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Jolessa Dosage

Generic name: LEVONORGESTREL 0.15mg, ETHINYL ESTRADIOL 0.03mg;
Dosage form: tablets
Drug class: Contraceptives

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Oct 24, 2024.

How to Start and Take JOLESSA

JOLESSA is dispensed in an Extended-Cycle Tablet Dispenser. JOLESSA should be started on a Sunday (see Table 1). For the first cycle of a Sunday Start regimen, an additional method of contraception should be used until after the first 7 consecutive days of administration.

Table 1: Instructions for Administration of JOLESSA

Starting JOLESSA in females with no current use of hormonal contraception (Sunday Start)

Important:

Consider the possibility of ovulation and conception prior to initiation of this product.

Tablet Color:

  • JOLESSA active tablets are pink (Day 1 to Day 84).
  • JOLESSA inactive tablets are white (Day 85 to Day 91).

Sunday Start:

For each 91-day course, take in the following order:

  • Take the first pink tablet (0.15 mg of levonorgestrel and 0.03 mg ethinyl estradiol) on the first Sunday after the onset of menstruation. If menstruation begins on a Sunday, take the tablet on that day. Due to the potential risk of becoming pregnant, use additional non-hormonal contraception (such as condoms or spermicide) for the first 7 days of treatment.
  • Take subsequent pink tablets once daily at the same time each day for a total of 84 days.
  • Take one white tablet (inert) daily for the following 7 days and at the same time of day that active tablets were taken. A scheduled period should occur during the 7 days that the white tablets are taken.
  • Begin the next and all subsequent 91-day courses of JOLESSA without interruption on the same day of the week (Sunday) on which the patient began her first dose. Follow the same schedule as the initial 91-day course: a pink tablet once a day for 84 days, and a white tablet once a day for 7 days. If the patient does not immediately start her next pill pack, instruct her to protect herself from pregnancy by using a non-hormonal backup method of contraception until she has taken a pink tablet daily for 7 consecutive days.

Switching from another contraceptive method to JOLESSA

Start JOLESSA:

Another oral contraceptive

On the day when the new pack of the previous COC would have been started

Transdermal patch

On the day when the next application would have been scheduled.

Vaginal ring

On the day when the next insertion would have been scheduled.

Injection

On the day when the next injection would have been scheduled.

Intrauterine contraceptive (IUD)
  • On the day of removal.
  • If the IUD is not removed on first day of the patient’s menstrual cycle, additional non-hormonal contraception (such as condoms or spermicide) is needed for the first seven days of the first 91-day course.

Implant

On the day of removal.

Starting JOLESSA after Abortion or Miscarriage

First-trimester

  • After a first-trimester abortion or miscarriage, JOLESSA may be started immediately. An additional method of contraception is not needed if JOLESSA is started immediately.
  • If JOLESSA is not started within 5 days after termination of the pregnancy, the patient should use additional non-hormonal contraception (such as condoms or spermicide) for the first seven days of her first 91-day course of JOLESSA.

Second-trimester

  • Do not start JOLESSA until 4 weeks after a second-trimester abortion or miscarriage, due to the increased risk of thromboembolic disease. Start JOLESSA following the instructions in Table 1 for Sunday start. Use additional non-hormonal contraception (such as condoms or spermicide) for the first seven days of the patient’s first 91-day course of JOLESSA.

Starting JOLESSA after Childbirth

  • Do not start JOLESSA until 4 weeks after delivery, due to the increased risk of thromboembolic disease. Start contraceptive therapy with JOLESSA following the instructions in Table 1 for women not currently using hormonal contraception.
  • JOLESSA is not recommended for use in lactating women.
  • If the woman has not yet had a period postpartum, consider the possibility of ovulation and conception occurring prior to use of JOLESSA.

Dosing JOLESSA

Instruct patients to take one tablet by mouth at the same time every day. The dosing of JOLESSA is one pink pill containing levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol daily for 84 consecutive days, followed by one white pill (inactive pills without hormone) for 7 days. To achieve maximum contraceptive effectiveness, JOLESSA must be taken exactly as directed, in the order directed on the Tablet Dispenser, and at intervals not exceeding 24 hours. Start taking the first pink pill from a new Tablet Dispenser the very next day after taking the last white inactive pill in the Tablet Dispenser. The failure rate may increase when pills are missed or taken incorrectly.

Missed Doses

Table 2: Instructions for Missed JOLESSA Tablets

  • If one active tablet (pink) is missed in Days 1 through 84

Take the tablet as soon as possible. Take the next tablet at the regular time and continue taking one tablet a day until the 91-day course is finished.
  • If two consecutive active tablets (pink) are missed in Days 1 through 84

Take 2 tablets on the day remembered and 2 tablets the next day. Then continue taking one tablet a day until the 91-day course is finished. Additional non-hormonal contraception (such as condoms or spermicide) should be used as backup if the patient has sex within 7 days after missing tablets.
  • If three or more consecutive active tablets (pink) are missed in Days 1 through 84

Do not take the missed tablets. Continue taking one tablet a day until the 91-day course is finished. Additional non-hormonal contraception (such as condoms or spermicide) must be used as backup if the patient has sex within 7 days after missing tablets.
  • If any of the seven white (inactive) tablets are missed

Throw away the missed tablets. Continue taking the remaining tablets until the pack is finished. A backup birth control method is not needed.

Advice in Case of Gastrointestinal Disturbances

In case of severe vomiting or diarrhea, absorption may not be complete and additional contraceptive measures should be taken. If vomiting or diarrhea occurs within 3-4 hours after taking a pink tablet, handle this as a missed tablet.

Further information

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

Medical Disclaimer