Nexplanon

Nexplanon is a medication used to prevent pregnancy for up to 3 years. Nexplanon belongs to a group of drugs called progestins. These work to prevent pregnancy by causing changes in the lining of the uterus and cervical mucus that keep sperm from being able to access and combine with an egg.

This medication is available in a flexible plastic rod form and is implanted just under the skin of the inner side of your upper arm by a healthcare provider.

Common side effects of Nexplanon include menstrual bleeding irregularities, mood swings, and weight gain.

Nexplanon can also cause dizziness. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how Nexplanon affects you.

Nexplanon is a medication used to prevent pregnancy for up to 3 years.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

• Organon Pharmaceuticals USA

Serious side effects have been reported with Nexplanon. See the "Nexplanon Precautions" section.

Common side effects of Nexplanon include:

• Change in menstrual bleeding (lighter, heavier, or absent)
• Weight gain
• Acne
• Breast pain
• Viral infections such as sore throats or flu-like symptoms
• Stomach pain
• Painful periods
• Mood swings, nervousness, or depressed mood
• Back pain
• Nausea
• Dizziness
• Pain
• Pain at the site of insertion
• Headache
• Vaginitis (inflammation of the vagina)

This is not a complete list of Nexplanon side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

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

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you take:

• acarbose
• acetaminophen
• acetohexamide
• acitretin
• albiglutide
• alogliptin
• aminoglutethimide
• aminophylline
• amlodipine
• amobarbital
• amoxicillin
• amprenavir
• aprepitant
• armodafinil
• artemether
• aspirin
• atazanavir
• atorvastatin
• atropine
• bazedoxifene
• belladonna
• bexarotene
• boceprevir
• bosentan
• butabarbital
• butalbital
• canagliflozin
• carbamazepine
• chlorpropamide
• clarithromycin
• clobazam
• clotrimazole
• clozapine
• cobicistat
• conivaptan
• cyclosporine
• dabrafenib
• dapagliflozin
• darunavir
• dasabuvir
• dasatinib
• deferasirox
• divalproex sodium
• dronedarone
• dulaglutide
• dyphylline
• efavirenz
• elvitegravir
• empagliflozin
• emtricitabine
• enzalutamide
• ephedrine
• erythromycin
• eslicarbazepine
• etravirine
• etretinate
• exenatide
• felbamate
• flibanserin
• fluconazole
• fluvoxamine
• fosamprenavir
• fosaprepitant
• fosphenytoin
• frovatriptan
• glimepiride
• glipizide
• glyburide
• griseofulvin
• guaifenesin
• hyoscyamine
• indinavir
• insulin products
• isavuconazonium
• isoniazid
• itraconazole
• ivacaftor
• ketoconazole
• lamotrigine
• lapatinib
• linaclotide
• linagliptin
• liraglutide
• lopinavir
• mephobarbital
• metformin
• metreleptin
• miconazole
• mifepristone
• miglitol
• mitotane
• modafinil
• mycophenolate mofetil
• mycophenolic acid
• nafcillin
• nateglinide
• nefazodone
• nelfinavir
• netupitant
• nevirapine
• nilotinib
• olaparib
• ombitasvir
• oxcarbazepine
• oxtriphylline
• pentobarbital
• perampanel
• phenobarbital
• phenylbutazone
• phenytoin
• pioglitazone
• posaconazole
• potassium iodide
• pramlintide
• primidone
• repaglinide
• rifabutin
• rifampin
• rifapentine
• ritonavir
• rosiglitazone
• rosuvastatin
• rufinamide
• saquinavir
• saxagliptin
• secobarbital
• simvastatin
• sirolimus
• sitagliptin
• st. john's wort
• sulfinpyrazone
• tacrolimus
• telaprevir
• telithromycin
• teriflunomide
• theophylline
• tolazamide
• tolbutamide
• tranexamic acid
• troglitazone
• ulipristal
• valproic acid
• vandetanib
• vemurafenib
• voriconazole

This is not a complete list of Nexplanon drug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Serious side effects have been reported with Nexplanon including the following:

• Complications of insertion and removal. Complications related to insertion and removal procedures, such as pain, bleeding, blood clots, and scarring or infection, may occur. Discuss these risks with your physician prior to beginning therapy.
• Ectopic Pregnancies (implantation of an embryo outside of the uterus). A pregnancy that occurs in a woman using Nexplanon may be more likely to be ectopic than a pregnancy occurring in a woman using no contraception. Consult with your physician about your risk for developing an ectopic pregnancy before beginning therapy with Nexplanon.
• Blood clots. There have been reports of serious blood clots in women using medications that are similar to Nexplanon. Consult with your physician if you have a history of blood clots before beginning treatment with Nexplanon.
• Breast cancer. Women who currently have or have had breast cancer, or have a suspicion of breast cancer, should not use Nexplanon because some breast cancers are hormone-sensitive and can worsen if medications like Nexplanon are taken.
• Liver disease. Liver problems can occur during treatment with medications like Nexplanon and this can sometimes require discontinuation of therapy. Your physician will monitor you for signs and symptoms of liver disease during your treatment.
• Elevated blood pressure. Women with a history of high blood pressure and/or kidney disease should typically not use use hormonal contraceptive products like Nexplanon. If your high blood pressure is well controlled, this medication may be appropriate with close monitoring by a physician. If high blood pressure develops during treatment with Nexplanon, consult with your physician, as Nexplanon may need to be removed.
• Gallbladder disease. Clinical studies have shown a small risk of developing gallbladder disease during therapy with medications similar to Nexplanon. Consult with your physician about your risk for developing gallbladder disease prior to beginning therapy with Nexplanon.
• Insulin resistance. Nexplanon may cause mild insulin resistance. If you have diabetes or prediabetes, your physician will monitor you during therapy to make sure that Nexplanon is appropriate for you.
• Fluid retention (swelling). Medications like Nexplanon may cause some degree of fluid retention or swelling of your extremities. If you have heart failure, consult with your physician prior to beginning therapy with Nexplanon.

Do not take Nexplanon if you:

• are allergic to Nexplanon or to any of its ingredients 
• are pragnant or suspect you may be pregnant
• have or have a history of blood clots
• have active liver disease or liver tumors
• have undiagnosed abnormal vaginal bleeding
• have or suspect you may have breast cancer

Nexplanon can also cause dizziness. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how Nexplanon affects you.

Medications can interact with certain foods. In some cases, this may be harmful and your doctor may advise you to avoid certain foods. In the case of Nexplanon, there are no specific foods that you must exclude from your diet when receiving this medication.

Before taking Nexplanon, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions. Especially tell your doctor if you:

• are pregnant or plan to become pregnant
• are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed
• are allergic to Nexplanon or to any of its ingredients 
• have or have a history of blood clots
• have active liver disease or liver tumors
• have undiagnosed abnormal vaginal bleeding
• have or suspect you may have breast cancer
• have a history of ectopic pregnancy
• have a history of ovarian cysts
• have a history of high blood pressure
• have a history of gallbladder disease
• have diabetes or prediabetes
• have a history of depression
• have heart failure
• have high cholesterol

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

The FDA categorizes medications based on safety for use during pregnancy. Five categories - A, B, C, D, and X, are used to classify the possible risks to an unborn baby when a medication is taken during pregnancy.

Nexplanon falls into category X. It has been shown that women taking Nexplanon during pregnancy may have babies born with problems. There are no situations where the benefits of the medication for the mother outweigh the risks of harm to the baby. These medicines should never be used by pregnant women.

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.

Nexplanon has been detected in human breast milk. Because of the possibility for adverse reactions in nursing infants from Nexplanon, a choice should be made whether to stop nursing or to stop use of this medication. The importance of the drug to the mother should be considered.

• Use Nexplanon exactly as prescribed.
• Nexplanon comes in a flexible plastic rod form and is implanted just under the skin of the inner side of your upper arm by a healthcare provider. Your healthcare provider will place and remove the Nexplanon implant in a minor surgical procedure in his or her office and will cover the site where Nexplanon was placed with 2 bandages. Leave the top bandage on for 24 hours. Keep the smaller bandage clean, dry, and in place for 3 to 5 days.
• You will fill out and sign a consent form before Nexplanon is implanted under your skin. Keep a copy of this form.
• Nexplanon does not protect against HIV infection or other sexually transmitted diseases.
• Your healthcare provider can remove the Nexplanon implant at any time.
• You may become pregnant as early as the first week after removal of the implant. If you do not want to get pregnant after your healthcare provider removes the Nexplanon implant, you should start another birth control method right away.

Use this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor.

The recommended dose of Nexplanon to prevent pregnancy is 68 mg and is contained within the Nexplanon implant.

If Nexplanon is administered by a healthcare provider in a medical setting, it is unlikely that an overdose will occur. However, if overdose is suspected, seek emergency medical attention.