Kurvelo is a birth control preparation containing a low dose of 2 hormones – levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol. It is a monophasic drug prescribed to prevent pregnancy.
Contents:
Indications for use
Mechanism of action
Kurvelo is a combined, oral monophase contraceptive drug containing 2 hormones – gestagen and progestin. It inhibits ovulation by blocking the secretion of follicle-stimulating and luteinizing hormones in the pituitary gland, promoting the secretory transformation of the endometrium, increasing the cervical mucus viscosity.
The successive intake of tablets of the drug, containing different amounts of progestin (levonorgestrel) and estrogen (ethinyl estradiol), makes it possible to renew and provide the constant level of these hormones in the blood, closely relating to physiological, followed by normalization of menstrual dysfunctions.
Mode of application and dosage
Take Kurvelo orally without chewing and washed with a small amount of water. Take one tablet coated beginning from the first day of menstruation, within 28 days preferably at the same time of day. During the reception of placebo tablets, menstrual-like bleeding occurs.
Contraindications
- Hypersensitivity to Kurvelo component.
- Pregnancy, breastfeeding, severe hepatic disorder, hepatic tumors, congenital hyperbilirubinemia (Gilbert syndrome, Dubin-Johnson and Rotor syndrome), cholelithiasis, cholecystitis, chronic colitis;
- Severe cardiovascular (including decompensated heart diseases) and cerebrovascular changes, thromboembolism and predisposition to it, phlebitis of deep veins of the lower extremities, hormone-dependent malignant neoplasms of genital organs and mammary glands, family forms of hyperlipidemia, arterial hypertension with systolic/diastolic arterial pressure, surgical interventions, surgical operations on the lower extremities, long-lasting immobilization, major trauma, pancreatitis accompanied by severe hypertriglyceridemia and hyperlipidemia, jaundice due to taking medications containing steroids, severe forms of diabetes mellitus, sickle cell anemia, chronic hemolytic anemia, vaginal bleeding of unclear genesis, migraine, otosclerosis worsening during the preceding pregnancy;
- Idiopathic jaundice of pregnant women, severe pruritus of pregnant women, herpes of pregnant women in the medical history;
- Smoking over the age of 35, age over 40;
- Lactase insufficiency, lactose intolerance, glucose-galactose malabsorption.
Take this birth control carefully in the case of: dysfunctions of the liver and gallbladder, epilepsy, depression, ulcerative colitis, uterine myoma, mastopathy, tuberculosis, kidney disease, adolescence (without regular ovulatory cycles).
In the presence of diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, arterial hypertension, kidney dysfunction, varicose veins, phlebitis, otosclerosis, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, small chorea, intermittent porphyria, latent tetany, bronchial asthma, the administration of the drug also requires caution.
Side effects
Possible side effects, which are transitory and do not require treatment caused by Kurvelo are:
- nausea;
- vomiting;
- headache;
- breast tenderness;
- weight gain;
- decreased libido;
- depressed mood;
- intermenstrual bleeding;
- eyelid edema;
- conjunctivitis;
- visual impairment;
- discomfort wearing contact lenses.
Rare side effects are concentrations of triglycerides, glucose in the blood, decreased glucose tolerance, increased blood pressure, hepatitis, liver adenoma, gallbladder disease (eg, cholelithiasis, cholecystitis), thrombosis and venous thromboembolism, jaundice, skin rash, hair loss, increased vaginal secretions, candidiasis, increased fatigue, diarrhea.
Interactions
- Barbiturates, some anti-epileptic drugs (carbamazepine, phenytoin), sulfonamides, pyrazolone derivatives are able to improve the metabolism of steroid hormones included in the preparation.
- Reduction of contraceptive effectiveness can be observed with a simultaneous administration with some antimicrobial drugs (ampicillin, rifampicin, chloramphenicol, neomycin, polymyxin B, sulfonamides, tetracyclines), which is associated with changes in microflora in the intestine.
- When using anticoagulants, coumarin or indanedione derivatives, it is possible to further define the prothrombin index and change the dose of the anticoagulant.
- With the use of tricyclic antidepressants, maprotiline, beta-blockers, it is possible to increase their bioavailability and toxicity.
When using oral hypoglycemic drugs and insulin, it may be necessary to change their dose. - When combined with bromocriptine, the effectiveness of bromocriptine is reduced.
- When combined with drugs with a potential hepatotoxic effect with dantrolene, there is an increase in hepatotoxicity, especially in women over 35 years of age.
What if I miss a dose?
The skipped pill of this contraceptive means should be taken within the next 12 hours. If 36 hours have passed since taking the last pill, contraception is unreliable. To avoid intermenstrual bleeding, intake the drug should be continued from the package that has already been started, with the exception of the missed tablet (s). In cases of missing tablets, it is recommended to additionally use another, non-hormonal method of contraception (eg, barrier).
Kurvelo and pregnancy
Taking the drug is contraindicated during pregnancy and lactation.