drospirenone/ethinyl estradiol vs estradiol
Side-by-side comparison of drospirenone/ethinyl estradiol and estradiol. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
major Known Drug Interaction
Potential to Increase Serum Potassium Concentration There is a potential for an increase in serum potassium concentration in women taking drospirenone, ethinyl estradiol and levomefolate calcium tablets and levomefolate calcium tablets with other drugs that may increase serum potassium concentration [see Warnings And Precautions ( 5.2 ) and And Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3 )]. 7.3 Concomitant Use with HCV Combination Therapy – Liver Enzyme Elevation Do not co-administer drospirenone, ethinyl estradiol and levomefolate calcium tablets and levomefolate calcium tablets with HCV drug...
Recommendation: Your doctor should check your blood potassium levels regularly while you are on these medications.
Yaz, Yasmin
Estrace, Vivelle-Dot
This medicine contains drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol, which are hormones that prevent pregnancy. It also contains folate to help raise folate levels.
Iclevia is a birth control pill. It contains two hormones, a progestin and an estrogen, that work together to prevent pregnancy.
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.
Iclevia is used by women who can get pregnant to prevent pregnancy. It contains two types of hormones. These hormones stop you from releasing an egg and also change the lining of your uterus, which prevents pregnancy.
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.
Iclevia contains two hormones: levonorgestrel (a progestin) and ethinyl estradiol (an estrogen). These hormones prevent pregnancy by stopping ovulation (the release of an egg from the ovary). They also change the lining of the uterus to prevent a fertilized egg from implanting.
- • Headache or migraine
- • Irregular periods
- • Nausea or vomiting
- • Breast pain or tenderness
- • Headache
- • Heavy menstrual bleeding
- • Nausea
- • Painful periods
- • Acne
- Pain 13,037
- Injury 10,860
- Blood clot in the lungs 9,316
- Blood clot in a deep vein 8,390
- Anxiety 6,996
- The product did not stick properly 5,172
- Headache 5,035
- Nausea 4,752
- Tiredness 4,511
- Pain 3,478
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.
Cigarette smoking increases your risk of serious heart problems from birth control pills. This risk is higher if you are over 35 and smoke more cigarettes. You should not take Iclevia if you are over 35 and smoke.
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.
Do not use Iclevia if you are pregnant. If you become pregnant while taking Iclevia, stop taking it right away. Iclevia can reduce milk production, so you may want to use a different birth control method while breastfeeding.
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How to Read This drospirenone/ethinyl estradiol vs estradiol Comparison
drospirenone/ethinyl estradiol is classified in the Combined Oral Contraceptive drug class, while estradiol sits within the Estrogen Hormone 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, drospirenone/ethinyl estradiol has 48,599 submissions while estradiol has 22,948. 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 major interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to drospirenone can cause your body to keep too much potassium, and taking it with other similar drugs can make this effect stronger.. 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 drospirenone/ethinyl estradiol and estradiol - 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.