Jolessa is a combined oral contraceptive (COC). It contains 2 medications: levonorgestrel (a progestin) and ethinyl estradiol (an estrogen). They prevent pregnancy by stopping ovulation and blocking implantation. Jolessa is an extended-cycle birth control that comes in a 91-day pack. Each pack contains 84 active hormone pills and 7 placebo pills. Jolessa is monophasic, meaning the hormone level is the same in each active pill (0.15 mg of levonorgestrel and 30 mcg ethinyl estradiol). Common side effects of this birth control include headache, heavy periods, and nausea.
Jolessa is the generic of the discontinued brand name Seasonale. Other generics that are like Jolessa include Setlakin and Introvale.
To prevent pregnancy
Jolessa is a combination of two hormones, levonorgestrel (a progestin) and ethinyl estradiol (an estrogen). These two hormones work together to prevent pregnancy by:
Stopping ovulation (release of an egg from the ovary)
Thickening cervical mucus (fluid from the cervix), which makes it hard for sperm to move and fertilize an egg
Thinning the lining of the uterus (womb) so a fertilized egg can't live
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 these to your care team if they continue or are bothersome):
Once-daily dosing
Taken by mouth
Period only once every 3 months
Available as a lower-cost generic medication
Doesn't protect against sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)
Can cause unpleasant side effects, like headache and period cramps
Might worsen certain medical conditions, such as chloasma and hereditary angioedema
Jolessa (levonorgestrel / ethinyl estradiol) can prevent pregnancy, but it can't protect you from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Using a condom along with Jolessa (levonorgestrel / ethinyl estradiol) can help lower your risk of a STI.
Try to take Jolessa (levonorgestrel / ethinyl estradiol) around the same time every day. Consider setting an alarm to remind yourself to take your doses at the scheduled time.
If you missed one tablet of Jolessa (levonorgestrel / ethinyl estradiol), take your missed dose as soon as possible and take your next scheduled dose at the regular time. You might need to take two tablets in one day. If you've missed more than one tablet in a blister pack, refer to the instructions that came with your pack or call your gynecologist or pharmacist for further instructions.
It's normal to have irregular bleeding (a small amount of vaginal bleeding) while using Jolessa (levonorgestrel / ethinyl estradiol). This doesn't mean that your medication isn't working. Continue to take Jolessa (levonorgestrel / ethinyl estradiol) every day as directed by your gynecologist. Speak with your gynecologist if your bleeding doesn't stop or if you missed your period.
Let your gynecologist know if you experience symptoms of depression or worsening mood while taking Jolessa (levonorgestrel / ethinyl estradiol). In cases of serious depression, your gynecologist might ask you to stop taking this medication.
Jolessa (levonorgestrel / ethinyl estradiol) can interact with many medications. Let your gynecologist or pharmacist know what medications you're taking, including over-the-counter products and supplements, before you start this medication. Talk with your gynecologist or pharmacist if you have any questions about interactions with Jolessa (levonorgestrel / ethinyl estradiol).
If you've had a skin condition that causes brownish patches on your skin, these patches can reappear or darken while taking Jolessa (levonorgestrel / ethinyl estradiol). Avoid exposing your skin to the sun or ultraviolet radiation (e.g., tanning booths, sun lamps) while you're taking this medication.
Jolessa (levonorgestrel / ethinyl estradiol) 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, taking combined oral contraceptives (COCs) like Jolessa (levonorgestrel / ethinyl estradiol) raises your risk for serious health problems, such as stroke, heart attack, and blood clots. Females ages 35 years and older who smoke are at even higher risk for these problems. If you smoke, talk with your OB-GYN provider or healthcare professional (HCP) 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 Jolessa (levonorgestrel / ethinyl estradiol) less than a month after childbirth | High blood pressure | People identified as obese | High cholesterol | Diabetes | Higher dose of estrogen
Jolessa (levonorgestrel / ethinyl estradiol) 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 healthcare team you're taking Jolessa (levonorgestrel / ethinyl estradiol). 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 Jolessa (levonorgestrel / ethinyl estradiol) and other COCs can raise your risk for breast and cervical cancer.
Don't take Jolessa (levonorgestrel / ethinyl estradiol) 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 professional. Call your HCP 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, Jolessa (levonorgestrel / ethinyl estradiol) can cause liver problems, such as liver damage and liver tumors. These problems are linked more with earlier formulations of COCs that contained higher doses of estrogen (50 mcg or higher), and less so with Jolessa (levonorgestrel / ethinyl estradiol) since it only contains 30 mcg of estrogen. Don't take this medication if you already have liver problems. Call your HCP 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: Prediabetes or diabetes | Personal or family history of high triglycerides | High dose
COCs like Jolessa (levonorgestrel / ethinyl estradiol) might raise your blood sugar and triglyceride (fat) levels. If you have diabetes, let your HCP know if you experience any changes in your blood sugar. Make sure to go to all of your check-ups so your healthcare team can monitor any changes.
Risk factors: High blood pressure | Older age | Using COCs for a long time | Kidney problems
Jolessa (levonorgestrel / ethinyl estradiol) and other COCs can raise your blood pressure. Your HCP 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 HCP. If you have uncontrolled high blood pressure, Jolessa (levonorgestrel / ethinyl estradiol) might not be the best option for you.
Headaches are a common side effect of COCs like Jolessa (levonorgestrel / ethinyl estradiol). 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 HCP so you can be checked out.
Breakthrough bleeding and spotting are common side effects of hormonal birth control pills. This is more common during the first 3 months of taking Jolessa (levonorgestrel / ethinyl estradiol) and might get better over time. Let your HCP know if you experience any vaginal bleeding outside of your period, or if your period has stopped completely. There are other causes besides your birth control pills for irregular bleeding that your HCP will evaluate.
Risk factors: History of depression
Let your HCP know if you experience symptoms of depression or worsening depression while taking Jolessa (levonorgestrel / ethinyl estradiol). In cases of serious depression, your OB-GYN provider or HCP might have you stop taking it.
Some studies suggest that Jolessa (levonorgestrel / ethinyl estradiol) can raise the risk of gallbladder disease since more progestin and estrogen can lead to higher chance of gallstones. Although the risk is low, talk to your gynecologist if you have a history of gallbladder disease before starting Jolessa (levonorgestrel / ethinyl estradiol).
Let your healthcare team know if you or someone in your family has a genetic condition called hereditary angioedema. Taking estrogen-containing medications can trigger swelling attacks in people who have this condition. Get medical help right away if you notice swelling in the face, arms, legs, or if you have trouble breathing.
Certain medications can make Jolessa (levonorgestrel / ethinyl estradiol) break down faster in your body, making it less effective. And this can lead to pregnancy. Some examples include carbamazepine (Tegretol) and phenytoin (Dilantin). Use a back-up method or other form of birth control for at least 28 days after stopping any of these medications. Other medications can raise the amount of Jolessa (levonorgestrel / ethinyl estradiol) in your body, which can lead to more side effects. Make sure to tell your HCP or pharmacist all of your medications so they can make sure they don't interact with Jolessa (levonorgestrel / ethinyl estradiol).
If you're taking medications to treat hepatitis C, immediately let your HCP know that you're taking a COC. Certain hepatitis C medications can affect the level of Jolessa (levonorgestrel / ethinyl estradiol) in your body, either making it not work as well in preventing pregnancy or raising your risk of side effects. Your healthcare team can give you instructions about what to do if you're taking a hepatitis C medication that can interact with Jolessa (levonorgestrel / ethinyl estradiol).
Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
---|---|---|---|
91 tablets of 0.15mg/0.03mg | 1 package | $29.99 | $29.99 |
Jolessa (and its branded generic) comes in a 91-day pack. There are 84 active tablets that contain 0.15 mg of levonorgestrel and 30 mcg ethinyl estradiol. There are 7 placebo tablets that don't contain any active medication.
The typical dose is to take 1 active tablet by mouth daily for 84 days, followed by 1 placebo tablet daily for the remaining 7 days.
History of blood clots, stroke, or heart attack
Females over the age of 35 who smoke or have migraine headaches
Certain medical conditions like uncontrolled high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, coronary artery disease (CAD), or atrial fibrillation (AFib)
Liver tumors or liver disease
Currently pregnant
Currently have or have had breast cancer
Abnormal vaginal bleeding that your gynecologist doesn’t know about or you haven’t gone to them about
Take certain hepatitis C medications like Viekira Pak, containing ombitasvir, paritaprevir, and ritonavir; with or without dasabuvir
To prevent pregnancy
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