aprepitant vs ethinyl estradiol/etonogestrel
PlainMeds reviewed this comparison against our methodology in August 2026. It places FDA and CMS record fields side by side, without recommending either medication.
Side-by-side comparison of aprepitant 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
Some drugs or herbal products that may decrease the effectiveness of hormonal contraceptives include: phenytoin, barbiturates, carbamazepine, bosentan, felbamate, griseofulvin, oxcarbazepine, rifampicin, topiramate, rifabutin, rufinamide, aprepitant, and products containing St.
Emend
NuvaRing
Aprepitant (Emend) is a medicine that helps prevent nausea and vomiting. It belongs to a class of drugs called NK1 receptor antagonists.
NuvaRing is a vaginal ring that contains hormones to prevent pregnancy. It releases hormones over three weeks to stop you from getting pregnant.
Aprepitant is used to prevent nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy. It can be used for both strong and moderate chemotherapy treatments. It is also used to prevent nausea and vomiting after surgery in adults.
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.
Aprepitant blocks a substance in your body called substance P. Substance P can trigger nausea and vomiting. By blocking it, aprepitant helps reduce these side effects.
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.
- • Tiredness
- • Diarrhea
- • Weakness
- • Upset stomach
- • Stomach pain
- • 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
- Nausea 2,145
- Fatigue 1,769
- Pyrexia 1,589
- Diarrhoea 1,542
- Dyspnoea 1,508
No adverse event reports.
Aprepitant can interact with other medicines. It can affect how well warfarin (a blood thinner) and hormonal birth control work. If you take warfarin, your doctor will check your blood. If you use hormonal birth control, use a backup method while taking aprepitant and for 28 days after your last dose.
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.
There is not enough information about the safety of aprepitant during pregnancy. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if aprepitant passes into breast milk, so discuss breastfeeding with your doctor.
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.
Also Compare, Nearby Drugs
Compare aprepitant with
How to Read This aprepitant vs ethinyl estradiol/etonogestrel Comparison
aprepitant is classified in the NK1 Receptor Antagonist (Antiemetic) 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, aprepitant has 8,553 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 aprepitant makes your body get rid of birth control hormones more quickly, which could lead to an unplanned pregnancy.. 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 aprepitant or ethinyl estradiol/etonogestrel.
Registry boundary: This comparison displays source-record fields and does not provide individualized medical direction.