Comparative Pharmacology
Head-to-head clinical analysis: QUARTETTE versus TRI LEGEST 21.
Peer-Reviewed Evidence
Head-to-head clinical analysis: QUARTETTE versus TRI LEGEST 21.
QUARTETTE vs TRI-LEGEST 21
Comparing the clinical profiles, pharmacokinetic behaviors, and safety indices of these two therapeutic agents.
Combination oral contraceptive containing drospirenone, ethinyl estradiol, levomefolate calcium, and metformin. Drospirenone is a progestin with antimineralocorticoid and antiandrogenic activity. Ethinyl estradiol is an estrogen. Levomefolate calcium is a folate supplement. Metformin is a biguanide that decreases hepatic glucose production and improves insulin sensitivity.
Combination estrogen-progestin contraceptive; suppresses gonadotropins (FSH, LH), inhibits ovulation, alters cervical mucus and endometrium.
3 mg orally once daily for 21 days followed by 7 days of placebo.
One tablet orally once daily for 21 days, followed by 7 tablet-free days. Each tablet contains norgestimate 0.18 mg/ethinyl estradiol 0.025 mg (days 1-7), norgestimate 0.215 mg/ethinyl estradiol 0.025 mg (days 8-14), norgestimate 0.25 mg/ethinyl estradiol 0.025 mg (days 15-21).
None Documented
None Documented
Terminal elimination half-life is 12-14 hours; clinically this supports once-daily dosing with steady state achieved within 2-3 days.
Ethinyl estradiol: 13-27 hours (mean ~17 hours); norgestimate active metabolite (norelgestromin): 22-36 hours (mean ~28 hours). Steady-state achieved within 5-10 days.
Renal excretion accounts for 55% (primarily as unchanged drug), biliary/fecal excretion 35%, and the remainder undergoes metabolic clearance.
Renal: approximately 50-60% as metabolites; fecal: approximately 40-50% (ethinyl estradiol and norgestimate metabolites excreted in bile and feces); less than 1% unchanged in urine.
Category C
Category C
Oral Contraceptive
Oral Contraceptive