Vienva is a combined hormonal birth control pill that's taken by mouth every day. It's a monophasic birth control, meaning all of the active pills contain the same dosages of estrogen and levonorgestrel. But the dosages of these hormones are lower compared with some other birth control pills with the same ingredients, which can be helpful for females who experience side effects from higher doses of hormones.
To prevent pregnancy
Vienva (along with its branded generics) is a combination oral contraceptive (COC) that contains 2 hormones: ethinyl estradiol (an estrogen) and levonorgestrel (a progestin). Both hormones work together to prevent pregnancy by:
Suppressing ovulation (release of an egg from the ovary)
Changing cervical mucus to block sperm movement
Creating an unfriendly environment for the fertilized egg by changing the lining in the uterus (womb)
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
Works better to prevent pregnancy compared to some other birth control methods
Available as a lower-cost generic
Comes in a chewable tablet (Tyblume), which can be a good option for people who have trouble swallowing pills
Pills are in an easy-to-follow blister pack
Not a good option for females over 35 who smoke
Can cause unpleasant side effects like nausea, vomiting, and headaches
Doesn't protect against sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)
Need to take your pill at the same time every day for it to work well
Chewable tablets (Tyblume) need to be taken on an empty stomach
Before starting Vienva, discuss your full medical history with your provider. This medication can worsen certain conditions. Some examples are chloasma (a condition that causes dark skin patches) and hereditary angioedema (episodes of severe swelling in your body). If you have a history of chloasma, avoid sun exposure while taking Vienva.
Set an alarm to help you remember to take Vienva at the same time every day. Forgetting to take your pill raises the chance of getting pregnant. If you miss a dose, refer to the label or call your provider for further instructions.
Swallow your Vienva tablets whole to make sure you get your full dose. The only brand that can be chewed is Tyblume.
It's normal to have spotting (light bleeding outside of your period) or feel sick to your stomach for the first few packs of Vienva. This should get better over time, but if it doesn't contact your provider.
If you have vomiting or diarrhea, or take certain medications, Vienva might not work as well for you. Always use a back-up birth control method until you're able to check with your healthcare provider.
Any time you vomit within 4 hours of taking Vienva, it's considered a missed dose and you should refer to the instructions for missed doses that came with your prescription or ask your pharmacist or provider.
Contact your eye provider right away if you wear contact lenses and notice vision changes when wearing them or when wearing your glasses while taking Vienva.
If you've been taking Vienva as instructed and have missed two periods in a row or feel like you might be pregnant, call your provider. Studies haven't shown a risk of birth defects in females who've used birth control pills before pregnancy or during early pregnancy, but it's no longer necessary to take them once you're pregnant.
Oral contraceptives like Vienva can lower the amount of breast milk you're able to produce and aren't recommended during breastfeeding. If you're breastfeeding, ask your provider about alternative birth control options.
If you want to stop taking this medication and become pregnant, speak to your provider. There might be a delay in getting pregnant after taking Vienva. It might help to wait until you have regular menstrual cycles again after stopping Vienva before you try to get pregnant.
Vienva has been prescribed specifically for you, so don't share it with anyone who wants to take birth control. Their provider should evaluate them to make sure they get a safe option.
Vienva 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 Vienva, 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 Vienva less than a month after childbirth | High blood pressure | People identified as obese | High cholesterol | Diabetes | Higher dose of estrogen
Vienva 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 Vienva. 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 Vienva and other COCs can raise your risk for breast and cervical cancer.
Don't use Vienva 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 provider. Call your healthcare provider 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, Vienva can cause liver problems, such as liver damage and liver tumors. These problems are linked more with earlier formulations of COCs that contained higher levels of estrogen (50 mcg of higher), and less so with Vienva since it only contains 20 mcg of estrogen. Don't use this medication if you already have liver problems. Call your provider 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 Vienva might raise your blood sugar and triglyceride (fat) levels. If you have diabetes, let your provider know if you experience any changes in your blood sugar. Make sure to go to all of your check-ups so your provider can monitor any changes.
Risk factors: High blood pressure | Older age | Using COCs for a long time | Kidney problems
Vienva and other COCs can raise your blood pressure. Your provider 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 provider. If you have uncontrolled high blood pressure, Vienva might not be the best option for you.
Headaches are a common side effect of COCs like Vienva. 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 provider 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 using Vienva. Let your provider 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 provider will evaluate.
Research suggests that females who take that COCs are at a higher risk of pregnancy occuring outside of the womb (ectopic pregnancy) if the birth control pills don't work like they're supposed to. The chance of becoming pregnant is higher when you don't take Vienva as instructed at the same time every day. Symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy include low back pain, abnormal vaginal bleeding, and cramping. If you experience any of these symptoms, contact your provider.
Risk factors: History of depression
Let your provider know if you experience symptoms of depression or worsening depression while taking Vienva. In cases of serious depression, your provider might have you stop taking it.
Certain medications can make Vienva 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 Vienva 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 Vienva.
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 Vienva before starting Viekira Pak because taking them together can cause liver problems. You can start Vienva again 2 weeks after you stop Viekira Pak.
Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
---|---|---|---|
28 tablets of 0.1mg/0.02mg | 3 packages | $24.00 | $8.00 |
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:
Viena (and its branded generics) comes in a 28-day pack. There are 21 active tablets and they each contain 0.10 mg levonorgestrel and 20 mcg ethinyl estradiol. There are 7 placebo tablets and they don't contain any active medications.
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.
Please note: for the chewable brand Tyblume, you can swallow 1 tablet whole, or chew and swallow 1 tablet with 240 mL of water on an empty stomach.
Currently have or history of DVT or other blood clotting problems
Coronary artery disease
Cerebrovascular disease (problems with blood flow in the brain)
Certain heart valve or heart rhythm problems
Major surgery with not moving for a long time
Diabetes with blood vessel problems
Diabetes for greater than 20 years or if you're over 35 years old (Tyblume)
Certain types of headaches with neurological symptoms
Migraine with aura or if you're over 35 years old (Tyblume)
Uncontrolled high blood pressure
Currently have or have a history of breast cancer
Currently have endometrial cancer or other estrogen-dependent growth
Undiagnosed abnormal genital bleeding
Jaundice
Liver tumors
Liver disease
Pregnancy
Taking hepatitis C medication containing ombitasvir / paritaprevir / ritonavir, with or without dasabuvir
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