Lo Loestrin Fe (norethindrone acetate and ethinyl estradiol, ethinyl estradiol tablets) (norethindrone acetate and ethinyl estradiol tablets, ethinyl estradiol tablets and ferrous fumarate tablets) provides an oral contraceptive regimen consisting of 24 blue active tablets and 2 white active tablets that contain the active ingredients specified for each tablet below, followed by 2 non-hormonal placebo tablets:

• 24 blue, round tablets each containing 1 mg norethindrone acetate and 10 meg ethinyl estradiol
• 2 white, hexagonal tablets each containing 10 meg ethinyl estradiol
• 2 brown, round tablets each containing 75 mg ferrous fumarate

Each blue tablet also contains the inactive ingredients mannitol, microcrystalline cellulose, FD&C Blue No. 1 Aluminum Lake, sodium starch glycolate, magnesium stearate, povidone, vitamin E and lactose monohydrate.

Each white tablet also contains the inactive ingredients mannitol, microcrystalline cellulose, sodium starch glycolate, magnesium stearate, povidone, vitamin E and lactose monohydrate.

Each brown tablet contains ferrous fumarate, mannitol, povidone, microcrystalline cellulose, sodium starch glycolate, magnesium stearate, sucralose and spearmint flavor. The ferrous fumarate tablets do not serve any therapeutic purpose. Ferrous fumarate tablets are not USP for dissolution and assay.

The empirical formula of ethinyl estradiol is C₂₀H₂₄O₂ and the structural formula is:

The chemical name of ethinyl estradiol is [19-Norpregna-l,3,5(10)-trien-20-yne-3,17-diol, (17α)-].

The empirical formula of norethindrone acetate is C₂₂H₂₈O₃ and the structural formula is:

The chemical name of norethindrone acetate is [19-Norpregn-4-en-20-yn-3-one, 17-(acetyloxy)-, (17α)-].

Last reviewed on RxList: 11/30/2010
This monograph has been modified to include the generic and brand name in many instances.