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Overview: Drospirenone is a birth control medicine that is used to help prevent pregnancy. It mainly works to help stop ovulation. Common side effects include irregular periods, headaches, and acne. Before taking drospirenone, make sure to tell your health care provider about any health conditions or medicines you are taking. Tell your health care provider right away if you experience unusual weakness, vomiting, or severe stomach pain. Get emergency help if you have trouble breathing, chest pain, vision changes, or heartbeat changes.

Uses

What is drospirenone used for?

Drospirenone is a type of birth control pill that is commonly used to prevent pregnancy in women.

Drospirenone may also be used for other conditions as determined by your health care provider.

How does drospirenone work (mechanism of action)?

Drospirenone is a progestin only birth control pill. This medicine works mainly to stop the release of an egg from your ovaries. If this medicine is not used as directed, the chance of pregnancy increases.

How is drospirenone supplied (dosage forms)?

Brands and other names

  • Slynd

Dosage forms and strengths

  • 4 mg oral tablets

How should I store drospirenone?

Drospirenone should be stored at room temperature, between 68 F and 77 F (20 C and 25 C). It can be exposed to temperatures between 59 F and 86 F (15 C and 30 C) for shorter periods of time, such as when transporting it. Store in a cool, dry place.

Only remove a tablet from the blister pack when you are ready to take it. 

Side Effects

What are the most common side effects of drospirenone?

The most common side effects of drospirenone are listed below. Tell your health care provider if you have any of these side effects that bother you.

  • Acne 
  • Painful or irregular periods 
  • Headache
  • Breast pain or tenderness
  • Weight gain
  • Nausea 
  • Low sex drive

There may be other side effects of drospirenone that are not listed here. Contact your health care provider if you think you are having a side effect of a medicine. In the U.S., you can report side effects to the FDA at www.fda.gov/medwatch or by calling 800-FDA-1088 (800-332-1088). In Canada, you can report side effects to Health Canada at www.health.gc.ca/medeffect or by calling 866-234-2345.

What are the serious side effects of drospirenone?

While less common, the most serious side effects of drospirenone are described below, along with what to do if they happen.

Severe Allergic Reactions. Drospirenone may cause allergic reactions, which can be serious. Stop taking drospirenone and get help right away if you have any of the following symptoms of a serious allergic reaction.

  • Breathing problems or wheezing
  • Racing heart
  • Fever or general ill feeling
  • Swollen lymph nodes
  • Swelling of the face, lips, mouth, tongue, or throat
  • Trouble swallowing or throat tightness
  • Itching, skin rash, or pale red bumps on the skin called hives
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Dizziness, feeling lightheaded, or fainting
  • Stomach cramps
  • Joint pain

High Potassium Levels (Hyperkalemia). Drospirenone can increase your potassium levels (hyperkalemia), which can be serious and may lead to death. Your health care provider may check your potassium levels, especially if you take certain other medicines. Keep all appointments to have your blood checked. Call your health care provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms of a high potassium level. 

  • Muscle weakness or unusual tiredness
  • Slow heartbeat or feeling of skipped heartbeats 
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Trouble breathing
  • Abnormal heart rhythm

Blood Clots. Drospirenone may cause blood clots in your veins or arteries and could cause venous thromboembolism (VTE), stroke, heart attack, a blood clot in the lungs (pulmonary embolism), or a blood clot in the eyes. Stop using drospirenone and get emergency help right away if you have any of the following signs of blood clots. 

  • Chest pain or pressure
  • Fast or abnormal heartbeat
  • Trouble breathing
  • Pain in your back, jaw, throat, or arm
  • Sweating, upset stomach, vomiting, or dizziness
  • Sudden weakness on one side of your body
  • Sudden and severe headache
  • Slurred speech or trouble understanding speech
  • Pain, swelling, or tenderness in your arm or leg
  • Vision loss
  • Bulging eyes 
  • Double vision

Cancer. Drospirenone is a birth control pill that contains a hormone. Certain cancers, including breast cancer and cervical cancer, are types of cancers that may be sensitive to hormones. Make sure you keep all appointments with your health care provider.

Liver Damage. Liver damage, also called hepatotoxicity, can happen when taking drospirenone. Call your health care provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms of liver damage.

  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Stomach or belly pain
  • Fever
  • Weakness or unusual tiredness
  • Itching
  • Loss of appetite
  • Light-colored poop
  • Dark-colored urine (pee)
  • Your skin or the whites of your eyes turning yellowish in color (also called jaundice)

Ectopic Pregnancy. Drospirenone may cause an ectopic pregnancy, which is a pregnancy that occurs outside your uterus (womb). Stop taking drospirenone and call your health care provider right away if you have stomach pain while taking drospirenone or if you become pregnant. 

Warnings & Precautions

Who should not use drospirenone?

Allergies to Ingredients. People who are allergic to any of the following should not take drospirenone.

  • Drospirenone
  • Slynd
  • Any of the ingredients in the specific product dispensed

Your pharmacist can tell you all of the ingredients in the specific drospirenone products they stock.

Kidney Problems. Drospirenone should not be used if your kidneys are not working as well as they should be. If there is a concern about the health of your kidneys, your health care provider may do tests to see if they are working well enough to take this medicine. 

Adrenal Problems. Do not take drospirenone if you have a condition called adrenal insufficiency, where your adrenal glands stop making as much cortisol (the stress hormone). 

Cancer. Do not take drospirenone if you have or had cervical cancer or have a cancer that is sensitive to female hormones, such as breast cancer.

Liver Problems. Drospirenone should not be used if your liver is not working as well as it should be or if you have liver tumors. If there is a concern about the health of your liver, your health care provider may do tests to see if it is working well enough to take this medicine.

Unusual Uterine Bleeding. Drospirenone should not be used if you have bleeding from the uterus that is not part of your menstrual cycle or is unusual. Any unusual uterine bleeding needs to be checked by your health care provider.

What should I know about drospirenone before using it?

Do not take drospirenone unless it has been prescribed to you by a health care provider. Take it as prescribed.

Do not share drospirenone with other people, even if they have the same condition as you. It may harm them.

Keep drospirenone out of the reach of children.

Drospirenone does not protect against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), or other sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

Take tablets in order (from left to right) at the same time every day until the pack is finished and swallow the tablets whole. After taking the last tablet in the blister pack, start with the first tablet in a new blister pack.

If you throw up (vomit) or have diarrhea within three or four hours after taking a white (active) tablet, follow the directions for missing a dose. See the Missed Dose section for more details. If possible, take the dose within 12 hours of the time you usually take this medicine.

When you start this medicine, you may skip a period or have irregular vaginal bleeding, such as spotting. If this continues or happens after you have normal monthly periods, call your health care provider right away. If you miss pills or think you may be pregnant, call your health care provider right away.

What should I tell my health care provider before using drospirenone?

Tell your health care provider about all of your health conditions and any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using. This will help them determine if drospirenone is right for you.

In particular, make sure that you discuss any of the following.

Current and Past Health Conditions. Tell your health care provider if you have any of the following.

Other Medicines and Supplements. Drospirenone may interact with other medicines and supplements. Before taking drospirenone, tell your health care provider about any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using. See the Interactions section for more details.

Depression. Talk to your health care provider if you have a history of depression. Taking drospirenone may worsen depression.

Surgery or Immobilization. Talk to your health care provider if you have any upcoming surgeries or are unable to be active due to an injury or a health condition. 

Pregnancy. Do not take drospirenone and tell your health care provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. If you become pregnant, stop taking drospirenone right away and contact your health care provider.

Breastfeeding. Drospirenone passes into breast milk. Tell your health care provider if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Your health care provider will let you know if you should take drospirenone while breastfeeding.

Interactions

Does drospirenone interact with foods or drinks?

There are no known interactions between drospirenone and foods or drinks.

There are no known interactions between drospirenone and alcohol.

Does drospirenone interact with other medicines (drug interactions)?

Always tell your health care provider about any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using.

In particular, make sure that you discuss if you are using any of the following before taking drospirenone.

  • A medicine for HIV, AIDS, or hepatitis C
  • Carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Tegretol, and others), which is a medicine commonly used to treat seizures or nerve pain
  • Phenytoin (Dilantin, Phenytek, and others), which is a medicine to control seizures
  • A barbiturate, such as butalbital, phenobarbital, or primidone, which is a medicine that may be used to treat insomnia, migraines, or seizures
  • Bosentan, which is a medicine used to treat a condition called pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH)
  • Griseofulvin, itraconazole (Sporanox, Tolsura), ketoconazole, or voriconazole (Vfend), which are medicines used to treat certain types of fungal infections
  • Aprepitant (Emend), which is a medicine used to prevent nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy
  • St. John’s wort, which is a supplement that may be used to treat depression
  • Rifabutin (Mycobutin) or rifampin (Rifadin), which are medicines commonly used to treat an infection called tuberculosis
  • An angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, such as enalapril or lisinopril, which is a medicine for high blood pressure, heart failure, and certain kidney problems
  • An angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB), such as losartan or valsartan, which is a medicine for high blood pressure, heart failure, and other heart conditions
  • A supplement or salt substitute containing potassium
  • Amiloride (Midamor), eplerenone (Inspra), spironolactone (Aldactone, Carospir), or triamterene (Dyrenium), which are types of diuretics, also called water pills
  • Heparin, which is a medicine used to treat or prevent blood clots
  • A nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), such as ibuprofen, naproxen, and others, which is in many prescription and OTC products for pain, swelling, and fever
  • Clarithromycin, which is a medicine used for bacterial infections

Many other medicines may alter the blood levels of drospirenone. Tell your health care provider about all medicines that you take or have recently taken.

This may not be a complete list of medicines that can interact with drospirenone. Always check with your health care provider.

Does interact with other drugs you are taking?

Enter your medication into the WebMD interaction checker

Overdose/Missed Dose

What should I do if I accidentally use too much drospirenone?

If you or someone else has used too much drospirenone, get medical help right away, call 911, or contact a Poison Control center at 800-222-1222.

What should I do if I miss a dose of drospirenone?

If you miss taking a white pill (active pill), take it as soon as you remember, even if that means taking two pills in one day. Then continue to take one pill every day until you finish the pack.

If you miss two or more white pills, take them as soon as you remember, even if that means taking two pills in one day. Then continue to take one pill every day until you finish the pack. If you miss two or more doses, you will need to use backup birth control. Talk to your health care provider about backup birth control options (condoms, spermicide). Use backup contraception (condoms, spermicide) if you have sex during the first seven days after missing to take the pills.

If you miss one or more green pills (inactive pills), skip the missed dose and take the next green pill at your regular scheduled time.

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