Qlaira

Like all medicines, Qlaira can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.

Serious side effects

Serious reactions associated with the use of the pill, as well as the related symptoms, are described in the Patient Information Leaflet in the following sections: “Qlaira and venous/arterial blood clots” and “Qlaira and cancer”. Please read these sections carefully and consult your doctor at once where appropriate.

The following side effects have been linked with the use of Qlaira:

Common side effects (between 1 and 10 in every 100 users may be affected):

• headache
• abdominal pain, nausea
• acne
• no periods, breast discomfort, painful periods, irregular bleeding (heavy irregular bleeding)
• weight gain

Uncommon side effects (between 1 and 10 in every 1,000 users may be affected):

• fungal infections, fungal infection of the vulva and vagina, vaginal infection
• increased appetite
• depression, depressed mood, emotional disorder, problems sleeping, decreased interest in sex, mental disorder, mood swings
• dizziness, migraine
• hot flush, high blood pressure,
• diarrhoea, vomiting
• increased liver enzymes
• hair loss, excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis), itching, rash
• muscle cramps
• swollen breasts, lumps in the breast, abnormal cell growth on the neck of the womb (cervical dysplasia), dysfunctional genital bleeding, pain with intercourse, fibrocystic breast disease, heavy periods, menstrual disorders, ovarian cyst, pelvic pain, premenstrual syndrome, growth in the uterus, contractions of the uterus, uterine/vaginal bleeding incl. spotting, vaginal discharge, vulvovaginal dryness
• fatigue, irritability, swelling of parts of your body, e.g. ankles (oedema)
• weight loss, blood pressure changes.

Rare side effects (between 1 and 10 in every 10,000 users may be affected):

• candida infection, oral herpes, pelvic inflammatory disease, a vessel disease of the eye resembling a fungal infection (presumed ocular histoplasmosis syndrome), a fungal infection of the skin (tinea versicolor), urinary tract infection, bacterial inflammation of the vagina,
• fluid retention, increase in certain blood fats (triglycerides), aggression, anxiety, feelings of unhappiness, increased interest in sex, nervousness, night mare, restlessness, problems sleeping, stress
• reduced attention, “pins and needles”, giddiness
• contact lens intolerance, dry eye, eye swelling
• heart attack (myocardial infarction), palpitations
• bleeding in a varicose vein, low blood pressure, inflammation of superficial veins, painful veins
• constipation, dry mouth, indigestion, heartburn
• liver nodules (focal nodular hyperplasia) , chronic inflammation of gallbladder
• allergic skin reactions, golden brown pigment patches (chloasma) and other pigmentation disorders, male pattern hair growth, excessive hair growth, skin conditions such as dermatitis and neurodermatitis, dandruff and oily skin (seborrhoea) and other skin disorders
• back pain, pain in jaw, sensation of heaviness
• urinary tract pain
• abnormal withdrawal bleeding, benign breast nodules, breast cancer in early stage, breast cysts, breast discharge, polyp on the neck of the womb, reddening on the neck of the womb, bleeding during intercourse, spontaneous milk flow, genital discharge, lighter periods, delayed periods, rupture of an ovarian cyst, vaginal odour, burning sensation in the vulva and vagina, vulvovaginal discomfort
• swollen lymph nodes
• asthma, difficulty in breathing, nose bleeding
• chest pain , tiredness and feeling generally unwell, fever
• abnormal smear from the neck of the womb

Read the Patient Information Leaflet