ethinyl estradiol/norgestimate vs topiramate
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Side-by-side comparison of ethinyl estradiol/norgestimate 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
Examples Aprepitant, barbiturates, bosentan, carbamazepine, efavirenz, felbamate, griseofulvin, oxcarbazepine, phenytoin, rifampin, rifabutin, rufinamide, topiramate, products containing St.
Ortho Tri-Cyclen, Sprintec
Topamax
Iclevia is a birth control pill. It contains two hormones, levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol, to prevent pregnancy.
Topiramate is a medicine that can help prevent seizures and migraines. It works by calming the brain.
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.
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.
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.
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.
- • Headache
- • Heavier menstrual bleeding
- • Nausea
- • Painful periods
- • Acne
- • Tingling or numbness
- • Loss of appetite
- • Weight loss
- • Speech problems
- • Tiredness
No adverse event reports.
- 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 more cigarettes. If you are over 35 and smoke, you should not take Iclevia.
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.
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.
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/norgestimate vs topiramate Comparison
ethinyl estradiol/norgestimate 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/norgestimate has 0 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 topiramate speeds up the way your liver removes birth control hormones from your system. this can lower the level of the medicine in your body and make it less likely to prevent 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/norgestimate or topiramate.
Registry boundary: This comparison displays source-record fields and does not provide individualized medical direction.