What is Taytulla®?
Taytulla is a birth control pill that contains 2 types of female hormones. The hormones are an estrogen called ethinyl estradiol and a progestin called
norethindrone acetate. When taken as directed, oral contraceptives help to lower the chances of becoming pregnant. If you are moderately obese,
discuss with your healthcare provider whether Taytulla is the best choice for you. Birth control pills do not protect against HIV infection (AIDS) and
other sexually transmitted diseases.1
How well does Taytulla work?
Taytulla is effective at preventing pregnancy. Your chance of getting pregnant depends on how well you follow the directions for taking your birth
control pills. The better you follow the directions, the less chance you have of getting pregnant.1 If you are moderately obese, discuss with your
healthcare provider whether Taytulla is the best choice for you.
How do I take Taytulla?
First, decide what time of day you want to take your capsule. It’s important that you remember to take Taytulla in the order directed on the package
at the same time every day. Taytulla can be taken without regard to meals.1 The Taytulla capsule pack has 24 active pink capsules (with hormones)
to be taken for 24 days, followed by 4 reminder maroon capsules (without hormones) to be taken for the next 4 days.
Take 1 Taytulla capsule every day, for 28 days, until the pack is empty. Then start a new capsule pack.1 The maroon capsules keep you in the habit of
taking a capsule every day and help remind you that it’s time to start a new pack. Each capsule should be swallowed whole.
When can I start taking Taytulla?
Talk to your healthcare provider about which day is best for you to start taking Taytulla. It is important to take your birth control pill at the same time
every day and in the order as directed on the capsule pack.1
If you are starting Taytulla and have not used a hormonal birth control method before1
Day 1 Start
- Peel off the day label strip that starts with the first day of your period (this is the day you start bleeding or spotting, even if it is almost midnight when the bleeding begins).
- Place this day label strip on the softgel capsule dispenser over the area that has the days of the week (starting with Sunday).
- Take the first pink capsule of the first pack during the first 24 hours of your period.
- You will not need to use a backup method of birth control because you are starting the pill at the beginning of your period. However, if you start Taytulla later than the first day of your period, or if you start after having a baby and you have not yet resumed your periods, you should use another method of birth control (such as a condom and spermicide) as a backup method until you have taken 7 pink capsules.
Sunday Start
- Take the first pink capsule of the first pack on the Sunday after your period starts, even if you are still bleeding. If your period begins on Sunday, start the pack that same day.
- You MUST use a nonhormonal birth control method, such as a condom and spermicide, as a backup method if you have sex any time from the Sunday you start your first pack until the next Sunday (7 days). This also applies if you start Taytulla after having been pregnant and you have not had a period since your pregnancy.
Learn more about starting or switching to Taytulla.
What should I expect when I start taking Taytulla?
You may have spotting or light bleeding when you first take Taytulla. Spotting or light bleeding is normal at first. You may feel sick to your stomach
(nauseated), especially during the first few months that you take Taytulla. If you feel sick to your stomach, do not stop taking the pill. The problem
will usually go away, but if it doesn’t, call your healthcare provider.1
What should I do if I miss any pills?
Birth control pills may not be as effective if you miss any pink capsules, especially if you miss the first few or the last few pink capsules in a pack.1
If you miss 1 pink capsule1:
- Take it as soon as you remember. Take the next pill at your regular time. This means you may take 2 pills in 1 day
- You do not need to use a backup birth control method if you have sex
If you miss 2 pink capsules in a row in Week 1 or Week 2 of your pill pack1:
- Take 2 pills on the day you remember and 2 pills the next day
- Then continue taking 1 pill a day until you finish the pack
You could become pregnant if you have sex during the first 7 days after you restart your pills. You MUST use a nonhormonal birth control method (such as condoms and spermicide) as a backup for those 7 days.1
If you miss 2 pink capsules in a row in Week 3 or Week 4 of your pack, OR if you miss 3 or more pills (pink or maroon) in a row at any time1:
Day 1 Starter
- Throw out the rest of the pill pack and start a new pack that same day
Sunday Starter
- Keep taking 1 pill every day until Sunday. On Sunday, throw out the rest of the pack and start a new pack of pills that same day
You could become pregnant if you have sex on the days when you missed pills or during the first 7 days after restarting your pills. You MUST use a nonhormonal birth control method (such as a condom and spermicide) as a backup the next time you have sex and for the first 7 days after you restart your pills.1
You may not have your period this month, but this is expected. However, if you miss your period 2 months in a row, call your healthcare provider because you might be pregnant.1
If you forget any of the 4 maroon reminder pills in Week 41:
- Throw away the pills you missed
- Keep taking 1 pill each day until the pack is empty
- You do not need to use a backup method of birth control
- Start the next pack of Taytulla as scheduled
If you are not sure of what to do about the pills you have missed, you should call your healthcare provider. Use a backup method of birth control,
such as a condom and spermicide, any time you have sex and keep taking 1 pink capsule each day until you reach your healthcare provider.1
Who should not take Taytulla?
You should not take oral contraceptives if you smoke cigarettes and are over 35 years old. Smoking increases your risk of serious cardiovascular
side effects (heart and blood vessel problems) from birth control pills, including death from heart attack, blood clots, or stroke. This risk
increases with age and the number of cigarettes you smoke.
Birth control pills should not be taken during pregnancy.
You should not take Taytulla any earlier than 4 weeks after having a baby.
If you are breastfeeding, consider another birth control method until you are ready to stop breastfeeding. Birth control pills that contain estrogen, like
Taytulla, may decrease the amount of breast milk your body makes. A small amount of the pill’s hormones pass into breast milk.1
Your healthcare provider will not give you Taytulla if you have ever had breast cancer or any cancer that is sensitive to female hormones, liver
disease including liver tumors, blood clots in your arms, legs, lungs, or eyes, a stroke, heart attack, certain heart valve problems or heart rhythm
abnormalities that can cause blood clots to form in the heart, an inherited problem with your blood that makes it clot more than normal, high
blood pressure that medicine can’t control, diabetes with kidney, eye, nerve, or blood vessel damage, certain kinds of severe migraines with aura,
numbness, weakness, or changes in vision. Birth control pills may not be a good choice for you if you have ever had jaundice (yellowing of the skin or
eyes) caused by pregnancy (also called cholestasis of pregnancy).1
Can I take Taytulla with my other medications?
Tell your healthcare provider about all medicines and herbal products that you take. Some medicines and herbal products may make birth control
less effective, including barbiturates, bosentan, carbamazepine, felbamate, griseofulvin, oxcarbazepine, phenytoin, rifampin, St John’s wort,
and topiramate.1
What are the common side effects of birth control pills?
The most common side effects of birth control pills are headache, vaginal candidiasis, nausea, menstrual cramps, breast tenderness, bacterial vaginitis, abnormal cervical smear, acne, mood swings, and weight gain.
These side effects are usually mild and disappear with time. Talk to your healthcare provider if you develop any side effects that concern you.1
Are there any serious risks of taking birth control pills?
Like pregnancy, birth control pills increase the risk of serious blood clots, especially in women who have other risk factors, such as smoking, obesity,
or age greater than 35 years.1
How will Taytulla affect my period?
When you take Taytulla, you may have bleeding or spotting between periods, called unscheduled bleeding. If the unscheduled bleeding or spotting is
heavy or lasts for more than a few days, call your healthcare provider.1
What if I miss my scheduled period when taking Taytulla?
It is not uncommon to miss your period. However, if you go with 2 or more months in a row without a period, or you miss your period after a month where you did not take all your pills correctly, call your healthcare provider because you may be pregnant. Also notify your healthcare provider if you have symptoms of pregnancy, such as morning sickness or unusual breast tenderness. Stop taking Taytulla if you are pregnant.1
If you miss a period, you could be pregnant. However, some women miss their periods or have light periods on birth control pills, even when they are
not pregnant. Contact your healthcare provider if you think you are pregnant, miss a period and have not taken your pills every day, or if you miss 2
periods in a row.1
What if I want to become pregnant?
You may stop taking Taytulla whenever you wish. Consider a visit with your healthcare provider for a prepregnancy checkup before
you stop taking Taytulla.1