Comparative Pharmacology
Head-to-head clinical analysis: BREVICON 28 DAY versus NORTREL 7 7 7.
Peer-Reviewed Evidence
Head-to-head clinical analysis: BREVICON 28 DAY versus NORTREL 7 7 7.
BREVICON 28-DAY vs NORTREL 7/7/7
Comparing the clinical profiles, pharmacokinetic behaviors, and safety indices of these two therapeutic agents.
Combination oral contraceptive; ethinyl estradiol and norethindrone suppress gonadotropin secretion (FSH and LH) via negative feedback, inhibiting ovulation. Additionally, alters cervical mucus consistency and endometrial lining to impede sperm penetration and implantation.
Combination estrogen-progestin oral contraceptive. Suppresses gonadotropin release, inhibiting ovulation. Increases cervical mucus viscosity and alters endometrial receptivity.
One tablet (0.5 mg norethindrone and 35 mcg ethinyl estradiol) orally once daily for 28 days (21 active tablets followed by 7 inert tablets).
One tablet orally once daily, taken at the same time each day. Each tablet contains norethindrone 0.5 mg/ethinyl estradiol 35 mcg for days 1-7, norethindrone 0.75 mg/ethinyl estradiol 35 mcg for days 8-14, and norethindrone 1 mg/ethinyl estradiol 35 mcg for days 15-21, followed by 7 placebo tablets.
None Documented
None Documented
Norethindrone: 8-11 hours; Ethinyl estradiol: 13-27 hours; half-life for ethinyl estradiol allows once-daily dosing
Norelgestromin terminal half-life is approximately 28 hours; ethinyl estradiol terminal half-life is approximately 17 hours. The extended half-life supports once-weekly dosing.
Renal: ~40% as metabolites and unchanged drug; fecal/biliary: ~60% as metabolites
Renal excretion of metabolites (primarily ethinyl estradiol and norelgestromin conjugates) accounts for approximately 50% of elimination; fecal/biliary excretion accounts for the remainder (about 35-40% fecal, 10-15% biliary).
Category C
Category C
Oral Contraceptive
Oral Contraceptive