estradiol vs ethinyl estradiol/levonorgestrel
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Side-by-side comparison of estradiol and ethinyl estradiol/levonorgestrel. 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
7.2 Increase in Plasma Levels of Estradiol Associated with Co-Administered Drugs Co-administration of atorvastatin and certain COCs containing ethinyl estradiol increase AUC values for ethinyl estradiol by approximately 20%. Ascorbic acid and acetaminophen may increase plasma ethinyl estradiol levels, possibly by inhibition of conjugation. 7.4 Changes in Plasma Levels of Co-Administered Drugs COCs containing some synthetic estrogens (e.g., ethinyl estradiol) may inhibit the metabolism of other compounds.
Estrace, Vivelle-Dot
Levlen, Triphasil
Iclevia is a birth control pill. It contains two hormones, a progestin and an estrogen, that work together to prevent pregnancy.
Amethia is a birth control pill that you take every day to prevent pregnancy. It contains two hormones, estrogen and progestin.
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.
Amethia is used by women to prevent pregnancy. It contains two hormones that work together to stop you from getting pregnant. You must take it exactly as directed to prevent pregnancy.
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.
Amethia works by preventing ovulation (the release of an egg from the ovary). It also thickens the mucus in the cervix, making it harder for sperm to reach the egg. The hormones in Amethia also change the lining of the uterus.
- • Headache
- • Heavy menstrual bleeding
- • Nausea
- • Painful periods
- • Acne
- • Irregular or heavy uterine bleeding
- • Weight gain
- • Acne
- • Nausea
- • Breast tenderness
- Product Adhesion Issue 5,172
- Headache 5,036
- Nausea 4,754
- Fatigue 4,511
- Pain 3,480
- Feeling sick to your stomach 15
- Throwing up 13
- Stomach pain 10
- Exposure to the drug during pregnancy 9
- Feeling tired 9
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.
Cigarette smoking increases your risk of serious heart problems from birth control pills. This risk is higher if you are over 35 and smoke. If you are over 35 and smoke, you should not use Amethia.
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.
Amethia should not be used during pregnancy. It is also not recommended if you are breastfeeding, as it can reduce milk production and small amounts of the drug can pass into breast milk.
Also Compare, Nearby Drugs
How to Read This estradiol vs ethinyl estradiol/levonorgestrel Comparison
estradiol is classified in the Estrogen Hormone drug class, while ethinyl estradiol/levonorgestrel 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, estradiol has 22,953 submissions while ethinyl estradiol/levonorgestrel has 56. 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 the estrogen in your birth control can slow down how your body processes other estrogen medicines. this can cause the hormone levels to build up in your system.. 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 estradiol or ethinyl estradiol/levonorgestrel.
Registry boundary: This comparison displays source-record fields and does not provide individualized medical direction.