Junel 1/20 is a type of combined oral contraceptive (COC), or birth control. It contains both estrogen and progesterone hormones. It's monophasic, meaning all active tablets contain the same amount of hormones. This medication is available as a 21-tablet pack (Junel 1/20) or a 28-tablet pack that includes iron tablets (Junel Fe 1/20). Junel 1/20 provides a lower dose of hormones compared with other COCs with the same ingredients.
To prevent pregnancy
Junel 1/20 is a combination medication that contains 2 hormones: norethindrone (a progestin) and ethinyl estradiol (an estrogen). These 2 hormones work together to prevent pregnancy by:
Preventing your ovaries from releasing eggs
Changing the mucus in your cervix to make it harder for the sperm to enter the uterus (womb)
Changing the lining of the uterus so it's more difficult for a fertilized egg to implant
Junel Fe 1/20 (along with its branded generics) is another version of Junel 1/20 that contains placebo (hormone-free or inactive) tablets with ferrous fumarate. This is an iron supplement added to lower your risk for low iron levels or anemia when you have bleeding during the days when you're taking the placebo tablets.
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 or lightheadedness
fainting
fast heartbeat
headache
hives or welts
itching skin
large, hive-like swelling on the face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, or sex organs
loss of appetite
medium to heavy, irregular vaginal bleeding between regular monthly periods, which may require the use of a pad or a tampon
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
pounding in the ears
rash
redness of the skin
severe headaches of sudden onset
slow or fast heartbeat
stomach pain
sudden loss of coordination or slurred speech
sweating
troubled breathing
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
discouragement
feeling sad or empty
irritability
itching of the vagina or outside genitals
loss of interest or pleasure
pain during sexual intercourse
stomach cramps
thick, white curd-like vaginal discharge without odor or with mild odor
tiredness
trouble concentrating
trouble sleeping
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 daily
Active pills are all one color so they're easy to identify
Available as a lower-cost generic
Not recommended if you smoke cigarettes because it raises your risk for blood clots
Higher risk of breakthrough bleeding or spotting compared with COCs with a higher dose of estrogen
Missing doses can raise the risk of pregnancy
Take Junel 1/20 at the same time every day with a meal or at bedtime to help with side effects like stomach upset and nausea. Set an alarm to help you remember to take it.
Junel 1/20 can be taken to prevent pregnancy, but it can't protect against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections or other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). One way to prevent STDs is to use condoms.
Let your provider know all of your current medications. Certain medications, such as rifampin (Rifadin), can interact with Junel 1/20 and cause it to work less well to prevent pregnancy. Some medications can also raise your risk of breakthrough bleeding (bleeding outside of your period).
Before taking Junel 1/20, let your provider know all of your health conditions to see if this medication is safe for you. If you have conditions such as high cholesterol levels, your provider might check your labs regularly while you're taking Junel 1/20 because this medication can make your cholesterol levels more difficult to control.
Swelling can occur in some people who take Junel 1/20. Follow up with your provider regularly if you have other health conditions, such as heart failure, that might get worse with additional fluid and swelling in your body.
Talk to your provider if you experience symptoms of depression or worsening depression while taking Junel 1/20. Your provider might take you off this medication if you have serious depression.
If you're breastfeeding, small amounts of Junel 1/20 can pass into your breast milk and might affect your baby. It can also lower the amount of breast milk you're able to make. Discuss with your provider safe birth control options while breastfeeding your baby.
Junel 1/20 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 Junel 1/20, 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 Junel 1/20 less than a month after childbirth | High blood pressure | People identified as obese | High cholesterol | Diabetes | Higher dose of estrogen
Junel 1/20 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 Junel 1/20. They might have you stop taking it 4 weeks before until 2 weeks after your surgery to lower your risk of blood clots. If you recently delivered a baby, you shouldn't start Junel 1/20 until 4 to 6 weeks after delivery if you're not breastfeeding your child.
People who take Junel 1/20 can sometimes experience irregular bleeding and spotting, especially during the first 3 months of taking this medication. Irregular bleeding can vary from slight staining to bleeding similar to a regular period. This problem might be temporary, so continue taking your medication as directed. Let your provider know if the bleeding is a problem for you and they can change your birth control. If you miss your period, make sure you get a pregnancy test to make sure you're not pregnant or contact your provider.
Risk factors: Older age | Using COCs for a long time | High blood pressure | Kidney problems
Junel 1/20 can raise your blood pressure, so make sure you monitor your blood pressure while you're taking this medication. Speak to your provider if you have high blood pressure or kidney problems, and they can help you pick a different method of birth control that's safer for you. Your blood pressure can return to normal after stopping your oral contraceptives.
Risk factors: Prediabetes or diabetes | High triglycerides
Junel 1/20 can raise your blood sugar levels and cholesterol levels. Speak with your provider before starting oral contraceptives if you have diabetes, prediabetes, or high cholesterol. If you choose to take Junel 1/20 with those health conditions, your provider will monitor you regularly.
Let your provider know if you experience new or worsening migraines or headaches while taking Junel 1/20. You will have to stop your medication if your migraine or headache doesn't go away or becomes severe.
Risk factors: History of breast or cervical cancer | Taking COCs for a long time
Study results are mixed, but there's a possibility that Junel 1/20 and other COCs can raise your risk for breast and cervical cancer.
Don't take Junel 1/20 if you currently have or have had breast cancer because some breast cancers grow faster in the presence of estrogen. You can examine your breasts regularly at home or get yearly breast exams with your healthcare provider to help with early breast cancer detection. Let your provider know if you notice any new or abnormal lumps, pain, or swelling in your breasts.
Make sure you follow up with your provider to get proper screenings for cervical cancer. Report any signs of vaginal bleeding or discharge that's not normal.
Certain medications can make Junel 1/20 get broken down faster in your body, making it less effective and 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 Junel 1/20 in your body, which can lead to more side effects. Make sure to tell your provider or pharmacist all of your medications so they can make sure they don't interact with Junel 1/20.
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 Junel 1/20 before starting Viekira Pak because taking them together can cause liver problems. You can start Junel 1/20 again 2 weeks after you stop Viekira Pak.
Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
---|---|---|---|
21 tablets | 4 packages | $28.96 | $7.24 |
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:
Junel 1/20 (and its branded generics) comes in a 21-day pack. Each tablet contains 1 mg norethindrone acetate and 20 mcg ethinyl estradiol.
The typical dose is to take 1 tablet by mouth daily for 21 days, followed by 7 days off (not taking any tablets).
Junel Fe 1/20 (and its branded generics) comes in a 28-day pack. There are 21 active tablets and they each contains 1 mg norethindrone acetate and 20 mcg ethinyl estradiol. There are 7 placebo tablets and they each contains 75 mg of ferrous fumarate.
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.
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.
Current or history of blood clots
Health condition that makes it more likely for your blood to clot
Cerebral vascular disease (problems with the blood flow to your brain)
Coronary artery disease (problems with the blood flow to your heart)
Current or history of breast cancer
Unexplained vaginal bleeding that hasn't been diagnosed
Yellowing of the whites of the eyes or skin (jaundice) during pregnancy or during previous use of birth control pills
Liver tumors or cancer
Pregnancy
Taking hepatitis C medication with ombitasvir, paritaprevir, and ritonavir, with or without dasabuvir
By signing up, I agree to GoodRx's Terms and Privacy Policy, and to receive marketing messages from GoodRx.
Research prescriptions and over-the-counter medications from A to Z, compare drug prices, and start saving.