Beyaz

Do not use if you are pregnant or if you recently had a baby.

You should not take this medicine if you have any of the following conditions: kidney disease, uncontrolled high blood pressure, heart disease, a blood-clotting disorder, circulation problems, diabetic problems with your eyes, an adrenal gland disorder, unusual vaginal bleeding, liver disease or liver cancer, severe migraine headaches, a history of breast or uterine cancer, or if you ever had a heart attack, stroke, or blood clot.

You should not take birth control pills if you smoke and are older than 35 years of age. Smoking can increase your risk of blood clot, stroke, or heart attack while taking birth control pills.

Smoking can increase your risk of blood clots, stroke, or heart attack while taking birth control pills, especially if you are older than 35 years of age. Your risk increases the more you smoke. You should not take birth control pills if you smoke and are older than 35 years of age.

Do not use birth control pills if you are pregnant. Tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant, or if you miss two menstrual periods in a row. If you recently had a baby, wait at least 4 weeks before taking this medicine.

You should not take this medicine if you have:

• heart disease (coronary artery disease, uncontrolled heart valve disorder, history of heart attack or stroke);

• a history of blood clots;

• untreated or uncontrolled high blood pressure;

• a blood-clotting disorder or circulation problems;

• kidney disease;

• an adrenal gland disorder;

• problems with your eyes, kidneys, or circulation caused by diabetes;

• liver disease or liver cancer;

• severe migraine headaches (with aura, numbness, weakness, or vision changes);

• abnormal vaginal bleeding that has not been checked by a doctor; or

• a history of hormone-related cancer such as breast or uterine cancer.

To make sure this medicine is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:

• high levels of potassium in your blood;

• high cholesterol or triglycerides, or if you are overweight;

• underactive thyroid, diabetes, gallbladder disease; or

• a history of jaundice caused by pregnancy or birth control pills.

The hormones in birth control pills can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. This medicine may also slow breast milk production. Do not use if you are breast feeding.

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop using this medicine and call your doctor at once if you have:

• a change in the pattern or severity of migraine headaches;

• swelling in your hands, ankles, or feet;

• symptoms of depression--sleep problems, weakness, tired feeling, mood changes;

• signs of a stroke--sudden numbness or weakness (especially on one side of the body), sudden severe headache, slurred speech, problems with vision or balance;

• signs of a blood clot in the lung--chest pain, sudden cough, wheezing, rapid breathing, coughing up blood;

• signs of a blood clot in your leg--pain, swelling, warmth, or redness in one or both legs;

• heart attack symptoms--chest pain or pressure, pain spreading to your jaw or shoulder, nausea, sweating; or

• liver problems--nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, tiredness, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

Common side effects may include:

• light vaginal bleeding or spotting;

• breast pain or tenderness;

• nausea; or

• headache.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Some drugs can make birth control pills less effective, which may result in pregnancy. Other drugs may interact with this medicine, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell each of your health care providers about all medicines you use now and any medicine you start or stop using.

In the U.S.

• Beyaz
• Safyral

Available Dosage Forms:

• Tablet

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Appropriate studies on the relationship of age to the effects of drospirenone, ethinyl estradiol, and levomefolate combination have not been performed in the pediatric population. However, pediatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of this medication in teenagers are not expected. This medicine may be used for birth control in teenage females but should not be used before the start of menstruation.

Geriatric

Appropriate studies on the relationship of age to the effects of drospirenone, ethinyl estradiol, and levomefolate combination have not been performed in the geriatric population. This medicine should not be used in elderly women.

Breast Feeding

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Interactions with Medicines

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.

• Boceprevir
• Dasabuvir
• Ombitasvir
• Paritaprevir
• Ritonavir
• Tranexamic Acid

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

• Anagrelide
• Aprepitant
• Boceprevir
• Bosentan
• Bupropion
• Carbamazepine
• Ceritinib
• Dabrafenib
• Darunavir
• Dexamethasone
• Donepezil
• Eliglustat
• Enzalutamide
• Fosphenytoin
• Griseofulvin
• Idelalisib
• Isotretinoin
• Lesinurad
• Lixisenatide
• Lumacaftor
• Mitotane
• Modafinil
• Oxcarbazepine
• Paclitaxel
• Paclitaxel Protein-Bound
• Phenytoin
• Piperaquine
• Pitolisant
• Prednisone
• Rifabutin
• Rifampin
• St John's Wort
• Sugammadex
• Theophylline
• Tizanidine
• Topiramate
• Ulipristal
• Valproic Acid

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

• Alprazolam
• Amprenavir
• Atazanavir
• Bacampicillin
• Betamethasone
• Bexarotene
• Clarithromycin
• Colesevelam
• Cyclosporine
• Delavirdine
• Efavirenz
• Eslicarbazepine Acetate
• Etoricoxib
• Fosamprenavir
• Fosaprepitant
• Ginseng
• Lamotrigine
• Licorice
• Mycophenolate Mofetil
• Mycophenolic Acid
• Nelfinavir
• Parecoxib
• Prednisolone
• Rifapentine
• Ritonavir
• Roflumilast
• Rosuvastatin
• Rufinamide
• Selegiline
• Telaprevir
• Tipranavir
• Troglitazone
• Troleandomycin
• Valdecoxib
• Voriconazole
• Warfarin

Interactions with Food/Tobacco/Alcohol

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following may cause an increased risk of certain side effects but may be unavoidable in some cases. If used together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use this medicine, or give you special instructions about the use of food, alcohol, or tobacco.

• Caffeine
• Grapefruit Juice

Other Medical Problems

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Abnormal or unusual vaginal bleeding or
• Adrenal disease or
• Blood disorders (e.g., hypercoagulopathy) or
• Breast cancer, active or history of or
• Diabetes with kidney, eye, nerve, or blood vessel damage or
• Heart attack, history of or
• Heart or blood vessel disease (e.g., coronary artery disease) or
• Heart rhythm problems or
• Hypertension (high blood pressure), uncontrolled or
• Kidney disease or
• Liver disease, including tumors or cancer or
• Migraine headache, new or worse or a new kind of headache or
• Problems with circulation or blood clots, now or in the past or
• Problems with heart valves or
• Stroke, history of—Should not be used in patients with these conditions.

• Angioedema (swelling of the face, tongue, or throat), inherited or
• Chloasma gravidarum (skin disorder during pregnancy), history of or
• Cholestasis (bile problem) during pregnancy, history of or
• Depression, history of or
• Diabetes or
• Dyslipidemia (high cholesterol or fats in the blood), uncontrolled or
• Gallbladder disease or
• Hyperkalemia (high potassium in the blood) or
• Hypertension (high blood pressure), controlled—Use with caution. May make these conditions worse.

It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits to make sure this medicine is working properly and does not cause unwanted effects. These visits will usually be every 6 to 12 months, but some doctors require them more often. Your doctor may also want to check your blood pressure while taking this medicine.

Although you are using this medicine to prevent pregnancy, you should know that using this medicine while you are pregnant could harm the unborn baby. If you think you have become pregnant while using the medicine, tell your doctor right away.

Vaginal bleeding of various amounts may occur between your regular menstrual periods during the first 3 months of use. This is sometimes called spotting when slight, or breakthrough bleeding when heavier.

• If this should occur, continue with your regular dosing schedule.
• The bleeding usually stops within 1 week. Check with your doctor if the bleeding continues for more than 1 week.
• If bleeding continues after you have been taking hormonal contraceptives on schedule and for more than 3 months, check with your doctor.

Check with your doctor right away if you miss a menstrual period. Missed periods may occur if you skip one or more pink tablets and have not taken your pills exactly as directed. If you miss two periods in a row, talk to your doctor. You might need a pregnancy test.

If you suspect that you may be pregnant, stop using this medicine immediately and check with your doctor. You should continue to take folate supplements.

Do not use this medicine if you smoke cigarettes or if you are over 35 years of age. If you smoke while using birth control pills containing drospirenone, you increase your risk of having a blood clot, heart attack, or stroke. Your risk is even higher if you are over age 35, if you have diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or if you are overweight. Talk with your doctor about ways to stop smoking. Keep your diabetes under control. Ask your doctor about diet and exercise to control your weight and blood cholesterol level.

Using this medicine may increase your risk of having blood clotting problems, especially in the first 6 months of use. This risk may be higher if you are using a birth control pill containing drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol. Stop using this medicine and check with your doctor right away if you have pain in the chest, groin, or legs, especially the calves, difficulty with breathing, a sudden, severe headache, slurred speech, a sudden, unexplained shortness of breath, a sudden loss of coordination, or vision changes while using this medicine.

Check with your doctor immediately if you have problems wearing contact lenses or if blurred vision, difficulty with reading, or any other change in vision occurs during or after treatment. Your doctor may want you to have your eyes checked by an ophthalmologist (eye doctor).

Stop using this medicine and check with your doctor right away if you have pain or tenderness in the upper stomach, pale stools, dark urine, loss of appetite, nausea, unusual tiredness or weakness, or yellow eyes or skin. These could be symptoms of a serious liver problem.

Check with your doctor before refilling an old prescription, especially after a pregnancy. You will need another physical examination and your doctor may change your prescription.

Make sure any doctor or dentist who treats you knows that you are using this medicine. You may need to stop using this medicine several days before having surgery or certain medical tests.

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

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal (e.g., St. John's wort) or vitamin supplements.

Oral Contraceptive Clinical Trial

In the primary contraceptive efficacy study of YAZ (3 mg DRSP/0.02 mg EE) of up to 1 year duration, 1,027 subjects were enrolled and completed 11,480 28-day cycles of use. The age range was 17 to 36 years. The racial demographic was: 87.8% Caucasian, 4.6% Hispanic, 4.3% Black, 1.2% Asian, and 2.1% other. Women with a BMI greater than 35 were excluded from the trial. The pregnancy rate (Pearl Index) was 1.41 (95% CI [0.73 – 2.47]) per 100 woman-years of use based on 12 pregnancies that occurred after the onset of treatment and within 14 days after the last dose of YAZ in women 35 years of age or younger during cycles in which no other form of contraception was used.

Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder Clinical Trials

Two multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled studies were conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of YAZ in treating the symptoms of PMDD. Women aged 18-42 who met DSM-IV criteria for PMDD, confirmed by prospective daily ratings of their symptoms, were enrolled. Both studies measured the treatment effect of YAZ using the Daily Record of Severity of Problems scale, a patient-rated instrument that assesses the symptoms that constitute the DSM-IV diagnostic criteria. The primary study was a parallel group design that included 384 evaluable reproductive-aged women with PMDD who were randomly assigned to receive YAZ or placebo treatment for 3 menstrual cycles. The supportive study, a crossover design, was terminated prematurely prior to achieving recruitment goals due to enrollment difficulties. A total of 64 women of reproductive age with PMDD were treated initially with YAZ or placebo for up to 3 cycles followed by a washout cycle and then crossed over to the alternate medication for 3 cycles.

Efficacy was assessed in both studies by the change from baseline during treatment using a scoring system based on the first 21 items of the Daily Record of Severity of Problems. Each of the 21 items was rated on a scale from 1 (not at all) to 6 (extreme); thus a maximum score of 126 was possible. In both trials, women who received YAZ had statistically significantly greater improvement in their Daily Record of Severity of Problems scores. In the primary study, the average decrease (improvement) from baseline was 37.5 points in women taking YAZ, compared to 30.0 points in women taking placebo.

Acne Clinical Trials

In two multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled studies, 889 subjects, ages 14 to 45 years, with moderate acne received YAZ or placebo for six 28-day cycles. The primary efficacy endpoints were the percent change in inflammatory lesions, non-inflammatory lesions, total lesions, and the percentage of subjects with a "clear" or "almost clear" rating on the Investigator's Static Global Assessment (ISGA) scale on day 15 of cycle 6, as presented in Table 3:

Table 3: Efficacy Results for Acne Trials*

* Evaluated at day 15 of cycle 6, last observation carried forward for the Intent to treat population
	Study 1		Study 2
	YAZ	Placebo	YAZ	Placebo
	N=228	N=230	N=218	N=213
ISGA Success Rate	35 (15%)	10 (4%)	46 (21%)	19 (9%)
Inflammatory Lesions Mean Baseline Count Mean Absolute (%) Reduction	33 15 (48%)	33 11 (32%)	32 16 (51%)	32 11 (34%)
Non-inflammatory Lesions Mean Baseline Count Mean Absolute (%) Reduction	47 18 (39%)	47 10 (18%)	44 17 (42%)	44 11 (26%)
Total Lesions Mean Baseline Count Mean Absolute (%) Reduction	80 33 (42%)	80 21 (25%)	76 33 (46%)	76 22 (31%)

Folate Supplementation Clinical Trials

The development program for Beyaz consisted of two clinical trials.

One study was a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, active-controlled, parallel group US study. Plasma folate and red blood cell folate levels were investigated during a 24-week treatment with YAZ + 0.451 mg levomefolate calcium as compared to YAZ alone in a U.S. population with folate fortified food. A total of 379 healthy women between 18 and 40 years of age with no restrictions on folate supplementation received YAZ + levomefolate calcium (N= 285) or YAZ (N=94). The plasma and RBC folate concentrations at Week 24 were the co-primary endpoints. Figures 3 and 4 display the results for plasma and RBC folate, respectively, among evaluable subjects in each arm of the study.

Figure 3: US Study: Mean concentration-time curves (and SD) of plasma folates after daily oral administration of YAZ + levomefolate calcium and YAZ

Arithmetic mean values based on 4-weekly measurements are displayed with arithmetic standard deviations which are shown in only one direction to improve readability. Data are based on per protocol analysis populations. The SD bar shown represents a single SD.

Figure 4: US Study Mean concentration-time curves (and SD) of RBC folates after daily oral administration of YAZ + levomefolate calcium and YAZ

Arithmetic mean values based on 4-weekly measurements are displayed with arithmetic standard deviations which are shown in only one direction to improve readability. Data are based on per protocol analysis populations. The SD bar shown represents a single SD.

In the second study, the pharmacodynamic effect on plasma folate, RBC folate, and the profile of circulating folate metabolites was assessed during 24 weeks of treatment with 0.451 mg levomefolate calcium or with 0.4 mg folic acid (equimolar dose to 0.451 mg levomefolate calcium), both in combination with 3 mg DRSP/0.03 mg EE (Yasmin) followed by 20 weeks of open-label treatment with Yasmin only (elimination phase). One-hundred and seventy-two healthy women between 18 to 40 years of age from a German population without folate food fortification and without concomitant intake of folate supplements were randomized to one of the two treatments. Figures 5 and 6 display the results for plasma and RBC folate, respectively, among evaluable subjects in the levomefolate arm of the study.

Figure 5: German Study: Mean trough concentration-time curve (and SD) of plasma folates after daily oral administration of Yasmin + levomefolate calcium

Arithmetic mean values based on biweekly measurements are displayed with arithmetic standard deviations. In the treatment phase, women received Yasmin + levomefolate calcium; in the elimination phase, all women received Yasmin only. Data are based on per protocol analysis populations. The SD bar shown represents a single SD.

Figure 6: German Study: Mean concentration-time curves (and SD) of RBC folates after daily oral administration of Yasmin + levomefolate calcium

Arithmetic mean values based on biweekly measurements are displayed with arithmetic standard deviations. In the treatment phase, women received Yasmin + levomefolate calcium; in the elimination phase, all women received Yasmin only. Data are based on per protocol analysis populations. The SD bar shown represents a single SD.

The potential to reduce the incidence of neural tube defects (NTDs) with folate supplementation is well established based on a body of evidence derived from randomized, controlled trials, nonrandomized intervention trials, and observational studies using folic acid. Therefore, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommend that women of childbearing age consume supplemental folic acid in a dose of at least 0.4 mg (400 mcg) daily 1,6.

Advise the patient to read the FDA-approved patient labeling (Patient Information).

• Counsel patients that cigarette smoking increases the risk of serious cardiovascular events from COC use, and that women who are over 35 years old and smoke should not use COCs. • Counsel patients that the increased risk of VTE compared to non-users of COCs is greatest after initially starting a COC or restarting (following a 4-week or greater pill-free interval) the same or a different COC. • Counsel patients about the information regarding the risk of VTE with DRSP-containing COCs compared to COCs that contain levonorgestrel or some other progestins. • Counsel patients that Beyaz does not protect against HIV-infection (AIDS) and other sexually transmitted diseases. • Counsel patients on Warnings and Precautions associated with COCs. • Counsel patients that Beyaz contains DRSP. Drospirenone may increase potassium. Patients should be advised to inform their healthcare provider if they have kidney, liver or adrenal disease because the use of Beyaz in the presence of these conditions could cause serious heart and health problems. They should also inform their healthcare provider if they are currently on daily, long-term treatment (NSAIDs, potassium-sparing diuretics, potassium supplementation, ACE inhibitors, angiotensin-II receptor antagonists, heparin or aldosterone antagonists) for a chronic condition or taking strong CYP3A4 inhibitors. • Inform patients that Beyaz is not indicated during pregnancy. If pregnancy occurs during treatment with Beyaz, instruct the patient to stop further intake. However, women should be advised on the continued need of sufficient folate intake. • Counsel patients to take one tablet daily by mouth at the same time every day. Instruct patients what to do in the event pills are missed. See “What to Do if You Miss Pills” section in FDA-Approved Patient Labeling. • Counsel patients to use a back-up or alternative method of contraception when enzyme inducers are used with COCs. • Counsel patients who are breastfeeding or who desire to breastfeed that COCs may reduce breast milk production. This is less likely to occur if breastfeeding is well established. • Counsel any patient who starts COCs postpartum, and who has not yet had a period, to use an additional method of contraception until she has taken a pink tablet for 7 consecutive days. • Counsel patients that amenorrhea may occur. Rule out pregnancy in the event of amenorrhea in two or more consecutive cycles. • Counsel patients to report whether they are taking folate supplements. Beyaz contains the equivalent of 0.4 mg (400 mcg) of folic acid. • Counsel patients to maintain folate supplementation if they discontinue Beyaz due to pregnancy.

Applies to drospirenone / ethinyl estradiol / levomefolate calcium: oral tablet

Cardiovascular

Cardiovascular side effects have included hypertension, arterial or deep venous thrombotic events, strokes, and myocardial infarctions.[Ref]

Genitourinary

Genitourinary side effects have included breast tenderness, decreased libido, unscheduled (breakthrough or intracyclic) bleeding and spotting.

Gastrointestinal

Gastrointestinal side effects have included nausea, vomiting, and inflammatory bowel disease.[Ref]

Hepatic

Hepatic side effects have included jaundice, cholestasis and hepatic adenomas.[Ref]

Metabolic

Metabolic side effects have included gallbladder disease, liver function disturbances, liver tumors, hyperkalemia, hypertriglyceridemia, changes in glucose tolerance, and effect on peripheral insulin resistance (including diabetes mellitus).[Ref]

Nervous system

Nervous system side effects have included an increase in frequency or severity of migraine headaches.[Ref]

Ocular

Ocular side effects have included loss of vision, proptosis, diplopia, papilledema, or retinal vascular lesions.[Ref]

Psychiatric

Psychiatric side effects have included irritability, depression and affect lability.[Ref]

Oncologic

Oncologic side effects have included carcinoma of the breasts and reproductive organs.[Ref]

Musculoskeletal

Musculoskeletal side effects have included systemic lupus erythematosus.[Ref]

Dermatologic

Dermatologic side effects have included chloasma, angioedema, erythema nodosum, and erythema multiforme.[Ref]

Hypersensitivity

Hypersensitivity side effects have included anaphylactic reaction.[Ref]

Some side effects of Beyaz may not be reported. Always consult your doctor or healthcare specialist for medical advice. You may also report side effects to the FDA.