ethinyl estradiol/norgestimate vs lamotrigine

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Side-by-side comparison of ethinyl estradiol/norgestimate 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

Table 6: Significant Drug Interaction Information for Drugs Co-Administered With COCs Lamotrigine Clinical effect Concomitant use of COCs with lamotrigine may significantly decrease systemic exposure of lamotrigine due to induction of lamotrigine glucuronidation [See Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ] . Decreased systemic exposure of lamotrigine may reduce seizure control. Consult the approved product labeling for lamotrigine.

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

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

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/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.

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/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.

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/norgestimate
  • Headache
  • Heavier menstrual bleeding
  • Nausea
  • Painful periods
  • Acne
lamotrigine
  • Dizziness
  • Headache
  • Double vision
  • Uncoordinated movements
  • Nausea
FAERS Reports
ethinyl estradiol/norgestimate

No adverse event reports.

lamotrigine
  • Rash 8,408
  • Seizure 6,527
  • Nausea 6,149
  • Fatigue 5,915
  • Dizziness 5,770
Serious Warnings
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.

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/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.

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/norgestimate vs lamotrigine Comparison

ethinyl estradiol/norgestimate 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/norgestimate has 0 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 the birth control pill causes your body to break down the seizure medicine lamotrigine much faster than usual. this can lower the amount of medicine in your blood and may lead to more seizures.. 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/norgestimate or lamotrigine.

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