What the FDA labels say about taking them together
Atazanavir and norethindrone
Atazanavir's FDA label of August 6, 2025 names norethindrone in its drug interactions section, and norethindrone's label names atazanavir too. The atazanavir label: “… contraceptives or oral contraceptives containing progestogens other than norethindrone or norgestimate, or less than 25 mcg of ethinyl estradiol, has not been studied; …”
Check it at the source: the atazanavir FDA label on DailyMed (effective August 6, 2025, Aurobindo Pharma Limited); the norethindrone FDA label on DailyMed (effective January 31, 2026, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Inc., USA).
What does the atazanavir label say about norethindrone?
Atazanavir label, drug interactionsConcomitant Drug Class/Specific Drugs: Hormonal contraceptives: ethinyl estradiol and norgestimate or norethindrone; Effect on Concentration of Atazanavir or Concomitant Drug: ↓ ethinyl estradiol ↑ norgestimate c ↑ ethinyl estradiol ↑ norethindrone d; Clinical Comment: Use caution if considering coadministration of oral contraceptives with atazanavir or atazanavir with ritonavir. If atazanavir with ritonavir is coadministered with an oral contraceptive, it is recommended that the oral contraceptive contain at least 35 mcg of ethinyl estradiol. If atazanavir is administered without ritonavir, the oral contraceptive should contain no more than 30 mcg of ethinyl estradiol. …
Source: FDA drug label (Atazanavir Sulfate), Aurobindo Pharma Limited, effective August 6, 2025 (SPL set 7fbea274-d6b5-4faa-bbf0-05fefab42114), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
What does the norethindrone label say about atazanavir?
Norethindrone label, drug interactionsIn contrast, significant increases in systemic exposure of the progestin have been noted in cases of co-administration with certain other HIV protease inhibitors (e.g., indinavir and atazanavir/ritonavir) and with other non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (e.g., etravirine).
Source: FDA drug label (Norethindrone), Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Inc., USA, effective January 31, 2026 (SPL set 0d2f8fea-3675-40d2-afd9-9fcb148dbd4b), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
These are the labels' own sentences. PlainMeds does not grade interactions; a pharmacist or prescriber can say what they mean for one person's medicines.
Both medicines on the record
| Atazanavir | Norethindrone | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | HIV | Birth control |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC) | $2.23 per capsule 300 mg capsule | $0.290 per tablet 5 mg tablet |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
Source: FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026 and the FDA Drug Shortage Database (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What next?
- Check more medicines together
- up to five at once