Prescription medication · Combined Oral Contraceptive

drospirenone/ethinyl estradiol

Name: drospirenone/ethinyl estradiol - FDA Drug Safety & Adverse Event Data
Creator: PlainMeds
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

Also sold as Yaz, Yasmin. This medicine can prevent pregnancy.

Compiled by PlainMeds Editorial, Drug Information Editorial Team

Data updated 2026-05-15

72,136
FDA reports: 30
InteractionsSeveral interactions: $4.40
Brand price (NADAC)

What the data shows

drospirenone/ethinyl estradiol (Yaz) is a prescription Combined Oral Contraceptive, with 72,136 FDA adverse-event reports on file, with 30 documented drug interactions.

Reporting volume reflects how widely a drug is used and studied, not how dangerous it is, a FAERS report documents a temporal association, never proof of cause.

drospirenone/ethinyl estradiol (Yaz) is a prescription Combined Oral Contraceptive. This medicine can prevent pregnancy.

This medicine contains drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol, which are hormones that prevent pregnancy. It also contains folate to help raise folate levels.

Verify with FDA → · CMS NADAC pricing →

Drug Pricing (NADAC)

Brand Price

$4.40/unit

Generic Available

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Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →

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What it does

This medicine can prevent pregnancy.

Common side effects

Headache or migraine, Irregular periods, Nausea or vomiting

Key warnings

Cigarette smoking increases your risk of serious heart problems when using birth control pills.

The sections below are summarized in plain English from drospirenone/ethinyl estradiol's FDA-approved prescribing information. They describe what the official label says, and are not personal medical advice.

How It Works

This medicine prevents pregnancy by stopping ovulation (the release of an egg from the ovary). It also changes the lining of the uterus, making it harder for a fertilized egg to implant. The folate helps increase folate levels in the body.

How to Take It

Take one tablet every day, at the same time each day. Follow the order of the tablets on the blister pack. You can start on the first day of your period or the first Sunday after your period starts. You can take this medicine with or without food.

This is a plain-language summary of drospirenone/ethinyl estradiol's FDA labeling, not individualized dosing advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber before changing how you take this medication.

Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Do not use this medicine if you are pregnant. This medicine can reduce milk production while breastfeeding. If possible, use other birth control methods until you stop breastfeeding.

This is a plain-language summary of drospirenone/ethinyl estradiol's FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber about pregnancy or breastfeeding on this medication.

Missed Dose

If you miss a pill, take it as soon as you remember. Continue taking one pill each day.

This is a plain-language summary of drospirenone/ethinyl estradiol's FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber what to do about your specific missed dose.

Storage

Store this medicine at room temperature.

Side Effects (from patient reports)

Based on 72,136 FDA adverse event reports.

Pain

13,037
Injury

10,860
Blood clot in the lungs

9,316
Blood clot in a deep vein

8,390
Anxiety

6,996
Emotional distress

6,439
Long-term gallbladder inflammation

5,568
Gallstones

4,132
Gallbladder problem

4,073
Decline in general health

3,325

What this shows Bars show how often each reaction was reported, not how likely it is to happen, a report records a temporal association, never proof that the drug caused it.

Serious Warnings

Cigarette smoking increases your risk of serious heart problems when using birth control pills. This risk is higher if you are over 35 and smoke. Women over 35 who smoke should not use this medicine.

Known Drug Interactions

major estradiol

Potential to Increase Serum Potassium Concentration There is a potential for an increase in serum potassium concentration in women taking drospirenone, ethinyl estradiol and levomefolate calcium tablets and levomefolate calcium tablets with other drugs that may increase serum potassium concentration [see Warnings And Precautions ( 5.2 ) and And Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3 )]. 7.3 Concomitant Use with HCV Combination Therapy – Liver Enzyme Elevation Do not co-administer drospirenone, ethinyl estradiol and levomefolate calcium tablets and levomefolate calcium tablets with HCV drug...

Mechanism: Drospirenone can cause your body to keep too much potassium, and taking it with other similar drugs can make this effect stronger.

What to do: Your doctor should check your blood potassium levels regularly while you are on these medications.

minor atorvastatin

Substances Increasing the Plasma Concentrations of COCs Co-administration of atorvastatin and certain COCs containing EE increase AUC values for EE by approximately 20%.

Mechanism: Taking atorvastatin can cause the level of estrogen from your birth control pill to increase in your body.

What to do: Your doctor may need to monitor you for side effects related to higher estrogen levels.

minor omeprazole

COCs Increasing the Plasma Concentrations of CYP450 Enzymes In clinical studies, administration of a hormonal contraceptive containing EE did not lead to any increase or only to a weak increase in plasma concentrations of CYP3A4 substrates (e.g., midazolam) while plasma concentrations of CYP2C19 substrates (e.g., omeprazole and voriconazole) and CYP1A2 substrates (e.g., theophylline and tizanidine) can have a weak or moderate increase.

Mechanism: The birth control pill slows down how your body breaks down omeprazole. This can cause the level of omeprazole in your blood to rise slightly.

What to do: Your doctor may need to monitor you for side effects or adjust your dose of omeprazole.

minor lamotrigine

COCs have been shown to significantly decrease plasma concentrations of lamotrigine, likely due to induction of lamotrigine glucuronidation. This may reduce seizure control; therefore, dosage adjustments of lamotrigine may be necessary.

Mechanism: The birth control pill makes your body get rid of lamotrigine much faster than usual. This can lower the amount of medicine in your blood and make it less effective at preventing seizures.

What to do: Your doctor may need to increase your dose of lamotrigine to ensure it still works correctly.

minor topiramate

Some drugs or herbal products that may decrease the effectiveness of hormonal contraceptives include phenytoin, barbiturates, carbamazepine, bosentan, felbamate, griseofulvin, oxcarbazepine, rifampin, topiramate and products containing St.

Mechanism: Topiramate causes your body to process birth control hormones faster than normal. This can make the birth control pill less effective at preventing pregnancy.

What to do: Talk to your doctor about using a backup method of birth control, like condoms, while taking this medication.

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This is a plain-language summary of interactions documented in FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber before combining medications.

Common Questions

What should I do if I experience severe abdominal pain?

Contact your doctor immediately, as it could indicate a serious problem.

Can this medication be used to treat premenstrual syndrome (PMS)?

No, this medication is not for premenstrual syndrome (PMS). It is for premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD).

Will this medication protect me from sexually transmitted infections (STIs)?

No, this medication does not protect against STIs. Use condoms to protect yourself from STIs.

Can I take this medication if I have high blood pressure?

You should not take this medication if you have uncontrolled high blood pressure.

What if I have a headache with vision changes?

If you have headaches with vision changes, contact your doctor right away.

Can I take this with St. John's Wort?

No, St. John's Wort can make this medicine less effective.

What do the different colored pills mean?

The pink pills contain active hormones, and the orange pills contain folate.

Can this medicine affect my weight?

Some people may experience weight changes while taking this medicine.

What if I start spotting between periods?

Spotting is common, especially in the first few months. If it continues, talk to your doctor.

Is it okay to drink grapefruit juice while taking this?

Grapefruit juice can increase the levels of this medicine in your blood. Talk to your doctor.

What are the common side effects of drospirenone/ethinyl estradiol?

The most commonly reported side effects of drospirenone/ethinyl estradiol include Headache or migraine, Irregular periods, Nausea or vomiting, Breast pain or tenderness. Based on 72,136 FDA adverse event reports. Always consult your healthcare provider about potential side effects.

Does drospirenone/ethinyl estradiol interact with other medications?

Yes, drospirenone/ethinyl estradiol has 30 known drug interactions. Notable interactions include estradiol, atorvastatin, omeprazole. Always inform your doctor about all medications you are taking.

What drug class is drospirenone/ethinyl estradiol?

drospirenone/ethinyl estradiol belongs to the Combined Oral Contraceptive drug class. It requires a prescription (Rx). This medicine can prevent pregnancy.

Is drospirenone/ethinyl estradiol safe during pregnancy?

Do not use this medicine if you are pregnant. This medicine can reduce milk production while breastfeeding. Always consult your healthcare provider before using any medication during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

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