drospirenone/ethinyl estradiol vs sulfasalazine

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Side-by-side comparison of drospirenone/ethinyl estradiol and sulfasalazine. 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).

Drug Class
drospirenone/ethinyl estradiol Combined Oral Contraceptive
sulfasalazine Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drug (DMARD)
Type
drospirenone/ethinyl estradiol Prescription
sulfasalazine Prescription
Summary
drospirenone/ethinyl estradiol

This medicine contains drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol, which are hormones that prevent pregnancy. It also contains folate to help raise folate levels.

sulfasalazine

Sulfasalazine is a drug that reduces inflammation in the body. It is used to treat ulcerative colitis.

What It Treats
drospirenone/ethinyl estradiol

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.

sulfasalazine

Sulfasalazine treats ulcerative colitis, a condition that causes inflammation and sores in the lining of the large intestine. It can help with mild to moderate ulcerative colitis. It can also be used with other treatments for severe ulcerative colitis. This medicine can also help keep ulcerative colitis from coming back.

How It Works
drospirenone/ethinyl estradiol

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.

sulfasalazine

Sulfasalazine is an anti-inflammatory drug. It works by reducing inflammation in the colon. The exact way it does this is not fully known.

Common Side Effects
drospirenone/ethinyl estradiol
  • Headache or migraine
  • Irregular periods
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Breast pain or tenderness
sulfasalazine
  • Loss of appetite
  • Headache
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Stomach upset
FAERS Reports
drospirenone/ethinyl estradiol
  • Pain 13,037
  • Injury 10,860
  • Blood clot in the lungs 9,316
  • Blood clot in a deep vein 8,390
  • Anxiety 6,996
sulfasalazine
  • Rheumatoid Arthritis 19,190
  • Pain 15,658
  • Arthralgia 13,161
  • Fatigue 13,017
  • Joint Swelling 12,481
Serious Warnings
drospirenone/ethinyl estradiol

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.

sulfasalazine

You should not take this medicine if you have a blockage in your intestines or urinary tract. You should not take this medicine if you have porphyria, as it could cause an attack. You should not take this medicine if you are allergic to sulfasalazine, its ingredients, sulfonamides, or salicylates.

Pregnancy
drospirenone/ethinyl estradiol

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.

sulfasalazine

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if Sulfasalazine will harm your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking this medicine while breastfeeding.

Also Compare, Nearby Drugs

How to Read This drospirenone/ethinyl estradiol vs sulfasalazine Comparison

drospirenone/ethinyl estradiol is classified in the Combined Oral Contraceptive drug class, while sulfasalazine sits within the Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drug (DMARD) 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 sulfasalazine has 73,507. 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 sulfasalazine can lower the levels of folate in your body by blocking a specific enzyme that helps process it.. 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 drospirenone/ethinyl estradiol or sulfasalazine.

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