ethinyl estradiol/levonorgestrel vs topiramate
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Side-by-side comparison of ethinyl estradiol/levonorgestrel and topiramate. 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
John's wort topiramate HIV protease inhibitors and non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors : Significant changes (increase or decrease) in the plasma levels of the estrogen and progestin have been noted in some cases of co-administration of HIV protease inhibitors or with non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors.
Levlen, Triphasil
Topamax
Amethia is a birth control pill that you take every day to prevent pregnancy. It contains two hormones, estrogen and progestin.
Topiramate is a medicine that can help prevent seizures and migraines. It works by calming the brain.
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.
Topiramate can be used alone or with other medicines to treat certain types of seizures in people 2 years and older. These seizures include partial-onset seizures and primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures. It also treats seizures related to Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. Topiramate can also help prevent migraine headaches in people 12 years and older.
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.
Topiramate works by reducing the excitability of brain cells. It also increases the activity of a brain chemical called GABA. These actions help to prevent seizures and migraines.
- • Irregular or heavy uterine bleeding
- • Weight gain
- • Acne
- • Nausea
- • Breast tenderness
- • Tingling or numbness
- • Loss of appetite
- • Weight loss
- • Speech problems
- • Tiredness
- Feeling sick to your stomach 15
- Throwing up 13
- Stomach pain 10
- Exposure to the drug during pregnancy 9
- Feeling tired 9
- Headache 6,464
- Nausea 5,710
- Fatigue 5,293
- Pain 4,485
- Migraine 4,373
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.
Topiramate can cause serious side effects. It can cause vision problems, including sudden nearsightedness and glaucoma. It can decrease sweating and increase body temperature, especially in children. It can cause metabolic acidosis (too much acid in the blood). It may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts or actions. It can affect thinking and coordination. It can harm an unborn baby. It can decrease bone mineral density. It can slow growth in children. It can cause serious skin reactions. It can cause kidney stones. If you experience any of these, contact your doctor immediately.
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.
Topiramate can harm your unborn baby. It may cause birth defects like cleft lip or cleft palate. It can also cause the baby to be smaller than normal. If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking topiramate.
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How to Read This ethinyl estradiol/levonorgestrel vs topiramate Comparison
ethinyl estradiol/levonorgestrel is classified in the Combined Oral Contraceptive drug class, while topiramate 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 topiramate has 26,325. 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 this medicine can cause the levels of hormones in your birth control to either rise or fall. this might make the 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 ethinyl estradiol/levonorgestrel or topiramate.
Registry boundary: This comparison displays source-record fields and does not provide individualized medical direction.