Package Leaflet: Information for the Patient
Levonorgestrel/Ethinylestradiol Durban 0.1 mg/0.02 mg film-coated tablets EFG
Important things you should know about combined hormonal contraceptives (CHCs):
Read the entire package leaflet carefully before starting to take this medication, as it contains important information for you.
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Contents of the Package Leaflet
Levonorgestrel/Ethinylestradiol Durban is a combined oral contraceptive pill for the prevention of pregnancy. Each of the 21 round white tablets contains a small amount of two different female hormones, levonorgestrel and ethinylestradiol.
General considerations
Before you start using this medication, you should read the information about blood clots in section 2. It is especially important that you read the symptoms of a blood clot (see section 2 "Blood clots").
Before you start taking Levonorgestrel/Ethinylestradiol Durban, your doctor will ask you some questions about your medical history and your personal relationships. Your doctor will also measure your blood pressure and may perform some other tests.
This leaflet describes some situations where you should stop taking Levonorgestrel/Ethinylestradiol Durban or where the reliability of Levonorgestrel/Ethinylestradiol Durban may be decreased, with a risk of pregnancy. In these situations, you should not have sexual intercourse or should take additional non-hormonal contraceptive precautions (e.g., use condoms or another barrier method). Do not use the rhythm or temperature method. These methods may not be reliable since Levonorgestrel/Ethinylestradiol Durban alters the monthly changes in body temperature and cervical mucus.
Levonorgestrel/Ethinylestradiol Durban, like other oral contraceptives, does not protect against HIV infection (AIDS) or other sexually transmitted diseases.
Do not take Levonorgestrel/Ethinylestradiol Durban:
Tell your doctor if you have any of the conditions listed below. Your doctor will discuss with you what other form of contraception would be more suitable:
Warnings and precautions
Consult your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse before starting to take Levonorgestrel/Ethinylestradiol Durban.
When should you consult your doctor? Seek urgent medical attention
To obtain a description of the symptoms of these serious side effects, see "How to recognize a blood clot". |
Psychiatric disorders:
Some women who use hormonal contraceptives like Levonorgestrel/Ethinylestradiol Durban have reported depression or a depressed mood. Depression can be severe and sometimes may induce suicidal thoughts. If you experience mood changes and depressive symptoms, contact your doctor for additional medical advice as soon as possible.
Tell your doctor if you suffer from any of the following conditions.
Consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting to take Levonorgestrel/Ethinylestradiol Durban. In some situations, you should be careful while using Levonorgestrel/Ethinylestradiol Durban or any other combined contraceptive, and your doctor may need to examine you periodically. If the condition develops or worsens while you are using Levonorgestrel/Ethinylestradiol Durban, you should also inform your doctor.
BLOOD CLOTS
The use of a combined hormonal contraceptive like Levonorgestrel/Ethinylestradiol Durban increases your risk of blood clots compared to not using it. In rare cases, a blood clot can block blood vessels and cause serious problems.
Blood clots can form:
Recovery from blood clots is not always complete. In rare cases, there can be serious long-term effects or, very rarely, they can be fatal.
It is important to remember that the overall risk of a harmful blood clot due to Levonorgestrel/Ethinylestradiol Durban is small.
HOW TO RECOGNIZE A BLOOD CLOT
Seek urgent medical attention if you notice any of the following signs or symptoms.
Are you experiencing any of these signs? | What might you be suffering from? |
| Deep vein thrombosis |
If you are unsure, consult a doctor, as some of these symptoms, such as cough or shortness of breath, can be confused with a milder condition like a respiratory infection (e.g., a "common cold"). | Pulmonary embolism |
Symptoms that occur more frequently in one eye:
| Retinal vein thrombosis (blood clot in the eye). |
| Heart attack |
Sometimes the symptoms of a stroke can be brief, with almost immediate and complete recovery, but you should still seek urgent medical attention, as you may be at risk of having another stroke. | Stroke |
| Blood clots that block other blood vessels. |
BLOOD CLOTS IN A VEIN
What can happen if a blood clot forms in a vein?
When is the risk of a blood clot in a vein higher?
The risk of a blood clot in a vein is higher during the first year that you take a combined hormonal contraceptive for the first time. The risk may also be higher if you start taking a combined hormonal contraceptive (the same medication or a different one) after an interruption of 4 weeks or more.
After the first year, the risk decreases, but it is always slightly higher than if you were not taking a combined hormonal contraceptive.
When you stop taking Levonorgestrel/Ethinylestradiol Durban, your risk of a blood clot returns to normal within a few weeks.
What is the risk of a blood clot?
The risk depends on your natural risk of VTE and the type of combined hormonal contraceptive you are taking.
The overall risk of a blood clot in the leg or lung (DVT or PE) with Levonorgestrel/Ethinylestradiol Durban is small.
Risk of a blood clot in a year | |
Women who do not usea combined hormonal contraceptive pill/patch/ring and who are not pregnant | About 2 out of 10,000 women |
Women who use a combined hormonal contraceptive pill that contains levonorgestrel, norethisterone, or norgestimate | About 5-7 out of 10,000 women |
Women who use Levonorgestrel/Ethinylestradiol Durban | About 5-7 out of 10,000 women |
Factors that increase your risk of a blood clot in a vein
The risk of a blood clot with Levonorgestrel/Ethinylestradiol Durban is small, but some conditions increase the risk. Your risk is higher:
The risk of a blood clot increases with the number of conditions you have.
Long-distance flights (more than 4 hours) may temporarily increase the risk of a blood clot, especially if you have any of the other risk factors listed.
It is important to inform your doctor if you suffer from any of the conditions above, even if you are not sure. Your doctor may decide that you should stop using Levonorgestrel/Ethinylestradiol Durban.
If any of the conditions above change while you are using Levonorgestrel/Ethinylestradiol Durban, for example, you start smoking, a close relative experiences a thrombosis without a known cause, or you gain a lot of weight, inform your doctor.
BLOOD CLOTS IN AN ARTERY
What can happen if a blood clot forms in an artery?
Like a blood clot in a vein, a clot in an artery can cause serious problems. For example, it can cause a heart attack or a stroke.
Factors that increase your risk of a blood clot in an artery
It is important to note that the risk of a heart attack or stroke due to Levonorgestrel/Ethinylestradiol Durban is very small, but it may increase:
If you have one or more of these conditions or if any of them are particularly severe, the risk of a blood clot may be increased further.
If any of the conditions above change while you are using Levonorgestrel/Ethinylestradiol Durban, for example, you start smoking, a close relative experiences a thrombosis without a known cause, or you gain a lot of weight, inform your doctor.
Levonorgestrel/Ethinylestradiol Durban and cancer
Breast cancer has been diagnosed slightly more frequently in women who use combined hormonal contraceptives, but it is not known whether this is caused by the medication, as the risk of breast cancer also increases with age.
Follow the administration instructions of this medication indicated by your doctor or pharmacist exactly. In case of doubt, consult your doctor or pharmacist again.
Each blister pack of Levonorgestrel/Ethinylestradiol Durban contains 21 pills. Take the first pill from the blister pack where the correct day of the week appears. You should take one pill every day, with water if necessary, and at the same time every day until the pack is finished.
Then you will have a week without taking pills before starting with the next pack of pills. You should always start the next pack on the same day of the week.
During the week without taking pills, you will have a bleeding similar to your period. This bleeding usually starts after 2 or 3 days and may not have finished before starting the next pack of pills.
If it is the first time you start with the pill or have not used any hormonal contraceptive in the previous month
Take the first pill on the first day of your period.
If you start after the first day of your period (on days 2-7 of the cycle), you will need to use an additional barrier contraceptive method (e.g., condoms) for the first 7 days.
If you are changing from a combined contraceptive pill
If you are taking pills that contain 21 pills in the pack
Finish the current pack of pills and start taking Levonorgestrel/Ethinylestradiol Durban the next day without a break.
If you are taking "daily" pills that contain 28 pills in the pack
If your current pack of pills contains inactive pills (placebo), do not take these pills and start with Levonorgestrel/Ethinylestradiol Durban immediately the next day without leaving any break.
If you are changing from a progestin-only pill, injection, implant, or intrauterine system with progestins:
In all cases, you should use a barrier contraceptive method during the first 7 days of taking the pill.
If you start with Levonorgestrel/Ethinylestradiol Durban after an abortion during the first trimester (3 months) of pregnancy.
You can start taking Levonorgestrel/Ethinylestradiol Durban immediately, but you should follow your doctor's advice before doing so. No additional barrier contraceptive method is needed.
If you start with Levonorgestrel/Ethinylestradiol Durban after having a baby or after an abortion during the second trimester
Like any other contraceptive pill, Levonorgestrel/Ethinylestradiol Durban should not be started before 28 days after giving birth or after an abortion in the second trimester of pregnancy, as the risk of blood clots increases. If you start later, it is recommended to use a barrier contraceptive method during the first 7 days you take the pill. If you have had sexual intercourse before starting with Levonorgestrel/Ethinylestradiol Durban, make sure you are not pregnant or wait until your next period.
In case of doubt, always consult your doctor.
Use in children and adolescents
Levonorgestrel/Ethinylestradiol Durban is not indicated in girls who have not had their first period yet.
Use in elderly women
Levonorgestrel/Ethinylestradiol Durban is contraindicated after menopause.
If you take more Levonorgestrel/Ethinylestradiol Durban than you should
It is unlikely that taking more than one pill will harm you, but you may feel dizzy or vomit. Young women may have vaginal bleeding. Consult your doctor if you experience these symptoms.
In case of overdose or accidental ingestion, consult your doctor or pharmacist immediately or call the Toxicology Information Service, phone: 91 562 04 20, indicating the medication and the amount ingested.
If you forget to take Levonorgestrel/Ethinylestradiol Durban
If you forget to take a pill, there is a risk that you may become pregnant |
The risk of incomplete protection against pregnancy is maximum if you forget to take the pill at the beginning of the blister pack (1st row) or at the end of the 3rd week (3rd row of the blister pack). Therefore, you should follow the recommendations outlined below (see also the diagram):
Consult your doctor.
Take the forgotten pill as soon as you remember, even if it means taking two pills at the same time. Take the following pills at the usual time and take extra precautions for the next 7 days, for example, a condom. If you have had sexual intercourse in the week before the missed pill, or if you forgot to start a new blister pack after the pill-free week, you should be aware that there is a risk of pregnancy. In this case, consult your doctor.
Take the forgotten pill as soon as you remember, even if it means taking two pills at the same time. Take the following pills at the usual time. As long as you have taken the pills correctly in the 7 days before the first forgotten pill, you do not need to use additional contraceptive measures. If you have not taken the pills correctly or if you have forgotten to take more than one pill, you should take extra contraceptive precautions for the next 7 days.
You can choose between 2 options:
Take the following pills at the usual time. Instead of the pill-free week, start the next blister pack immediately.
It is likely that you will have a withdrawal bleeding (menstruation) after finishing the second blister pack, but you may also have spotting or intermenstrual bleeding when taking the second blister pack.
If you follow one of these two recommendations, you will still be protected against pregnancy.
If you forgot to take any of the pills from a blister pack and do not have bleeding during the first pill-free week, it could mean that you are pregnant. You should contact your doctor before continuing with the next blister pack.
If you have vomiting or diarrhea
If you vomit or have severe diarrhea within 3-4 hours after taking the pill, it is as if you had forgotten to take the pill. After vomiting or having diarrhea, you should take another pill from the reserve pack as soon as possible. If possible, take it within the next 12hoursor when you normally take the pill. If it is not possible or more than 12 hours have passed, you should follow the recommendations given in "If you realize you have forgotten to take a pill after 12 hours from the usual time".
If episodes of vomiting or severe diarrhea recur over several days, you should use a barrier contraceptive method (e.g., condoms) until the start of the next pack. Consult your doctor in case of doubt.
How to delay your period or change the first day of a period
You can delay your period by starting another pack of Levonorgestrel/Ethinylestradiol Durban immediately without leaving a break. You may have some spotting or bleeding while taking the second pack, but you do not need to worry about this. You should have a normal menstrual period after finishing the second pack.
The usual intake of Levonorgestrel/Ethinylestradiol Durban will then be resumed after the normal 7-day break without taking pills.
If you want to change the start day of your period to another day of the week, you can shorten the next pill-free week as many days as you want. The shorter the break, the greater the risk that you will not have withdrawal bleeding and that you will have intermenstrual bleeding or spotting with the second pack (just like when you delay a period).
If you take more Levonorgestrel/Ethinylestradiol Durban than you should
If you accidentally take more Levonorgestrel/Ethinylestradiol Durban than you should, you may experience symptoms that include gastrointestinal problems (e.g., nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain), breast tenderness, dizziness, numbness/fatigue, and vaginal bleeding. These symptoms will naturally decrease as your body manages the excess hormones.
If you are concerned, consult your doctor.
In case of overdose or accidental ingestion, consult your doctor or pharmacist immediately or call the Toxicology Information Service, phone: 91 562 04 20, indicating the medication and the amount ingested.
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause adverse effects, although not all people suffer from them.
If you experience any adverse effect, especially if it is severe and persistent, or if you have any change in health that you think may be due to Levonorgestrel/Ethinylestradiol Durbán, consult your doctor.
All women who take combined hormonal contraceptives are at a higher risk of developing blood clots in the veins (venous thromboembolism (VTE)) or blood clots in the arteries (arterial thromboembolism (ATE)). For more detailed information on the different risks of taking combined hormonal contraceptives, see section 2 "What you need to know before taking Levonorgestrel/Ethinylestradiol Durbán"
Contact a doctor immediately if you experience any of the following symptoms of angioedema: swelling of the face, tongue and/or throat, and/or difficulty swallowing or urticaria with possible difficulty breathing (see also section "Warnings and precautions").
If you experience any of the following serious adverse effects,you may need urgent medical attention. Stop taking this medicine and consult your doctor or go immediately to the nearest hospital:
Rare(may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people):
The chances of having a blood clot may be higher if you have any other condition that increases this risk (see section 2 for more information on conditions that increase the risk of blood clots and symptoms of a blood clot).
The following serious adverse effects have been reported with a slightly higher frequency in women using oral contraceptives, but it is not known if this is caused by the treatment. (see section 2: "What you need to know before taking Levonorgestrel/Ethinylestradiol Durban"):
If you suffer from hereditary angioedema (sudden inflammation of the skin, mucous tissues (mouth, nose, intestine, genitals), internal organs or brain), medications containing estrogens may induce or exacerbate the symptoms of angioedema (see section 2 "Warnings and precautions")
Other adverse effects include:
Frequent(may affect up to 1 in 10 people)
Uncommon(may affect up to 1 in 100 people)
Rare(may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people)
The following conditions have also been associated with the use of combined oral contraceptives.
If you are concerned about new symptoms or other aspects related to your health while taking this medicine, consult your doctor.
Reporting of adverse effects:
If you consider that any of the adverse effects you are experiencing is serious or if you notice any adverse effect not mentioned in this leaflet, inform your doctor or pharmacist. You can also report them directly through the Spanish Pharmacovigilance System for Human Use Medicines: www.notificaram.es. By reporting adverse effects, you can contribute to providing more information on the safety of this medicine.
Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
Do not store above 30 ºC.
Do not use this medicine after the expiry date stated on the blister and carton after CAD. The expiry date is the last day of the month indicated.
Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Deposit the packaging and medicines you no longer need in the SIGRE point of the pharmacy. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of the packaging and medicines you no longer need. This will help protect the environment.
Composition ofLevonorgestrel/Ethinylestradiol Durban
The active ingredients are 0.1 milligrams of levonorgestrel and 0.02 milligrams of ethinylestradiol.
The other ingredients are: lactose monohydrate, cornstarch, povidone 30, talc, magnesium stearate, sucrose, povidone 90, macrogol 6000, calcium carbonate, talc, and montanglicol wax.
Appearance of the Product and Package Contents
Levonorgestrel/Ethinylestradiol Durban is packaged in aluminum/PVC blister packs containing 21 coated tablets of white color, shiny, odorless, and with a smooth surface.
The blisters are inside a cardboard box or inside a wallet that is inserted into the cardboard box.
Each package may contain:
1 x 21 tablets
3 x 21 tablets
Only some pack sizes may be marketed.
Marketing Authorization Holder and Manufacturer
Marketing Authorization Holder: Laboratorios Francisco Durbán S.A. Polígono Ind. La Redonda, c/ IX, nº 2 04710 El Ejido (Almería) |
Manufacturer:
Haupt Pharma Munster GmbH
Schleebrüggenkamp 15
D-48159 Münster
Germany
Date of the Last Revision of this Leaflet: March 2020
Detailed and updated information on this medicine is available on the website of the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products (AEMPS) http://www.aemps.gob.es/.
The average price of LEVONORGESTREL/ETHINYLESTRADIOL DURBAN 0.1 mg/0.02 mg FILM-COATED TABLETS in October, 2025 is around 2.5 EUR. Prices may vary depending on the region, pharmacy, and whether a prescription is required. Always check with a local pharmacy or online source for the most accurate information.