Reviewed by Dr Roy Kedem, MD
Information last reviewed 10/23/19
Kelnor is a combined oral contraceptive, or birth control pill. It contains a combination of synthetic versions of the female hormones estrogen (ethinyl estradiol) and progesterone (ethynodiol diacetate). Each tablet dispenser contains 21 active tablets, which are light yellow in color, and 7 white inactive, or placebo, tablets.
The estrogen and progesterone in Kelnor perform three actions in order to prevent pregnancy:
Kelnor is a very effective method of birth control, preventing over 99% of unwanted pregnancies. Its reliability depends on taking it correctly. Forgetting pills or vomiting after taking a pill can reduce effectivity. Extra protection (such as condoms) should be used for a seven day period if a dose of Kelnor is missed. Certain medications may also interfere with Kelnor and reduce its effectivity. Tell your doctor about any medications you are taking before starting Kelnor, including herbal medications, supplements and anti-seizure medications.
Kelnor is also indicated for the treatment of severe acne vulgaris, amenorrhea (or cessation of menstrual periods), abnormal vaginal or uterine bleeding, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), and endometriosis.
A pack of Kelnor contains both active pills and placebo pills. The active pills are light yellow in color and contain the following active ingredients: 35mcg ethinyl estradiol (EE) and 1mg ethynodiol diacetate. The ethinyl estradiol is a synthetic version of the female hormone, estrogen and the ethynodiol diacetate is a synthetic progesterone. These ingredients work in combination to prevent pregnancy by preventing ovulation, fertilization and implantation.
The placebo pills are white in color and do not contain any active ingredients.
The inactive ingredients in the yellow pills are: anhydrous lactose, FD&C yellow no. 10 aluminum lake, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, polacrilin potassium, and povidone.
The white placebo pills contain: anhydrous lactose, hypromellose, magnesium stearate, and microcrystalline cellulose.
Kelnor is not associated with severe allergic reactions but it does contain anhydrous lactose. While those who are lactose intolerant do not have the enzyme to digest lactose resulting in some uncomfortable stomach symptoms it is not normally present in large enough quantities in medications to cause lactose intolerance.
Each pack of Kenor contains 21 light yellow pills which contain 1mg of ethynodiol diacetate band 35 mcg of ethinyl estradiol. One light, yellow pill is taken daily. The packs also contain 7 white placebo pills which have no active ingredients.
Kelnor is packaged in blister packs containing 28 tablets each. There are 21 active tablets, which are yellow and contain the active hormones. There are 7 white inert tablets, which do not contain active ingredients. There are two ways to start Kelnor, the Day 1 Start and the Sunday Start.
Try to take Kelnor at the same time every day and follow the order of pills in the packaging. During the 7 days when you are taking the inactive pills, you should be getting your period. You may find that your bleeding lasts the full seven days, but it could be shorter. When taking oral contraceptives, it is best to find a time of day that is easy to remember in order to avoid missing a pill.
In case you miss an active (yellow) pill, take it immediately once you remember. Your next pill should be taken at the normal time, even if you take 2 pills in one day. If you forget to take active pills for 2 days in a row, take 2 pills once you remember, and follow up by taking 2 pills the next day. Then continue to take the pills as scheduled. It is advisable to use a back-up birth control method, such as condoms, over the next 7 days if you miss 2 or more doses, as there is an increased risk of becoming pregnant during this 7 day period. Refer to the package insert or ask your doctor if you are not sure what you should do if you forget to take your pill(s).
It is common to experience some side effects when taking Kelnor, but these are usually mild and often resolve after you have been taking Kelnor for a few weeks. Common side effects include:
Irregular periods or spotting when you first start taking the pill
Headaches
Nausea
Vomiting
Bloating
Breast tenderness
Weight changes
Swelling of ankles or feet
If you experience persistent or severe side effects, you should seek medical advice. A doctor may be able to offer you alternative birth-control solutions to alleviate these side effects.
In some rare cases, you may experience severe side effects. If you experience any symptoms of an allergic reaction or blood clot, you should seek emergency medical attention. These symptoms include:
Difficulty breathing
Fainting or Dizziness
Swelling of the mouth, tongue, lips or throat
Hives
Chest pain - especially pain that spreads into your jaw or left arm
Confusion
Slurred speech
Severe headaches or migraines
Changes in vision, including double vision and partial or full blindness
Lack of coordination
Excessive sweating
Do NOT take Kelnor if you:
Take special precautions if you:
Seek immediate medical help if you experience any of the following:
Medications which can decrease the effectiveness of Kelnor include:
Always use a back-up birth control method if you are taking antibiotics whilst taking Kelnor.
There are lots of different birth control pills on the market. To find the one that is best for you, you may want to try a few different ones. If you have any sensitivity towards estrogen or are breastfeeding, the ‘mini-pill’ could be a better option. The mini-pill contains only progesterone as its active hormone ingredient.
Other, longer-acting options include intrauterine devices (IUD), hormonal implants, hormonal patches or injections. If you choose any of these methods, you have the advantage of not having to remember to take a pill each day. These methods may have side effects which may not be acceptable for some patients. Speak to your doctor or health care advisor for more information.
Kelnor should be taken at around the same time every day to ensure maximum effectiveness and to minimize the chance of missing a pill. If you experience nausea when you start Kelnor, taking your pill with or shortly after your evening meal or at bedtime can help to reduce nausea.
There are several proven benefits to taking combined oral contraceptives, such as Kelnor. Contraceptives can help to preserve bone mineral density, protect against the formation of ovarian cysts, reduce the risk of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), and reduce risk for dysmenorrhea (prolonged or heavy menstrual bleeding) and other menstrual bleeding disorders. In addition, regular use of oral contraceptives can reduce risk for pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) by 50% to 60%. Contraceptive use has also been associated with reduced asthma symptoms, as well as reduced risk for multiple sclerosis (MS) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Women who use oral contraceptives are less likely to develop benign breast diseases such as fibrocystic breast disease.
Making the switch to Kelnor is easy. Just start taking your first Kelnor pill on the same day when you would be starting a new pack of your previous birth control pill.
As with all birth control pills, one possible side effect of Kelnor is a depressed mood. This is often a temporary side effect, but if it doesn’t get better after taking Kelnor for a few months, then seek help from your doctor. They may recommend a different pill or prescribe antidepressants depending on the severity of your symptoms.
Kelnor and Zovia are both birth control pills which contain the same ingredients; Ethinyl estradiol and ethynodiol diacetate. This means they are essentially the same thing.
There are no gluten-containing ingredients in Kelnor, but there is no testing phase in the production of it to confirm whether or not the birth control pill is gluten-free. If you have coeliac disease, you may want to look for a birth control pill, which is established as gluten-free.
Kelnor contains a standard dose of estrogen in comparison to other birth control pills. However, this is still considered a low dose in comparison to older types of birth control pills which are no longer available. The highest dose of estrogen available now is 50mg but this is rarely prescribed.
It may specify on the information leaflet that weight gain is a potential side effect of taking Kelnor. However, this is usually fluid retention and this tends to disappear after the first few months of taking the pill. This is a common concern because the older types of birth control pills contained higher levels of estrogen which did cause women to gain weight.
Disclaimer: This is not medical advice. You and your physician will determine if and how you should take any medication prescribed to you following a medical consultation.
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