Precautions and Warnings With Lutera

Before starting the birth control pill, it's a good idea to be familiar with the precautions and warnings with Lutera. For example, Lutera is not for everyone; you should not take the drug if you are pregnant, have a blood clotting disorder, or have liver tumors. Precautions and warnings with Lutera also apply to women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Lutera Birth Control

Lutera: What Should I Tell My Healthcare Provider?

You should talk with your healthcare provider prior to using Lutera^™ (levonorgestrel/ethinyl estradiol) if you have:

An irregular heart rhythm (arrhythmia)
Problems with your heart valves
Yellowing of the eyes or skin during a prior pregnancy or oral contraceptive use
High cholesterol
Gallbladder disease
Depression
A history of heart attack or stroke
A history of blood clots or a clotting disorder
Chest pain
High blood pressure (hypertension)
Migraines or other severe headaches
Diabetes
Liver disease, such as liver failure, cirrhosis, hepatitis, or liver tumors
Cancer (or if you have had cancer in the past)
Unexplained vaginal bleeding.

Also, let your healthcare provider know if you:

Will be having surgery
Smoke cigarettes
Are pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant
Are breastfeeding.

You should also be sure to tell your healthcare provider about all other medicines you are taking, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

(Lutera is equivalent to Alesse^® and Aviane^® birth control pills. The information in this article also applies to both of these medications.)

(Precautions and Warnings With Lutera Continued: Page 2)