cholestyramine vs drospirenone/ethinyl estradiol
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 cholestyramine and drospirenone/ethinyl estradiol. 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
7.5 Effects of Other Drugs on Folates Several drugs have been reported to reduce folate concentrations by inhibition of the dihydrofolate reductase enzyme (e.g., methotrexate and sulfasalazine) or by reducing folate absorption (e.g., cholestyramine), or via unknown mechanisms (e.g., antiepileptics such as carbamazepine, phenytoin, phenobarbital, primidone and valproic acid).
Questran
Yaz, Yasmin
Cholestyramine is a medicine that helps lower high cholesterol levels in your blood. It works by preventing your body from absorbing cholesterol in the intestines.
This medicine contains drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol, which are hormones that prevent pregnancy. It also contains folate to help raise folate levels.
This medicine is used with a diet to lower high cholesterol, especially LDL cholesterol (the "bad" cholesterol). It may also help if you have high triglycerides, but it's not the best choice if high triglycerides are your main problem. Lowering cholesterol helps reduce your risk of heart disease.
This medicine can prevent pregnancy. It can also treat symptoms of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) if you also want birth control. This medicine can also treat moderate acne in women at least 14 years old who also want birth control.
Cholestyramine is a resin that binds to bile acids in your intestines. Bile acids help digest fats, including cholesterol. By binding to bile acids, cholestyramine prevents them from being reabsorbed, so your body uses cholesterol to make more bile acids, which lowers cholesterol levels in your blood.
This medicine prevents pregnancy by stopping ovulation (the release of an egg from the ovary). It also changes the lining of the uterus, making it harder for a fertilized egg to implant. The folate helps increase folate levels in the body.
- • Constipation
- • Headache or migraine
- • Irregular periods
- • Nausea or vomiting
- • Breast pain or tenderness
- Diarrhoea 1,631
- Fatigue 877
- Nausea 783
- Arthralgia 621
- Headache 543
- Pain 13,037
- Injury 10,860
- Blood clot in the lungs 9,316
- Blood clot in a deep vein 8,390
- Anxiety 6,996
Since cholestyramine can affect how your body absorbs other medicines, take other drugs at least 1 hour before or 4 to 6 hours after taking cholestyramine.
Cigarette smoking increases your risk of serious heart problems when using birth control pills. This risk is higher if you are over 35 and smoke. Women over 35 who smoke should not use this medicine.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Cholestyramine may affect how you absorb vitamins, so your doctor may recommend supplements. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking this medicine while breastfeeding.
Do not use this medicine if you are pregnant. This medicine can reduce milk production while breastfeeding. If possible, use other birth control methods until you stop breastfeeding.
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How to Read This cholestyramine vs drospirenone/ethinyl estradiol Comparison
cholestyramine is classified in the Bile Acid Sequestrant drug class, while drospirenone/ethinyl estradiol 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 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, cholestyramine has 4,455 submissions while drospirenone/ethinyl estradiol has 48,599. 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 cholestyramine can prevent your body from properly absorbing folate from your food or vitamins.. 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 cholestyramine or drospirenone/ethinyl estradiol.
Registry boundary: This comparison displays source-record fields and does not provide individualized medical direction.