Slynd
Slynd (drospirenone) is a progestin-only contraceptive pill taken to prevent pregnancy. It's a non-estrogen option that might be more appropriate for people who smoke or have a history of blood clots. Slynd (drospirenone) is taken by mouth once daily. There are 24 active pills in each 28-day dosing cycle. Slynd (drospirenone) has a 24-hour missed pill window, which is more forgiving compared to other progestin-only birth control pills that have a 3-hour window. Some of the more common side effects of Slynd (drospirenone) include acne and changes in vaginal bleeding. Some people might also experience weight gain.
What is Slynd (drospirenone)?
What is Slynd (drospirenone) used for?
- Prevention of pregnancy
How Slynd (drospirenone) works
Slynd (drospirenone) is a progestin-only birth control pill. It's a man-made version of progesterone, a sex hormone that's found naturally in the body. Slynd (drospirenone) prevents pregnancy by stopping your body from releasing eggs (also known as ovulation). It also creates an environment in your body that makes it both harder for sperm to move through and for a fertilized egg to attach and grow.
Drug facts
Side effects of Slynd (drospirenone)
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
- Acne (4%)
- Breakthrough bleeding (3%)
- Headache (3%)
- Breast pain (2%)
Less Common Side Effects
- Weight gain
- Irregular bleeding
- Nausea
- Lowered sex drive
- Vaginal bleeding
- Breast tenderness
Slynd (drospirenone) serious side effects
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Ectopic pregnancy: pain in your lower stomach or back area (typically only on one side), vaginal bleeding
The following Slynd (drospirenone) side effects have also been reported
Side effects that you should report to your care team as soon as possible:
- Allergic reactions—skin rash, itching, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
- Blood clot—pain, swelling, or warmth in the leg, shortness of breath, chest pain
- Heart attack—pain or tightness in the chest, shoulders, arms, or jaw, nausea, shortness of breath, cold or clammy skin, feeling faint or lightheaded
- High potassium level—muscle weakness, fast or irregular heartbeat
- Liver injury—right upper belly pain, loss of appetite, nausea, light-colored stool, dark yellow or brown urine, yellowing skin or eyes, unusual weakness or fatigue
- Stroke—sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg, trouble speaking, confusion, trouble walking, loss of balance or coordination, dizziness, severe headache, change in vision
- Worsening mood, feelings of depression
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your care team if they continue or are bothersome):
- Acne
- Breast pain or tenderness
- Headache
- Irregular menstrual cycles or spotting
- Menstrual cramps
- Nausea
- Weight gain
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Pros and cons of Slynd (drospirenone)
Pros
- Provides birth control option with no estrogen, which can be safer for some people (e.g., those at risk for clot or breast cancer)
- Less likely to cause irregular bleeding compared to other progestin-only pills that contain all active medication
- Longer missed pill window (24 hours) than other progestin-only birth control pills (3 hours)
- Safe to take while breastfeeding
Cons
- Must take every day to work well
- Need to use another form of non-hormonal birth control (a condom) for a week if you missed 2 or more white (active) pills
- No generics available
- Can cause acne as a side effect
Pharmacist tips for Slynd (drospirenone)
- It's important to follow the directions on the blister card to take Slynd (drospirenone) correctly and lower your chances of getting pregnant. Set an alarm for the same time every day to help you remember to take your birth control pill.
- For Slynd (drospirenone) to work best, it's important that you take each pill at the same time each day. Your dose is considered missed if you take it more than 24 hours after your typical time.
- If you missed 2 or more active pills in your Slynd (drospirenone) pack, take the last missed pill as soon as possible. But skip the other missed pills and continue taking 1 pill each day until you're done with the pack. You should use an additional non-hormonal birth control, such as condoms, as a back-up if you have sex within 7 days after missing pills.
- If you vomit or have diarrhea within 3 to 4 hours of taking a white Slynd (drospirenone) pill, take a new white pill within 12 hours of the usual time you take your pill. Continue taking the rest of the pills in your pack as usual.
- Slynd (drospirenone) doesn't protect you against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Remember to use a condom during sex to lower your risk of getting HIV and other STIs.
- Slynd (drospirenone) shouldn't be used during pregnancy. If you become pregnant while taking Slynd (drospirenone) you should stop taking the medication and let your healthcare professional (HCP) know.
- If you've had depression in the past and start to feel sad, anxious or hopeless after starting Slynd (drospirenone), talk to your HCP right away. Your mood can get worse after you start this medication.
Common questions about Slynd
Some people do experience weight gain after starting Slynd, but this isn't a common side effect. In clinical studies, about 2% of people reported weight gain with this medication. Keep in mind that the weight gain might be from bloating and "water weight", instead of from fat. Let your gynecologist or healthcare professional (HCP) know if you've gained a lot of weight after starting Slynd.
Talk with your gynecologist if you'd like to skip the placebo pills (inactive) pills in your Slynd pack. They can let you know about the risks and benefits of doing so. Some people skip the placebo pills in hopes of avoiding their period. But doing so might raise the risk for unexpected breakthrough bleeding. While this isn't harmful nor a health risk, it can be inconvenient to experience spotting when you're not expecting it.
You might stop having periods after taking Slynd for a while, typically 6 months or longer. This medication can change your bleeding patterns. A clinical study shows that after a year of treatment with Slynd, a little over 25% of people still experienced regular menstrual periods. And while this isn't harmful, you should consider the possibility of pregnancy (especially if you've missed one or two active pills). If you've missed two periods in a row while taking Slynd, take a pregnancy test. Talk with your gynecologist if you're concerned about changes in menstrual bleeding pattern.
Slynd works well to prevent pregnancy; based on clinical studies, an estimated 4 out of 100 people might get pregnant within the first year of taking Slynd. As with other birth control pills, Slynd works best if you take it everyday, around the same time each day. If you're concerned about the risk of pregnancy with Slynd, have a discussion with your gynecologist.
When you first start Slynd, ask your gynecologist how quickly this birth control will be effective for you. The timing can depend on where you are in your menstrual cycle and whether you've been taking any other birth control medications before Slynd. Depending on your situation, your gynecologist might ask you to use a non-hormonal birth control method, such as condoms, for up to a week after starting Slynd.
Both Slynd and norethindrone are estrogen-free birth control pills, but there are some differences between them. One difference is whether or not they contain inactive pills per pack. Slynd has 4 inactive pills per pack, whereas norethindrone has none per pack. The inactive pills in Slynd allow your body to have a few hormone-free days per month and might lower your chance of having irregular bleeding compared with norethindrone pills. Another difference is how much time you have to make up a missed dose. Both medications work best if you take them around the same time each day. But if you're taking Slynd, you have 24 hours to make up your missed dose. However, if you’re taking norethindrone pills, you only have 3 hours to make up a missed dose. If you don’t make up your dose in time for either type of birth control, you’ll need to use a back-up method of birth control (e.g., condoms) to prevent pregnancy. For other differences between Slynd and norethindrone birth control pills, ask your gynecologist or pharmacist.
No, Slynd doesn't contain estrogen; it's a progestin-only pill (POP). Slynd might be a good choice for people who want to avoid estrogen-containing birth control pills, such as those who have a higher risk of blood clots or those who are breastfeeding. This is because POPs, like Slynd, have a lower risk of blood clots and are less likely to affect your milk supply compared to birth controls with estrogen. Talk with your gynecologist if you’re not sure whether or not you should consider an estrogen-free birth control pill.
Talk with your healthcare team if you're breastfeeding. Slynd is a possible birth control option for people who are breastfeeding. Only a very small amount of estrogen-free medications like Slynd pass into the breast milk and it isn't expected to cause your baby any harm. Also, estrogen-free birth control pills don't lower your milk supply as much. This is why estrogen-free birth control pills, like Slynd, are recommended during breastfeeding.
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Risks and warnings for Slynd (drospirenone)
Slynd (drospirenone) 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.
High blood potassium levels
- Risk factors: Kidney or liver problems | Low hormone levels | Taking other medications that can raise potassium levels
Slynd (drospirenone) can raise the level of potassium in your body. This isn’t a problem for most people because the rise in potassium isn’t too high and potassium level typically returns to normal on its own. But it can be a problem if you already have high potassium levels because of conditions like kidney or liver problems, or if you’re taking other medications that raise potassium levels. If so, your healthcare professional (HCP) might check your potassium levels before you start Slynd (drospirenone) and regularly after starting to make sure it's safe for you to keep taking it. Talk to your HCP if you feel like your heart is racing or have trouble breathing, chest pain, muscle weakness, nausea, or vomiting. These might be signs of high potassium levels.
Very rare risk for blood clots, heart attacks, and strokes
- Risk factors: Blood clot problems after giving birth | Prior clot
Slynd (drospirenone) might put you at a very small risk for blood clots. While combination estrogen-progestin birth control pills are linked to blood clots, it’s not so clear whether or not estrogen-free birth control pills, like Slynd (drospirenone), have the same risk. Be sure to discuss all your past and present medical conditions with your HCP before starting Slynd (drospirenone) because this can help them decide if you have any risks for developing clots. Call 911 or get immediate medical attention if you experience symptoms of blood clots, such as pain in your legs or arms, chest pain, sudden severe headaches, trouble breathing, or sudden changes in your speech or vision.
Liver problems
- Risk factors: History of liver problems
Don’t use Slynd (drospirenone) if you have liver problems because doing so can raise the amount of drospirenone in your body. It's not common for progestins, like Slynd (drospirenone), to cause liver problems, but let your prescriber know if you start to experience any symptoms of liver problems (e.g., yellowing of your skin or eyes, upper right stomach pain, or dark urine).
High blood sugar
- Risk factors: Diabetes (high blood sugar)
Slynd (drospirenone) might raise your blood sugar levels because it can make your body less sensitive to insulin, a hormone that controls your blood sugar. This typically isn’t a problem for people who don’t have blood sugar problems. But if you already have high blood sugar, your HCP might need to check your blood sugar more often, especially when you first start taking Slynd (drospirenone). They might also need to make changes to the dose of your blood sugar medications. If you experience extreme thirst, hunger, or urinate more often while taking the medication, let your HCP know because these are symptoms of high blood sugar.
Changes to menstrual bleeding (period) patterns
You might notice changes to your menstrual bleeding patterns after starting Slynd (drospirenone). It's normal to see some breakthrough bleeding and spotting while taking Slynd (drospirenone), especially during the first 3 months after you start this medication. If breakthrough bleeding and spotting doesn't go away over time, let your gynecologist know because they might need to make changes to your birth control medication. If your period doesn’t come at all, let your gynecologist know this as well; this can be a sign of pregnancy. Your gynecologist or healthcare professional (HCP) might recommend that you take a pregnancy test, especially if you have missed doses of Slynd (drospirenone).
Ectopic pregnancy
If you happen to get pregnant while taking Slynd (drospirenone), there's a small chance that the pregnancy might be ectopic (outside of the womb). While rare, having an ectopic pregnancy can be serious. Get medical help right away if you notice symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy, such as cramping or pain in the lower belly area or shoulder.
Slynd (drospirenone) dosage
Package| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28 tablets of 4mg | 1 package | $194.87 | $194.87 |
Typical dosage for Slynd (drospirenone)
Slynd (drospirenone) comes as a pre-packaged course (28 days) of medication. There are 24 active tablets (white) and 4 inactive tablets (green).
The typical dose is to take 1 tablet by mouth at the same time every day. For each pack of Slynd (drospirenone), you'll take 1 white tablet daily for the first 24 days, then 1 green (placebo) tablet a day for the last 4 days.
How much does Slynd (drospirenone) cost?
$194.87
Slynd (drospirenone) contraindications
Contraindications are specific health conditions or situations in which a person should not take a medication due to safety concerns. If you have any of the following conditions or if any of the following apply to you, let your healthcare provider know because Slynd (drospirenone) will not be safe for you to take.
- Kidney problems
- Adrenal gland problems
- Cervical cancer or other hormone receptor-positive cancer
- Changes in your menstrual bleeding (period) patterns and you haven’t yet seen a healthcare professional to figure out the cause
- Liver tumors or other liver problems
What are alternatives to Slynd (drospirenone)?
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