desogestrel / ethinyl estradiol

• Risk factors: Over 35 years old and smoke cigarettes

If you smoke cigarettes, taking combined oral contraceptives (COCs) like Averi (desogestrel / ethinyl estradiol) can raise your risk of serious health problems. These include blood clots, stroke, heart attacks. The risk is higher if you're 35 years or older and increases with the number of cigarettes you smoke. If you smoke, talk with your OB-GYN provider 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 Averi (desogestrel / ethinyl estradiol) less than a month after childbirth | People identified as obese | High blood pressure | High cholesterol | Diabetes | Higher dose of estrogen

Averi (desogestrel / ethinyl estradiol) raises your risk of blood clots, though the overall risk is low. These clots can occur anywhere in your body. Blood clots can form in your legs or lungs and can sometimes lead to serious problems such as a stroke or heart attack.

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 (retinal vein occlusion, RVO): trouble seeing, bulging eye, double vision, or vision loss
• Heart (heart attack): chest pain, sweating, nausea, or dizziness
• Lungs (pulmonary embolism, PE): trouble breathing, chest pain, or cough
• Legs (deep vein thrombosis, DVT): cramps, swelling, pain, or muscle tightness

If you have surgery planned, tell your prescriber that you're taking Averi (desogestrel / ethinyl estradiol). They might have you stop the medication before and after surgery to help lower your risk of blood clots.

• Risk factors: History of breast cancer | Taking COCs for a long time

Averi (desogestrel / ethinyl estradiol) might raise your risk of breast and cervical cancer, although study results have been mixed. Don't take Averi (desogestrel / ethinyl estradiol) if you have breast cancer, since the estrogen in this medication can cause some breast cancers to grow faster.

Check your breasts regularly and get breast exams as recommended by your OB-GYN provider. Tell your care team if you notice a lump, pain, swelling, or other changes in your breasts. Also get medical help if you have unusual vaginal bleeding, unusual discharge, or pain during sex, since these can be signs of cervical cancer.

• Risk factors: History of liver problems | Taking COCs for more than 8 years Taking certain hepatitis C medications

Although rare, birth control pills like Averi (desogestrel / ethinyl estradiol) can cause liver problems, including liver damage or noncancerous liver tumors. This risk is lower with newer birth control pills like Averi (desogestrel / ethinyl estradiol) that contain lower doses of estrogen, but it can still happen.

Tell your care team right away if you have symptoms of liver problems, such as unusual tiredness, stomach pain, loss of appetite, or yellowing of your skin or eyes. These symptoms should be checked as soon as possible.

Birth control pills like Averi (desogestrel / ethinyl estradiol) might raise your risk of gallbladder problems, although the risk appears to be low.

Tell your care team if you develop symptoms of gallbladder problems, such as severe pain in the upper right side of your stomach, nausea, vomiting, fever, or yellowing of your skin or eyes. These symptoms may need medical attention.

• Risk factors: Prediabetes or diabetes | Personal or family history of high triglycerides

Averi (desogestrel / ethinyl estradiol) can affect how your body handles sugar and fats. If you have diabetes or prediabetes, your prescriber might want to monitor your blood sugar more closely while you're taking this medication.

In some people, Averi (desogestrel / ethinyl estradiol) can also raise triglyceride levels, a type of fat in the blood. Tell your prescriber if you have a history of high triglycerides, diabetes, or other conditions so they can decide whether extra monitoring is needed.

• Risk factors: High blood pressure | Older age | Using COCs for a long time | Kidney problems

Averi (desogestrel / ethinyl estradiol) can raise your blood pressure. This side effect is more likely if you already have high blood pressure or have been taking hormonal birth control for a long time.

Your prescriber might recommend having you check your blood pressure regularly while you're taking this medication. If your blood pressure becomes too high, you might need to stop treatment and switch to a different birth control method.

Averi (desogestrel / ethinyl estradiol) can sometimes cause new headaches or make existing headaches and migraines worse. Tell your care team if you develop a new type of headache, headaches that happen more often, or headaches that become severe.

Get medical attention right away if you have a sudden, severe headache or a migraine with vision changes, weakness, or trouble speaking. These can be signs of a serious medical problem. Your prescriber might have you stop taking Averi (desogestrel / ethinyl estradiol) while they figure out the cause.

It's common to have spotting or breakthrough bleeding while taking Averi (desogestrel / ethinyl estradiol), especially during the first few months of treatment. This usually improves over time as your body adjusts to the medication.

Tell your prescriber if the bleeding is heavy, lasts a long time, or happens after you've been taking Averi (desogestrel / ethinyl estradiol) for several months. Some people might also miss periods while taking birth control pills. If you miss a period and think you could be pregnant, take a pregnancy test and contact your care team.

• Risk factors: History of depression

Let your care team know if you have symptoms of depression or worsening depression while taking Averi (desogestrel / ethinyl estradiol). In cases of serious depression, your prescriber might tell you to stop taking this medication.

Averi (desogestrel / ethinyl estradiol) can interact with many medications and supplements. Some medications can make Averi (desogestrel / ethinyl estradiol) less effective and raise your risk of pregnancy. Examples include certain seizure medications, rifampin, topiramate, and St. John’s wort. If you take one of these medications, use a backup birth control method and continue it for 28 days after stopping the interacting medication.

Other medications can raise Averi (desogestrel / ethinyl estradiol) levels and increase side effects. Averi (desogestrel / ethinyl estradiol) can also affect how some medications work, including lamotrigine, certain HIV medications, cyclosporine, and thyroid hormone replacement medications. Tell your prescriber and pharmacist about all medications, vitamins, and supplements you take so they can check for interactions.