What If I Miss a Pill?
Your body is sensitive to the hormones in combination oral contraceptives, and missing pills can reduce effectiveness and can influence your cycle. Here’s what to do if you forget to take 1 or more of your pills.
Talk with your healthcare provider for more information.
If You Miss 1 Orange Pill
Not an actual patient.
- Take it as soon as you remember, and take the next pill at the regular time, even if that means taking 2 pills in 1 day.
- Continue taking 1 pill every day until you finish the pack.
- You do NOT need to use a backup birth control method.
If You Miss 2 Orange Pills
Not an actual patient.
In Week 1 or Week 2
- Take the 2 missed pills ASAP. Take the next 2 pills the next day.
- Continue taking 1 pill every day until you finish the pack.
- Use a nonhormonal backup birth control method if you have sex in the first 7 days after missing your pills.
In Week 3
- If you started your pill pack on a Sunday, take 1 pill per day until Sunday. Then throw out the rest of the pill pack and start a new pack.
- If you started your pill pack on any other day, throw out the rest of your pill pack and start a new pack that same day.
- Use a nonhormonal backup birth control method if you have sex in the first 7 days after missing your pills.
- You may not have your period this month. If you miss your period 2 months in a row, you could be pregnant and you should call your healthcare provider.
If You Miss 3 or More Orange Pills in a Row
Not an actual patient.
- If you started your pill pack on a Sunday, take 1 pill per day until Sunday. Then throw out the rest of the pill pack and start a new pack.
- If you started your pill pack on any other day, throw out the rest of your pill pack and start a new pack that same day.
- Use a nonhormonal backup birth control method if you have sex in the first 7 days after missing your pills.
- You may not have your period this month. If you miss your period 2 months in a row, you could be pregnant and you should call your healthcare provider.
What is Balcoltra?
Balcoltra is a prescription birth control pill used for the prevention of pregnancy.
IMPORTANT RISK INFORMATION for Balcoltra (levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol tablets and ferrous bisglycinate tablets)
WARNING TO WOMEN WHO SMOKE
Do not use Balcoltra if you smoke cigarettes and are over 35 years old. Smoking increases your risk of serious cardiovascular side effects (heart and blood vessel problems) from birth control pills, including death from heart attack, blood clots, or stroke. This risk increases with age and the number of cigarettes you smoke.
Who should not take Balcoltra?
Do not use Balcoltra if you have or have had blood clots, history of heart attack or stroke, high blood pressure that medicine cannot control, breast cancer or any cancer that is sensitive to female hormones, liver disease or liver tumors, unexplained bleeding from the vagina, hypersensitivity to any of the components, if you are or may be pregnant, or if you take Hepatitis C drugs containing ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir, with or without dasabuvir, as this may increase levels of liver enzymes in the blood.
What else should I know about taking Balcoltra?
Treatment with Balcoltra should be stopped if you have a blood clot, and at least 4 weeks before and through 2 weeks after major surgery. You should not take Balcoltra any earlier than 4 weeks after having a baby. If you are breastfeeding, talk to your doctor before taking Balcoltra. If you experience yellowing of the skin or eyes due to problems with your liver, you should stop taking Balcoltra. If you are prediabetic or diabetic, your doctor should monitor you while using Balcoltra. Your doctor should evaluate you if you have any significant change in headaches or irregular menstrual bleeding. Balcoltra contains FD&C Yellow No. 5 and may cause an allergic reaction, including in those with an allergy to aspirin.
What are the most serious risks of taking Balcoltra?
Balcoltra increases the risk of serious conditions, including blood clots, stroke, and heart attack. These can be life-threatening and require immediate medical care.
What are the possible side effects of Balcoltra?
The most common side effects of Balcoltra are headache, spotting or bleeding between periods or no menstrual bleeding, nausea, breast tenderness or pain, stomach pain, pain during periods, depression, acne, and vaginal infections.
Birth control pills do not protect you against any sexually transmitted disease, including HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1‐800‐FDA‐1088.
Please see the full Prescribing Information, including BOXED WARNING, and Patient Information.
References: 1. Balcoltra [package insert]. Alpharetta, GA: Avion Pharmaceuticals LLC; 2018.