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New Medicines Profile: Qlaira

Publisher: Regional Drug and Therapeutics Centre

Date published: 12/11/2009 16:06

Summary
by: Newcastle Regional DTC
  • Qlaira is a novel combined oral contraceptive (COC) for continuous administration, with a complex quadriphasic dose regimen.
  • It is the first COC to combine the oestrogen estradiol valerate and the progestogen dienogest.
  • Contraceptive efficacy appears to be similar to that reported for other COCs.
  • Clinical trial data suggest that side effects and tolerability are also comparable to those of other COCs.
  • Fewer women experienced withdrawal bleeding with Qlaira than with a low dose ethinylestradiol and levonorgestrel comparator. Individual women may perceive this as either an advantage or disadvantage. Pregnancy should be ruled out if withdrawal bleeding is missed in two consecutive cycles.
  • There are no long term safety data for Qlaira.
  • Qlaira is significantly more expensive than other COCs and there is currently no evidence of clinically significant benefits over ethinylestradiol containing alternatives.
  • The starting regimen for Qlaira differs slightly from that recommended for other COCs.
  • Standard guidance on missed pills cannot be applied to Qlaira and the manufacturer’s advice is complex.
About this library entry
Category: 7.3.1 Combined hormonal contraceptives | Drug reviews
NeLM area:  Evidence > Drug Specific Reviews
NMPQlairaNov09.pdf

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