acetaminophen vs ethinyl estradiol/levonorgestrel

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Side-by-side comparison of acetaminophen and ethinyl estradiol/levonorgestrel. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.

minor Known Drug Interaction

Ascorbic acid and acetaminophen may increase plasma ethinyl estradiol levels, possibly by inhibition of conjugation.

Drug Class
acetaminophen Analgesic / Antipyretic
ethinyl estradiol/levonorgestrel Combined Oral Contraceptive
Type
acetaminophen Over-the-Counter
ethinyl estradiol/levonorgestrel Prescription
Summary
acetaminophen

Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is a medicine that can relieve pain and reduce fever. It is available over-the-counter.

ethinyl estradiol/levonorgestrel

Amethia is a birth control pill that you take every day to prevent pregnancy. It contains two hormones, estrogen and progestin.

What It Treats
acetaminophen

This medicine temporarily relieves minor aches and pains. It can help with headaches, the common cold, backaches, and minor arthritis pain. It can also help with toothaches, muscle aches, premenstrual and menstrual cramps. Acetaminophen can also temporarily reduce fever.

ethinyl estradiol/levonorgestrel

Amethia is used by women to prevent pregnancy. It contains two hormones that work together to stop you from getting pregnant. You must take it exactly as directed to prevent pregnancy.

How It Works
acetaminophen

Acetaminophen's exact mechanism is not fully understood. It is believed to work in the brain to reduce pain signals. It also helps to lower body temperature when you have a fever.

ethinyl estradiol/levonorgestrel

Amethia works by preventing ovulation (the release of an egg from the ovary). It also thickens the mucus in the cervix, making it harder for sperm to reach the egg. The hormones in Amethia also change the lining of the uterus.

Common Side Effects
acetaminophen
  • Headache
  • Nausea
ethinyl estradiol/levonorgestrel
  • Irregular or heavy uterine bleeding
  • Weight gain
  • Acne
  • Nausea
  • Breast tenderness
FAERS Reports
acetaminophen
  • Fatigue 34,487
  • Nausea 29,567
  • Headache 28,380
  • Pain 28,314
  • Diarrhoea 23,626
ethinyl estradiol/levonorgestrel
  • Feeling sick to your stomach 15
  • Throwing up 13
  • Stomach pain 10
  • Exposure to the drug during pregnancy 9
  • Feeling tired 9
Serious Warnings
acetaminophen

Taking more acetaminophen than directed can cause liver damage. Follow the dosage instructions carefully.

ethinyl estradiol/levonorgestrel

Cigarette smoking increases your risk of serious heart problems from birth control pills. This risk is higher if you are over 35 and smoke. If you are over 35 and smoke, you should not use Amethia.

Pregnancy
acetaminophen

If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, talk to your doctor before using this medicine. They can help you weigh the risks and benefits.

ethinyl estradiol/levonorgestrel

Amethia should not be used during pregnancy. It is also not recommended if you are breastfeeding, as it can reduce milk production and small amounts of the drug can pass into breast milk.

Also Compare, Nearby Drugs

How to Read This acetaminophen vs ethinyl estradiol/levonorgestrel Comparison

acetaminophen is classified in the Analgesic / Antipyretic drug class, while ethinyl estradiol/levonorgestrel sits within the Combined Oral Contraceptive class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are split between OTC and prescription status, which affects access and supervision.

Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, acetaminophen has 144,374 submissions while ethinyl estradiol/levonorgestrel has 56. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known minor interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to acetaminophen stops the body from processing the estrogen in the birth control pill. this leads to higher levels of the hormone in your blood.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.

A table cannot represent individual circumstances. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This registry does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions for acetaminophen or ethinyl estradiol/levonorgestrel.

Registry boundary: This comparison displays source-record fields and does not provide individualized medical direction.