{{Short description|Pharmaceutical combination}} {{Redirect|Alysena|the moth genus|Alysina|the surname|Ali Sina (disambiguation){{!}}Ali Sina}} {{For|the Twirla contraceptive patch|Contraceptive patch}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2024}} {{Drugbox | type = combo
<!-- Combo data --> | component1 = Ethinylestradiol | class1 = Estrogen | component2 = Levonorgestrel | class2 = Progestogen
<!-- Clinical data --> | tradename = Altavera, Alysena, Amethyst, others<ref name=MTM2017/> | Drugs.com = {{drugs.com|monograph|estrogen-progestin-combinations}} | MedlinePlus = a601050 | DailyMedID = <!-- preference to licence_US --> | pregnancy_AU = <!-- A / B1 / B2 / B3 / C / D / X --> | pregnancy_category= | routes_of_administration = By mouth | ATC_prefix = G03 | ATC_suffix = AA07 | ATC_supplemental =
| legal_AU = <!-- S2, S3, S4, S5, S6, S7, S8, S9 or Unscheduled --> | legal_CA = Rx-only | legal_CA_comment = <ref>{{cite web | title=Product monograph brand safety updates | website=Health Canada | date=February 2024 | url=https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-health-products/drug-products/drug-product-database/label-safety-assessment-update/product-monograph-brand-safety-updates.html | access-date=24 March 2024}}</ref> | legal_UK = <!-- GSL, P, POM, CD, CD Lic, CD POM, CD No Reg POM, CD (Benz) POM, CD (Anab) POM or CD Inv POM --> | legal_US = Rx-only | legal_status =
<!-- Identifiers --> | CAS_number = 39366-37-5 | PubChem = | IUPHAR_ligand = | DrugBank = | ChemSpiderID = | KEGG = D04482 | ChEBI = | ChEMBL = | synonyms = EE/LNG }}
thumb|Rigevidon, an example of a combined ethinylestradiol/levonorgestrel contraceptive pill
<!-- Definition and medical uses --> '''Ethinylestradiol/levonorgestrel''' ('''EE/LNG''') is a combined birth control pill made up of ethinylestradiol (an estrogen) and levonorgestrel (a progestin).<ref name=WHO2008>{{cite book | title = WHO Model Formulary 2008 | year = 2009 | isbn = 978-92-4-154765-9 | veditors = Stuart MC, Kouimtzi M, Hill SR | hdl = 10665/44053 | publisher = World Health Organization | hdl-access=free |pages=363–5 }}</ref> It is used for birth control, symptoms of menstruation, endometriosis, and as emergency contraception.<ref name=MTM2017>{{cite web|title=Ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel medical facts from Drugs.com|url=https://www.drugs.com/mtm/ethinyl-estradiol-and-levonorgestrel.html|website=www.drugs.com|access-date=1 January 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170101232357/https://www.drugs.com/mtm/ethinyl-estradiol-and-levonorgestrel.html|archive-date=1 January 2017}}</ref><ref name=WHO2008/> It is taken by mouth.<ref name=MTM2017/> Some preparations of EE/LNG additionally contain an iron supplement in the form of ferrous bisglycinate or ferrous fumarate.<ref name="FACEP2020">{{cite book|editor=Hamilton, RJ |title=Tarascon Pocket Pharmacopoeia 2020 Deluxe Lab-Coat Edition|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=--PcDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA347|date=April 2020|publisher=Jones & Bartlett Learning|isbn=978-1-284-40304-6|pages=347–}}</ref>
<!-- Side effects and mechanism --> Side effects can include nausea, headache, blood clots, breast pain, depression, and liver problems.<ref name=WHO2008/> Use is not recommended during pregnancy, the initial three weeks after childbirth, and in those at high risk of blood clots.<ref name=WHO2008/> However, it may be started immediately after a miscarriage or abortion.<ref>{{cite web|title=Erlibelle 30micrograms/150micrograms film-coated tablets - Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC) - (eMC)|url=https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/medicine/28986|website=www.medicines.org.uk|access-date=1 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170102081205/https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/medicine/28986|archive-date=2 January 2017}}</ref> Smoking while using combined birth control pills is not recommended.<ref name=MTM2017/> It works by stopping ovulation, making the mucus at the opening to the cervix thick, and making the uterus not suitable for implantation.<ref name=MTM2017/>
<!-- History and culture --> Ethinylestradiol/levonorgestrel has been approved for medical use in the United States since 1982.<ref name=MTM2017/> It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines.<ref name="WHO23rd">{{cite book | title = The selection and use of essential medicines 2023: web annex A: World Health Organization model list of essential medicines: 23rd list (2023) | year = 2023 | hdl = 10665/371090 | publisher = World Health Organization | location = Geneva | id = WHO/MHP/HPS/EML/2023.02 | hdl-access=free }}</ref> It is available as a generic medication.<ref name=Ric2015>{{cite book|editor=Hamilton, RJ |title=Tarascon Pocket Pharmacopoeia 2015 Deluxe Lab-Coat Edition|date=2015|publisher=Jones & Bartlett Learning|isbn=978-1-284-05756-0|page=349}}</ref> It is marketed under many brand names.<ref name=MTM2017/> In 2023, it was the 138th most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 4{{nbsp}}million prescriptions.<ref name="Top 300">{{cite web | title=Top 300 of 2023 | url=https://clincalc.com/DrugStats/Top300Drugs.aspx | website=ClinCalc | access-date=12 August 2025 | archive-date=12 August 2025 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250812130026/https://clincalc.com/DrugStats/Top300Drugs.aspx | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title = Ethinyl Estradiol; Levonorgestrel Drug Usage Statistics, United States, 2014 - 2023 | website = ClinCalc | url = https://clincalc.com/DrugStats/Drugs/EthinylEstradiolLevonorgestrel | access-date = 18 August 2025 }}</ref>
==See also== * Birth control pill formulations * List of combined sex-hormonal preparations
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Birth control methods}} {{Hormonal contraceptives}} {{Estrogen receptor modulators}} {{Progesterone receptor modulators}} {{Portal bar|Medicine}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ethinylestradiol Levonorgestrel}} Category:Combined oral contraceptives Category:World Health Organization essential medicines Category:Wikipedia medicine articles ready to translate