Chariva

Chariva is a generic of the brand-name pill Belara with identical active ingredients. The chlormadinone acetate it contains has antiandrogenic properties.

Contraception through inhibition of ovulation and thickening of the cervical mucus. In addition, an antiandrogenic effect.

Women who want to use hormonal contraception.

2 mg chlormadinone acetate + 0.03 mg ethinylestradiol, 21 tablets.

21 days of use, 7-day break.

Chariva must not be used in cases of:

• current or previous venous thromboembolism (e.g. deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism), even during treatment with anticoagulants
• a known hereditary or acquired predisposition to venous thromboembolism (e.g. factor V Leiden, antithrombin III, protein C or protein S deficiency) or major surgery with prolonged immobilization
• a high risk of venous thromboembolism due to several risk factors
• current or previous arterial thromboembolism (e.g. heart attack) or early stages such as angina pectoris
• current or previous stroke or early stages such as a transient ischemic attack (TIA)
• a known hereditary or acquired predisposition to arterial thromboembolism (e.g. hyperhomocysteinemia, antiphospholipid antibodies)
• a high risk of arterial thromboembolism due to several risk factors or one serious risk factor such as diabetes with blood vessel damage, severe high blood pressure or a severe lipid metabolism disorder
• diabetes that is no longer under control
• high blood pressure that is difficult to control or a significant rise in blood pressure (persistently above 140/90 mmHg)
• a history of migraine with focal neurological symptoms, first occurrence of migraine-like headaches or frequent, unusually severe headaches
• acute visual or hearing disorders, movement disorders (especially paralysis), an increase in epileptic seizures or severe depression
• hepatitis, jaundice or liver function disorders, as long as liver values have not returned to normal, as well as current or previous liver tumors
• severe upper abdominal pain, an enlarged liver or signs of bleeding in the abdomen
• generalized itching and impaired bile flow (cholestasis), especially in a previous pregnancy or during estrogen therapy, as well as Dubin-Johnson syndrome, Rotor syndrome or disorders of bile secretion
• meningioma (tumor of the meninges), including in the past
• first or recurrent occurrence of porphyria
• current or previous hormone-sensitive malignant tumors, e.g. of the breast or uterus
• current or previous pancreatitis if it was associated with severely elevated triglyceride levels
• otosclerosis that worsened in previous pregnancies
• unexplained absence of menstrual periods, excessive growth of the lining of the uterus (endometrial hyperplasia) or unexplained genital bleeding
• hypersensitivity to the active substances or any of the other ingredients
• concomitant use of hepatitis C medicines containing ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir and dasabuvir, glecaprevir/pibrentasvir or sofosbuvir/velpatasvir/voxilaprevir

If any of these conditions occurs while you are taking Chariva, you must stop taking it immediately. Chariva is not indicated during pregnancy. Women over 35 who smoke should use other methods of contraception.

Common: headache, breast tenderness.

Blood clots (thromboembolism): Combined pills such as Chariva increase the risk of blood clots in veins and arteries, e.g. deep vein thrombosis in the leg, pulmonary embolism, heart attack or stroke. These events are rare but can be fatal. The risk of a blood clot in the veins is highest in the first year of use.

Seek medical help immediately and say that you are taking Chariva if you have:

• swelling of one leg or foot, pain in the leg, warmth or reddened or discolored skin on the leg
• sudden unexplained shortness of breath or rapid breathing, a sudden cough (possibly with blood), sharp chest pain, severe light-headedness or dizziness, a fast or irregular heartbeat
• sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg (especially on one side of the body), sudden problems with vision, speech or walking, a sudden severe headache with no known cause, loss of consciousness or fainting
• pain, pressure, tightness or a feeling of fullness in the chest or arm, also spreading to the back, jaw, neck or stomach

• Chariva must not be taken together with hepatitis C medicines containing ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir and dasabuvir, glecaprevir/pibrentasvir or sofosbuvir/velpatasvir/voxilaprevir. Before starting such treatment, you must switch to another method of contraception; Chariva can be restarted two weeks after the end of treatment.
• Certain medicines can weaken the effect of Chariva and lead to breakthrough bleeding or failure of contraceptive protection, e.g., barbiturates, bosentan, carbamazepine, barbexaclone, phenytoin, primidone, modafinil, rifampicin, rifabutin, the HIV medicines ritonavir, nevirapine and efavirenz, and possibly felbamate, griseofulvin, oxcarbazepine, topiramate and preparations containing St. John's wort.
• During short-term treatment with such a medicine, use a barrier method in addition, throughout the entire treatment and for 28 days afterward. If the treatment continues beyond the end of the current pack, start the next pack immediately without a tablet-free break. For longer-term treatment, another reliable, non-hormonal method of contraception is recommended.
• If you are being treated with HIV protease inhibitors or non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors, you should additionally use a barrier method if in doubt.
• Medicines that speed up intestinal movement (e.g., metoclopramide) and activated charcoal can lower the level of ethinylestradiol.
• Chariva can change the levels of other active substances: increase them, e.g., for diazepam, ciclosporin, theophylline and prednisolone, or lower them, e.g., for lamotrigine. The need for insulin or blood-sugar-lowering tablets can change.