Femcon Fe

What Is Femcon Fe?

Femcon Fe (norethindrone and ethinyl estradiol) is a combination of female hormones used as contraception to prevent pregnancy. Femcon Fe is also used to treat severe acne. Femcon Fe is available in generic form.

What Are Side Effects of Femcon Fe?

Common side effects of Femcon Fe include:

• nausea (especially when you first start taking Femcon Fe),
• vomiting,
• headache,
• stomach cramping or bloating,
• dizziness,
• vaginal discomfort/irritation/itching,
• increased vaginal fluids or discharge,
• breast tenderness/enlargement,
• nipple discharge,
• freckles or darkening of facial skin,
• increased hair growth,
• loss of scalp hair,
• changes in weight or appetite,
• problems with contact lenses, or
• decreased sex drive

Acne may improve or get worse. Vaginal bleeding between periods (spotting) or missed/irregular menstrual periods may occur, especially during the first few months of use.

Seek medical care or call 911 at once if you have the following serious side effects:

• Serious eye symptoms such as sudden vision loss, blurred vision, tunnel vision, eye pain or swelling, or seeing halos around lights;
• Serious heart symptoms such as fast, irregular, or pounding heartbeats; fluttering in your chest; shortness of breath; and sudden dizziness, lightheartedness, or passing out;
• Severe headache, confusion, slurred speech, arm or leg weakness, trouble walking, loss of coordination, feeling unsteady, very stiff muscles, high fever, profuse sweating, or tremors.

This document does not contain all possible side effects and others may occur. Check with your physician for additional information about side effects.

Dosage for Femcon Fe

The dosage of Femcon Fe is one white tablet daily for 21 consecutive days, followed by one brown tablet daily for 7 consecutive days, taken at the same time each day. Take as prescribed.

What Drugs, Substances, or Supplements Interact with Femcon Fe?

Femcon Fe may interact with acetaminophen, ascorbic acid, prednisolone, theophylline, St. John's wort, antibiotics, seizure medications, barbiturate sedatives, or HIV or AIDS medications. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use.

Femcon Fe During Pregnancy or Breastfeeding

Femcon Fe must not be used during pregnancy. If you become pregnant or think you may be pregnant, tell your doctor. If you have just given birth or had a pregnancy loss/abortion after the first 3 months, consult your doctor about birth control, and find out when it is safe to use birth control containing estrogen, such as this medication. This medication passes into breast milk. This may affect milk production and may have undesirable effects on a nursing infant. Consult your doctor before breastfeeding.

Additional Information

Our Femcon Fe (norethindrone and ethinyl estradiol) Side Effects Drug Center provides a comprehensive view of available drug information on the potential side effects when taking this medication.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop using this medicine and call your doctor at once if you have:

• signs of a stroke--sudden numbness or weakness (especially on one side of the body), sudden severe headache, slurred speech, problems with vision or balance;
• signs of a blood clot--sudden vision loss, stabbing chest pain, feeling short of breath, coughing up blood, pain or warmth in one or both legs;
• heart attack symptoms--chest pain or pressure, pain spreading to your jaw or shoulder, nausea, sweating;
• liver problems--loss of appetite, upper stomach pain, tiredness, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);
• increased blood pressure--severe headache, blurred vision, pounding in your neck or ears;
• swelling in your hands, ankles, or feet;
• a change in the pattern or severity of migraine headaches;
• a breast lump; or
• symptoms of depression--sleep problems, weakness, tired feeling, mood changes.

Common side effects may include:

• nausea, vomiting;
• breast tenderness;
• breakthrough bleeding;
• headache; or
• problems with contact lenses.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Read the entire detailed patient monograph for Femcon Fe (Norethindrone and Ethinyl Estradiol Tablets)