Two medicines, side by side
Levonorgestrel vs medroxyprogesterone
Levonorgestrel and medroxyprogesterone are both labeled for birth control. Drugs@FDA records approvals of levonorgestrel since 1990 and of medroxyprogesterone since 1959. Pharmacies paid $6.33 per levonorgestrel 1.5 mg tablet and $22.85 per mL (Medroxyprogesterone 150 mg/mL) (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. In FDA's classes, levonorgestrel is a progestin-containing intrauterine device and medroxyprogesterone a progestin.
Check it at the source: the levonorgestrel FDA label on DailyMed (effective January 31, 2023); the medroxyprogesterone FDA label on DailyMed (effective June 29, 2026).
Highlights of the levonorgestrel record
Levonorgestrel (Plan) · label of January 31, 2023
Used for
From the label: indicationsfor women to reduce chance of pregnancy after unprotected sex (if a contraceptive failed or if you did not use birth control)
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- December 10, 1990
- Generic labelers
- 31 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $6.33 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 3
Highlights of the medroxyprogesterone record
Medroxyprogesterone (Depo-Provera) · label of June 29, 2026
CARDIOVASCULAR DISORDERS, BREAST CANCER AND PROBABLE DEMENTIA FOR ESTROGEN PLUS PROGESTIN THERAPY Cardiovascular Disorders and Probable Dementia Estrogen plus progestin therapy should not be used for the prevention of cardiovascular disease or dementia.
Used for
From the label: indicationsPROVERA tablets are indicated for the treatment of secondary amenorrhea and abnormal uterine bleeding due to hormonal imbalance in the absence of organic pathology, such as fibroids or uterine cancer. They are also indicated for use in the prevention of endometrial hyperplasia in nonhysterectomized postmenopausal women who are receiving daily oral conjugated estrogens 0.625 mg tablets.
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- June 18, 1959
- Generic labelers
- 21 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $22.85 per mL
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- A presentation being discontinued
- Recalls
- 14
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Levonorgestrel label of January 31, 2023, Medroxyprogesterone label of June 29, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do levonorgestrel and medroxyprogesterone differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, levonorgestrel is a progestin-containing intrauterine device and medroxyprogesterone a progestin.
Only the medroxyprogesterone label carries a boxed warning.
Generics: levonorgestrel since 2009; medroxyprogesterone since 1974 (Drugs@FDA).
| Levonorgestrel | Medroxyprogesterone | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Birth control | Birth control, Pain |
| Pharmacologic class | Progestin, Progestin-containing Intrauterine Device, Progestin-containing Intrauterine System | Progestin |
| How it works (label) | n/a | n/a |
| Half-life (label) | n/a | n/a |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | December 10, 1990 | June 18, 1959 |
| First generic approved | June 24, 2009 | May 15, 1974 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 31 labelers | 21 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $6.33 per tablet (Levonorgestrel 1.5 mg tablet) | $22.85 per mL (Medroxyprogesterone 150 mg/mL) |
| 12-month price change | no change | +12% |
| Boxed warning | No | Yes |
| Shortage now | No current entry | A presentation being discontinued |
| Recalls recorded | 3 | 14 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 200,218 | 49,531 |
| DEA schedule | none | none |
Source: Drugs@FDA, FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026, FDA shortages and recalls, FAERS via openFDA (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What next?
- Alternatives to levonorgestrel
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions