Velivet Side Effects

Most women have no problems while taking Velivet; side effects, however, can still occur. Some of the common side effects seen with Velivet (and with birth control pills in general) include nausea, headache, and bloating. If you experience more severe side effects of Velivet, such as depression, migraine, or sudden vision loss, let your healthcare provider know right away.

 

An Introduction to Velivet Side Effects

As with any medicine, side effects are possible with Velivet™ (desogestrel/ethinyl estradiol); however, not every woman who uses the contraceptive will experience side effects. In fact, most women tolerate it quite well. If side effects do occur, in most cases, they are minor and either require no treatment or can easily be treated by you or your healthcare provider.
 
(This article covers many, but not all, of the possible side effects with Velivet. Your healthcare provider can discuss a more complete list of Velivet side effects with you. Velivet is a generic version of Cyclessa® birth control pill. The information in this article also applies to this medication.)
 

Velivet Side Effects to Report

Some side effects with Velivet, while occurring infrequently, are potentially serious and should be reported immediately to your healthcare provider. These include but are not limited to:
 
 
    • Vision or speech changes
    • Weakness or numbness in an arm or leg
    • Severe headache
 
  • Signs of liver damage, such as:
 
    • Yellow eyes or skin (jaundice)
    • Dark urine
    • Upper-right abdominal pain
 
  • Depression or other emotional changes
  • Migraines (or changes in your migraines, if you have had them before)
  • Breast lumps
  • Signs of a blood clot in the leg, such as:
 
    • Pain in the calf
    • Leg cramps
    • Leg or foot swelling
 
  • Signs of a blood clot in the lung, such as:
 
    • Shortness of breath
    • Sharp chest pain
    • Coughing up blood
 
  • Chest pain or heaviness, which may be signs of a heart attack
  • Sudden loss of vision or vision changes, which can be a sign of a blood clot in the eye
  • Heavy vaginal bleeding between periods (light bleeding or spotting is normal)
  • Signs of an allergic reaction, such as:
 
    • Unexplained rash
    • Hives
    • Itching
    • Unexplained swelling
    • Wheezing
    • Difficulty breathing or swallowing.
 
(Velivet Side Effects Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;