What is Loryna: Uses, Warnings & Interactions

Updated May 14, 2025  •  Published Dec 30, 2020

Loryna is a brand-name birth control pill combining a progesterone (drospirenone) with an estrogen (ethinyl estradiol). It comes in a 28-day pack for accurate dosing through the menstrual cycle. Oral contraceptives are widely used and considered safe but do have significant risks.

Loryna overview

BRAND NAMES:

  • Loryna, Gianvi, Jasmiel, Nikki, Ocella, Syeda, Yasmin, YAZ, Zarah, Zumandimine

Generic Names:

  • Drospirenone-ethinyl estradiol

Uses:

  • Prevents pregnancy, premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), and acne

Therapeutic Classes:

  • Hormonal contraceptive, monophasic contraceptive combination

Forms:

  • Tablet

How it’s taken:

  • By mouth

What is Loryna used for?

Loryna is a combination oral contraceptive used to prevent pregnancy in a woman. The FDA has also approved Loryna as a treatment for premenstrual dysphoria disorder (PMDD) or moderate acne in women who also want to take a birth control pill to prevent pregnancy.

What form(s) does Loryna come in

  • Tablet

    • 3 mg drospirenone / 0.02 mg ethinyl estradiol

What are common Loryna doses?

  • For the prevention of pregnancy: One tablet per day starting on the first day of the menstrual period or the first Sunday following the onset of menstruation

Common Loryna prescriptions

  • Loryna
    1 package (28 tablets), 3-0.02mg disp pack

  • Loryna
    28 tablets disp pack

How to take Loryna

  • Follow the instructions that come with this medicine. They will be printed on the guide for Using Loryna, which comes packaged with Loryna.

  • Loryna is only as good at preventing pregnancy as the woman is at taking the pills. The better the instructions are followed, the lower the risk of pregnancy.

  • Take one tablet per day. Do not miss a dose.

    • There are 24 peach tablets containing active ingredients and four inert white tablets. Take all tablets.

    • Each tablet has a number assigned to it on the blister pack.

    • Take the first tablet (number 1) on the day your period starts or the first Sunday after your period starts.

    • Loryna tablets can be taken with or without food.

    • Swallow the tablet whole with a drink of water. Do not crush, break, or chew it.

    • Take Loryna tablets at the same time each day, preferably after your last meal or at bedtime.

    • Take the pills in the order they’re numbered on the blister pack.

    • When the last pill is taken, take the first peach pill in the next pack.

    • The first pill should be taken on the same day of the week each cycle.

  • Ask the prescriber for special instructions if you’re switching from another birth control pill or contraceptive method.

  • If you vomit or have diarrhea 3–4 hours after taking a Loryna dose, that may be considered a missed dose. Call a healthcare provider for advice.

  • Store the Loryna at room temperature in the original container.

What to do if you miss a dose of Loryna

  • Do not miss Loryna doses. Missed doses increase the risk of pregnancy.

  • If a peach pill is missed:

    • Take it when remembered. Take the next dose at its regular time.

    • This means you may end up taking two doses in a single day. 

    • A single missed dose doesn’t mean you’ll get pregnant. You don’t have to use backup birth control.

  • If you miss two peach pills in a row:

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

    • Two consecutive missed doses increase the risk of pregnancy. You will need to use backup birth control for at least 7 days.

  • If you miss two peach pills in a row in Week 3 or 4: 

    • You will have to start over with a new Loryna pack. 

    • When you start over, it will depend on when you first started the cycle. See the Guide for Using Loryna.

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

    • You will have to start over with a new Loryna pack. 

    • When you start over, it will depend on when you first started the cycle. See the Guide for Using Loryna.

  • If you miss any of the four white pills: 

    • Throw away the missed pill and take the next pill on the day scheduled. 

    • Finish the pack and start the next pack as scheduled. 

    • You do not need backup birth control.

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

Loryna contraindications

  • This medicine is not right for everyone. 

  • Do not use it if you are:

    • Pregnant

    • Older than 35 and smoke

  • Loryna is also contraindicated in people with:

    • A history of stroke

    • A history of blood clots

    • Conditions that raise the risk of blood clots, such as uncontrolled high blood pressure, certain types of heart valve problems, or diabetes with kidney, eye, or blood vessel damage

    • Undiagnosed uterine bleeding

    • Kidney disease

    • Liver disease

    • Adrenal gland problems

    • A history of hormone-sensitive breast cancer

    • Certain types of severe migraine headaches in women older than 35 years of age

Loryna warnings

  • Tell any healthcare provider or other healthcare provider who treats you that you are using this medicine, especially before a medical or dental procedure.

  • Your healthcare provider may need to do lab tests to check on the effects of this medicine. Keep all appointments.

  • Tell your healthcare provider right away if you become pregnant, think you’re pregnant, or if you miss two periods in a row.

  • Tell your healthcare provider if you are breastfeeding or have given birth within 4 weeks before you start using this medicine. 

  • Tell the healthcare provider if you smoke. Smoking increases the risk of serious side effects when taking birth control pills.

  • Also, tell your healthcare provider if you have:

    • Heart or blood vessel disease

    • High blood pressure

    • Diabetes

    • High cholesterol

    • Migraines

    • A history of depression

    • Allergic reactions that cause skin swelling (angioedema)

    • Experienced jaundice during pregnancy

    • Developed brown patches on the face during pregnancy (chloasma)

  • This medicine may cause the following problems:

    • Increased risk of blood clots, which may cause a stroke or heart attack

    • Increased risk of breast or cervical cancer

    • Liver problems

    • High blood pressure

    • High cholesterol

    • Elevated potassium levels

    • Gallbladder disease

  • This medicine may cause skin discoloration. Use sunscreen when you are outdoors. Avoid sunlamps and tanning beds.

  • Because of the risks, Loryna should not be used to treat premenstrual dysphoric disorder or acne unless it’s also used to prevent pregnancy. If not, other acne or PMDD treatments are safer.

  • This medicine will not protect you from HIV/AIDS or other sexually transmitted diseases. 

  • Oral contraceptives can interfere with several important blood tests. Tell any healthcare provider performing a blood test that you are taking Loryna.

  • You may need to stop using this medicine for a few weeks before and after you have surgery because of the risk of blood clots.

Loryna interactions

  • To avoid drug interactions, tell the prescribing healthcare provider about all prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, and supplements you are using before taking Loryna.

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

  • Do not eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice when taking oral contraceptives like Loryna.

  • Loryna can never be taken with any hepatitis C drug that contains ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir.

  • All combination oral contraceptives have a number of drug interactions. Some of these drugs can make birth control pills less effective, increasing the risk of pregnancy. Some combinations increase the risk of side effects. Tell the prescriber if you’re taking or using any of the following:

  • Loryna can increase potassium levels in the blood. Tell the healthcare provider if you regularly or continually use drugs that might also increase potassium levels, including:

Loryna side effects

Serious side effects

Talk to a healthcare provider if you notice any signs or symptoms of a possible serious side effect, including:

  • Persistent leg pain

  • Sudden vision changes, sudden loss of vision

  • Numbness or weakness on one side of your body, sudden or severe headache, problems with vision, speech, or walking

  • Chest pain or tightness, trouble breathing, coughing up blood

  • Dark urine or pale stools, loss of appetite, yellow skin or eyes

  • Breast lumps, tenderness, pain, swelling, or discharge

  • Stomach pain, nausea, vomiting

  • Depression

  • Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, skin rash, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing

Some important side effects of Loryna may not have symptoms. A healthcare professional will need to schedule regular visits and do blood tests to spot these problems before they become serious:

  • High blood pressure

  • High blood sugar

  • High cholesterol and fats

  • High potassium

Less serious side effects

  • Nausea

  • Vaginal spotting or light bleeding

  • Breast tenderness

  • Headache

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