Apri is a birth control pill that people can use to help prevent pregnancy. It's a combined oral contraceptive (COC) that contains two hormones: desogestrel (a progestin) and ethinyl estradiol (an estrogen). Each pack has 21 active tablets and 7 inactive tablets. It's considered monophasic because all active tablets contain the same amount of hormones. The usual dosage is 1 tablet by mouth every day. Side effects can include nausea, breast tenderness, and headaches.
Apri is a generic of the discontinued brand name Desogen. Other generics include Enskyce, Isibloom, Kalliga, Juleber, and Reclipsen.
To prevent pregnancy
Apri is a combined contraceptive that contains two hormones: desogestrel (a progestin) and ethinyl estradiol (an estrogen). The hormones work together to prevent pregnancy in a few ways.
It stops ovulation (the release of an egg from the ovary).
It changes cervical mucus to block sperm from moving through.
It changes the lining of the uterus (womb) to create an unfriendly environment for the fertilized egg.
Source: DailyMed
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
Incidence not known
Absent, missed, or irregular menstrual periods
change in vision
changes in skin color
chest pain or discomfort
chills
clay-colored stools
dark urine
dizziness, lightheadedness, fainting
hives or welts
itching skin or rash
large, hive-like swelling on the face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, or sex organs
pain or discomfort in the arms, jaw, back, or neck
pain, tenderness, or swelling of the foot or leg
pains in the chest, groin, or legs, especially in the calves of the legs
severe headaches of sudden onset
slow or fast heartbeat
stomach pain
sudden loss of coordination or slurred speech
sudden troubled breathing
sweating
unusual tiredness or weakness
vomiting
vomiting of blood
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
Incidence not known
blotchy spots on the exposed skin
breast enlargement or tenderness
feeling sad or empty
irritability
itching of the vagina or outside the genitals
loss of interest or pleasure
pain during sexual intercourse
thick, white curd-like vaginal discharge without odor or with mild odor
trouble wearing contact lenses
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Taken once a day
Blister packs have easy-to-follow directions written on them
Usually works better at preventing pregnancy than using only barrier methods like condoms
Can make your menstrual cycle more regular
Need to take at the same time every day for it to work the best it can
Can cause unpleasant side effects like nausea and headaches
Doesn't protect against sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)
Not a good option for people over 35 who smoke
Take Apri at the same time every day. Setting an alarm or making it a part of your daily routine can help you remember to take your pill. Forgetting to take it raises the chance of getting pregnant. If you miss a dose, refer to the instructions that came with your prescription or call your prescriber to ask what to do.
It's common to have an upset stomach or spotting (light bleeding outside of your period) after starting Apri. These side effects should get better over time. But if they don't go away, contact your prescriber.
If you have vomiting or diarrhea, Apri might not work as well for you. Use a back-up birth control method until you can check with your healthcare professional (HCP).
If you've been taking Apri as instructed but have missed two periods in a row or feel like you might be pregnant, you might want to take a pregnancy test, especially if you recently had sex. Birth control pills don't usually raise the risk of birth defects if taken early in pregnancy. But you won't need to take birth control anymore once you're pregnant.
Birth control pills like Apri aren't recommended while breastfeeding. They can lower the amount of breast milk you can make. If you're breastfeeding, ask your HCP about other birth control options.
After you stop taking Apri, it can take a little bit of time to get pregnant. It's recommended to wait until you have regular menstrual cycles again after stopping Apri before you try to get pregnant. If you want to stop taking birth control and become pregnant, speak to your HCP.
Remember to use condoms while having sex, even if you're taking Apri. Apri doesn't protect you and your partner against sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
If you're prescribed Apri, the medication is only meant for you. Don't share it with anyone who wants to take birth control. Their HCP should evaluate them to make sure they get a safe option.
How to start Apri:
The two most common ways to start Apri are the Day 1 Start and the Sunday Start methods. For both methods, start with the first active pill of the pack. Discuss the best way to start this birth control pill with your HCP.
For the Day 1 Start: Begin taking Apri during the first 24 hours of your period. You don't need to use a back-up method of birth control if you have sex.
For the Sunday Start method: Begin taking Apri on the Sunday after your period starts (even if you're still bleeding). Use another method of birth control (e.g., condom, spermicide) along with Apri if you have sex during the first 7 days.
Apri 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: Over 35 years old and smoke cigarettes
If you smoke cigarettes, using combined oral contraceptives (COCs) like Apri raises your risk of serious health problems. These include strokes, heart attacks, and blood clots. People 35 years and older who smoke are at even higher risk. It's also even higher with the more cigarettes smoked. If you smoke, talk to your healthcare professional (HCP) about safer birth control options.
Risk factors: Over 35 years old and smoke | Over 40 years old who don't smoke | Recent surgery with a long period of bedrest | Starting Apri less than a month after childbirth | People identified as obese | High blood pressure | High cholesterol | Diabetes | Higher dose of estrogen
Apri raises your risk of blood clots, though the overall risk is quite low. These clots can occur anywhere in your body. This can include your legs (a deep vein thrombosis or DVT) or lungs (a pulmonary embolism or PE). Clots can also happen near the brain (raising your risk for a stroke) or heart (raising your risk for a heart attack).
Get emergency help right away if you have any signs of a blood clot or its complications.
Brain (stroke): weakness or numbness on one side of the body, weakness or numbness on one side of the face, trouble speaking, blurred vision, dizziness, loss of balance, trouble walking, or confusion
Eyes: trouble seeing, bulging eye, double vision, or vision loss
Heart (heart attack): chest pain, sweating, nausea, or dizziness
Lungs (PE): trouble breathing, chest pain, or cough
Legs (DVT): cramps, swelling, pain, or muscle tightness
If you have a surgery planned, tell your HCP that you're taking Apri well beforehand. They might tell you to stop Apri 4 weeks before until 2 weeks after your surgery. This helps 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 Apri and other COCs can raise your risk for breast and cervical cancer.
Don't take Apri if you have breast cancer. Some types of breast cancer grow faster when there's estrogen around. Estrogen is one of the hormones 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 HCP. Call your HCP if you notice any abnormal changes or feel lumps, pain, or swelling in your breasts.
Also get medical help right away if you have abnormal vaginal bleeding, discharge, or pain during sex. These could be signs of cervical cancer.
Risk factors: History of liver problems | Taking certain hepatitis C combination medications
Don't take Apri if you have liver problems. Although rare, COCs like Apri can raise the risk of liver problems, like liver damage or benign liver tumors. This risk was higher with older COCs that had a higher estrogen dose (up to 50 mcg). The risk isn't as high with Apri because it contains 30 mcg of estrogen.
To be safe, it's important to still know about this risk. Call your HCP right away if you have tiredness, stomach pain, loss of appetite, or yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes. These can be signs of liver problems.
Risk factors: Prediabetes or diabetes | Personal or family history of high triglycerides
COCs like Apri might raise your blood sugar levels. If you have prediabetes or diabetes, the risk that your blood sugar can go up is higher. This is because COCs make it harder for your body to break down sugar. Let your HCP know if you have any changes in your blood sugar.
Some people who take COCs also might have higher cholesterol levels and triglyceride (fat) levels. In particular, high triglyceride levels might lead to a higher risk of pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas).
Talk to your HCP if you have a history of high blood sugar or high cholesterol. They can make sure Apri is safe for you. Be sure to get any blood work done so your HCP can monitor any changes.
Risk factors: High blood pressure | Older age | Using COCs for a long time | Kidney problems
Apri and other COCs can raise your blood pressure. The risk might be higher as you get older and as you use COCs over a long time.
Your HCP might ask you to check your blood pressure regularly. Call your HCP if your blood pressure is higher than usual while you're taking this medication. They can help manage your blood pressure or find other birth control options for you. If you have uncontrolled high blood pressure, Apri might not be the best option for you.
Headaches are a common side effect of COCs like Apri. But if you have a new migraine, a migraine that's worse than normal, a new headache that keeps coming back, or a new headache that's severe, call your HCP so you can be checked out.
Breakthrough bleeding and spotting are common side effects of hormonal birth control pills such as Apri. It's more likely to happen during the first 3 months of using Apri. Tell your prescriber if you have any vaginal bleeding outside of your period. Also let them know if your period has stopped completely. There are other reasons for irregular bleeding besides your birth control pills that your HCP can check out.
Risk factors: History of depression
Let your care team know if you have symptoms of depression or worsening depression while taking Apri. In cases of serious depression, your HCP might tell you to stop taking this medication.
Tell your prescriber or pharmacist about all your medications so they can make sure they're safe for you. Certain medications can interact with Apri. Some can make Apri get broken down faster in the body, making it work less well to prevent pregnancy. Some examples include carbamazepine (Tegretol) and phenytoin (Dilantin). Use a back-up method or other form of birth control while you're taking these medications until at least 28 days after stopping them. Other medications can raise the amount of Apri in your body and lead to more side effects.
If you have hepatitis C and need to take Viekira Pak (dasabuvir / ombitasvir / paritaprevir / ritonavir), let your HCP know right away that you're taking a COC. You'll need to stop Apri before starting Viekira Pak because taking them together can cause liver problems. You can start Apri again 2 weeks after you stop Viekira Pak.
Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
---|---|---|---|
28 tablets of 0.15mg/0.03mg | 3 packages | $21.46 | $7.15 |
Apri (and its branded generics) comes in a 28-day pack. Your medication might look different and have slightly different directions depending on which branded generic your healthcare professional (HCP) prescribes. Take the medication as instructed by your HCP.
There are 21 active tablets that each contain 0.15 mg desogestrel and 30 mcg ethinyl estradiol. There are also 7 inactive (placebo) tablets that don't contain any active ingredients.
In general, the typical dose is 1 active tablet by mouth daily for 21 days, followed by 1 inactive tablet daily for the next 7 days. Repeat this dosing schedule for each pack.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
Smoking over the age of 35
Medical conditions that raise the risk for blood clots
Problems with blood flow to the brain (e.g., stroke)
Certain heart valve or heart rhythm problems
Uncontrolled high blood pressure
Diabetes with long-term complications
Certain types of headaches
Major surgery where you're on bedrest for a long time
Undiagnosed abnormal vaginal bleeding
Currently have or have a history of breast cancer
Endometrial cancer (also called uterine cancer) or other estrogen-dependent cancer
Currently have or have a history of jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes)
Liver problems
Liver tumor
Currently pregnant
Taking hepatitis C medication containing ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir, with or without dasabuvir
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