Note: This document contains side effect information about desogestrel / ethinyl estradiol. Some dosage forms listed on this page may not apply to the brand name Kalliga.
Applies to desogestrel / ethinyl estradiol: oral tablet.
Warning
Oral route (Kit)
Smoking is not advised in women using oral contraceptives. Cigarette smoking increases the risk of serious cardiovascular side effects from oral contraceptive use. This risk increases with age and with heavy smoking (15 or more cigarettes per day) and is quite marked in women over 35 years of age.
Oral route (Tablet)
Ortho-Cept®: Cigarette smoking increases the risk of serious cardiovascular side effects from combination oral contraceptive use. This risk increases with age and with the number of cigarettes smoked and is quite marked in women over 35 years of age. Use of combination oral contraceptives is not recommended in women who are over 35 years of age that smoke. Velivet(TM): Cigarette smoking increases the risk of serious cardiovascular side effects from oral contraceptive use. This risk increases with age and with heavy smoking (15 or more cigarettes per day) and is quite marked in women over 35 years of age. Women who use oral contraceptives should be strongly advised not to smoke.Desogen®: Cigarette smoking increases the risk of serious cardiovascular events from combination oral contraceptive (COC) use. This risk increases with age, particularly in women over 35 years of age, and with the number of cigarettes smoked. For this reason, COCs are contraindicated in women who are over 35 years of age, and smoke.
Serious side effects of Kalliga
Along with its needed effects, desogestrel/ethinyl estradiol 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 doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking desogestrel/ethinyl estradiol:
Incidence not known
- Absent, missed, or irregular menstrual periods
- anxiety
- change in vision
- changes in skin color
- chest pain or discomfort
- chills
- clay-colored stools
- constipation
- cough
- dark urine
- diarrhea
- dizziness, lightheadedness, fainting
- fever
- hives or welts
- itching skin or rash
- large, hive-like swelling on the face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, or sex organs
- nausea
- pain or discomfort in the arms, jaw, back, or neck
- pain, tenderness, or swelling of the foot or leg
- pains in the chest, groin, or legs, especially in the calves of the legs
- severe headaches of sudden onset
- slow or fast heartbeat
- stomach pain
- sudden loss of coordination or slurred speech
- sudden troubled breathing
- sweating
- unusual tiredness or weakness
- vomiting
- vomiting of blood
Other side effects of Kalliga
Some side effects of desogestrel / ethinyl estradiol may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.
Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
Incidence not known
- Bloating
- blotchy spots on the exposed skin
- breast enlargement or tenderness
- feeling sad or empty
- irritability
- itching of the vagina or outside the genitals
- loss of interest or pleasure
- pain during sexual intercourse
- thick, white curd-like vaginal discharge without odor or with mild odor
- trouble wearing contact lenses
For Healthcare Professionals
Applies to desogestrel / ethinyl estradiol: oral tablet.
Genitourinary
Diminution of lactation may theoretically occur when this drug is given immediately postpartum.[Ref]
Common (1% to 10%): Breast pain/tenderness, amenorrhea, irregular bleeding
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Breast enlargement/hypertrophy, metrorrhagia
Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Vaginal/breast discharge, vaginal candidiasis
Frequency not reported: Breakthrough bleeding, spotting, menstrual flow change, cervical ectropion and secretion, temporary infertility (after discontinuation), vaginitis, candidiasis, lactation diminution, premenstrual syndrome, dysmenorrhea, endometriosis, uterine myoma[Ref]
Gastrointestinal
Common (1% to 10%): Nausea, abdominal pain
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Vomiting, diarrhea
Frequency not reported: Gallbladder disease, mesenteric thrombosis, gastrointestinal symptoms (e.g., abdominal pain, cramps, bloating), pancreatitis, colitis, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis[Ref]
Psychiatric
Common (1% to 10%): Depressed mood, altered mood
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Decreased libido, nervousness
Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Increased libido
Frequency not reported: Depression/mental depression[Ref]
Nervous system
Common (1% to 10%): Headache, dizziness
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Migraine
Frequency not reported: Stroke, transient ischemic attack, cerebral hemorrhage/thrombosis, chorea exacerbation, Sydenham's chorea, epilepsy[Ref]
Metabolic
Common (1% to 10%): Increased weight
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Fluid retention
Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Decreased weight
Frequency not reported: Decreased serum folate, porphyria exacerbation, decreased carbohydrate tolerance, increased/decreased folate[Ref]
Dermatologic
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Rash/allergic rash, urticaria, acne
Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Erythema nodosum/multiforme, pruritus, alopecia, hirsutism
Frequency not reported: Scalp hair loss, melasma/chloasma or persistent melasma/chloasma, gestational herpes gestationis, hemorrhagic eruption[Ref]
Cardiovascular
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Hypertension, fluid retention/edema
Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Arterial/venous thromboembolism
Frequency not reported: Myocardial infarction, venous thrombosis, arterial/venous thromboembolic disorders, varicose vein aggravation, thrombophlebitis and venous thrombosis with/without embolism[Ref]
Ocular
Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Contact lens intolerance, cataract
Frequency not reported: Retinal thrombosis, optic neuritis, partial/complete vision loss, corneal curvature change/steepening[Ref]
Hypersensitivity
Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Hypersensitivity
Frequency not reported: Anaphylactic/anaphylactoid reactions, hereditary angioedema/angioedema, severe reactions with respiratory and circulatory symptoms[Ref]
Other
Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Otosclerosis[Ref]
Hepatic
Frequency not reported: Cholestatic jaundice, Budd-Chiari syndrome, acute/chronic liver function disturbances, liver tumors/hepatic adenomas or benign liver tumors[Ref]
Oncologic
Frequency not reported: Hormone-dependent tumors, breast cancer[Ref]
Renal
Frequency not reported: Cystitis-like syndrome, impaired renal function[Ref]
Respiratory
Frequency not reported: Pulmonary embolism[Ref]
Hematologic
Frequency not reported: Hemolytic uremic syndrome[Ref]
Musculoskeletal
Frequency not reported: Systemic lupus erythematosus[Ref]