Evra patches are a combined hormonal contraceptive for use by women to prevent pregnancy
Evra patches are worn on the skin and need replacing once a week
When used correctly, Evra patches are one of the most reliable methods of contraception
Prescription only
Evra contains two types of sex hormones, a progestogen called norelgestromin and an oestrogen called ethinyl estradiol and is called a ‘combined hormonal contraceptive’ and is used to prevent pregnancy.
The patches work in the same way as the oral contraceptive pill. They stop the ovaries from releasing an egg, they change the lining of the womb and thicken vaginal fluids so that sperm cannot enter the womb.
To read the patient information leaflet for this product click here https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/PIL.12125.latest.pdf
Weeks 1, 2 & 3: Put on one patch and leave it on for exactly seven days
Week 4: Do not put on a patch this week
Choose a place on your body to put the patch:
Always put your patch on clean, dry, hairless skin
Put it on the buttock, abdomen, upper outer arm or upper back - places where it won’t be rubbed by tight clothing.
Never put the patch on your breasts
Consult your Patient Information Leaflet for detailed instructions on how to place the Evra patches.
Important information to follow when using the patch:
Change Evra on the same day of each week. This is because it is designed to work over 7 days
Never go without wearing a patch for more than 7 days in a row
Only wear one patch at a time
Do not cut or tamper with the patch
Do not put the patch on skin that is red, irritated or cut
To work properly the patch must stick firmly to your skin
Press the patch down firmly until the edges stick well
Do not use creams, oils, lotions, powder or makeup on the skin where you are placing a patch or near a patch you are wearing. This may make the patch come loose
Do not put a new patch on the same area of skin as the old patch. If you do you are more likely to cause irritation
Check each day to make sure the patch has not fallen off
Keep using the patches even if you do not have sex very often
The active substances are norelgestromin and ethinyl estradiol. Each 20 cm2 transdermal patch
contains 6 mg norelgestromin and 600 micrograms ethinyl estradiol. The active substances are
released over 7 days with an average of 203 micrograms norelgestromin and 34 micrograms ethinyl estradiol being released each 24 hours.
The other ingredients are: backing layer: low-density pigmented polyethylene outer layer, polyesterinner layer; middle layer: polyisobutylene/polybutene adhesive, crospovidone, non-woven polyester fabric, lauryl lactate; third layer: polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film, polydimethylsiloxane coating.
Before you start using Evra read the Patient Information Leaflet. It is particularly important to read the blood clot symptoms.
You should not use Evra if you have any of the conditions listed below, consult with your doctor:
if you have (or have ever had) a blood clot in a blood vessel of your legs (deep vein thrombosis,
DVT), your lungs (pulmonary embolus, PE) or other organs
if you know you have a disorder affecting your blood clotting - for instance, protein C
deficiency, protein S deficiency, antithrombin-III deficiency, Factor V Leiden or
antiphospholipid antibodies
if you need an operation or if you are off your feet for a long time
if you have ever had a heart attack or a stroke
if you have (or have ever had) angina pectoris (a condition that causes severe chest pain and may be a first sign of a heart attack) or transient ischaemic attack (TIA – temporary stroke symptoms
if you have a disease that may increase your risk of a clot in the arteries:
severe diabetes with blood vessel damage
very high blood pressure
a very high level of fat in the blood (cholesterol or triglycerides);
a condition known as hyper homocysteinaemia
if you have (or have ever had) a type of migraine called ‘migraine with aura’
if you are allergic to norelgestromin, ethinyl estradiol or any of the other ingredients of this medicine
if you have ever been told you might have breast cancer or cancer of the womb, cervix or vagina
if you have ever had liver tumours or a liver disease because of which your liver does not function properly
if you have unexplained vaginal bleeding
if you have Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis (chronic inflammatory bowel disease);
if you have SLE (systemic lupus erythematosus; a disease affecting your natural defence system)
if you have haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS - a disorder of blood clotting causing failure of the kidneys)
if you have sickle cell anaemia (an inherited disease of the red blood cells)
if you have elevated levels of fat in the blood (hypertriglyceridaemia) or a positive family history for this condition
if you need an operation, or you are off your feet for a long time
if you have just given birth you are at an increased risk of blood clots. You should ask your doctor how soon after delivery you can start taking Evra
if you have an inflammation in the veins under the skin (superficial thrombophlebitis);
if you have varicose veins
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken, or might take any other
medicines. Certain medicines and herbal therapies may stop Evra from working properly. If this happens you could get pregnant.
Tell your doctor if you are taking:
some antiretroviral medicines used to treat HIV/AIDS (such as nelfinavir, ritonavir, nevirapine, efavirenz)
medicines for infection (such as rifampicin, rifabutin and griseofulvin, penicillins and tetracycline)
anti-seizure medicines (such as topiramate, phenobarbital, phenytoin, carbamazepine, primidone, oxcarbamazepine, felbamate, eslicarbazepine acetate and rufinamide are some examples)
(fos)aprepitant (a medicine to treat nausea)
bosentan (a medicine for high blood pressure in the blood vessels in the lungs)
St. John’s wort (an herbal therapy used for depression). St. John’s wort should not be taken when you are using Evra
medicines containing ciclosporin
lamotrigine used for epilepsy (this can increase the risk of seizures).
Consult the Patient Information Leaflet for more information on possible risks and side effects.