Healthy women who do not smoke cigarettes have almost no risk of having a severe side effect from using hormonal contraceptives. For most women, more problems occur because of pregnancy than will occur from using hormonal contraceptives. But for some women who have special health problems, hormonal contraceptives can cause some unwanted effects. Some of these unwanted effects include heart disease, heart attack, benign - not cancerous liver tumors, liver cancer, or blood clots or related problems, such as a stroke. Although these effects are very rare, they can be serious enough to cause death. You may want to discuss these effects with your family doctor.
Other health problems that may be effected by using hormonal contraceptives are high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and being overweight.
Smoking cigarettes during the use of hormonal contraceptives has been found to greatly increase the chance of these serious side effects occurring. This risk increases with heavy smoking - 15 or more cigarettes a day or if you are over 35 years old To reduce the risk of serious side effects, do not smoke cigarettes while you are taking hormonal contraceptives .
Along with its needing effects, a drug may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your family doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects was happen
Use with caution around small children. The contraceptive patch may be a choking hazard if swallowed by a child.
More common
Body aches or pain
Symptoms of Overdose
Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur
Nausea; vomiting; unusual vaginal bleeding in women
Frequency unknown
Anxiety; changes in skin color; chest pain or discomfort; confusion; dark urine; diarrhea; eye pain; dizziness; fainting; inability to speak; itching; lack or loss of appetite; light-colored stools; lightheadedness; nausea; nervousness; numbness in hands; pain in abdomen; pain in chest, groin, or legs, especially the calves; pain, tenderness, or swelling of foot or leg; pain or discomfort in arms, jaw, back or neck; pounding in the ears; rash; seizures; slow or fast heartbeat; slurred speech; sudden headache; sudden loss of coordination; sudden, severe weakness or numbness in arm or leg on one side of the body; sudden, unexplained shortness of breath; sweating; swelling, pain, or tenderness in upper abdominal area; temporary blindness; unpleasant breath odor; vision changes; vomiting of blood; yellow eyes or skin
More common side effects may occur that usually don't needed medical attention. These side effects may go away during treat as your body adjusts to the drug. However, check with your family doctor if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome.
More Common
Burning, itching, or redness of skin; menstrual cramps; pain, soreness, swelling, or discharge from the breast or breasts; swelling or soreness at patch site
More common side effects not listed above may also occur in some diseaseds. If you have any other problems, check with your family doctor.
Frequency unknown
Abdominal cramps or bloating; absent, missed, or irregular menstrual periods; bloody vaginal discharge; brown, blotchy spots on exposed skin; change in amount of vaginal discharge; change in menstrual flow; decreased amount of breast milk; discouragement; dry mouth; feeling sad or empty; increased hunger or thirst; increase or decrease in weight; increased urination; irritability; itching of the vagina or outside genitals; light vaginal bleeding between periods and after sexual intercourse; loss of interest or pleasure; pain during sexual intercourse; stopping of menstrual bleeding; swelling; thick, white curd-like vaginal discharge without odor or with mild odor; trouble concentrating; trouble sleeping; unusual vaginal bleeding; vomiting