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What the FDA labels say about taking them together

Ethinyl estradiol/norgestimate and theophylline

Ethinyl estradiol/norgestimate's FDA label of February 6, 2026 names theophylline in its drug interactions section; the theophylline label PlainMeds reads does not name ethinyl estradiol/norgestimate. The ethinyl estradiol/norgestimate label: “COCs containing EE may inhibit the metabolism of other compounds and increase their plasma concentrations.”

Check it at the source: the ethinyl estradiol/norgestimate FDA label on DailyMed (effective February 6, 2026, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Inc., USA); the theophylline FDA label on DailyMed (effective March 10, 2026, Strides Pharma Science Limited).

What does the ethinyl estradiol/norgestimate label say about theophylline?

Ethinyl estradiol/norgestimate label, drug interactions

COCs containing EE may inhibit the metabolism of other compounds (e.g., cyclosporine, prednisolone, theophylline, tizanidine, and voriconazole) and increase their plasma concentrations.

Source: FDA drug label (Norgestimate and Ethinyl Estradiol), Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Inc., USA, effective February 6, 2026 (SPL set 8b247e46-203e-4f5b-b5a7-cbd57341c735), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed

What does the theophylline label say about ethinyl estradiol/norgestimate?

Theophylline's label (effective March 10, 2026) does not name ethinyl estradiol/norgestimate in these sections. A label lists what its studies and reports found; it is not a complete list.

Source: FDA drug label (Theophylline), Strides Pharma Science Limited, effective March 10, 2026 (SPL set b7a90ccf-9c32-40cc-9008-7e55b3da4dfd), 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

18Ethinyl estradiol/norgestimate generic labelers
26Theophylline generic labelers
Ethinyl estradiol/norgestimateTheophylline
Labeled forAcne, Birth controlAsthma
Boxed warningYesNo
Pharmacy cost (NADAC)$0.115 per tablet 0.25-0.035 mg tablet$0.330 per tablet 300 mg tablet
Shortage nowNo current entryNo 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?