2 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION • Take one tablet by mouth at the same time every day. Tablets may be chewed or swallowed. ( 2.1 ) • Take tablets in the order directed on the blister pack. ( 2.1 ) 2.1 How to Start Norethindrone and Ethinyl Estradiol Tablets (chewable) and Ferrous Fumarate Tablets (chewable) Norethindrone and ethinyl estradiol tablets (chewable) and ferrous fumarate tablets (chewable) are dispensed in a blister pack [see How Supplied/Storage and Handling (16) ] . Norethindrone and ethinyl estradiol tablets (chewable) and ferrous fumarate tablets (chewable) may be started using either a Day 1 start or a Sunday start (see Table 1). For the first cycle of a Sunday Start regimen, an additional method of contraception should be used until after the first 7 consecutive days of administration. 2.2 How to Take Norethindrone and Ethinyl Estradiol Tablets (chewable) and Ferrous Fumarate Tablets (chewable) Norethindrone and ethinyl estradiol tablets (chewable) and ferrous fumarate tablets (chewable) (yellow active tablets and brown placebo tablets) may be swallowed whole or chewed and swallowed. If the tablet is chewed, the patient should drink a full glass (8 ounces) of liquid immediately after swallowing. Table 1: Instructions for Administration of Norethindrone and Ethinyl Estradiol Tablets (chewable) and Ferrous Fumarate Tablets (chewable) Starting CHCs in women not currently using hormonal contraception (Day 1 Start or Sunday Start) Important: Consider the possibility of ovulation and conception prior to initiation of this product. • Tablet Color: Norethindrone and ethinyl estradiol active tablets (chewable) are yellow (Day 1 to Day 21). • Ferrous fumarate (chewable) placebo tablets are brown (Day 22 to Day 28). Day 1 Start: • Take first yellow active tablet on the first day of menses. • Take subsequent yellow active tablets once daily at the same time each day for a total of 21 days. • Take one brown placebo tablet daily for 7 days and at the same time of day that active tablets were taken. • Begin each subsequent pack on the same day of the week as the first cycle pack (i.e., on the day after taking the last inactive tablet). Sunday Start: • Take first active tablet on the first Sunday after the onset of menses. Due to the potential risk of becoming pregnant, use additional non-hormonal contraception (such as condoms and spermicide) for the first seven days of the patient’s first cycle pack of norethindrone and ethinyl estradiol tablets (chewable) and ferrous fumarate tablets (chewable). • Take subsequent yellow active tablets once daily at the same time each day for a total of 21 days. • Take one brown placebo tablet daily for the following 7 days and at the same time of day that active tablets were taken. • Begin each subsequent pack on the same day of the week as the first cycle pack (i.e., on the Sunday after taking the last inactive tablet) and additional non-hormonal contraceptive is not needed. Switching to norethindrone and ethinyl estradiol tablets (chewable) and ferrous fumarate tablets (chewable) from another hormonal contraceptive Start on the same day that a new pack of the previous hormonal contraceptive would have started. Switching from another contraceptive method to norethindrone and ethinyl estradiol tablets (chewable) and ferrous fumarate tablets (chewable) Start norethindrone and ethinyl estradiol tablets (chewable) and ferrous fumarate tablets (chewable): • Transdermal patch • On the day when next application would have been scheduled. • Vaginal ring • On the day when next insertion would have been scheduled • Injection • On the day when next injection would have been scheduled • Intrauterine contraceptive • On the day of removal • If the IUD is not removed on first day of the patient’s menstrual cycle, additional non-hormonal contraceptive (such as condoms and spermicide) is needed for the first seven days of the first cycle pack. • Implant • On the day of removal Complete instructions to facilitate patient counseling on proper tablet usage are located in the FDA-Approved Patient Labeling. Starting Norethindrone and Ethinyl Estradiol Tablets (chewable) and Ferrous Fumarate Tablets (chewable) after Abortion or Miscarriage First-trimester • After a first-trimester abortion or miscarriage, norethindrone and ethinyl estradiol tablets (chewable) and ferrous fumarate tablets (chewable) may be started immediately. An additional method of contraception is not needed if norethindrone and ethinyl estradiol tablets (chewable) and ferrous fumarate tablets (chewable) are started within 5 days after termination of the pregnancy. • If norethindrone and ethinyl estradiol tablets (chewable) and ferrous fumarate tablets (chewable) are not started within 5 days after termination of the pregnancy, the patient should use additional non-hormonal contraception (such as condoms and spermicide) for the first seven days of her first cycle pack of norethindrone and ethinyl estradiol tablets (chewable) and ferrous fumarate tablets (chewable). Second-trimester • Do not start until 4 weeks after a second-trimester abortion or miscarriage, due to the increased risk of thromboembolic disease. Start norethindrone and ethinyl estradiol tablets (chewable) and ferrous fumarate tablets (chewable), following the instructions in Table 1 for Day 1 or Sunday start, as desired. If using Sunday start, use additional non-hormonal contraception (such as condoms and spermicide) for the first seven days of the patient’s first cycle pack of norethindrone and ethinyl estradiol tablets (chewable) and ferrous fumarate tablets (chewable). [See Contraindications (4) , Warnings and Precautions (5.1) , and FDA-Approved Patient Labeling .] Starting Norethindrone and Ethinyl Estradiol Tablets (chewable) and Ferrous Fumarate Tablets (chewable) after Childbirth • Do not start until 4 weeks after delivery, due to the increased risk of thromboembolic disease. Start contraceptive therapy with norethindrone and ethinyl estradiol tablets (chewable) and ferrous fumarate tablets (chewable) following the instructions in Table 1 for women not currently using hormonal contraception. • If the woman has not yet had a period postpartum, consider the possibility of ovulation and conception occurring prior to use of norethindrone and ethinyl estradiol tablets (chewable) and ferrous fumarate tablets (chewable). [See Contraindications (4) , Warnings and Precautions (5.1) , Use in Specific Populations (8.1 and 8.3) , and FDA-Approved Patient Labeling ]. 2.3 Missed Tablets Table 2: Instructions for Missed Norethindrone and Ethinyl Estradiol Tablets (chewable) and Ferrous Fumarate Tablets (chewable) • If one yellow active tablet is missed in Weeks 1, 2, or 3 Take the tablet as soon as possible. Continue taking one tablet a day until the pack is finished. • If two yellow active tablets are missed in Week 1 or Week 2 Take the two missed tablets as soon as possible and the next two active tablets the next day. Continue taking one tablet a day until the pack is finished. Additional non-hormonal contraception (such as condoms and spermicide) should be used as back-up if the patient has sex within 7 days after missing tablets. • If two yellow active tablets are missed in Week 3 or three or more yellow active tablets are missed in a row in Weeks 1, 2, or 3 Day 1 start : Throw out the rest of the pack and start a new pack that same day. Sunday start : Continue taking one tablet a day until Sunday, then throw out the rest of the pack and start a new pack that same day. Additional non-hormonal contraception (such as condoms and spermicide) should be used as back-up if the patient has sex within 7 days after missing tablets. 2.4 Advice in Case of Gastrointestinal Disturbances In case of severe vomiting or diarrhea, absorption may not be complete and additional contraceptive measures should be taken. If vomiting or diarrhea occurs within 3 to 4 hours after taking an active tablet, handle this as a missed tablet [see FDA-Approved Patient Labeling ] .