Skip to main content

Xulane

Generic name: ethinyl estradiol and norelgestromin
Dosage form: transdermal patch
Drug class: Contraceptives

Medically reviewed by Philip Thornton, DipPharm. Last updated on Apr 4, 2023.

What is Xulane?

Xulane is a birth control patch you wear on your skin to stop you getting pregnant. Xulane contains two hormones - an estrogen and progestin - which are absorbed through the skin. It prevents pregnancy by stopping your ovaries from ovulating and releasing eggs.

Xulane is a generic version of a patch called Ortho Evra, which has been discontinued.

What is Xulane used for?

Xulane is a birth control patch for women with a BMI less than 30 kg/m2. It is used to prevent pregnancy.

Your chances of getting pregnant while using Xulane depend on how well you follow the directions for using it. The better you follow the directions, the less chance you have of getting pregnant.

In clinical studies, 1 to 2 out of 100 women got pregnant during the first year that they used the norelgestromin and ethinyl estradiol transdermal system.

Xulane may not be as effective in women weighing more than 198 lbs. (90 kg). If you weigh more than 198 lbs. (90 kg), talk to your healthcare provider about which method of birth control is right for you.

Xulane and other birth control patches are as effective at preventing pregnancy as birth control pills and vaginal rings with hormones. Birth control patches are more effective then condoms and diaphragms.

Important information

Do not use Xulane if you smoke cigarettes and are over 35 years old. Smoking increases your risk of serious cardiovascular side effects from hormonal birth control methods, including death from heart attack, blood clots or stroke. This risk increases with age and the number of cigarettes you smoke.

Do not use Xulane if you have an increased risk for blood clots.

Do not use Xulane if your Body Mass Index (BMI) is 30 kg/m2 or more. Women with a BMI of 30 kg/m2 or more who use Xulane may be at a higher risk for developing blood clots compared to women with a BMI lower than 30 kg/m2.

Hormonal birth control methods help to lower the chances of becoming pregnant. They do not protect against HIV infection (AIDS) and other sexually transmitted infections.

Who should not use Xulane?

Do not use Xulane if you:

Hormonal birth control methods may not be a good choice for you if you have ever had jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes) caused by pregnancy or related to previous use of hormonal birth control.

Tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had any of the above conditions. Your healthcare provider may recommend another method of birth control.

What should I tell my doctor before using Xulane?

Before you use Xulane tell your healthcare provider:

How should I use Xulane?

What should I know about my period when using Xulane?

When you use Xulane you may have bleeding and spotting between periods, called unplanned bleeding. Unplanned bleeding may vary from slight staining between menstrual periods to breakthrough bleeding which is a flow much like a regular period. Unplanned bleeding occurs most often during the first few months of Xulane use, but may also occur after you have been using the patch for some time. Such bleeding may be temporary and usually does not indicate any serious problems. It is important to continue using the patch on schedule. If the unplanned bleeding or spotting is heavy or lasts for more than a few days, you should discuss this with your healthcare provider.

What if I miss my scheduled period when using Xulane?

Some women miss periods on hormonal birth control, even when they are not pregnant. However, if you go 2 or more months in a row without a period, or you miss your period after a month where you did not use all of your patches correctly, or you have symptoms associated with pregnancy, such as morning sickness or unusual breast tenderness, call your healthcare provider because you may be pregnant. Stop taking Xulane if you are pregnant.

What if I want to become pregnant?

You may stop using Xulane whenever you wish. Consider a visit with your healthcare provider for a pre-pregnancy checkup before you stop using the patch.

Dosage

Xulane (is available in one strength of 150 mcg/day norelgestromin (NGMN) and 35 mcg/day ethinyl estradiol (EE).

Xulane is a 14 cm2 peach, transdermal system printed with “Xulane® (norelgestromin and ethinyl estradiol) 150/35 mcg per day” in brown ink. Each system contains 4.86 mg norelgestromin, USP and 0.53 mg ethinyl estradiol, USP.

What are the side effects of Xulane?

Hormones from Xulane get into the blood stream and are processed by the body differently than hormones from birth control pills. You will be exposed to about 60% more estrogen if you use Xulane than if you use a typical birth control pill containing 35 micrograms of estrogen. In general, increased estrogen may increase the risk of side effects.

See “Important information” above.

Xulane may cause serious side effects, including:

To put the risk of developing a blood clot into perspective: If 10,000 women who are not pregnant and do not use hormonal birth control are followed for one year, between 1 and 5 of these women will develop a blood clot. The likelihood of developing a serious blood clot for women who use hormonal birth control is between 3 and 12, for pregnant women is between 5 and 20, and for women in the first 12 weeks after delivering a baby (postpartum) is between 40 and 65.

Call your healthcare provider right away if you have:

Other serious risks include

The most common side effects of Xulane are:

Some women have spotting or light bleeding, breast tenderness, or feel sick to their stomach during norelgestromin and ethinyl estradiol transdermal system use. If these symptoms occur, do not stop using the Xulane patch. The problem will usually go away. If it does not go away, check with your healthcare provider.

Less common side effects are:

Tell your healthcare provider about any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

These are not all the possible side effects of Xulane. For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist.

Call your healthcare provider for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Does hormonal birth control cause cancer?

It is not known if hormonal birth control causes breast cancer. Some studies, but not all, suggest that there could be a slight increase in the risk of breast cancer among current users with longer duration of use.

If you have breast cancer now, or have had it in the past, do not use hormonal birth control because some breast cancers are sensitive to hormones.

Women who use hormonal birth control methods may have a slightly higher chance of getting cervical cancer. However, this may be due to other reasons such as having more sexual partners.

Interactions

Tell your healthcare provider about all medicines and herbal products that you take.

Some medicines and herbal products may make hormonal birth control less effective, including, but not limited to:

Use another birth control method (such as a condom and spermicide or diaphragm and spermicide) when you take medicines that may make the Xulane patch less effective.

Some medicines and grapefruit juice may increase your level of the hormone ethinyl estradiol if used together, including:

Hormonal birth control methods may interact with lamotrigine, an anti-seizure medicine used for epilepsy. This may increase the risk of seizures, so your healthcare provider may need to adjust the dose of lamotrigine.

Women on thyroid replacement therapy may need increased doses of thyroid hormone.

Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of them to show your doctor and pharmacist when you get a new medicine.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Xulane is not known to cause birth defects when used by accident during pregnancy.

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Hormonal birth control methods that contain estrogen, like Xulane, may decrease the amount of milk you make. A small amount of hormones from the Xulane patch may pass into your breast milk. Consider another method of birth control until you are ready to stop breastfeeding.

Storage

Keep Xulane and all medicines out of the reach of children.

What are the ingredients in Xulane?

Active ingredient: norelgestromin and ethinyl estradiol

Inactive ingredient: crospovidone, dipropylene glycol, fluoropolymer coated polyester film, light mineral oil, non-woven polyester fabric, oleyl alcohol, polyethylene/polyester film and polyisobutene adhesive. Each patch is printed with brown ink.

Xulane is manufactured for Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc, Morgantown, WV 26505 USA.

Instructions for use for Xulane

Xulane is for skin use only.

Do not cut, damage, or alter the Xulane patch in any way.

How to start using your Xulane patch

Step 1. Choose a place on your body for your Xulane patch

Step 2: Apply your Xulane patch

Step 3: Throwing away your Xulane patch

Important notes:

Popular FAQ

Twirla and Xulane are weekly birth control patches that are used to prevent pregnancy. They are both combination products containing an estrogen and progestin, however, the products contain different progestins and have slight differences in their appearance, efficacy and side effects profile. Continue reading

When you start the Xulane patch varies based on if you are currently using a form of hormonal birth control, if you’ve recently had a baby or other circumstances. Choose the start time for the patch that best fits your situation. In all cases, follow your doctor's instructions exactly for use of the Xulane patch. Continue reading

If you stop using your Xulane patch it will no longer protect against pregnancy, so don’t just stop using Xulane because of a rash without discussing it with your doctor first.

Follow the instructions for use that come with Xulane to help avoid a rash developing:

  • If a rash develops that requires the removal of the patch, then the patch can be removed and a new, replacement patch applied at another suitable site on the body.
  • If the rash is severe or otherwise concerning, or you have ongoing problems with Xulane causing rashes, then contact your doctor for advice.
Continue reading

Yes, you can still get pregnant using Xulane patch (ethinyl estradiol and norelgestromin transdermal), although your chances are much lower if you use it correctly. The patch is 99% effective when used as directed, according to the manufacturer. Continue reading

You can place the Xulane contraceptive patch on your upper outer arm, abdomen (stomach) area, buttock or on your back. Do not apply the patch to your breasts. Place the patch in an area where it will not be rubbed by tight clothing, such as a belt or elastic. Continue reading

The Xulane (ethinyl estradiol and norelgestromin) birth control patch works by releasing hormones through your skin that prevent pregnancy. The hormones in the Xulane patch, ethinyl estradiol (an estrogen) and norelgestromin (a progestin) stop ovulation - the release of an egg from the ovary. If there is no ovulation, there is no egg for sperm to fertilize which lowers the chances for pregnancy. Continue reading

View more FAQ

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.