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home > drugs a-z list > brevicon (norethindrone and ethinyl estradiol) drug center > brevicon (norethindrone and ethinyl estradiol) drug
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Brevicon
Information on Birth Control Pills »
What are birth control pills and how do they work?
Birth control pills are also known as oral contraceptives (OCs) or, simply, “the pill.” They offer protection against pregnancy by blocking the union of sperm and egg, thereby preventing conception.
Oral contraceptives or birth control pills contain synthetic female hormones. They work largely by preventing the release of an egg from an ovary, or ovulation. If no egg is released, there can be no pregnancy.
Stopping ovulation is not the only way birth control pills can work. The progestin or synthetic progesterone in birth control pills also changes the physical and chemical environment of the female reproductive tract, making it hostile for sperm.
What are the different types of birth control pills?
The active ingredients in birth control pills are synthetic versions of the female hormones estrogen and progesterone. Combination oral contraceptives are birth control...
Brevicon
Brevicon®
(norethindrone and ethinyl estradiol) Tablets USP, 0.5 mg/0.035 mg
Norinyl® 1+35
(norethindrone and ethinyl estradiol) Tablets USP, 1 mg/0.035 mg
Norinyl® 1+50
(norethindrone and mestranol) Tablets USP, 1 mg/0.05 mg
Patients should be counseled that this product does not protect against HIV infection (AIDS) and other sexually transmitted diseases.
ORAL CONTRACEPTIVE AGENTS
DRUG DESCRIPTION
Brevicon® (norethindrone and ethinyl estradiol) Tablets provide a continuous oral contraceptive regimen consisting of 21 blue tablets containing norethindrone 0.5 mg and ethinyl estradiol 0.035 mg and 7 orange tablets containing inert ingredients.
Norinyl® 1+35 Tablets provide a continuous oral contraceptive regimen consisting of 21 yellow-green tablets containing norethindrone 1 mg and ethinyl estradiol 0.035 mg and 7 orange tablets containing inert ingredients.Norinyl® 1+50 Tablets provide a continuous oral contraceptive regimen consisting of 21 white tablets containing norethindrone 1 mg and mestranol 0.05 mg and 7 orange tablets containing inert ingredients.
Norethindrone is a potent progestational agent with the chemical name 17-Hydroxy-19-Nor-17α-pregn-4-en-20-yn-3-one. Ethinyl estradiol is an estrogen with the chemical name 19-nor-17α-pregna-1,3,5(10)-trien-20-yne-3,17-diol. Mestranol is an estrogen with the chemical name 3-Methoxy-19-nor-17α-pregna-1,3,5(10)-trien-20-yn-17-ol. Their structural formulae follow:
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The blue BREVICON (norethindrone and ethinyl estradiol) tablets contain the following inactive ingredients: FD&C Blue No. 1, lactose, magnesium stearate, povidone, and starch.
The yellow-green NORINYL 1+35 tablets contain the following inactive ingredients: D&C Green No. 5, D&C Yellow No. 10, lactose, magnesium stearate, povidone, and starch.
The white NORINYL 1+50 tablets contain the following inactive ingredients: lactose, magnesium stearate, povidone, and starch.
The inactive orange tablets in the 28-day regimens of BREVICON (norethindrone and ethinyl estradiol) , NORINYL 1+35 and NORINYL 1+50 contain the following ingredients: FD&C Yellow No. 6, lactose, microcrystalline cellulose, and magnesium stearate.
What are the possible side effects of ethinyl estradiol and norethindrone?
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Stop using this medication and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:
- sudden numbness or weakness, especially on one side of the body;
- sudden headache, confusion, pain behind the eyes, problems with vision, speech, or balance;
- chest pain or heavy feeling, pain spreading to the arm or shoulder,...
Read All Potential Side Effects and See Pictures of Brevicon »
What are the precautions when taking norethindrone and ethinyl estradiol (Brevicon)?
See also Warning section.
Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to any estrogens (e.g., ethinyl estradiol, mestranol) or any progestins (e.g., norethindrone, desogestrel); or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details.
This medication should not be used if you have certain medical conditions. Before using this product, consult your doctor or pharmacist if you have: history of stroke or other blood clots (e.g., in the legs, eyes, lungs), severe high blood pressure, abnormal breast exam, cancer (especially endometrial or breast cancer), diabetes that has caused kidney/eye/nerve/blood vessel disease,...
Last reviewed on RxList: 1/23/2009
This monograph has been modified to include the generic and brand name in many instances.
Next: Drug Description
Additional Brevicon Information
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You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit the FDA MedWatch website or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
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