ethinyl estradiol/norgestimate vs prednisolone

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

Concomitant use with ethinyl estradiol-containing COCs may increase systemic exposure of other drugs (e.g., cyclosporine, prednisolone, theophylline, tizanidine, and voriconazole).

Drug Class
ethinyl estradiol/norgestimate Combined Oral Contraceptive
prednisolone Corticosteroid
Type
ethinyl estradiol/norgestimate Prescription
prednisolone Prescription
Summary
ethinyl estradiol/norgestimate

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

prednisolone

Prednisolone eye drops reduce inflammation in your eye. It is a type of steroid medicine.

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.

prednisolone

This medicine treats swelling and redness in your eye. It can help with problems of the conjunctiva, cornea, and other parts of the front of your eye. It is used when the swelling responds to steroid treatment.

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.

prednisolone

Prednisolone is a corticosteroid. It works by reducing inflammation in the eye. This helps to relieve redness, swelling, and pain.

Common Side Effects
ethinyl estradiol/norgestimate
  • Headache
  • Heavier menstrual bleeding
  • Nausea
  • Painful periods
  • Acne
prednisolone
  • Eye pain
  • Feeling like something is in your eye
  • Headache
  • Itching
  • Rash
FAERS Reports
ethinyl estradiol/norgestimate

No adverse event reports.

prednisolone
  • Pyrexia 8,197
  • Dyspnoea 6,807
  • Pneumonia 6,760
  • Diarrhoea 6,510
  • Condition Aggravated 5,688
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.

prednisolone

Using steroid eye drops for a long time may cause glaucoma (increased pressure in the eye) or cataracts. It can also make it harder for your eye to heal if you have an injury. Tell your doctor if your symptoms do not improve after 2 days.

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.

prednisolone

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. It is not known if prednisolone eye drops will harm an unborn baby. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits.

Also Compare, Nearby Drugs

How to Read This ethinyl estradiol/norgestimate vs prednisolone Comparison

ethinyl estradiol/norgestimate is classified in the Combined Oral Contraceptive drug class, while prednisolone sits within the Corticosteroid 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 prednisolone has 33,962. 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 slow down how your body processes prednisolone, which may lead to higher levels of the steroid in your blood.. 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 prednisolone.

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