How To Use Levonorgestrel and Ethinyl Estradiol

The typical dosage regimen is one white tablet daily for 21 days, followed by one peach tablet daily for 7 days. You should take your pill at the same time each day to get maximum contraceptive effectiveness. Make sure the interval between two doses is not more than 24 hours. 

Read the prescription label carefully and take levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not change the dose or dosage frequency without consulting your healthcare provider. Do not switch to other birth control pills without talking to your doctor.

Your provider will tell you to either begin taking the first tablet of levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol tablet on the first Sunday after menstruation (this is called a Sunday start) or on day 1 of your menstrual period (this is called a day 1 start).

You will get withdrawal bleeding within 3 days after discontinuing the white tablets. Start a new pack as soon as the older one finishes without any gap days in between. Menstrual bleeding may not stop before you finish the current pack and start the next pack. Follow the same dosing schedule of 21 days on white tablets, followed by 7 days on peach tablets. If you start the tablets later than the scheduled day, protect yourself against pregnancy with a non-hormonal backup birth control method until you have taken the white tablets for 7 days. If spotting or breakthrough bleeding occurs, continue the same regimen. This type of bleeding is usually temporary and not significant. However, tell your doctor if the bleeding persists.

You should know that you cannot rely on Vienva (levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol) to protect you against pregnancy for the first week (until you have taken the active white tablets for at least seven days) if you start on a Sunday. Use a non-hormonal backup method of birth control for the first 7 days in this case. If you start taking the medication on day 1 of your menstrual cycle, no back-up contraception is needed. 

If you are switching from some other birth control pills to Vienva (levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol), your doctor will tell you when to start the medication. 

The risk of pregnancy is low if you take the tablets as directed. However, if you miss some pills, the possibility of ovulation and pregnancy increases. The risk of pregnancy increases with each active tablet that is missed. If you don’t get withdrawal bleeding after finishing the white tablets, consider the possibility of a pregnancy. 

If you did not take the tablets as prescribed, i.e., if you missed one or more pills or started taking them a day later than you should have, then there is a possibility of pregnancy. Do a home pregnancy test if you miss your period and call your doctor. If you have not missed any pills and have taken the oral contraceptive on schedule, you should consider the possibility of a pregnancy after missing two consecutive menstrual periods. Read the patient information leaflet for more information on what to do if you miss a tablet. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any further questions.

If you are taking birth control pills after a pregnancy, abortion, or miscarriage, your doctor will tell you to start levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol tablets no sooner than 28 days after childbirth if you are not lactating or after a second-trimester abortion due to the increased risk for thromboembolism (blood clots). However, you can start levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol tablets immediately after a first-trimester abortion or miscarriage.

Missed dose: If you miss a pill of levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol, follow the directions on the manufacturer’s information leaflet. Do not take more than one dose of the birth control pill at the same time. You may not be protected against pregnancy and should use a backup non-hormonal birth control method for 7 days or until the end of your current cycle.

Storage: Store levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol at room temperature (between 15-30° C or 59-86° F) away from moisture, heat, and direct light in its original container, tightly closed. Do not store medications in the bathroom where they can be exposed to moisture and heat. Keep all medications safely out of reach of children and pets.

Unused medicine: Unused or expired levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol should be disposed of in a way that children, other people, and pets cannot get to them. Do not throw levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol in the trash or flush it down the toilet. The best way to dispose of expired or unneeded levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol is through your local waste disposal company or a drug take-back program. Learn more about  proper medication disposal. 

NOTE: This medication guide is a summary and may not contain all possible drug information on levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol. The information contained here may not be up-to-date. This sheet is for information purposes only. If you have questions about levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol, talk to your healthcare professionals for medical advice.

Discounted prices for llevonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol start at $12.84.

Get your FREE BuzzRx card and 
start saving today!

CHECK PRICES