PROGESTIN-ONLY ORAL CONTRACEPTIVES





Drospirenone (Slynd®)

Dosage forms

Tablet
  • Drospirenone 4 mg
  • Comes in package that contains 24 active tablets (white) and 4 inert tablets (green)

Dosing

Contraception
  • Dosing: 1 tablet once daily
  • Tablets should be taken at the same time every day
  • Last 4 tablets are inert and menses may occur
  • May take without regard to food
Missed doses
  • If one active tablet is missed, take the missed tablet as soon as possible. Continue taking one tablet a day until the pack is finished.
  • If 2 or more active tablets are missed, take the last missed tablet as soon as possible. Continue one tablet a day until the pack is finished (one or more missed tablet(s) will remain in the blister pack). Use backup contraception for 7 days after missing tablets.

Generic / Price

- NO/$$$$

Levonorgestrel (Plan B®)

Dosage forms

Tablet
  • 0.75 mg

Dosing

Emergency contraception
  • 0.75 mg initially followed by 0.75 mg 12 hours later
  • May take without regard to food

Generic / Price

- YES/$

Other

  • Approved for emergency contraception only
  • In the U.S., can be bought over-the-counter by a female or male who is 17 years of age or older
  • See emergency contraception for more

Levonorgestrel | Athentia Next® | Fallback Solo® | Her Style® | Opcicon One-Step® | Plan B One-Step®

Dosage forms

Tablet
  • 1.5 mg

Dosing

Emergency contraception
  • 1.5 mg one time dose
  • May take without regard to food

Generic / Price

- YES/$

Other

  • Approved for emergency contraception only
  • In the U.S., can be bought over-the-counter by a female or male who is 17 years of age or older
  • See emergency contraception for more
  • Other names: My Way™, Take Action®, React™, Econtra® EZ

Norethindrone | Camila® | Deblitane® | Heather® | Nora-BE® | Nor-QD®

Dosage forms

Tablet
  • 0.35 mg

Dosing

Contraception
  • 0.35 mg once daily
  • See dosing for information on beginning therapy and missed doses
  • May take without regard to food

Generic / Price

- YES/$

Other

  • These brands of norethindrone are not rated bioequivalent with Micronor®, etc.
  • Pill should be taken at the same time every day
  • Every pill is active. There are no placebo pills.
  • Approximately forty percent of women on progestin-only pills report having monthly menses
  • See progestin-only pills for more

Norethindrone | Errin® | Jencycla® | Jolivette® | Lyza® | Micronor® | Sharobel®

Dosage forms

Tablet
  • 0.35 mg

Dosing

Contraception
  • 0.35 mg once daily
  • See dosing for information on beginning therapy and missed doses
  • May take without regard to food

Generic / Price

- YES/$

Other

  • These brands of norethindrone are not rated bioequivalent with Nor-QD®, etc.
  • Pill should be taken at the same time every day
  • Every pill is active. There are no placebo pills.
  • Approximately forty percent of women on progestin-only pills report having monthly menses
  • See progestin-only pills for more

Ulipristal (Ella®)

Dosage forms

Tablet
  • 30 mg

Dosing

Emergency contraception
  • Dosage form: 30 mg tablet
  • Dosing: Take one tablet orally as soon as possible within 120 hours (5 days) after unprotected intercourse or a known or suspected contraceptive failure
  • May take without regard to food
  • If vomiting occurs within 3 hours of intake, consideration should be given to repeating the dose
  • May be taken at any time during the menstrual cycle

Generic / Price

- NO/$

Other

Other
  • Approved for emergency contraception only
  • Ulipristal is a progesterone agonist/antagonist
  • In the U.S., cannot be bought over-the-counter
  • See emergency contraception for more


Pricing legend
  • $ = 0 - $50
  • $$ = $51 - $100
  • $$$ = $101 - $150
  • $$$$ = > $150
  • Pricing based on one month of therapy at standard dosing in an adult
  • Pricing based on information from GoodRX.com®
  • Pricing may vary by region and availability