Skip to content

Healthcare Professionals
Prescribing Info
Patient Info

Search

Using Twirla
FAQs
Chat with a Nurse
Resources

Using Twirla
FAQs
Chat with a Nurse
Resources

Ready for Twirla

Using Twirla
FAQs
Chat with a Nurse
Resources

Using Twirla
FAQs
Chat with a Nurse
Resources

Save on Twirla

Ready for Twirla

Downloadable Resources

Doctor Discussion Guide

Twirla Savings Card

Twirla Patient Brochure

Still not sure if Twirla is right for you?

Chat with a Live Nurse

Important Risk Information and Indication

What is the most important information I should know about TWIRLA?

Do not use TWIRLA if you smoke cigarettes and are over 35 years old. Smoking increases your risk of serious cardiovascular side effects from combination hormonal contraceptives (CHCs), including death from heart attack, blood clots or stroke. This risk increases with age and the number of cigarettes you smoke.

Do not use TWIRLA if your BMI is 30 kg/m² or more. If you do not know what your BMI is, please talk to your healthcare provider. Women with a BMI of 30 kg/m² or more who use CHCs may have a higher risk for developing side effects like blood clots compared to women with a BMI lower than 30 kg/m²

Do not use TWIRLA if you:

smoke and are over 35 years old
have or have had blood clots in your arms, legs, eyes or lungs
have had a stroke
have had a heart attack
have certain heart valve problems or heart rhythm problems that can cause blood clots to form in the heart
have a problem that makes your blood clot more than normal
have high blood pressure that is not controlled
have diabetes and are over the age of 35, have high blood pressure or have kidney, eye, nerve, or blood vessel damage, or have had diabetes for more than 20 years
have had certain kinds of severe migraine headaches or have any migraine headaches if you are over age 35
have a BMI of 30 kg/m² or more
have liver problems including liver tumors, hepatitis, cirrhosis, or liver disease
have unexplained vaginal bleeding
are pregnant or think you may be pregnant
have had breast cancer or any cancer that is sensitive to female hormones
are allergic to any of the ingredients in TWIRLA
take any Hepatitis C drug combination containing ombitasvir, paritaprevir, ritonavir, with or without dasabuvir as this may increase levels of a liver enzyme in the blood

TWIRLA 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.

TWIRLA may cause serious side effects, including:

blood clots
liver problems, including liver tumors
high blood pressure
gallbladder problems or worsening of a gallbladder problem you already have
headaches
irregular or unusual bleeding and spotting or absence of menstrual periods
depression
swelling of your skin, especially around your mouth, eyes, and in your throat
dark patches of skin on your forehead, cheeks, upper lip, and chin

Most common side effects of TWIRLA include:

skin reactions at the patch site
nausea
headache
menstrual cramps
weight gain

These are not all the possible side effects of TWIRLA. Talk to your healthcare provider for medical advice about side effects.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Some medicines and herbal products may make TWIRLA less effective or cause breakthrough bleeding.

Use another birth control method (such as condoms, spermicide, or diaphragm) when you take medicines that may make TWIRLA less effective and for 28 days after stopping the medicine.

Tell your healthcare provider if you drink grapefruit juice, take lamotrigine, are scheduled for any laboratory tests, or on thyroid or corticosteroid replacement medicine.

If you are not sure if you take any of the medicines described above, talk to your healthcare provider.

What should I avoid while using TWIRLA?

Smoking
The following can cause the patch to not stick the right way making TWIRLA less effective:
- Avoid using makeup, creams, lotions, oils, powders or any other products on the skin area where you put or plan to put the patch.
- Swimming or contact with water often or for long periods of time (30 minutes or more). Talk with your healthcare provider about the best method of birth control if you are a swimmer or you often come in contact with water for 30 minutes or more.
Women who tend to get chloasma should avoid spending a long time in the sunlight, tanning booths, and under sun lamps while using TWIRLA. Use sunscreen if you have to be in the sunlight.

You may report side effects to the FDA at www.fda.gov/medwatch or 1-800-FDA-1088, or Exeltis at 1-877-324-9349.

TWIRLA does not protect against HIV infection (AIDS) and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

What is TWIRLA?

TWIRLA is a birth control patch for women with Body Mass Index (BMI) less than 30 kg/m² who can become pregnant. It contains two female hormones, a progestin called levonorgestrel, and an estrogen called ethinyl estradiol. Birth control methods that have both an estrogen and progestin are called combination hormonal contraceptives (CHCs).

TWIRLA is less effective in women with a BMI of 25 kg/m² or more.

Please click here for Patient Information, including Most Important Information, for additional Important Risk Information.