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What the FDA labels say about taking them together

Ethinyl estradiol/norgestimate and topiramate

Ethinyl estradiol/norgestimate's FDA label of February 6, 2026 names topiramate in its drug interactions section; the topiramate labels PlainMeds reads (4) do not name ethinyl estradiol/norgestimate. The ethinyl estradiol/norgestimate label: “… carbamazepine, bosentan, felbamate, griseofulvin, oxcarbazepine, rifampicin, topiramate, rifabutin, rufinamide, aprepitant, and products containing St. John’s wort.”

Check it at the source: the ethinyl estradiol/norgestimate FDA label on DailyMed (effective February 6, 2026, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Inc., USA); the topiramate FDA label on DailyMed (effective June 1, 2026, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Inc.).

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

Ethinyl estradiol/norgestimate label, drug interactions

Some drugs or herbal products that may decrease the effectiveness of hormonal contraceptives include phenytoin, barbiturates, carbamazepine, bosentan, felbamate, griseofulvin, oxcarbazepine, rifampicin, topiramate, rifabutin, rufinamide, aprepitant, and products containing St. John’s wort.

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 topiramate label say about ethinyl estradiol/norgestimate?

Topiramate's label (effective June 1, 2026) and its 3 other brand-application labels do 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 (Topiramate), Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Inc., effective June 1, 2026 (SPL set 3c909a53-ae66-4b28-a741-b60bb25a69cf), 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
47Topiramate generic labelers
Ethinyl estradiol/norgestimateTopiramate
Labeled forAcne, Birth controlSeizures and epilepsy, Migraine
Boxed warningYesNo
Pharmacy cost (NADAC)$0.115 per tablet 0.25-0.035 mg tablet$0.0567 per tablet 100 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?