What is Enskyce? Uses, warnings & side effects

Read and follow the instructions in the package insert.

Take one tablet per day at the same time every day. Do not miss a dose.

There are 21 orange tablets containing hormones and seven green “reminder” tablets without hormones. Take all the tablets in the blister pack including the inert tablets.

Take the first tablet (number 1) on the first day of your period or the first Sunday after menstruation starts. Take the remaining tablets in order.

Ask the prescriber when to start taking the blister pack if you are switching from another form of birth control.

Take the first orange pill from a new pack the day after the last green pill is taken from the old pack. 

Start each new blister pack on the same day of the week each cycle.

Swallow the tablet whole with a drink of water.

• Do not crush, break, or chew it.

• Tablets can be taken on an empty stomach or with food. 

If you vomit or have diarrhea, use backup birth control until you can talk to the prescriber. 

Store Enskyce at room temperature in the original carton.

Missed doses increase the risk of pregnancy.

• Missed doses may require the use of backup birth control for seven days.

• Missing too many doses may require that a new blister pack be started.

If an orange pill is missed:

• Take it as soon as it’s remembered. 

• Take the next tablet at its regular time.

• This means two doses can be taken on the same day. 

• Backup birth control is not necessary.

If you miss two orange pills in a row in the first two weeks:

• Take two doses on the day you remember and two doses the next day.

• Take the remaining pills as scheduled.

• Use backup birth control for at least seven days.

If you miss two orange pills in a row in the third week: 

• Start a new blister pack.

• Day 1 starters should throw out the current pill pack and start over with a new one.

• Sunday starters should continue to take orange pills from the old pack and then start a new pack on Sunday.

• Use backup birth control for seven days after starting the new blister pack.

If you miss three or more orange pills in a row in any week:

• Start over with a new blister pack. 

• Day 1 starters should throw out the current pack and start over with a new one.

• Sunday starters should continue to take orange pills from the old pack and then start a new one on Sunday.

• Use backup birth control for seven days after starting the new blister pack.

If you’re not sure about a missed pill, use backup birth control.  

Some women cannot safely take oral contraceptives like Enskyce. 

Do not use Enskyce if you are a smoker who is older than 35, are pregnant, or have:

• Abnormal vaginal bleeding that has not been checked by a doctor

• A history of heart attack or stroke

• A history of blood clots in the legs

• Current blood clots in the legs, lungs, or eyes

• Chest pain

• Uncontrolled high blood pressure

• Current or past coronary artery disease or cerebral vascular problems

• Valvular heart disease that might cause blood clots

• Diabetes with blood vessel damage

• Migraine headaches with focal neurological symptoms (aura)

• Hormone-sensitive cancers (breast cancer, uterine cancer, cervical cancer)

• A history of jaundice when pregnant or on oral contraceptives

• Liver tumor

• Major surgery involving prolonged bed rest

Tell all healthcare providers treating you that you are using this medicine, especially before undergoing any medical or dental procedure. 

• Enskyce should not be used four weeks before or two weeks after major surgery.

• Oral contraceptives can distort the results of several important blood tests. 

The prescriber requires regular visits and blood tests to monitor for problems. Keep all appointments.

When taking Enskyce, tell the prescriber right away if you become pregnant, think you’re pregnant, or miss two periods in a row. 

Before starting Enskyce, tell the prescriber if you smoke, are breastfeeding, have recently given birth, or have:

• Heart problems

• Blood vessel problems

• Kidney problems

• Liver problems

• Gallbladder problems

• High blood pressure

• High cholesterol or triglycerides

• Breast nodules

• Fibrocystic disease of the breasts

• An abnormal mammogram or breast X-ray

• A history of light periods

• Diabetes

• Migraine headaches

• Depression

This medicine may cause serious medical problems, including:

• Increased risk of blood clots, heart attack, and stroke

• Increased risk of breast or cervical cancer

• Liver problems

• Gallbladder problems

• Elevated blood pressure

• Elevated cholesterol levels

• Severe, persistent, or worsening headaches

• Increased risk of ectopic pregnancy

Enskyce can cause a spotty darkening of the skin, particularly on the face. Avoid tanning beds or overexposure to the sun. Wear sunscreen.

Because of changes to the cornea, women wearing contact lenses should immediately call their healthcare provider if they experience vision changes or are unable to wear the lenses. 

This medicine does not protect women from HIV/AIDS or other sexually transmitted diseases. 

Enskyce can never be safely taken with any hepatitis C drug containing ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir.

Before starting Enskyce, make sure the prescriber knows about all prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, and supplements you regularly take, especially:  

• Other birth control pills

• Macrolide antibiotics

• Antifungal drugs (ketoconazole, itraconazole)

• Anticonvulsants

• Antiviral drugs that treat hepatitis C or HIV/AIDS

• Barbiturates

• Thyroid hormones

• St. John’s wort

• Acetaminophen, aprepitant, ascorbic acid, atorvastatin, bosentan, clofibric acid, cyclosporine, felbamate, prednisolone, rifabutin, rifampicin, rosuvastatin, rufinamide, theophylline, tizanidine

Avoid grapefruit and grapefruit juice when taking Enskyce.

The cholesterol drug colesevelam should be taken four hours before or four hours after taking an Enskyce tablet. 

Tell other healthcare providers you are using this medicine before they prescribe new medications.