Norethindrone / Ethinyl Estradiol: brand names and study card

Norethindrone / Ethinyl Estradiol — Combination oral contraceptive (progestin + estrogen). Study the mechanism, listed uses and warnings from the US label on one sourced card.

Generic name: Norethindrone / Ethinyl Estradiol
Brands: Kaitlib Fe
Class: Combination oral contraceptive (progestin + estrogen)
Mechanism: Combined hormonal contraceptive that lowers pregnancy risk primarily by suppressing ovulation.
Used for: Prevention of pregnancy in females of reproductive potential; efficacy of the selected Kaitlib Fe product at BMI above 35 kg/m² has not been evaluated
Common side effects: Nausea / vomiting; Headache / migraine; Mood complaints; Dysmenorrhea; Acne
Boxed warning: Cigarette smoking increases serious cardiovascular events from COC use; not for women over 35 who smoke.
Warnings: Arterial / venous thrombotic events; Liver disease; breast cancer; Uncontrolled hypertension
Interactions: CYP3A4 inducers (e.g., rifampin, carbamazepine); HIV protease inhibitors / NNRTIs; Ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir

Read the source label ↗

Label date: 20251202 · For learning, not clinical decisions. US label and brand information; always consult the current source.

Source snapshot checked: 2026-10-21. The source document and selected fields were compared. The complete card has not had an independent clinical review.

Practice

Pronunciation

Norethindrone: nor-ETH-in-drone · Ethinyl Estradiol: ETH-in-il es-tra-DYE-ol

Pronunciation is shown for the US English generic name.

Body system

Women's health · 12 Drug cards

Compare with related cards

Drospirenone / Ethinyl estradiol

Same class on both cards

Mechanism: Combination oral contraceptive that prevents pregnancy primarily by suppressing ovulation.

On both cards: Common side effects — Nausea / vomiting; Headache / migraine

Only on the Drospirenone / Ethinyl estradiol card: Used for — Prevention of pregnancy · Common side effects — Premenstrual syndrome; Breast pain / tenderness; Mood changes · Warnings — Drospirenone-containing COCs may have a higher VTE risk than levonorgestrel-containing or some other COCs; Hyperkalemia risk due to anti-mineralocorticoid activity; Liver disease · Interactions — CYP3A4 inducers (reduced efficacy); Hepatitis C combos with ombitasvir/paritaprevir; Potassium-raising drugs

Norelgestromin / Ethinyl Estradiol

Same body system: Women's health

Mechanism: Suppresses gonadotropins, mainly inhibiting ovulation; also alters cervical mucus and endometrium. Norelgestromin is the active metabolite of norgestimate.

On both cards: Common side effects — Nausea / vomiting; Dysmenorrhea · Warnings — Uncontrolled hypertension

Only on the Norelgestromin / Ethinyl Estradiol card: Used for — Prevention of pregnancy when a combined hormonal contraceptive is appropriate and BMI is below 30 kg/m2; may be less effective at body weight 90 kg or more · Common side effects — Breast symptoms; Headache; Application site reaction · Warnings — Thromboembolic events (VTE, MI, stroke); Liver disease / jaundice · Interactions — CYP3A4 inducers incl. St. John's wort; Ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir (HCV); CYP3A4 inhibitors (azole antifungals)

An item counts as shared only when both cards use the same wording. If a card does not list an item, that is not a statement that the effect never occurs.

Boxed warnings on related cards

Drospirenone / Ethinyl estradiol: Cigarette smoking raises the risk of serious cardiovascular events; women over 35 who smoke should not use it.