Levonorgestrel Ethinyl Estradiol, Aviane, Lessina, Afirmelle, Marlissa, Larissia, Altavera, Chateal Eq, Sronyx, Falmina, Lillow, Chateal, Aubra, Orsythia, Lutera, Levora 0.15 30-28, Vienva, Aubra Eq, Ayuna, Delyla, Kurvelo, Portia-28

Medically reviewed by Melissa Badowski, PharmD, MPH, FCCP on May 30, 2023
Written by Amber Watson, PharmD

Specifically, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Vienva to help prevent pregnancy in females* of reproductive age.

This article describes Vienva’s uses, side effects, and more. Below you’ll also find some coupon options to help save on the cost of Vienva.

* Sex and gender exist on spectrums. In this article, we use the term “female” to refer to a person’s sex assigned at birth.

Boxed warning: Risk of heart and blood vessel problems in some people

Vienva has a boxed warning about the risk of heart and blood vessel problems in some people. Boxed warnings are serious warnings from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

For details, see the “Interactions and warnings for Vienva” section below.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves prescription drugs such as Vienva for certain conditions. Approved uses for Vienva are described below.

Use for birth control

Doctors may prescribe Vienva oral tablet to help prevent pregnancy. It’s used for birth control in females* of reproductive age. The drug is usually prescribed as a long-term treatment.

Females are usually able to become pregnant after their first period and before menopause. With pregnancy, an egg is fertilized by sperm. Each month, eggs are released from an ovary during ovulation. After an egg has been fertilized, it travels to the uterus through the fallopian tubes. Pregnancy results when a fertilized egg implants in the lining of the uterus.

Vienva works in several ways to help prevent pregnancy. For more information, see the “Common questions about Vienva” section below.

* Sex and gender exist on spectrums. In this article, we use the term “female” to refer to a person’s sex assigned at birth.

Vienva may cause mild or serious side effects. More common mild side effects of Vienva and its serious side effects are listed below. This article doesn’t include all possible side effects of this birth control drug. Side effects can vary based on your age, overall health, and any other medications you take.

To learn more about Vienva’s side effects, see this article or ask your doctor or pharmacist. You can also read the prescribing information* for Vienva.

* To view Vienva’s prescribing information, see the “Article resources” section below.

Mild side effects

More common mild side effects reported with Vienva are listed below. This article doesn’t include all possible mild side effects of the drug. To learn more about Vienva’s side effects, see the prescribing information* for this drug.

With many drugs, mild side effects may go away within a few days or a couple of weeks. If the side effects are bothersome, tell your doctor or pharmacist. They may be able to suggest ways to manage them.

Vienva oral tablet’s mild side effects include:

• weight gain
• nausea or vomiting
• irregular vaginal bleeding or spotting
• breast tenderness
• mild allergic reaction†

* To view Vienva’s prescribing information, see the “Article resources” section below.
† For details about this side effect, see the “Interactions and warnings for Vienva” section below.

Serious side effects

Serious side effects of Vienva are listed below. This article doesn’t include all possible serious side effects of the drug. To learn more about Vienva’s side effects, see the prescribing information* for this drug.

With many drugs, serious side effects are possible but not common. If you have serious side effects from this drug, call your doctor right away. If you’re having severe symptoms or a medical emergency, call 911 or a local emergency number.

In general, Vienva’s serious side effects include:

• pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas)
• gallbladder problems
• increased triglycerides or cholesterol
• increased blood sugar level, which may lead to prediabetes
• high blood pressure
• eye problems, such as bulging eyes and vision loss
• noncancerous liver tumors
• depression
• blood clots and related problems, such as heart attack and stroke
• boxed warning: risk of heart and blood vessel problems in some people†
• severe allergic reaction†

* To view Vienva’s prescribing information, see the “Article resources” section below.
† For details about this side effect, see the “Interactions and warnings for Vienva” section below.

Below you’ll find answers to a few commonly asked questions about Vienva.

Is Vienva similar to Larissia or Lutera?

Yes, Vienva is similar to Larissia and Lutera.

Vienva, Larissia, and Lutera are kinds of hormonal birth control. They’re used to help prevent pregnancy. Each drug contains the same active ingredients, levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol, in the same strengths. (An active ingredient is what makes a drug work.)

Note that Larissia is no longer available for use.

To learn more about how Vienva compares with Larissia or Lutera, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

When is the best time to start taking Vienva?

When you’ll start taking Vienva depends on certain factors. These include whether you’ve:

• been taking another kind of hormonal birth control
• recently started your period
• recently given birth
• experienced a recent pregnancy loss
• recently had an abortion

In general, you can start taking Vienva on or after the first day of your period. Your doctor will recommend the best time to start taking Vienva.

Does Vienva cause your period to stop?

It’s possible. Vienva may cause irregular vaginal bleeding or spotting, which could include a stopped period.

Keep in mind that stopped periods can be a symptom of pregnancy. Vienva is used to help prevent pregnancy, but no birth control option is 100% effective in preventing pregnancy.

If you’re concerned about a stopped period while taking Vienva, talk with your doctor. They may recommend that you take a pregnancy test. Doing so can show whether Vienva has been effective in preventing pregnancy.

What do I do if I miss a dose of Vienva?

It depends on certain factors. These include whether you’ve missed an active tablet or an inactive tablet* and how many doses you’ve missed.

Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you what to do about a missed dose of Vienva. If you cannot reach them right away, keep taking the tablets until a doctor or pharmacist gives you instructions.

Keep in mind that missing doses of Vienva can make the drug less effective at helping prevent pregnancy. For this reason, it’s important to use a backup method of birth control for at least 7 days after you’ve missed taking an active tablet. If you’ve missed taking an inactive tablet, you will not need to use any backup birth control.

* Active tablets contain the ingredients that help prevent pregnancy. Inactive tablets do not contain any active ingredients. They’re taken so that you have a period. This helps confirm that the drug is working to help prevent pregnancy. It also helps you stay in the habit of taking doses.

How does Vienva work? And how long does it take to start working?

Vienva works to help prevent pregnancy* in several ways. These include:

• blocking ovulation (release of an egg from the ovaries)
• thickening your cervical mucus so that sperm cannot enter your uterus
• thickening the lining of your uterus to help prevent a fertilized egg from attaching to it

* For details about how pregnancy occurs, see the “Uses of Vienva” section above.

How long it takes Vienva to work depends on when you start taking the drug.

If you start taking Vienva during the first 24 hours of your period, the drug works to help prevent pregnancy right away. You will not need to use any kind of backup birth control, such as condoms, to help prevent pregnancy while you’re taking the drug.

If you start taking Vienva more than 24 hours after your period begins, the drug will help prevent pregnancy after you’ve taken it for 7 days. To help prevent pregnancy during this time, you’ll use a backup method of birth control for at least 7 days. After that, Vienva should be working to help prevent pregnancy.

To learn more about how Vienva works, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

The dosage of Vienva your doctor prescribes may vary based on your condition and certain other factors. Talk with your doctor about the dosage you should take.

Taking Vienva

Vienva oral tablet is taken by swallowing it. You can take it with or without food.

Your doctor will talk with you about how to take Vienva. They’ll explain how much to take and how often. Always follow your doctor’s recommendation.

See the “Common questions about Vienva” section above for information on missed doses and the best time to start taking this drug.

Overdose of Vienva

You should not take more Vienva than your doctor prescribes. For some drugs, doing so may lead to serious side effects or overdose.

If you think you’ve taken too much Vienva, call your doctor or pharmacist right away. Or you could call 800-222-1222 to speak with someone at America’s Poison Centers. You can also use its online resource. If you have concerning symptoms, call 911 or a local emergency number immediately. You can also go to the closest emergency room.

Below, you’ll find information about Vienva’s possible interactions and warnings.

Interactions of Vienva

Certain things may affect how a drug works. These include getting vaccines, consuming alcohol or certain foods, or taking the drug with other medications. This effect is called a drug interaction.

Before you take Vienva, ask your doctor to check for possible interactions. Be sure to tell them about any of the following you take or use:

• prescription medications
• over-the-counter medications
• vitamins, herbs, or supplements

To learn about drug-condition interactions, see the “Warnings for Vienva” section below.

Warnings for Vienva

Some people should not take Vienva, and others should take it cautiously.

Boxed warning: Risk of heart and blood vessel problems in some people

Vienva has a boxed warning about the risk of heart and blood vessel problems in people who smoke. Boxed warnings are serious warnings from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This risk is particularly high in people who smoke and are over the age of 35 years.

With heart and blood vessel problems, you may have a blood clot that leads to a heart attack or stroke. These side effects weren’t reported in studies of Vienva. But heart and blood vessel problems are known risks of hormonal birth control when used by people who smoke. (Vienva is a kind of hormonal birth control.)

Some symptoms to watch for are listed below:

• Blood clot symptoms include trouble breathing, pain or swelling in the affected area, and skin that’s warm or discolored.
• Heart attack symptoms include nausea, shortness of breath, sweating, or pain in your arm, neck, shoulder, or chest.
• Stroke symptoms include confusion, slurred speech, and weakness or numbness on one side of your face or body.

If you smoke and are older than age 35 years, talk with your doctor before taking Vienva. They may prescribe a different kind of birth control for you.

If you have symptoms of a blood clot while taking Vienva, tell your doctor right away. But if your symptoms seem life threatening or related to a heart attack or stroke, you or a bystander should call 911 or a local emergency number immediately.

To learn more, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Other warnings

Vienva could cause harm to people with certain health conditions. This effect is called a drug-condition interaction. Other factors can also affect whether Vienva is a safe option for you.

Ask your doctor about specific warnings for Vienva, and be sure to tell your doctor about your:

• current health, including any allergies to medications
• past health conditions or surgeries

Allergic reaction

Vienva can cause an allergic reaction in some people. Severe allergic reactions are rare but possible.

If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Vienva or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe Vienva. They can tell you about medications that are safer options for you.

A mild allergic reaction may cause the following symptoms:

• skin rash
• itchiness
• flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color)

A severe allergic reaction may cause the following symptoms:

• swelling under your skin, usually in your hands, feet, eyelids, or lips
• swelling of your mouth, throat, or tongue, which can cause breathing problems

If you have an allergic reaction to Vienva, call your doctor right away. If you have severe symptoms, call 911 or a local emergency number.

Pregnancy or breastfeeding and Vienva

Information about Vienva and pregnancy and breastfeeding is described below.

Vienva and pregnancy

Vienva should not be taken during pregnancy. The drug is used to help prevent pregnancy. If you can become pregnant, your doctor may suggest Vienva as a birth control option. But if you’re planning a pregnancy, you should not take this medication.

Vienva and breastfeeding

Taking Vienva while breastfeeding is not recommended. If you’re currently breastfeeding or planning to do so, talk with your doctor before taking this medication. Your doctor may suggest other birth control options to use while you’re breastfeeding.

You may be able to save money on your prescription for Vienva by using our Perks discount coupons. They can be found at the end of this article.

If you have questions about how to pay for Vienva, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Note: Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with insurance copays or benefits.

This article describes Vienva’s uses and dosage, ways to save on cost, and more. Let your doctor know if you have questions about Vienva or would like more details about it.

Here’s a list of some possible questions you may want to ask your doctor:

• Can Vienva cause mood swings?
• How effective is Vienva?
• Does Vienva cause acne or breast growth?

• Larissia (levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol tablets, USP). (2022). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/e12e6737-9b7b-4348-89c6-c412629a350b/spl-doc
• Lutera (levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol tablets USP). (2022). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/b91ad328-f2f4-4f7d-82d3-daaada95f509/spl-doc
• Vienva (levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol tablets, USP) 0.1 mg/0.02 mg. (2023). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/f6825c1a-ba78-47aa-9622-12e59517ab1a/spl-doc

Disclaimer: Optum Perks has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.