with blood flow in the brain)
Currently have or have a history of breast cancer
Currently have or history of estrogen-dependent tumor
Undiagnosed abnormal vaginal bleeding
Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes) with previous pregnancy or pill use
Currently have or history of liver tumors
Pregnancy
Taking hepatitis C medication containing ombitasvir / paritaprevir / ritonavir, with or without dasabuvir
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