Xulane

Xulane Side Effects

Reviewed by Ally Tsai, PharmD, Allison Gourley, PharmD

Last reviewed on February 5, 2025

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

Breast symptoms (discomfort, swelling, or pain; 22%)
Headache (21%)
Skin irritation and redness (17%)
Nausea (17%)
Menstrual cramps (8%)
Stomach pain (8%)
Vaginal bleeding (6%)
Changes in mood (6%)
Vomiting (5%)

Less Common Side Effects

Diarrhea
Dizziness
Migraine
Feeling tired
Acne
Itching
Vaginal yeast infection
Weight gain

Xulane serious side effects

Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.

Heart attack: chest pain, stomach discomfort, sweating, nausea, dizziness
Stroke: sudden numbness or weakness in the arm, leg, or face, confusion, trouble seeing, headache, difficulty walking
Deep vein thrombosis (blood clot in the leg): leg cramp, swelling, pain, muscle tightness
Pulmonary embolism (blood clot in the lung): cough, chest pain, trouble breathing, racing heart
Liver problems: yellowing of the skin or the whites of the eyes, tiredness, stomach pain

Source: DailyMed

The following Xulane side effects have also been reported

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:

More common

Body aches or pain

chills

cough

difficulty with breathing

ear congestion

fever

headache

loss of voice

unusual tiredness or weakness

Incidence not known

Anxiety

changes in skin color

chest pain or discomfort

confusion

dark urine

diarrhea

dizziness

eye pain

fainting

inability to speak

itching

lack or loss of appetite

light-colored stools

lightheadedness

nausea

numbness in the hands

pain in the stomach

pain in the chest, groin, or legs, especially the calves

pain or discomfort in the arms, jaw, back, or neck

pain, tenderness, or swelling of the foot or leg

pounding in the ears

rash

seizures

slow or fast heartbeat

slurred speech

sudden headache

sudden loss of coordination

sudden, severe weakness or numbness in the arm or leg on one side of the body

sweating

swelling, pain, or tenderness in the upper abdominal or stomach area

temporary blindness

unpleasant breath odor

vision changes

vomiting of blood

yellow eyes or skin

Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur:

Symptoms of overdose

Unusual vaginal bleeding in women

vomiting

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:

More common

Burning, itching, or redness of the skin

menstrual cramps

pain, soreness, swelling, or discharge from the breast or breasts

swelling or soreness at the patch site

Incidence not known

Absent, missed, or irregular menstrual periods

bloody vaginal discharge

brown, blotchy spots on exposed skin

change in amount of vaginal discharge

change in menstrual flow

decreased amount of breast milk