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amoxicillin vs ethinyl estradiol/etonogestrel

Side-by-side comparison of amoxicillin and ethinyl estradiol/etonogestrel. 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

The serum concentrations of etonogestrel and ethinyl estradiol were not affected by concomitant administration of oral amoxicillin or doxycycline in standard dosages during 10 days of antibiotic treatment.

Recommendation: You can take these together without needing to change your dose or use extra protection.

Drug Class
amoxicillin Penicillin Antibiotic
ethinyl estradiol/etonogestrel Vaginal Contraceptive Ring
Type
amoxicillin Prescription
ethinyl estradiol/etonogestrel Prescription
Summary
amoxicillin

Amoxicillin and Clavulanate Potassium is a combination medicine used to fight bacterial infections. It contains amoxicillin, an antibiotic, and clavulanate, which helps the amoxicillin work better.

ethinyl estradiol/etonogestrel

NuvaRing is a vaginal ring that contains hormones to prevent pregnancy. It releases hormones over three weeks to stop you from getting pregnant.

What It Treats
amoxicillin

This medicine treats infections like lower respiratory infections, ear infections (otitis media), sinus infections, skin infections, and urinary tract infections. It works against specific bacteria that cause these infections. However, it should only be used when tests show the bacteria are susceptible to it, to avoid antibiotic resistance.

ethinyl estradiol/etonogestrel

NuvaRing is used by women of reproductive age to prevent pregnancy. It contains estrogen and progestin, which are hormones. These hormones prevent ovulation, so you don't release an egg and can't get pregnant.

How It Works
amoxicillin

Amoxicillin kills bacteria by stopping them from building cell walls. Some bacteria produce a substance called beta-lactamase, which can destroy amoxicillin. Clavulanate blocks beta-lactamase, allowing amoxicillin to effectively kill the bacteria.

ethinyl estradiol/etonogestrel

NuvaRing contains two hormones: etonogestrel and ethinyl estradiol. These hormones are released slowly into your body. They prevent pregnancy mainly by stopping your ovaries from releasing an egg.

Common Side Effects
amoxicillin
  • Diarrhea or loose stools
  • Nausea
  • Skin rashes
  • Hives
  • Vomiting
ethinyl estradiol/etonogestrel
  • Vaginal infection
  • Headache (including migraine)
  • Mood changes (like depression or mood swings)
  • Problems related to the ring (like it falling out or causing discomfort)
  • Nausea or vomiting
FAERS Reports
amoxicillin
  • Long-term kidney disease 4,661
  • Sudden kidney damage 4,200
  • Diarrhea 4,083
  • Allergic reaction to the medicine 3,744
  • Feeling sick to your stomach 3,700
ethinyl estradiol/etonogestrel

No adverse event reports.

Serious Warnings
amoxicillin

This medicine can cause serious allergic reactions, including fatal ones. Stop taking it and get medical help right away if you have any signs of an allergic reaction. This medicine can also cause severe skin reactions. Tell your doctor if you develop a rash. It can also cause liver problems and severe diarrhea.

ethinyl estradiol/etonogestrel

Cigarette smoking increases your risk of serious heart problems if you use hormonal birth control like NuvaRing. This risk is higher if you are over 35 and smoke more cigarettes. If you are over 35 and smoke, you should not use NuvaRing.

Pregnancy
amoxicillin

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if this medicine will harm your unborn baby. Amoxicillin passes into breast milk and may cause harm to a nursing infant. Talk to your doctor before breastfeeding.

ethinyl estradiol/etonogestrel

Do not use NuvaRing if you are pregnant. NuvaRing can pass into breast milk and may reduce milk production. Talk to your doctor about other birth control options if you are breastfeeding.

How to Read This amoxicillin vs ethinyl estradiol/etonogestrel Comparison

amoxicillin is classified in the Penicillin Antibiotic drug class, while ethinyl estradiol/etonogestrel sits within the Vaginal Contraceptive Ring class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.

Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, amoxicillin has 20,388 submissions while ethinyl estradiol/etonogestrel has 0. 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 amoxicillin does not change the levels of birth control hormones in your blood.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.

A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between amoxicillin and ethinyl estradiol/etonogestrel - always consult your physician or pharmacist first.

Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.