Prescription medication · Combined Oral Contraceptive

ethinyl estradiol/norethindrone

Also sold as Loestrin, Junel. Lo Loestrin Fe is used to prevent pregnancy.

Data updated 2026-05-15

14
InteractionsSeveral interactions
In shortage
FDA status

What the data shows

ethinyl estradiol/norethindrone (Loestrin) is a prescription Combined Oral Contraceptive, with 14 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.

ethinyl estradiol/norethindrone (Loestrin) is a prescription Combined Oral Contraceptive. Lo Loestrin Fe is used to prevent pregnancy.

Lo Loestrin Fe is a birth control pill. It helps prevent pregnancy in women.

Drug Shortage Alert

ethinyl estradiol/norethindrone is currently listed as to be discontinued by the FDA. Affected manufacturer: Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc..

View all drug shortages →

Drug Pricing (NADAC)

Generic Price

$0.18/unit

Generic Available

Yes (1 manufacturer)

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

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What it does

Lo Loestrin Fe is used to prevent pregnancy.

Common side effects

Nausea or vomiting, Headache, Irregular bleeding

Key warnings

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

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

How It Works

Lo Loestrin Fe contains two hormones: norethindrone acetate 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.

Serious Warnings

Cigarette smoking increases your risk of serious heart problems from birth control pills. This risk is higher if you are over 35 and smoke. Women over 35 who smoke should not use Lo Loestrin Fe.

Known Drug Interactions

7.2 Increase i n Plasma Levels of Ethinyl Estradiol Associated with Co-Administered Drugs Co-administration of atorvastatin and certain COCs containing ethinyl estradiol increase AUC values for ethinyl estradiol by approximately 20 percent.

Mechanism: Atorvastatin increases the amount of birth control hormone that stays in your blood. This happens because the statin changes how the body processes the hormone.

7.2 Increase i n Plasma Levels of Ethinyl Estradiol Associated with Co-Administered Drugs Co-administration of atorvastatin and certain COCs containing ethinyl estradiol increase AUC values for ethinyl estradiol by approximately 20 percent. Ascorbic acid and acetaminophen may increase plasma ethinyl estradiol levels, possibly by inhibition of conjugation. 7.4 Changes in Plasma Levels of Co-Administered Drugs COCs containing some synthetic estrogens (for example, ethinyl estradiol) may inhibit the metabolism of other compounds.

Mechanism: Taking these two medications together can slow down how your body breaks down estrogen. This can cause the level of estrogen in your blood to rise.

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 causes your body to break down the seizure medication much faster than usual. This can lower the amount of medicine in your blood and make it less effective.

John’s wort topiramate HIV protease inhibitors and non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors : Significant changes (increase or decrease) in the plasma levels of the estrogen and progestin have been noted in some cases of co-administration of HIV protease inhibitors or of non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors.

Mechanism: This medication can change the levels of birth control hormones in your body. It may cause the hormones to increase or decrease, which can affect how well the birth control works.

Ascorbic acid and acetaminophen may increase plasma ethinyl estradiol levels, possibly by inhibition of conjugation.

Mechanism: Acetaminophen can interfere with how your body clears out birth control hormones. This leads to higher levels of the hormone staying in your bloodstream.

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This is a plain-language summary of FDA-label interaction records and does not provide individual medication-combination directions.

Common Questions

What should I do if I experience breakthrough bleeding?
Irregular bleeding is a common side effect, especially in the first few months. If it continues or is heavy, talk to your doctor.
Can Lo Loestrin Fe protect me from STIs?
No, Lo Loestrin Fe does not protect against sexually transmitted infections. Use condoms to protect yourself.
What if I vomit after taking a pill?
If you vomit within 3-4 hours of taking a pill, it may not be fully absorbed. Take another pill as soon as possible.
Can I take Lo Loestrin Fe if I have high blood pressure?
You should not take Lo Loestrin Fe if you have uncontrolled high blood pressure.
Does Lo Loestrin Fe cause weight gain?
Weight changes are a possible side effect, but they vary from person to person.
Can Lo Loestrin Fe affect my mood?
Some women experience mood changes, anxiety, or depression while taking Lo Loestrin Fe.
Is it safe to take Lo Loestrin Fe long term?
Lo Loestrin Fe can be taken long-term, but talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits.
Can I start Lo Loestrin Fe at any time during my cycle?
It is best to start on the first day of your period. If you start at another time, use backup contraception for the first 7 days.
What if I have surgery?
Stop taking Lo Loestrin Fe at least 4 weeks before major surgery and for 2 weeks after.
Can other medications affect Lo Loestrin Fe?
Yes, some medications and herbal products can make Lo Loestrin Fe less effective. Tell your doctor about all medications you take.
What are the common side effects of ethinyl estradiol/norethindrone?
The registry lists Nausea or vomiting, Headache, Irregular bleeding, Painful periods, Weight changes among the most-reported FAERS reaction terms for ethinyl estradiol/norethindrone. These counts are not an individual symptom assessment.
Does ethinyl estradiol/norethindrone interact with other medications?
The registry has 14 documented interaction rows for ethinyl estradiol/norethindrone. Notable source-record pairings include atorvastatin, estradiol, lamotrigine. These rows are not a complete medication review.
What drug class is ethinyl estradiol/norethindrone?
ethinyl estradiol/norethindrone belongs to the Combined Oral Contraceptive drug class. It requires a prescription (Rx). Lo Loestrin Fe is used to prevent pregnancy.
What pregnancy or breastfeeding source fields are listed for ethinyl estradiol/norethindrone?
The FDA label for ethinyl estradiol/norethindrone contains product-specific pregnancy or breastfeeding language. PlainMeds does not apply that source text to an individual.
Is ethinyl estradiol/norethindrone currently in shortage?
Yes, ethinyl estradiol/norethindrone is currently listed as to be discontinued by the FDA. Affected manufacturer: Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc.. Visit the FDA Drug Shortages database for the latest updates.

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What the FDA Data Shows for ethinyl estradiol/norethindrone

The FDA label for ethinyl estradiol/norethindrone (sold under brand names such as Loestrin, Junel) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Combined Oral Contraceptive class. Lo Loestrin Fe is used to prevent pregnancy. Official labeling lists 10 commonly reported side effects, including Nausea or vomiting, Headache, Irregular bleeding.

Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. Voluntary reports accumulate over the lifetime of a drug and reflect wide-ranging clinical use. The database also lists 14 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated minor severity. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $0.18.

Report counts do not establish causation, a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history, and patent information are separate source-record fields. This page is a public FDA/CMS registry and does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions.

Data Sources

Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC). Shortage status: FDA Drug Shortages Database.

FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. This registry does not provide medication decisions.

Last updated: March 7, 2025

PlainMeds is rendered directly from FDA openFDA/FAERS extracts, DailyMed labels, and CMS drug-pricing files, no number is typed in by an editor. FAERS counts, recalls, shortages, and price figures on this page are queried live from those federal extracts. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026-05-15. Primary sources: openFDA / FAERS, DailyMed and CMS Part B ASP.

Data currency: FDA FAERS adverse-event reports through 2025, CMS NADAC acquisition-cost pricing effective December 2024, compiled from the source snapshot dated . See our methodology for per-source dates and refresh cadence. Spot a figure that looks wrong? Report a data issue.

All federal data sources used on this page