Implanon Side Effects Center

What Is Implanon?

Implanon (etonogestrel) is a contraceptive used to prevent pregnancy.

What Are Side Effects of Implanon?

Common side effects of Implanon include

Implanon may cause serious side effects including:

• warmth, redness, swelling, or oozing where the implant was inserted,
• severe pain or cramping in your pelvic area,
• sudden numbness or weakness (especially on one side of the body),
• sudden severe headache,
• slurred speech,
• problems with vision or balance,
• sudden vision loss,
• stabbing chest pain,
• feeling short of breath,
• coughing up blood,
• pain or warmth in one or both legs,
• chest pain or pressure,
• pain spreading to your jaw or shoulder,
• nausea,
• sweating,
• severe headache,
• blurred vision,
• pounding in your neck or ears,
• swelling in your hands, ankles or feet,
• yellowing of the skin or eyes,
• breast lump,
• depression,
• sleep problems,
• weakness,
• tired feeling, and
• mood changes

Get medical help right away, if you have any of the symptoms listed above.

• nausea,
• stomach cramping/bloating/pain,
• dizziness,
• headache,
• mood changes,
• depression,
• breast tenderness or pain,
• acne,
• hair loss,
• weight gain,
• problems with contact lenses,
• sore throat,
• flu symptoms,
• back pain,
• nervousness,
• menstrual cramps,
• changes in menstrual periods,
• vaginal itching, and
• vaginal irritation or discharge.

Other side effects of Implanon include

• pain,
• bruising,
• numbness,
• infection,
• tingling,
• minor bleeding, and
• scarring at the site where the rod is placed.

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, lightheadedness, 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 Implanon?

The medicine in Implanon is contained in a small plastic rod that is implanted into the skin of your upper arm. The medicine dose is released slowly into the body. The rod can remain in place and provide continuous contraception for up to 3 years.

Implanon may cause serious side effects including:

• warmth, redness, swelling, or oozing where the implant was inserted,
• severe pain or cramping in your pelvic area,
• sudden numbness or weakness (especially on one side of the body),
• sudden severe headache,
• slurred speech,
• problems with vision or balance,
• sudden vision loss,
• stabbing chest pain,
• feeling short of breath,
• coughing up blood,
• pain or warmth in one or both legs,
• chest pain or pressure,
• pain spreading to your jaw or shoulder,
• nausea,
• sweating,
• severe headache,
• blurred vision,
• pounding in your neck or ears,
• swelling in your hands, ankles or feet,
• yellowing of the skin or eyes,
• breast lump,
• depression,
• sleep problems,
• weakness,
• tired feeling, and
• mood changes

Get medical help right away, if you have any of the symptoms listed above.

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.

What Drugs, Substances, or Supplements Interact with Implanon?

Implanon may interact with phenylbutazone, modafinil, St. John's wort, antibiotics, seizure medicines, barbiturates, and HIV medicines. Tell your doctor all medications you are taking.

Implanon During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Implanon should not be used during pregnancy. If you become pregnant or think you may be pregnant, inform your doctor immediately. A certain serious pregnancy problem (ectopic pregnancy) may be more likely if you become pregnant while using this product. Implanon passes into breast milk in small amounts. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.

Additional Information

Our Implanon 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.

Call your doctor at once if you have:

• warmth, redness, swelling, or oozing where the implant was inserted;
• severe pain or cramping in your pelvic area (may be only on one side);
• 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;
• increased blood pressure--severe headache, blurred vision, pounding in your neck or ears;
• swelling in your hands, ankles, or feet;
• jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);
• a breast lump; or
• symptoms of depression--sleep problems, weakness, tired feeling, mood changes.

Common side effects may include:

• pain where the implant was inserted;
• changes in your menstrual periods;
• vaginal itching or discharge;
• acne, mood changes, weight gain;
• back pain, menstrual cramps;
• nausea, stomach pain;
• breast pain;
• headache, dizziness; or
• flu-like symptoms, sore throat.

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.