estradiol vs ethinyl estradiol/norgestimate

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Side-by-side comparison of estradiol and ethinyl estradiol/norgestimate. 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

No drug-drug interaction studies were conducted with levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol tablets. ( 7.1 ) 7.1 Effects of Other Drugs on Combined Oral Contraceptives Substances decreasing the plasma concentrations of COCs and potentially diminishing the efficacy of COCs: Table 5 includes substances that demonstrated an important drug interaction with levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol tablets. Colesevelam Clinical effect Concomitant use of COCs with colesevelam significantly decreases systemic exposure of ethinyl estradiol [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ] .

Drug Class
estradiol Estrogen Hormone
ethinyl estradiol/norgestimate Combined Oral Contraceptive
Type
estradiol Prescription
ethinyl estradiol/norgestimate Prescription
Summary
estradiol

Iclevia is a birth control pill. It contains two hormones, a progestin and an estrogen, that work together to prevent pregnancy.

ethinyl estradiol/norgestimate

Iclevia is a birth control pill. It contains two hormones, levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol, to prevent pregnancy.

What It Treats
estradiol

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.

ethinyl estradiol/norgestimate

Iclevia is used by women who can get pregnant to prevent pregnancy. It contains two hormones, a progestin and an estrogen. These hormones work together to prevent ovulation and change the lining of the uterus.

How It Works
estradiol

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.

ethinyl estradiol/norgestimate

Iclevia contains two hormones: levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol. These hormones prevent ovulation (the release of an egg from the ovary). They also change the lining of the uterus, making it harder for a fertilized egg to implant.

Common Side Effects
estradiol
  • Headache
  • Heavy menstrual bleeding
  • Nausea
  • Painful periods
  • Acne
ethinyl estradiol/norgestimate
  • Headache
  • Heavier menstrual bleeding
  • Nausea
  • Painful periods
  • Acne
FAERS Reports
estradiol
  • Product Adhesion Issue 5,172
  • Headache 5,036
  • Nausea 4,754
  • Fatigue 4,511
  • Pain 3,480
ethinyl estradiol/norgestimate

No adverse event reports.

Serious Warnings
estradiol

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.

ethinyl estradiol/norgestimate

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. If you are over 35 and smoke, you should not take Iclevia.

Pregnancy
estradiol

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.

ethinyl estradiol/norgestimate

Do not use Iclevia if you are pregnant. Iclevia can reduce milk production while breastfeeding, so another form of birth control is recommended. Talk to your doctor about the best option for you.

Also Compare, Nearby Drugs

How to Read This estradiol vs ethinyl estradiol/norgestimate Comparison

estradiol is classified in the Estrogen Hormone drug class, while ethinyl estradiol/norgestimate 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/norgestimate 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 colesevelam can trap the birth control hormones in your gut and stop them from being absorbed into your body. this can make your birth control less effective at preventing 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 estradiol or ethinyl estradiol/norgestimate.

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