ethinyl estradiol/levonorgestrel vs lamotrigine

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Side-by-side comparison of ethinyl estradiol/levonorgestrel and lamotrigine. 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

COCs have been shown to significantly decrease plasma concentrations of lamotrigine likely due to induction of lamotrigine glucuronidation. This may reduce seizure control; therefore, dosage adjustments of lamotrigine may be necessary.

Drug Class
ethinyl estradiol/levonorgestrel Combined Oral Contraceptive
lamotrigine Anticonvulsant
Type
ethinyl estradiol/levonorgestrel Prescription
lamotrigine Prescription
Summary
ethinyl estradiol/levonorgestrel

Amethia is a birth control pill that you take every day to prevent pregnancy. It contains two hormones, estrogen and progestin.

lamotrigine

Lamotrigine is a medicine that can treat seizures and bipolar disorder. It works by reducing irregular electrical activity in the brain.

What It Treats
ethinyl estradiol/levonorgestrel

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.

lamotrigine

Lamotrigine can treat epilepsy in adults and children 2 years and older. It can help with partial-onset seizures, primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures, and generalized seizures of Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. It can also be used to delay mood episodes in adults with bipolar I disorder.

How It Works
ethinyl estradiol/levonorgestrel

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.

lamotrigine

Lamotrigine affects how nerves in the brain send signals to each other. It is thought to work by decreasing the release of certain chemicals. This helps to stabilize electrical activity and prevent seizures or mood swings.

Common Side Effects
ethinyl estradiol/levonorgestrel
  • Irregular or heavy uterine bleeding
  • Weight gain
  • Acne
  • Nausea
  • Breast tenderness
lamotrigine
  • Dizziness
  • Headache
  • Double vision
  • Uncoordinated movements
  • Nausea
FAERS Reports
ethinyl estradiol/levonorgestrel
  • Feeling sick to your stomach 15
  • Throwing up 13
  • Stomach pain 10
  • Exposure to the drug during pregnancy 9
  • Feeling tired 9
lamotrigine
  • Rash 8,408
  • Seizure 6,527
  • Nausea 6,149
  • Fatigue 5,915
  • Dizziness 5,770
Serious Warnings
ethinyl estradiol/levonorgestrel

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.

lamotrigine

Lamotrigine can cause a serious skin rash that may require you to go to the hospital. This rash can be life-threatening. The risk is higher in children. Stop taking lamotrigine and see a doctor right away if you get a rash, fever, or swollen lymph nodes.

Pregnancy
ethinyl estradiol/levonorgestrel

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.

lamotrigine

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Lamotrigine may cause harm to an unborn baby. There is a pregnancy registry for women who take lamotrigine during pregnancy. You can enroll by calling 1-888-233-2334.

Also Compare, Nearby Drugs

How to Read This ethinyl estradiol/levonorgestrel vs lamotrigine Comparison

ethinyl estradiol/levonorgestrel is classified in the Combined Oral Contraceptive drug class, while lamotrigine sits within the Anticonvulsant 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, ethinyl estradiol/levonorgestrel has 56 submissions while lamotrigine has 32,769. 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 birth control pills can make your body get rid of this seizure medicine too quickly. this can lower the amount of medicine in your blood and might cause a seizure.. 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 ethinyl estradiol/levonorgestrel or lamotrigine.

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