Simliya, Kariva, Pimtrea, Volnea, Desogestrel Ethinyl Estradiol, Viorele, Azurette

Introduction

Written by Sarah Lewis, PharmD
Medically reviewed by Alex Brewer, PharmD, MBA
Updated on September 13, 2023

Pimtrea is a brand-name medication prescribed to help prevent pregnancy. Pimtrea belongs to a group of drugs called oral contraceptives. Birth control pills is the common name for this group of drugs.

Boxed warning: Risk of serious heart and blood vessel problems with cigarette smoking

Pimtrea oral tablet has a boxed warning about the risk of serious heart and blood vessel problems with cigarette smoking. Boxed warnings are the most serious warnings from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

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

Side effects of Pimtrea

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

To learn more about Pimtrea’s side effects, ask your doctor or pharmacist. You can also refer to the prescribing information for Pimtrea listed in the “Resources” section.

Mild side effects

More common mild side effects reported with Pimtrea are listed below.

This article doesn’t include all possible mild side effects of the drug. To learn more about Pimtrea’s side effects, refer to the prescribing information for Pimtrea listed in the “Resources” section.

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.

Pimtrea’s mild side effects include:

• bloating
• breast tenderness
• nausea or vomiting
• weight changes
• mild allergic reaction*

* For details about this side effect, see the “Interactions and warnings for Pimtrea” section.

Serious side effects

Serious side effects of Pimtrea are listed below.

This article doesn’t include all possible serious side effects of the drug. To learn more about Pimtrea’s side effects, refer to the prescribing information for Pimtrea listed in the “Resources” section.

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, Pimtrea’s serious side effects include:

• blood clots, which can affect several organs including the eyes, lungs, heart, and brain
• gallbladder disease
• high blood pressure
• increased blood fat levels, including cholesterol and triglycerides
• liver problems, including liver tumors
• melasma, a hormone-related skin discoloration condition
• period changes, including breakthrough bleeding and spotting
• mental health changes, including depression
• new or worsening migraine headaches
• problems wearing contact lenses
• boxed warning: risk of serious heart and blood vessel problems with cigarette smoking*
• severe allergic reaction*

* For details about this side effect, see the “Interactions and warnings for Pimtrea” section.

Common questions about Pimtrea

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

Is Pimtrea considered a low dose birth control?

Yes, Pimtrea is considered a low dose birth control pill. The term “low dose” refers to the estrogen part of a combination birth control pill. (Combination pills contain a progesterone hormone and an estrogen hormone.)

Low dose birth control pills have less than 35 micrograms (mcg) of estrogen. Each pack of Pimtrea has blue pills containing 20 mcg estrogen and green pills containing 10 mcg estrogen. Your doctor will explain how to correctly take the pills in each pack.

Talk with your doctor or pharmacist to learn more about low dose pills, including their benefits and drawbacks.

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

Pimtrea works in several ways to help prevent pregnancy, including:

• preventing ovulation (the release of an egg from the ovary)
• changing the cervical mucus, which makes it more difficult for sperm to get into the uterus and travel to the fallopian tubes (where fertilization usually takes place if an egg is released)
• thinning the lining of the uterus, which makes it harder for an egg to implant if it is released and fertilized

How long it takes Pimtrea to start working depends on when your doctor recommends starting it. For instance:

• if you start it on a Sunday, you’ll need to use a backup birth control method for the first 7 days
• if you start it on day 1 of your period, you won’t need to use a backup birth control

If you’d like to know more about this, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Uses of Pimtrea

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

Use for pregnancy prevention

Doctors may prescribe Pimtrea oral tablet for helping prevent pregnancy. It’s used for this purpose in female* adults and teenagers who have gone through puberty. It’s usually prescribed long term.

For pregnancy to occur, an egg is released from the ovary and fertilized by a sperm. The fertilized egg then implants, usually in the uterus, where it begins to grow. Pimtrea helps prevent pregnancy in several ways. See the “Common questions about Pimtrea” section to learn more.

* Sex and gender exist on spectrums. Use of the term “female” in this article refers to sex assigned at birth.

Interactions and warnings for Pimtrea

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

Interactions of Pimtrea

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

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

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

Warnings for Pimtrea

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

Boxed warning: Risk of serious heart and blood vessel problems with cigarette smoking

Pimtrea has a boxed warning about the risk of serious heart and blood vessel problems with cigarette smoking. Boxed warnings are the most serious warnings from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Smoking cigarettes increases the risk of serious heart and blood vessel problems in people who take birth control pills. This includes heart attack, blood clot, and stroke. These conditions can be fatal. The risk of developing these conditions is highest if you’re older than age 35 years or smoke more than 15 cigarettes per day.

Due to this risk, you should not take Pimtrea if you’re older than age 35 years and smoke. It’s important to note that if you take Pimtrea, you should not smoke regardless of your age.

Symptoms of serious heart or blood vessel problems may include:

• breathing problems
• chest pain
• drooping on one side of the face
• leg pain, coolness, or color changes
• trouble speaking or understanding what people are saying
• weakness or numbness on one side of the body

If you experience any of these symptoms, seek emergency medical care or call 911. If you smoke, tell your doctor. They’ll likely recommend ways to stop smoking. They may also suggest birth control pills or methods that are safer for you to use.

To learn more, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Other warnings

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

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

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

Allergic reaction

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

If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Pimtrea or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe Pimtrea. 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 Pimtrea, call your doctor right away. If you have severe symptoms, call 911 or a local emergency number.

Overdose of Pimtrea

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

If you think you’ve taken too much Pimtrea, 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.

Pregnancy or breastfeeding and Pimtrea

Information about Pimtrea and pregnancy and breastfeeding is described below.

Pimtrea and pregnancy

Pimtrea should not be taken during pregnancy. Doctors prescribe this medication to help prevent pregnancy. Although rare, pregnancy can occur while taking it. Tell your doctor right away if you think you could be pregnant while taking Pimtrea. They’ll likely recommend stopping Pimtrea.

Pimtrea and breastfeeding

Pimtrea should not be taken while breastfeeding. If you’re currently breastfeeding or planning to do so, talk with your doctor before taking this medication. Your doctor may recommend other ways to feed your child during treatment with Pimtrea.

What to ask your doctor

Let your doctor know if you have questions about Pimtrea or would like more details about it.

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

• Does taking Pimtrea increase my risk of cancer?
• How long is it safe to take Pimtrea?
• How does Pimtrea compare with other birth control pills?
• What should I do if I want to stop taking Pimtrea?

Resources

• Food and Drug Administration. (2023). Orange Book: Approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence evaluations. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/ob/index.cfm
• Pimtrea (desogestrel/ethinyl estradiol and ethinyl estradiol tablets, USP). (2018). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/b716fd2a-b186-447a-85bd-6302284d14e5/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.