Etonogestrel and Ethinyl Estradiol Vaginal Ring

NuvaRing®
Other name(s): contraceptive ring Logo

Brand name(s): NuvaRing®
Other name(s): contraceptive ring

What special precautions should I follow?

Before using etonogestrel and ethinyl estradiol vaginal ring,

• tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to etonogestrel, ethinyl estradiol or any other medications.
• tell your doctor and pharmacist what other prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, you are taking. Be sure to mention any of the following: acetaminophen (Tylenol, others); antibiotics such as ampicillin (Omnipen, Principen others), clarithromycin (Biaxin), demeclocycline (Declomycin), doxycycline (Vibramycin, Doryx, others), erythromycin (E.E.S., E-Mycin, Erythrocin), minocycline (Vectrin, Minocin), rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane), rifabutin (Mycobutin); tetracycline (Sumycin), and troleandomycin (TAO); antifungals such as fluconazole (Diflucan), griseofulvin (Grifulvin V, Fulvicin, others), itraconazole (Sporanox), and ketoconazole (Nizoral); ascorbic acid (Vitamin C); atorvastatin (Lipitor); cimetidine (Tagamet); clofibrate (Abitrate, Atromid-S); cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune); danazol (Danocrine); dexamethasone (Decadron); diltiazem (Cardizem, Dilacor, Tiazac); ethosuxamide (Zarontin); fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem); fluvoxamine (Luvox); isoniazid (INH, Nydrazid); medications for HIV or AIDS such as delavirdine (Rescriptor), indinavir (Crixivan), nelfinavir (Viracept), Saquinavir (Fortovase, Invirase), and ritonavir (Norvir); medications for seizures such as carbamazepine (Tegretol), felbamate (Felbatol), oxcarbazepine (Trileptal), phenobarbital (Luminal, Solfoton), phenytoin (Dilantin), and topiramate (Topamax); metronidazole (Flagyl); morphine (MSIR, Oramorph, others); nefazodone; prednisolone (Prelone); primidone; theophylline (TheoDur, others); temazepam (Restoril); verapamil (Calan, Covera, Isoptin, Verelan); zafirlukast (Accolate) and any medication that is placed in the vagina. Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects. You may need to use an extra method of birth control if you take some of these medications while you are using the contraceptive ring.
• tell your doctor what herbal products you are taking, especially products containing St. John's wort.
• tell your doctor if you have or have ever had, or anyone in your family has or has ever had, breast cancer, if you have ever had yellowing of the skin or eyes during pregnancy or while you were using another type of hormonal contraceptive (birth control pills, patches, rings, or injections), if you are on bed rest or are unable to walk around for any reason, or if you have or have ever had breast lumps; an abnormal mammogram (breast x-ray); fibrocystic breast disease (swollen, tender breasts and/or breast lumps that are not cancer); any type of cancer, especially cancer of the endometrium (lining of the uterus), cervix, or vagina; blood clots in your legs, lungs, or eyes; stroke or mini-stroke; coronary artery disease (clogged blood vessels leading to the heart); chest pain; a heart attack; any condition that affects your heart valves (flaps of tissue that open and close to control blood flow in the heart); high cholesterol or triglycerides; high blood pressure; diabetes; headaches; seizures; depression; unexplained vaginal bleeding; any condition that makes your vagina more likely to become irritated; bladder, uterus or rectum that has dropped or bulged into the vagina; constipation; or liver, kidney, thyroid, or gallbladder disease.
• tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. If you become pregnant while using etonogestrel and ethinyl estradiol vaginal ring, call your doctor immediately.You should suspect that you are pregnant and call your doctor if you have used the contraceptive ring correctly and you miss two periods in a row, or if you have not used the contraceptive ring according to the directions and you miss one period. You should not breastfeed while you are using the contraceptive ring.
• if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are using etonogestrel and ethinyl estradiol vaginal ring.
• tell your doctor if you wear contact lenses. If you notice changes in your vision or your ability to wear your lenses while using etonogestrel and ethinyl estradiol vaginal ring, see an eye doctor.

Last Revised: 01/01/2005

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